Bookcase Makeover with Textured Paintable Wallpaper

Please note that this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Rewards Style influencer and Jane Influencer, we earn from qualifying purchases and any sales made through such links will reward us a small commission – at no extra cost for you.

Do you ever get a bee in your bonnet? You know…an idea that you can’t let go of and it keeps buzzing around in your head. And you refuse to let go of this idea until you throw a temper tantrum like a two year old  can convince a loved one to help you. That’s exactly how I felt about my bookcase. It’s located on our upstairs landing where I have been creating my office space – so I look at these shelves frequently. Every day…all day long.

My first idea was to paint the walls a lighter color including the wall behind the bookcase. Then, I realized that we live in an open concept home. Painting walls wasn’t going to be as simple as I thought. Each wall is connected to a wall connected to another room with no easy cutoff point. In other words my hopes and dreams were dashed. Painting the interior walls of my house is not in the budget…for now.

But…I didn’t give up. My next idea was removable wallpaper for the bookcase…but I couldn’t find anything I liked that wouldn’t clash with the current wall color. I headed out to Lowe’s and I was determined that I was not going to come home until I had a solution that I would be happy with.

I found textured paintable wallpaper. Cue the angels…I knew this would work. Honey Bee and I used this type of wallpaper in a previous home to cover-up wallpaper that wouldn’t come off the walls. Incidentally, at that time I swore, in my best Katie Scarlett voice – “as God as my witness, I will never have wallpaper in my home – ever again”. Until now that is…this is an inexpensive solution that I knew would make me happy.

Here’s what I started with. That glossy streak at the top is a mystery – we don’t know what it was. The paint color is Sand 4 and a tad dark.

Jennifer removed the shelves for me which was not an easy task…the shelves were really wedged in there. I chose this pretty pattern Damask in white by allen + roth. Being that I wanted a white background, I chose to use this unpainted – but you can definitely paint this paper. It was easy to hang – I pasted the wall, cut three sheets of the paper, lined up the pattern and trimmed it off.

Jennifer hung the shelves back with varying heights. Then the fun began – we gathered up some of my treasures and started styling the bookcase! We love our results!

This art print was a gift from Jennifer. I placed it in this vintage barn wood frame…

Doesn’t the wallpaper look beautiful? Here’s some of my fave books and an old spool from a local mill from long ago.

Here’s part of my aqua bottle collection with a vintage wire spool and Brownie camera.

Jenn and I both have a weakness for pretty vintage and antique globes.

Remember back in January I shared with y’all my word of the year. I really am living by this word – LEAP! I appreciate it being in this bookcase where I get to see it every day!

This is one of my grandma’s antique african violet pots. I think it’s about 80 years old now. Grandma always had lots of these pots and violets all over her house – she had such a green thumb. It makes me smile to think of that now.

I can’t quit looking at my shelves. I know how I am – these shelves will change many times in the future. But this looks so great I don’t see me changing anything in the near future.

Before and After…

Thanks for stopping by today. We hope you like our project as much as we do!

XO~Vicki and Jennifer