Adventures in Removable Wallpaper

There are a handful of items that indicate one has officially crossed the line into adulthood; parenthood, paying taxes, and installing wallpaper.

I mean, anyone can paint a wall…but wallpaper? You need big girl pants to handle wallpaper. And although I have done some stand-alone wallpaper projects here and there, I had yet to wallpaper an actual wall. That is, until last month when Chasing Paper (the same company who helped me wallpaper my fridge) asked me if I had a small space that needed some sprucing up and I was like, “Yuh-huh I do!”

Current big girl pants status: ON LIKE DONKEY KONG.

There are a lot of great wallpaper companies out there, but Chasing Paper is my favorite for a few reasons.

1. The paper is removable. You can peel it off at any time. It comes in 2’x4′ panels with low-tack adhesive backing. No glue, no rolls, no soaking. The paper is thick enough that it does not wrinkle, but thin enough that it is easy to handle. Prepare to be amazed.

2. It’s ridiculously easy to install. You just match up the seams and press. Wahbam!

3. The patterns are fantastic. Everything from classic stripes to elegant floral to tropical foliage. They even carry some prints from featured artists and designers.

4. I love to see creative women build successful businesses. Elizabeth Rees, Founder/CEO, is doing such cool things with this company and I am so tickled that I have been able to follow along for the ride these last two years.

5. It looks real good.

I mean…

So. They have a lot of cool patterns. Why the Xs?

First of all, like most sound decisions, I like to decorate around my cat. I was confident Lola would look good with this pattern and I can now say I was not wrong in that assessment.

Told you.

Second of all, I specifically chose this paper because of it’s big bold asymetircal print. I love some of the smaller patterns from Chasing Paper, but this particular wall has some lumps and imperfections (I think there used to be a chimney that was patched over 50 years ago), not to mention a bunch of newly unspackled-nail holes, and uneven surfaces can be tricky with matching wallpaper seams. But, honestly, this was easy. The paper is super forgiving. It’s almost like fabric, but not. And now the pattern is up and you couldn’t find the imperfections if you tried. Everything melts together under the X’s.

This art situation up in here is temporary. I’m still deciding if I want to paint the other walls bright white. Or maybe light grey. Or maybe I’ll just leave them blue – it’s growing on me. I wish I had taken the time to paint the ceiling and trim bright white first, but honestly, that is the best part about wallpaper – it hides a multitude of sins. It sets off everything else in the room so that if you notice 30 things, the off-white ceiling would be Thing 31. It doesn’t matter. However, it cannot hide my lack of light fixture…

I had a paper lantern up here but I knocked a hole it in during an especially aggressive duvet swapping incident and never got around to replacing it. It’s not like I have a shortage of light fixtures, I’m just not sure what to put in here yet. Small and flat? Wide and round? White and clean? Colorful and exciting?

I know. Light fixtures, right? Lola is exhausted just thinking about it.

Thanks agin to Chasing Paper for making this project possible. I’m thrilled with my new wall!  Be sure to check them out and follow along on social media (twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram). There are so many cool ways to use removable wallpaper to activate a small space. You are going to love it!