How to Use Beadboard Wallpaper

Way back in 2009, I discovered this wonderful beadboard wallpaper (can’t believe it’s been 5 years now!)  and I’ve been using it and writing about it on my blog since then.  I’ve share several tutorials about it over the years and still love it.  When people come into my house, I show them the beadboard wallpaper and of course, they want to pet it and see how it feels.  Their mouths drop open as they realize that yes, it’s PAPER!  But, it looks so real.  I love how easy it is to use. You don’t have to remove existing baseboards, just install right on top.  The best way to make it all look the most real is to add chunky molding on top of it and I’ve done this in several ways.  My most favorite way of adding the molding is the way we did it in my current house.

I’ll show you several of the rooms I’ve used it in up to now and then show off my rooms in this house that use beadboard wallpaper.  My favorite brand is out of England, called Graham Brown and almost 3 years ago, I asked them if I could sell it for them and they said yes! I’ve sent them lots of business over the last couple of years and I make a small commission off my sales.  My blog gets lots of traffic from beadboard wallpaper.

Now keep this in mind:  It is paper and will tear and dent under rough circumstances, so be aware of that when you are thinking about where to use it.  It’s still paper and subject to damage if there are rowdy kids or animals around.  Under normal circumstances in my house, I haven’t had any problem with dinging it, but it can happen. Just wanted to mention that too!

When you find something that works, you just have to spread the word and that’s what I’ve been doing since 2009.  My very first project with this fun paper was my old kitchen in Birmingham.  The ends of my kitchen and bathroom cabinets were just plain white, so I added beadboard wallpaper to them along with molding trim and loved the result. You can read that entire tutorial on the kitchen cabinets.

Next, I moved on to using it on one wall in a guestbath in that old house and it added some fun architectural interest to the otherwise plain wall. You can see that project here.  I used a standard chairrail molding on that first space.

Lastly, I moved on to the masterbath in that old Birmingham house, which if you’ve been reading my blog awhile, it was navy blue and white and the beadboard wallpaper really took the water closet up a notch in that space.  You can see from the collage below the incredible transformation the wallpaper and chairrail had in the room.  Start at that first little pic in the top right corner and follow it down and over to see the After project.  You can see that entire post here too.  It was beadboard wallpaper and simple moldings added, then all painted semi-gloss white like the trim.

Remember, you have to paint it and that’s what really makes it look real and it’s a LOT of bang for the buck!

When I moved back here and took on some projects at my parents house, we added beadboard wallpaper to both of their bathrooms.  It’s all the same process:  Cut, paste, add molding and paint.  Simple, yet SO effective for adding much needed architectural detail. 

Many of you have been buying this great stuff from my Southern Hospitality online shop over the past 2 1/2 years and I thank you for that!

I still love the stuff and continue to talk about it and tell all my friends about it.  As of 1/31/17, I decided to discontinue my beadboard wallpaper shop. Thanks for supporting it for 5 years! 

I wanted to take the time to show up close and personal how I’ve used it in my current house.  This 1979 home needed some architectural details for sure, lots of plain walls.  So, I added it to the nook in my master bedroom, to define that space and make it look better and it really does!  I opted to take it up about 2/3 the wall and added chunky 1×6 pine boards on top, all painted out glossy white to match my trim.  We also ripped a small 1” board for the very top that accents the chunky board and makes a little ledge.

This is my favorite way so far that I’ve used to trim out this wallpaper. I love the chunky boards and the little ledge on top.

It wraps around my little vanity area and makes it feel special.  We also added a 1” board to the outside wall where it meets the other walls in the bedroom, just to define and stop the wallpaper at the corners.

Here you can see the close up of the boards and how we added them. These were put up with my nailgun and all painted semi-gloss white trim paint. Don’t forget to caulk any seams on the molding.

Beadboard with trim boards on top.

In my guestbath, I opted to just do one wall to add interest in here and it really does do the trick.  Adding that chunky 1×6 board and adding 3 satin nickel hooks makes this bathroom functional and pretty.

It’s hard to take pics in my master bath without it all blowing out from the lights, but I also added it behind this cabinet to the floor and cut around the vanity. Then, once this vintage cabinet was in place, I cut those chunky boards once again to fit on either side. It really anchors this old piece and works well in here.

This is a dresser I found at an antique mall that I repurposed for my entertainment center in my bedroom a few years ago.  Adding beadboard wallpaper to the door really makes this piece look a little more special.

Simple and easy to install inside a door or drawer for added interest.  Paint it all out and you’re done!

So, I hope this got you inspired to maybe try some of this around your house. I can’t speak highly enough of this wonderful beadboard wallpaper.  Wish I had a few more spots to use it!

In the meantime, I had a return from my shop of 3 rolls of wallpaper (changed her mind on it due to time constraints) and I had her send them to me at my house, so I’m holding 3 rolls and would love the chance for 3 of you to try it out too.

All you have to do is tell me where YOU would like to try this fun beadboard wallpaper?  What room in your house needs a little architectural detail?  One roll will go pretty far, like it will do a small powder room or one wall in a bathroom, so one roll really does do a lot.

Leave a comment and follow the Rafflecopter widget for more entries and I’ll choose 3 winners at the end of the giveaway and you will each receive ONE ROLL! 
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