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!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I would use the wallpaper in the large bathroom in my parents’ house that was built in 1969. We have been living in their house since they both passed away 4 days apart in 2008. My husband had Rock Mountain Spotted Fever and could not climb the stairs in our 2 story house, so since we were already in my parents’ house after having to move in to take care of them, we have stayed in the one story Ranch Style house. It needs many upgrades and we plan to begin work on it this summer. It has been a long road to recovery for my husband, but with the Lord’s help he is slowly regaining his strength. We will be in this house for awhile longer since a tornado two years ago did a lot of damage to our house and we are still having repairs done on it. We have been blessed to have a house to live in that was better for my husband and to live in while repairs were being done on our house.
I have been wanting to try the wallpaper in a couple of different places. First place would be my living room . At least on wall or half up all the way around the room. Or would love to use it as backsplash in the kitchen . If I don’t win I would love to see if you have some for sale. Thanks . Hope to hear from you soon
Hey, Rhoda! I’m painting the kitchen cabinets in our new house. I used the beadboard wallpaper in our former house on the ends of the kitchen cab’s. I’d love to do it here as well!
I would use the beadboard paper behind the shelving of the bookcases that surround my fireplace….then buy more to use in the powder room and on the plain area of kitchen cabinetry. Thinking of it, I will order some regardless of if I win or not! Thank you for the inspiring post and many project ideas.
Wow Rhoda this is exciting I have bought this from you in the past and have used it in our basement room, in my second bathroom and now I would like to use it in our laundry room. I LOVE IT!!!
I love this wallpaper! I would use it on the island in my kitchen , in my kitchen nook or my tiny hall bathroom!
I’m a good ole South Carolina girl, and was lucky enough to recently celebrated my wedding on Edisto’s gorgeous beach! Having grown up in Savannah & Edisto, it was only natural! I used burlap, linen and all things beach for my DIY wedding! I have decided to redo my bathroom in Edisto! I’ve called the project “Calgon … take me to Edisto!” Lol Ironically, I was researching beadboard but couldn’t expand a very shoe string budget when I happened upon the wallpaper!! My idea is to put this on the walls as well as the vanity, then uses plaster and crushed oyster shells around the mirror. The center piece of my vanity is the handmade apothecary memory jar my sister made us as a wedding gift. She is a muralist in Savannah, and it includes two tiny hand painted canvases. I want to take this bathroom from. A blank canvas to a walk on my favorite Carolina beach !
I would love the beadboard wallpaper in my living and dining areas! Your rooms look beautiful!
I’d like to try it in my little bathroom to cover up the fake tile plasterboard!
I love the projects you showed, but I need to redo my kitchen cabinet doors and I am thinking about using beadboard wallpaper on them.
I have been looking for s way that I could add architectural interest to our laundry/butler’s pantry. It is long and narrow and very boring!
Hi Rhoda! I have decided to use beadboard paper under (the family room side) of the bar in our kitchen. We rarely use the barstools, so I don’t think the wall would get much ‘ding-ing’. It sure needs something, and the wallboard paper would be perfect!!
I would love to try this is my bathroom!! Thanks!
I would put it in our second bath like you did…..on one wall, add board, and install hooks to hang towels.
Hi Rhoda…This would be awesome in our 120 year old farm house as a backsplash in the kitchen!!!
Would love it in our bathroom!!!! Thanks for sharing all your wonderful decorating tips!
Hi! Was just reading your bead board wallpaper/kitchen cabinet post last week and knew I had to do it in my kitchen/bathrooms…excited for the chance to win it. Thanks!
I would love to use it on a cabinet I’m making over. Or even in my entry.
I would love to use the wallpaper in our entryway to add some detail, similar to how you used it in the last bathroom with the brushed nickel hooks. That way we could hang coats and other items there as we come in the door!
I’d love to use this in our hall bathroom.