Sometimes the best thing about making over a piece of furniture is in the details. Like the addition of the sweet little tassel I added to my bedroom dresser.
Little decorative details can also be be added in other ways… like the addition of decorative paper to line the drawers or the sides of drawers painted with a stencil design.
Lining a drawer with pretty paper is not needed for the function of the drawer, but it sure gives your eyes a treat every time you open a drawer seeing a pop of color and a pretty design.
Table of Contents
- What is the Best Material to Use to Line a Drawer?
- How to Line a Drawer with Decorative Paper the Easy Way
- How To Line a Drawer When The Drawer Can’t Be Removed
- How to Make Drawer Liners Stay in Place?
- More Drawer Liner Ideas
- Decoupage Book Pages
- Line a Drawer With Fabric & Clear Sealer
- Line a Drawer With Gift Wrap and Clear Adhesive Sheets
What is the Best Material to Use to Line a Drawer?
When lining a drawer I use gift wrap most of the time, but wallpaper works well as do book pages, maps, and other large pieces of paper. I have even used fabric. All of these materials work well.
Green & White Gift Wrap Lined Drawers in My Living Room
Home Goods, TJMaxx and Marshalls are my #1 source for finding pretty rolls of gift wrap at bargain prices. I have 2 stashes of it in my house since I can’t fit everything into one location.
Lining a drawer with paper is not hard, but I know of a super easy way that doesn’t even require the use of a measuring tape to line drawers easily.
How to Line a Drawer with Decorative Paper the Easy Way
If your drawer can be removed and has no runner attached underneath, follow the lining a drawer tutorial below.
1. Turn the drawer upside down on a work surface.
2. Lay the gift wrap or decorative paper over the drawer. Use the straight edge of the gift wrap to line up the paper at the front of the drawer. Cut the paper with a pair of scissors around the drawer to get the paper at a workable size of paper that is a little bigger than the drawer.
3. Fit the paper into the depression around the bottom of the drawer.
4. Fold over the excess paper on the sides and make a crisp crease with your fingers.
5. Fold the excess paper around the back edge and make a crisp crease.
6. Remove paper and cut along the side of the drawer creases with a pair of sharp scissors.
7. Since the inside of the drawer has the back and it is hidden on the underside, you need to add the approximate thickness of the drawer back above your crease on the back of the paper (this sounds harder than it is, but once you do it, it is a no-brainer).
When cutting the back, add the thickness of the drawer back and then cut a straight line using your crease as a guide to keep your cut straight. Since the cut is in the back of the drawer, if you cut a bit unevenly you won’t even see it.
Variation: Use the side of a straight edge and craft knife to cut your paper along the creases.
Once you fit it and made the creases, turn the drawer over and place the gift wrap inside the drawer fitting the front, back, and one side in place.
One side will have to be fitted. Use the edge of a ruler to move the gift wrap in place to push the excess up against one side. Crease this excess, remove the paper and cut along the crease.
How To Line a Drawer When The Drawer Can’t Be Removed
If your drawer can’t be removed or has a runner underneath, follow the steps in this post: How to Make Pretty Drawer Liners for Kitchen Drawers
How to Make Drawer Liners Stay in Place?
To make any drawer liner stay in place and not slip around inside the drawer you have a few different options to use.
- The easiest is making rolls of tape and placing one under the paper in each corner of the drawer.
- Use Glue Dots to hold the paper in place.
- For a more permanent solution, use spray glue to attach the paper inside the drawer.
More Drawer Liner Ideas
I learned these creative drawer lining tricks when I worked in retail display many years ago.
Decoupage Book Pages
I lined my desk drawer with the pages of a book about typefaces I found at the thrift store.
LEARN: How to Line a Drawer with Book Pages
Line a Drawer With Fabric & Clear Sealer
You can also use tighter weaves of fabric to line a drawer. I used decorator fabric and sealed it with clear sealer to line this drawer.
LEARN: How to Line Drawers with Fabric
For more decorative detail look closely, I also stenciled the sides of this drawer for an unexpected surprise of color.
Line a Drawer With Gift Wrap and Clear Adhesive Sheets
Want to make your paper drawer liners easy to wipe clean, seal the paper with clear iron-on adhesive or Contact paper.
LEARN: Line a Drawer With Gift Wrap & Heat n Bond Vinyl
Do you have any tricks to make something much easier than the traditional way of doing things?
You May Also Like:
- How to Make Wood Drawer Dividers
- How to Make Cardboard Drawer Dividers
- Bedroom Makeover Update: Wallpapered Accent Wall
- Fast & Easy Shelf Liners
- The Best Way to Organize a Spice Jar Drawer
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