DIY wallpapered trolley

DIY wallpapered trolley - before

I bought this trolley for a steal on Craigslist. You may have seen it here. You can’t tell in the photo, but it’s banged up and rickety from years of use. My friend Peter added some reinforcement to make it sturdy, then I filled in the nicks with wood filler and oiled the squeaky wheels with WD-40. Finally, I made cosmetic changes—using paint and wallpaper left over from Sunset’s Menlo Park Idea House. Thanks, Sarah!

How to make a wallpapered cart

Supplies

Tools

  • paintbrush
  • foam brush
  • drop cloth
  • scissors
  • ruler & pencil
  • craft knife (optional)
  • brayer or small paint roller (optional)

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1. First tape off the wheels with painter’s tape, then paint one coat of primer on the frame only. Let dry.

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2. Apply two coats of paint (also to the frame only), letting it dry several hours in between coats.

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3. Measure, mark, and cut the wallpaper to fit each of the three shelves.

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4. Using a foam brush, paint glue in sections on the cart surface.

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5. Smooth the wallpaper down with a brayer. I didn’t have a brayer, so I used a dry paint roller, which worked well. Keep adding glue and smoothing as you go. Trim any excess paper, if necessary, with a craft knife. Let dry for about an hour.

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6. Add a top coat of glue to protect the surface of the wallpaper and make it easier to clean. It will cause slight bubbling of the wallpaper, but will lessen as the glue dries. As an alternative top coat, you could spray the wallpaper with clear lacquer.

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7. Let the top coat dry overnight before using the cart.