You’d think quick tips wouldn’t take so long to write, but somehow I always manage to put these posts off. But this week is a real gem. Something you non-tear-apart-your-house-ers can do. That’s right, it’s DIY drawer liner! So let’s get crafty!
As you may know, I am in the midst almost finished renovating my downstairs bathroom and it is killing me. I’m good with the work, but it’s all the little details and decision making that goes along with those details. Ugh. For instance, we installed the IKEA HEMNES vanity, and while I love the simple lines and general appearance, there was room for improvement, mainly in the drawers. The drawers have great functionality with their soft-close drawer guides, but the built-in “drawer liner” makes me think of 1980’s IKEA and I just couldn’t take it
The easy thing to do would be to pick out a nice decorative Con-tact Paper, like this or this. But where’s the fun in that? Besides, I was really having a hard time finding something I liked because I wanted it now, I had no patience for shipping. But just in case you’re not in a rush, these Self Adhesive Shelf Liners are super cute. *Amazon affiliate links included for your convenience*
So I moved on to plan B, which was to use pretty paper as a drawer liner. But since this was going in a bathroom, and it will definitely get wet, I had to cover it with clear Con-Tact liner. It was easy! The hardest part was finding paper I liked. Smart Jr and I hit 3 stores looking for wrapping paper and nothing made me happy. So I checked online and found a print I loved and low and behold it was from The Paper Source — Bonus, there’s one a few miles from me. I had never been in the store, but I rushed right over and bought 2 sheets. Well as much as a person with 4 kids in tow can rush. (My 3 + a bonus kid) The other sheet is for another bathroom project.
How to Make Your Own Water Resistant Drawer Liner
1. Cut the paper to size. You can use gift wrap, scrapbook paper, whatever. One sheet of the Mint Floral Wrapping Paper I bought was just enough for both HEMNES drawer bottoms.
If you are doing a drawer bottom and you can remove it from the drawer, then cut the paper a little bigger than the surface. Make sure at least one side overhangs slightly. Fold a crease in the paper to help the overhanging portion stay in place.
If you are doing the bottom of a cabinet and there is no overhang, then cut the paper slightly smaller than the area to be covered. This will leave room for the contact paper to stick to the cabinet surface along the edges and hold the paper down.
2. Cut the Con-Tact liner to an approximate size, leaving extra room on all sides.
3. Clean and dry the surface.
4. Lay the paper in place and, if possible, affix one end. I was able to hold the paper in place by placing the crease over the edge of the drawer bottom. Peel back 2 inches of the back of the Con-Tact liner, exposing the sticky side, and STICK IT TO THE PAPER. letting the liner over hang the drawer. At this point you could lift the liner and wrapping paper up because they’re only connected to each other. Take your time lining up this first part and smooth it out from the middle to the ends.
5. Then stick the Con-Tact liner to the surface. I folded the paper and liner over the side of the surface and stuck it to the side and bottom of the drawer. For a cabinet bottom, make sure some of the contact paper is stuck to the surface. You could even go up the wall/side a little. For my drawer, I clipped the corners before I folded the contact paper over.
6. Continue to unroll the contact paper a few inches at a time, pressing the sticky side onto the paper and smoothing out any air bubbles or wrinkles. For drawer bottom, leave extra contact paper hanging over the ends. For cabinet bottoms, make sure some of the Con-Tact paper is sticking to the surface along the edges as you go.
7. When you get to the end of the surface wrap the contact paper around the edge of the drawer bottom, or run it slightly up the side of the cabinet. Make sure the edge of the Con-Tact paper is stuck to the surface and not just the paper. I know I sound like a broken record. At this point you should have 2 edges secured.
8. Go back and secure the sides by pulling taught and folding the Con-Tact liner over the edge and sticking it to the sides and bottom of the drawer. Or push the Con-Tact liner into the corners and let it run up the sides/walls. Trim with a razor blade in this instance.
Lou Lou Girls says
Great idea! Looks so good! Pinned and tweeted. We truly appreciate you taking the time to be a part of our party. Please stop by and party with us again. The party starts Monday at 7 pm and ends on Friday at 7 pm. Happy Sunday! Lou Lou Girls