$3 IKEA Hack Turns Wallpaper Scraps Into Stunning Art

Turn Wallpaper Scraps Into Stunning Wall Art With This $3 IKEA Hack

Difficulty: Novice
Time: 20 minutes per piece
Cost: typically $3–$10 depending on chosen wood-round size and where you buy supplies
Yield: 4-6 art pieces from typical wallpaper remnants

Why You'll Like This (Quick Intro)

Got a stack of wallpaper scraps staring at you from the corner? Here's a budget-friendly way to transform those leftovers into stylish wall art using just one simple IKEA item. This straightforward project transforms what might otherwise become waste into functional home decor (Dream Green DIY), creating custom pieces that perfectly match your existing decor—something you simply can't buy in stores. Whether you're working with large wallpaper samples that often range from about 19×19 in to 25×20 in depending on manufacturer (Dream Green DIY) or smaller remnants from your latest room makeover, this hack gives those beautiful patterns a permanent second life as art pieces (Dream Green DIY).

What You'll Need

Materials

• Wallpaper scraps (any size - we'll cut to fit)

• 4–6 unfinished wooden craft rounds (craft-store or online; approx. $1–$5 each depending on size and seller)

• Small metal rings for hanging (one per art piece)

• Clear string or thin wire (2 pieces per art piece, 4 inches each)

• Small brass-colored nails for wall hanging

Tools

• Scissors

• Drill with 1/8-inch bit

• Ruler for measuring placement

Safety First

• When drilling, place the wood round on a stable, protected surface

• Keep fingers clear of drill bit and ensure good lighting

• Work on a protected surface to avoid scratching furniture

Steps

1. Cut your wallpaper pieces to approximately 2 inches larger than your wood round diameter on all sides, then remove the backing paper (Dream Green DIY).

   • Tip: For 6-inch rounds, cut wallpaper to 10-inch squares for easier handling.

2. Press the wood round onto the sticky side of the wallpaper, starting from the center and smoothing outward to eliminate air bubbles (Dream Green DIY).

   • If bubbles form: Gently lift the edge and repress, working air toward the outside edges.

3. Trim excess wallpaper around the edges with scissors, leaving the wood round perfectly covered (Dream Green DIY).

4. Position a metal ring in the upper third of your wallpapered round, ensuring it's centered and will provide good balance for hanging (Dream Green DIY).

5. Drill two small holes about an inch from the edge where the ring sits—one on each side of where the ring will be positioned (Dream Green DIY). Drill all the way through the wallpaper and wood (Dream Green DIY).

6. Secure the ring with string. Cut two separate pieces of clear string (Dream Green DIY). For the first hole, loop one string over the front of the metal ring, slip both ends through the hole, and triple knot tightly on the back (Dream Green DIY). Repeat with the second string through the second hole (Dream Green DIY).

Why it works: Using two separate strings distributes weight evenly and keeps the ring flat against the surface, preventing the artwork from tilting when hung.

Cleanup & Disposal

• Save any remaining wallpaper scraps for future projects in a labeled container

• Dispose of backing paper in regular recycling

• Store remaining wallpaper indoors rather than in garages to prevent moisture damage (House Digest)

Troubleshooting

Problem: Wallpaper won't stick properly → Fix: Clean the wood round with a damp cloth and let it dry completely before applying wallpaper
Problem: Ring hangs crooked → Fix: Check that both holes are equidistant from the ring center and retie both strings with equal tension
Problem: Pattern looks off-center → Fix: Peel and reposition the wallpaper (works best with peel-and-stick varieties)

Variations & Upgrades

• Budget option: Use cardboard circles instead of IKEA rounds for under $1 per piece

• Renter-friendly: Hang with removable adhesive hooks instead of nails

• Gallery wall: Create a collection using different patterns from the same wallpaper line for visual cohesion

• Advanced: Mix different wallpaper types—peel-and-stick varieties are easiest for beginners since they're repositionable (Wallpaper from the 70s)

Why This IKEA Hack Works So Well

The secret lies in IKEA's simple wooden rounds—those unfinished wood circles that cost around $3 and work perfectly as a base for showcasing wallpaper patterns. Unlike complex furniture makeovers, this project transforms potential waste into functional home decor that friends and family will admire (House Digest). The beauty of using peel-and-stick wallpaper is that it's repositionable if you need to adjust placement (Celebrated Nest), making this an incredibly forgiving project for beginners.

Small wallpaper pieces work beautifully as framed artwork, adding color and pattern to different rooms without overwhelming the space (House Digest). The repeating patterns inherent in wallpaper design make it naturally suited for crafts and home projects of all kinds (Love to Know). You can create a cohesive look by using the same wallpaper pattern in multiple rooms as small accent pieces (Love to Know), like having a design thread that weaves through your entire house without committing to wallpapering whole rooms.

For hanging, choose tiny brass-colored nails that blend with your metal rings for a cohesive look (Dream Green DIY). If you're working with genuine vintage wallpaper from decades past, you'll need extra paste since the original adhesive may no longer be reliable (Love to Know). Before starting any project with vintage wallpaper, test a small sample with water to ensure the dyes won't bleed and stain (Love to Know).

This approach represents a budget-friendly way to create custom art at a fraction of the cost of purchasing new pieces or professional framing (Wallpaper from the 70s). The finished pieces can coordinate with existing wallpapered rooms or serve as standalone accent pieces (Love to Know). Best of all, this upcycling project aligns perfectly with current sustainability trends that focus on reducing waste while creating something beautiful (Wallpaper from the 70s)—and you can easily make several pieces in one afternoon for custom art ready for multiple rooms or thoughtful, handmade gifts.