What's the easiest way to protect a decoupaged wall?

August 23, 2017 2:27 PM

I'd like to decoupage a wall with some old book pages, but I don't want to destroy my drywall. Ideally, I'd like to find something simple to install as an underlayer that will allow me to take the whole thing off relatively easily. Is there anything (inexpensive) that people use to do this? I've googled, but I didn't find a lot related to this specific issue. Thanks!
posted by theantikitty to Home & Garden (10 answers total)

Wallpaper is designed to come off with just steam. You can usually find cheap stuff at thrift stores or on clearance at the home improvement stores.
posted by soelo at 2:51 PM on August 23, 2017

What about some vinyl wallpaper- the kind that's meant for apartment dwellers and just peels right off? A layer of that and then scuff it with some fine grit sandpaper then decoupage.
posted by PorcineWithMe at 3:16 PM on August 23, 2017 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I've wallpapered the back of a couple of built-in bookcases with old dictionary pages soaked in liquid starch. I know from experience that this comes off easily if you use fabric dipped in liquid starch, but I haven't tried to remove my paper pages. Disclaimer, my walls are plaster, not drywall.

Maybe find a hunk of drywall and do a practice run?
posted by sarajane at 3:16 PM on August 23, 2017 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Liquid starch as adhesive would make it easy to pull down. This post has a tutorial.
posted by goggie at 3:17 PM on August 23, 2017

If you want the entire piece to come away later, my inclination would be to use a sufficiently large canvas (painting canvas). But you could use a heavy fabric taped/tacked/nailed down. You could also cut white plastic wall panel or whiteboard material to size.
posted by Lyn Never at 3:26 PM on August 23, 2017

Contact paper? I stuck contact paper onto my daughters' bedroom wall and it worked great.
posted by christinetheslp at 4:28 PM on August 23, 2017

Response by poster: Thanks guys! I'm going to try the liquid starch route and see how it goes.
posted by theantikitty at 8:01 PM on August 23, 2017

I've read that liquid starch attracts silverfish and other bugs (starch is bug food), so that's something to consider.
posted by kitty teeth at 10:02 PM on August 23, 2017 [3 favorites]

If you wanted to save it/make it portable I'd screw floor underlayment to the wall. Underlayment is a cheap, thin, smooth plywood. You'd have four screw holes per 4x4 sheet to patch
posted by Mitheral at 10:42 PM on August 23, 2017 [1 favorite]

Painting the wall with a gloss finish paint will also make it easier to remove paper later.
posted by theora55 at 8:56 AM on August 24, 2017