Design Ideas: Using photocopies to create decoupage wallpaper

Here is one of my all-time favorite interior decorating ideas taken from the master, Kevin McCloud. Kevin is now the host of Grand Designs, a series on Channel 4 is the UK. But a while back he wrote a book called Decorative Style. It’s out of print, but you can find used copies on Amazon. It’s full of great ideas.

As I said, one of my favorites is using photocopies to create amazing faux architectural and pictorial detail.

This French farm house kitchen scene is comprised of limed paneling and pastoral photocopies,which were decoupaged onto the wall and hand-painted. Just above the paneling is a line of photocopied motifs left unpainted. The acorn design on the paneling is a stencil.

The same idea was used for this Gothic bathroom. The frame is painted, but the decorative finials are photocopies. The bathtub is stenciled.

Kevin used colored photocopies for this French empire study. This little decorative touch lightens the mood of an otherwise formal decor.

The scrollwork in the Venetian studio was painted first, and then applied with wallpaper paste.

Kevin demonstrates the application of painted photocopies onto the wall.

How-To Tips

• Paper can be used on any hard surface. Use wallpaper paste to glue your motif onto a wall, leather, or wood.
• You don’t need to cut out right along the edges of an intricate design. The edges can be painted to match the wall.
• Many types of paints can be used on your photocopies, including latex, watercolor and oil-based. Dilute latex 1:1.
• Paint the photocopy with diluted paint the same color as the wall so that it blends in.
• The photocopy will discolor if not protected. So, you have to protect it with the wallpaper paste or use a waterproof clear latex sealer or acrylic varnish.

For more resources, check out books on decoupage. You can find motifs in Decoupage Gallery. A fantastic array of stencils can be found at The Stencil Library.