I picked up this swiveling storage tower second hand last year and it has been a really useful addition to our bedroom. Initially I thought I would spray paint it — especially since I’ve had so much recent success with spray paint projects. After I repainted the bedroom, however, I started thinking that a patterned wallpaper would be really fun.
This storage tower really has been a godsend in our little home. It has proven to be handy for extra storage and the mirrored side of it is quite appreciated by two vain men who haven’t met a mirror they didn’t like. Still, the original gray finish on the tower was starting to look a bit worn and so it’s time to give the tower a little makeover.
I first thought I would spray paint the tower but then I started thinking that a patterned paper would be extra snazzy. I looked around at some local stores for contact paper but the only things available were either country cute or a solid color. And then I saw this gold and white contact paper at designyourwall.com and I fell in love!
I decided that the easiest way to apply the contact paper would be to partially disassemble the tower. As I bought this tower secondhand, I hadn’t assembled it in the first place. However, I’ve had enough experience putting furniture together that I was able to figure out how to take it apart. Well, almost take it apart. I disassembled it enough that I was able to take out all the shelves and the top piece but I left the two side pieces in place.
I thought there might be a learning curve to applying the contact paper so I started with the shelves. By starting with the shelves, I thought, if I messed up it would be on something that is hidden. It turns out that this contact paper is extremely easy to work with. The self-adhesive vinyl has just the right amount of stickiness so it doesn’t stick to itself and it can also be peeled off and repositioned.
After covering all the shelves and the little door, I finally started covering the actual tower. Basically, since I took the tower apart, this meant that the only things left to cover were the two outer sides of it. Again, the paper went on quickly and easily. You’ll notice in the pictures above that I used a ruler as my straight edge for smoothing out the paper. It wasn’t until I started applying the paper that I realized I didn’t have an actual straight edge but the ruler was a fab alternative.
After I covered the sides of the tower, I reassembled it. Once reassembled, I worked on the little details like covering the handles and hooks and around the perimeter of the base of the unit.
I’m very pleased with how the tower looks now. The old gray finish was very drab and just didn’t give the dramatic punch I was looking for. Now, with the gold on white, the tower exudes eye-catching glam!
Images: Jason Loper
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The host of designyourwall contact papers are so enticing and I am glad to hear your experience with it was so positive and easy!
That said, at $65 for a 4ft roll, it's a pricey alternative to paint/wallpaper! Thanks for sharing :)
great job.
where did you get this piece of furniture from?
Very groovy. And yes, expensive, but not as expensive as a new piece.
I recently sold one of these Ikea KAJAKs on Craigslist. It practically flew out the door as soon as I posted it. As someone who gets attached to my furniture (even when I'm selling it), I hope the person I sold it to does something cool like this with it!
I love that thing! It looks like a tartis! I would totally want to climb inside it and pretend I could time travel.
It looks fantastic with the wallpaper (as does the hallway with that great paper!). Cool!
before = hideous. after = hideous with nasty wallpaper on it. It's just a really ugly piece of furniture no matter what you do to it.
Great use of contact paper. I like that you also covered the handle and hooks.
wow! I have the same storage tower and I was also thinking to either spray paint it or wallpaper it. I'm glad to know it's not as difficult as I was afraid it would be. Does anybody know what kind of paint would be most suitable for this surface?
You did a really incredible job covering it! I can't believe you were able to do the hooks and handle too.
My only word of caution for a project like this is using contact paper in a diy redo basically makes it the last redo that piece will probably see. Removing contact paper is a total mess (especially on walls, as is often suggested in other diy project posts); it can't really be painted; and adding another layer of contact paper on top of it doesn't really work. I don't say this to be a naysayer, but a lot of readers here are just starting out in diy and decorating ideas, and often don't know the pitfalls of some of these methods.
I have to agree with Karen. I hate this ikea rotating shelf. I do like it better after but if only it didn't have that round base (I realize it is necessary for it to rotate).
@ Ban Clothing
@ Karen
It's a God send space saver. You wouldn't believe how much it holds and it occupies so little floor space.
I don't care how much it holds - it's ugly. My home is my sanctuary. I can't bear to have ugly things in my space. I would find another way to store the stuff or get rid of the stuff. I understand that others don't seem to be as affected by their surrondings though and can put up with ugly decor and things - just not me.
This storage piece is cool, I really like it! I'm sometimes taken aback when I see such strong, opinionated, commentary in these posts. I acknowledge & respect that we all have different tastes/style/whatever, and I also acknowledge that when we share our opinions on AT that we ARE talking about someone's home and their efforts. If we don't like something, of course we can say as much, however shouldn't we (try to) be more considerate when commenting? Ok, I'm done.
I have one of these - Thanks for the NAME!! Kajak. :)
Mine is white, and it has been my husband's for EVER. It's terrific storage for jeans, you can put your robe on the side, etc. It'd be awesome empty in a guest room (which MAY be where mine moves next. The fact that it's mirrored on the closed side ALSO makes it AMAZING!! :)
in the first picture it looks like it contains the entry to a tiny hallway. i know it must be a mirror, but i can't help thinking it really does look like the entrance to another dimension...
@MotoBonnie
it's a 49 foot roll!
http://www.designyourwall.com/store/Vintage-Gold-Self-Adhesive-200x3099-pr-4313.html