apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

You could try using oilcloth cut to size instead. Oilcloth comes in many patterns and colors (mostly retro) and is a breeze to clean. Take a look at oilcloth.com for ideas.

You should take a look at the Container Store. They are very Martha Stewart/Blueprint-ish. Clean, sweet, but not too twee. They also have unscented ones too.

http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?searchId=14759876&itemIndex=1&CATID=69172&PRODID=59828

If you can stand going to a major retailer, I just bought an aluminum look-alike (i.e. silver, shiny, reflective) at Lowe's for $6 a roll (20" x 4') to line the shelves of my exposed office bookcase.

target: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63122153@N00/2429681927/in/set-72157604016326174/

AT, thanks for the Aubuchon suggestion, but a quick glance at their site confirms my suspicion that contact paper is irredeemably fugly. :(

this site always points me towards lovely stationary/gift wrap sites. i want to use some of *that* as contact paper! but i also want it to hang vertically. is there no simple, not-too-sticky adhesive one can make at home? or am i doomed to using scotch tape on the backside?

We've had really good luck with the shelf lining material they sell at IKEA. It's a plastic mat that's smooth on one side and slightly nubby on the other side. It doesn't stick down (so you can easily remove it later) but it has enough of a grab that it doesn't slide around. It comes in a couple of colors - we used the clear/white at our old place and now we've got the clear with a gray tint. I think it also came in blue at one point (still might). You buy it buy the roll (it's pretty inexpensive if I recall) and cut it to fit. It looks very clean and modern.

Why do you need to install shelf-liner?

i hate shelf liners.

contact paper is incredibly tacky (no pun intended) and cloths or anything else similar just reminds me too much of old lady doilies.

If you're that concerned about dust or any grime that might be on the shelves (which are the biggest reasons to have them I've been told) I'd suggest avoiding the whole matter by having something installed that will hold your dinner- and stemware upright or suspended.

Or just wash your shelver really, really well when you first move in.

I have seen really cute modern contact paper at Target (modern circles/polka dots, stainless steel, cork). However, I have been wondering if contact paper is made out of PVC or has phthalates (because I know it is some sort of vinyl), and if so, does anyone know of a source for non-toxic, more eco-friendly contact paper. I would really love to use it on some things in my apartment because I'm a renter (well, honestly, I'd probably use it on *everything*, but lets not go there).

Thanks for any help!

KMart has many styles of contact paper made by Martha Stewart. A bunch of them are passable. I used one to line the shelves of an Ikea Lack bookshelf that I hacked.

Alternatively, if you want to use gift wrap, cut it slightly smaller than the shelf and cover it with transparent contact paper, which should also be available at KMart. I know that DesignSponge has a tutorial on doing this inside of dresser drawers.

I don't like using contact paper because it is a hassle to remove and often leaves a sticky residue. I prefer going to the art store and using 2 ply bristol board and cutting it to the size of the drawer. The 2 ply is stiff enough not to wrinkle or shift in the drawer when it is installed. It is a cleaner look, just as easy to install, easier to remove and afterwards the paper can be reused for crafts, other drawers or recycled.

I've been looking for something to replace my contact paper. I'm a renter so definitely need something to cover the shelves. I moved in about two years ago and I've only now discovered that silver fish like the adhesive in contact paper. Is the IKEA roll you speak of @casiep called Rationell variera ?
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80012853

I am always curious as to why Americans feel the need to use contact paper or line their drawers - I don't see the point of it - just wash the drawer/shelf/cupboard and put the stuff in

We cut and folder brown butcher paper to our kitchen cabinets: they were the kind of dirt you couldn't wash out. We can easily swap it out, without leaving gummy residue behind.

Or fresh paint?

Suzannah, when I decided to reline my kitchen shelves several years ago I couldn't find anything I liked either. So I bought clear ridged plastic shelf liner and some fabric I loved. I cut both to fit, hemmed the edges of the fabric and put the clear liner on top of my custom fabric.

Extremely simple and easy AND I have an end result I'm very happy with.

Violetrose: I would have gone with no shelf liner myself, but a previous owner had lined all shelves and drawers with fake woodgrain contact paper, which I hated the look of. I'm with the others who dislike contact paper. You can't remove it very easily and in my case I couldn't get it to come off at all. So my solution was to cover what was there with something I DO like.

Yes! RATIONELL VARIERA - that's it. I tried to find a link but couldn't. We've been really pleased with it. At $3.99 not bad.

I'm a little late to the conversation, but I use cork to line my kitchen cabinets. Nice and cushy for placing my glasses on, but still breathable if the glass is not completely dry.

The Container Store has rolls with adhesive on the back, however, I picked up a craft roll of it at Pearl Paint without the adhesive. It curls a little, but eventually lays flat under the weight of the dishes.

Any British people (of a certain age) out there?
This is STICKY BACK PLASTIC :-)

I found many different styled shelf liners and contact papers at www.designyourwall.com.