Look! Crepe Paper Wall StripeReadyMade Blog

Every Friday, the editors' blog at ReadyMade features a reader's weekend project, which never fails to make me feel like I'm about to waste my own weekend accomplishing next to nothing. The creativity of those projects is just amazing! I was especially wowed by last week's feature, this crepe paper wall treatment from ReadyMade reader Matt Pisane...

Matt's crepe paper project was so successful that he did it for a friend in this bedroom too!

Matt was sick of his blank white walls, but he wanted a less costly, less labor-intensive solution than painting. Crepe paper and double-sided scotch tape were all it took to create this dramatic striped look. He used a piece of tape at the top and bottom of each streamer, and believe it or not, he just eyeballed the stripes to get them straight. He also notes the importance of making sure to buy crepe paper that doesn't bleed (the packaging should indicate "no-bleed").

While this doesn't seem like it would last terribly long, I think it's a fun way to temporarily add some fun and drama to a room, especially if you're a renter and painting's not allowed.

For more tips from Matt on how to make this project work, including tips for ensuring straight stripes if you're a perfectionist, read the full post at ReadyMade. You can also find more of their "Weekend Warrior" projects here.

(Images: Matt Pisane/ReadyMade)

Seems like something that would look good in a picture but be impossible to live with.

posted by tatiana9 on August 24th 2009 at 9:17am
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Cute for a few days, but I don't think I want my house looking like decorations from a high school prom.

posted by Indy Jeffrey on August 24th 2009 at 9:22am
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Seriously? This project is the perfect combination of ultra-lazy and too much effort.

The streamers will tear easily. Just move those pillows around and your wall treatment is wrecked. I also can't imagine it looks very good up close. Better to spend the weekend painting real stripes on your wall. A can of paint, a brush and some masking tape is not that expensive.

posted by slowdown on August 24th 2009 at 10:33am
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it might be less precarious if the crepe paper was used to make horizontal stripes along the upper portion of the wall...

posted by lauren81 on August 24th 2009 at 11:33am
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I stayed at the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento and my room had bold striped b/w wallcovering it drove me crazy just for one night.

posted by LoriSF on August 24th 2009 at 12:37pm
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Might be cute in two different colors and also in a horizontal pattern to make a plaid wall. (Just one wall)

posted by Icanmakeit on August 24th 2009 at 2:21pm
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I am not convinced that there is such a thing as "no bleed" crepe paper! So he may be very sorry if any moisture hits the stuff...

Looks kind of cool, but I'd do it with paint and painter's tape.

posted by SherryBinNH on August 24th 2009 at 5:47pm
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