You don’t know any dancing people from the 1800’s? I will share mine with you then…
![P1070381](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070381.jpg?w=300&h=225)
All in pink as well, with plaid trim to boot! Look at them with their carefree dancing, looks like a blast. In case you are wondering this is the border that our guest room was sporting.
![P1070369](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070369.jpg?w=300&h=224)
![P1070363](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070363.jpg?w=225&h=300)
You didn’t know that their were dancing people on that border did you? Lets get one more close up…
![P1070370](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070370.jpg?w=300&h=225)
The previous paint job is great as well, they didn’t get any of the wall color on the ceiling.
I decided my first step in improving this room would be to remove this border. First things first, I had to select what method I was going to use to remove this wallpaper border. My mom had told me that my sister had used liquid fabric softener diluted with warm water. I had never heard of this before, but I had both of these things on hand, figured I should give it a shot. Also, I would like to add that my sister purchased a home with wallpaper on every surface and has successfully removed all of it and lived to tell the story. I figured it might be a good idea to take her advice. So, I got my supplies ready…
![P1070360](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070360.jpg?w=225&h=300)
and
![P1070372](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070372.jpg?w=225&h=300)
Pretty complicated stuff I’m working with here.
I just added approximately one part liquid fabric softener to 6 parts hot water and came up with this….
![P1070358](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070358.jpg?w=226&h=300)
Wallpapers worst nightmare!
First I moved all of our junk/furniture to the middle of the room. This room is currently being used as an extra storage/junk room. I then grabbed my step ladder and got to it.
![P1070382](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070382.jpg?w=225&h=300)
I just sprayed the concoction directly on the border and let it sit for a minute. In the meantime I was wiping away all of the drippage. which you can sort of see in the unclear photo below:
![P1070384](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070384.jpg?w=300&h=225)
I grabbed a towel immediately and kept it with me the rest of the time to clean up the dripping of my fabric softener and water concoction.
From there I started peeling the border back with my metal putty knife.
![P1070389](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070389.jpg?w=300&h=224)
Like so. Once I got a good corner up I just used my hands to pull the paper away from the wall.
![P1070390](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070390.jpg?w=300&h=225)
Most times this is what would happen…
![P1070395](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070395.jpg?w=300&h=225)
The top layer of the wallpaper would pull away easily but the glue and second papery layer still remained on the wall.
![P1070397](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070397.jpg?w=300&h=224)
So I went back and sprayed the second layer of paper, which seemed to soak up the fabric softener mix a lot better.
![P1070399](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070399.jpg?w=300&h=225)
This time around I was able to peel up an edge and pull the paper right off. A few peices usually stuck on the wall but I just used the putty knife to scrape those right off. I continued with this method peeling the first layer and going back to get the remaining paper backing in my second attempt. After about a half an hour I was well on my way and had a good pace going.
![P1070404](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070404.jpg?w=217&h=300)
And I was also leaving a pretty decent mess in my tracks…
![P1070405](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070405.jpg?w=225&h=300)
After about an hour and a half total I was left with this…
![P1070406](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070406.jpg?w=300&h=225)
![P1070409](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070409.jpg?w=225&h=300)
And this mess to clean…
![P1070408](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070408.jpg?w=225&h=300)
From there, I went to town cleaning up the shredded wallpaper that was everywhere. I also cleaned the walls and all of the trim and then removed all of the switch plates and old nails from the walls.
![P1070413](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070413.jpg?w=226&h=300)
![P1070414](https://nessjustinblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p1070414.jpg?w=225&h=300)
I now have a blank slate and I am ready to start painting! Wahoo I am on my way to my own art/office/storage room! Would you like a list of to dos? Okay fine!
To do:
Remove border.
Clean walls and trim.
- Paint trim and walls.
- Update outlets and light switch.
- Make window treatment.
- Make shelves for walls.
- Get new desk.
- Figure out a storage system for all of my art/craft supplies.
- Organize all of the art/craft supplies.
- Add decorations!
- Enjoy my new room!
There you have it, a new to do list to accomplish.