Monday, August 18, 2014

diy polka dotted wall



I have loved polka dots as long as I can remember.  When we first bought our house and where trying to figure out what to do with the master bedroom, I knew I wanted to have a polka dotted wall.  



I started combing the internet to find a place to buy polka dotted decals.  Then I read this tutorial. It suggested using colored contact paper instead, so you could trace and cut out dots in the exact size you wanted.  Lo and behold, buying a roll of contact paper is so much cheaper than buying pre-cut dots.  I found a roll of gold contact paper on amazon (here) and got to work. 

As shown in the inspiration pictures above, I liked confetti or glitter-like polka dot patterns instead of something very organized.  In order to make things look more "confetti-ish", I decided to make different sized dots and used two items to trace the dots.  The larger dots ended up being about 4 inches across.  I used the top from a small kitchen canister to trace the smaller dots, which were 2 inches across.


This step took the longest amount of time. Trevor and I would put on a movie in the evening, and I would spend the next couple of hours just tracing and cutting out circles. I traced just a handful of the larger circles and around 100 smaller circles by the end of the project.



The next step was figuring out a pattern to stick up the dots.  I knew I wanted the dots to look more like confetti falling than a specific length apart.  I decided to start from one corner of the bedroom where the dots would be more concentrated and then sprinkle out from there.  Before I began, I put up sticky notes to mark where I wanted the dots to go.  That way, I could take a step back and rearrange the sticky notes before I put the dots up if things looked too far apart or close together. 

Once I liked the sticky note placement, the dots went up quickly and without any problems.  Our wall has a little bit of texture, but that didn't interfere with the contact paper's stickiness at all. The hardest part of this step was getting the paper's backing to separate from the sticky side.  After putting up the dots after a while, I stopped putting up sticky notes, since I had gotten use to the placement of the dots and was able to eyeball it.  Once I buckled down and was focused, it only took me a day or so to finish this project.


Here's what the wall looked like when it was half done.  I'd take a picture of what the wall looks like right now, but our bed is covered in clean laundry that still needs to be taken care of... so that picture will come later.  

All in all, this was an easy project.  The most time consuming part was tracing and cutting the circles.  Over a hundred circles later, I still have half a roll of the contact paper left, so it's a relatively inexpensive project.  I put up the first circles a few months ago, and they haven't fallen off or lost any of their stickiness.  The only problem I had was when I didn't like the placement of a dot and went to peel it off to reposition it.  Once or twice when I did this, the contact paper held on to the wall and some paint peeled off.  I love the way our wall looks and Trevor says it doesn't look too girly.


15 comments:

  1. HI, I'm visiting from the linky party. I like your polka dots. I've always wanted to try but I don't have the patience... Great job!

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  2. This is awesome! Next time I want some new decals I get me some contact paper. I never would have thought of that method.

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    1. I'm so happy I found the suggestion for contact paper! It worked so well and is so customizable.

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  3. Very cute! I would love it if you joined and contribute your awesome posts at my link party at City of Creative Dreams, starts on Fridays :D Hope to see you there at City of Creative Dreams Link Party.

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  4. I too am a fellow polka dot lover so this is right up my street. I'm looking round the house for plain walls that this would look fab on !

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  5. Hey, I saw this over on the Do tell Link party...Love it! I am so glad you went scattered and not perfectly spaced polka dots...it looks so much younger and fresher! :) I just did a gold project myself...It’s #48 on the party if you want to check it out.

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  6. The walls are so cute.
    Debi @ Adorned From Above

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  7. This room is so cute! The polka dots add the perfect touch! I'm so glad you shared this at the Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop--I just pinned this to the FCHBH Link Ups board!

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  8. Got to love some polka dots! Very pretty, well done :)


    Sarah @ EDEA SMITH
    www.edea-smith.co.uk

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  9. Hi Allie! I just love your polka dot wall! I've picked it as one of my features this week at the Link it or Lump It party! Come grab a button to brag a little and link up again! http://www.silhouetteschool.blogspot.com/2014/08/link-it-or-lump-it-link-party-52-plus.html - Melissa @ Silhouette School

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