How to Apply Wallpaper to the Back of a Plate Rack

This tutorial shows you how to apply peel and stick wallpaper to the back of a plate rack to customize it to your decor.

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Backstory

Incorporating wallpaper into your home decor has increasingly become popular.  However, purchasing enough wallpaper for an entire room can be costly.  In this article, I am showing you an affordable and easy way to incorporate wallpaper into your decor by using it on the back of a wooden plate rack.   The plate rack I used for this project was a thrifted find from when I lived in Delaware. Presently, it’s mounted on the wall in our dining room, holding dinner plates, salad plates, mugs and pitchers.  It’s an affordable way to create storage on a blank wall.  Finally, plate racks are great to use in small spaces for displaying your decorative plates.  

​Wallpapering the Back of a Plate Rack

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If you don’t have a plate rack, it is fairly easy to build a DIY plate rack.  Janet Clark walks you through the steps in this tutorial.  Building a custom plate rack is a great way to tailor the design to your specific space. Additionally, because you would be using furring strips to construct the plate rack, the lumber costs are reasonable. 

You can also find plate racks at your local flea market, antique store, and vintage market.

Finally, I linked some online sources for wooden plate racks below. 

Supplies

• Wall mounted plate rack
  • This is a good option
  • Here is another option
  • This is a good option for a narrow area
• Plywood cut to fit the back of the plate rack. Measure from outside edge to outside edge of the plate rack. (The local lumber store cut it to size for me)
• Peel and Stick Wallpaper of your choice
  • I used this wallpaper
  • Here is a similar style
  • Another similar style
• Finishing nails and hammer or nail gun
• Cutting mat and box cutter
• Straight edge ruler

Step 1: Cut Wallpaper to Size

Clear your work space and assemble all of your supplies.  Unroll the  wallpaper and let it lay flat.  TIP: Letting the wallpaper unfurl makes is a little easier to work with.  Determine the length and width of the wallpaper needed for the piece of plywood. 

Identify where your wallpaper pattern repeats.  Using the box cutter, cutting mat and straight edge ruler, trim two pieces of wallpaper long enough to cover the piece of plywood and ensure the patterns of each piece will line up.  TIP: Use a new box cutter blade.  This helps to ensure easy and clean cuts of wallpaper. 

Step 2: Apply Wallpaper

Find the center of the piece of plywood and use the straight edge to draw a line down the middle.  Line up your peel and stick wallpaper with the center line and gently peel the backing off.  TIP: it’s best to align the seam of your two wallpaper pieces in the center of the plywood.  Start in the middle with the two pieces of wallpaper and work your way toward the edges. 

Lift the corner and readjust the wallpaper as need to ensure it is straight and free of wrinkles or bubbles. Take your time with this process.  Once your first piece of wallpaper is on the plywood, line up your second piece of wallpaper on the other side of the center line. Remember, work from the center of plywood out towards the edges.  

If needed, continue to apply wallpaper until the entire piece of plywood is covered.   Trim any excess peel and stick wallpaper from the plywood using your box cutter. 

Step 3: Attach Plywood and Mount Plate Rack

Using the finishing nails and a small hammer, attach the ply wood to the back of the plate rack.  I used a nail gun designed for finishing nails.

The wallpaper will be facing the inside of the plate rack and the plain plywood will be on the back.  Once the plywood with wallpaper is attached securely to the plate rack, mount it on the wall.  TIP: be sure to secure the plate rack to a stud in the wall. Drywall is not strong enough to support the weight of plates, cups and pitchers. 

Other Considerations

This project is an easy way to give a plate rack a new look.  The peel and stick wallpaper can be removed and changed so you can customize the look to your decor. Similarly, you can paint your plate rack to match your decor.  (Either with spray paint or latex paint)

If you don’t have room for a plate rack in your dining room, hang one in your kitchen, breakfast nook or hallway.

Wallpapered Plate Rack

Below are images of the plate rack with wallpaper applied to the back.  It’s one of my favorite areas to decorate for the changing seasons.  In addition to using it for storing plates, I also use it as a drying rack for flowers and herbs  from the garden. 

​In Closing . . .

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