Contact Paper Makes Dreams Come True

Last week I got seriously crafty to jazz up my space. My tastes have changed from Industrial metal to white everywhere (Sweden finally rubbed off on me). I have been challenging myself to reduce the amount of purchases I bring into the home and to improve the things I already have. My filing cabinet is a good example. It was a bargain at the Crate & Barrel outlet in Cranberry, NJ when we bought it 5 years ago but the gray just doesn't fit my office any longer. Enter: Marble contact paper & gold spray paint. For around $20 I revamped the filing cabinet and it looks MUCH better. This was my first try using contact paper and it won't be my last. It was relatively simple to use, inexpensive, and makes an impact.

How to use contact paper:

1. Measure the space you want to cover. Use the handy grid on the back of the contact paper to cut to size.

2. Clean the furniture item to ensure no dust or dirt is left on the surface.

3. Peel a corner and align to the item you are covering. Slowly continue to peel a bit at a time while smoothing it over your furniture item until you have finished.

4. Make sure to do this slowly and check that the surface is smooth, without bubbles before continuing. If bubbles occur, slowly peel up the spot and smooth over again. At the end, if you discover a bubble you didn't see before, most can be removed by poking a small needle into the bubble to release the air. Don't rely on this method though. The best is to catch the bubbles as soon as they happen and peel up and re-smooth the spot.

Tip: Grab a rag or sponge to smooth the contact paper onto your furniture piece during the entire process. It helps reduce the amount of bubbles left in between the contact paper and the furniture item compared to using only your fingers.

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