Homemade Wallpaper Paste

I haven't been posting much because I've been busy making a mess of my house--grin. Ooh, I also had a garage sale with my sister-in-love, Gena. We each made nearly $400 just cleaning out the house! 

I am working hard to get all my painting done so I can refinish the floors.  I prefer white trim, so we are busy sanding and washing the wood work.  I also hung beadboard wall paper in the girl's room and am painting over it to make it look more realistic.  I'm amazed how the seams disappear when they are painted.

 

To hang the wallpaper and make sure it stays through the very humid parts of the year, I added my own homemade wallpaper paste.  It's so much less expensive than store bought, and not hard to make.  I used my electric skillet since my stove is gone.  Here's the recipe:

1/2 cup cornstarch, 1/2 cup white sugar, and 2 quarts of water.  Mix the cornstarch and sugar in the skillet.  Add enough cool water to make a smooth paste.  Slowly add the rest of the water and cook and stir until thick.  

(It's handy to let the paper drip into the tub below.)

To use, activate prepasted wallpaper by dipping it in water. A storage tub was just the right size for us. 

 Use a clean paintbrush to lightly apply the homemade paste and ...

...fold the pasted sides together to book.  Set the timer for 10 minutes and allow the paper to rest like this before applying to the wall. I can't wait to show you after pictures!

 

P.S.  The Beadboard wallpaper is $15 a double roll at Lowes.  It took about 4.5 rolls to go 2/3 high on the girl's room (11 x 12 feet). I found real beadboard there for $40 a sheet 4 foot by 8 foot.  This was easier for me and a fraction of the price.  It looks real!

 

 

Comments

[Andrea]

Angela, I have always purchased wallpaper paste because I heard the homemade stuff can get moldy. If I remember right, there is something one can add to homemade paste to help stop that, but I cannot remember what it is. Have you ever had a problem with that? I am allergic to mold and never wanted to chance it.

[Angela]

Mold is NOT good, I agree. I've never had a problem with mold in the wallpaper as long as it stays dry. The ingredients in the commercial stuff (regular, not vinyl to vinyl) aren't much different than homemade and a few drops of tea tree oil will stop mold in it's tracks.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll be sure to add some tea tree the next time.

[Jeaneen]

Angela,
I am thoroughly enjoying th eposts of all you've been doing to you home(which already looks good to me by the way!)
Please keep the pictorial/tutorial posts coming!
I am hoping to try teh faux leather floor on an area in our house where water damage occured.However we haven't fixed teh problem of hte water coming in yet, so I have to wait.

[Oxy]

I'm going through old posts of yours and must have missed this in the beginning. WOW! that is just stunning!

[toronto bathroom renovations]

Your blog is very well-informed. Your topic of concentration is also very excellent. You have plant a very significant concern. I liked it. Thanks for sharing with me.

[Wall art]

I bet this a great activity and boding with your kids at the same time. I'm sure they will enjoy designing wall papers.