Welcome to “Weekend Warriors.” Every Friday, we run a shining example of a reader’s recent makings—to say TGIF and send you off right into your own weekend’s projects.
This Friday’s weekend project comes from Matt Pisane, a graphic designer in New York. Matt writes:
After several months of looking at the blank white wall of my bedroom, I decided something needed to be done. I wanted a solution that was cheap and easier than painting.
Then it came to me—common crepe paper party streamers. They come in a variety of colors and cost as little as five bucks for a 500-foot roll. The only other thing needed is a little double sided tape to hold them in place at the top and bottom.
I’ve received many compliments on the idea and recently put them up on a friend’s wall (pictured below—ed.).
Thought you guys might be interested. It’s an easy solution to a common problem—the boring, stark white wall.
Turns out we are interested. We wrote back to Matt and he shared some tips for replicating his pinstriped walls.
• To get the stripes straight: “I just winged it to my best ability to get the stripes straight. However, marking off light tick lines, using a plum line or starting in the corner against the adjoining wall are all ways to ensure more precise
placement.”
• To fasten the streamers to the wall: “A 1.5″ stip of tape on the top and bottom is all that’s necessary. I used Scotch Permanent Double-Sided tape which may be problematic down the road. But Scotch also sells a ‘Removable’ double-sided tape that is probably better suited for eventual removal. On a side note, the streamers themselves don’t bleed so there’s nothing to worry about there.”
Some additional tips from Matt:
• Place the side of the streamer that’s on the outside of the roll against the wall. It seems to lay more flat this way.
• After securing the top, pull the streamer nice and tight toward the bottom so it is flush with the wall. The streamers have a bit of stretch. Mark it, tape it, THEN cut off the excess.
• Humidity may cause the streamers to loosen a bit and even sag from the wall slightly. However, they go back to normal when the weather is moderate again. 99% of the time they are fine.
A dedicated DIY’er, Matt notes that the dry erase board on his wall was cut to size and mounted in an old frame. The corkboard was found and spray-painted blue for interest. He didn’t say what the story is on the shiny, industrial-looking lamp in the picture, but we kind of like that, too.
(Images by Matt Pisane)
If you’ve completed a project that you’d like to see featured on Weekend Warriors, don’t be shy—send it to us.
Hey Matt,
Great project! I was just wondering if you found no-bleed crepe paper streamers, or do they not bleed because you use tape and not glue?
Thanks!
Hey there Matt…we’ve had quite a few questions about the project over on our Facebook page (see below). Any chance of chiming in here (or there)? Would love to hear from you…
Jennifer Chernoff
Where does one find this magical crepe paper that doesn’t bleed? I have never worked with any that doesn’t.
Jennifer Ruffing Paisley
I was just thinking the same thing, Jennifer.
about an hour ago
Martha Willette Lewis
It bleeds, it fades really quickly, and chez moi, would rip almost immediately…
might be nice for a party or short term event, but not for anything long term,
about an hour ago
Andrew Wagner
hmmmmmm…we’re going to have to get Matt to weigh in on his experience! Matt! Are you there? Talk to us Matt…
Misty Fitzgerald
I’ve seen this method used to stain walls in patterns but not left on wall.
Hello,
I purchased the party streamers at Party City.
Not sure of the brand, but it says clearly on the packaging that they do not bleed… and they have not. Another brand I came across were no bleed and fire resistant too.
They haven’t faded, and when I’ve accidentally rubbed against them they stretched and moved but did not tear.
Hope that helps.
I am definitely going to try this! It is really hard to find decorating and project tips for a rented apartment. I’m only planning on living here for a year, so painting and anything else requiring major transformation is out of the question. I love Readymade for inspiration and small crafts, but many projects require things like installing light fixtures or working with power tools (which I don’t own yet), so it’s great to find something I can actually do! Thanks!
I love this idea, but alas, my kitty would have a field day with it! Maybe when he’s old and too lazy to play with a room full of “toys,” as he’d see it…
[...] reader Matt Pisane, who redid his walls earlier this year with a ticking stripe made from inexpensive crepe paper, writes in: “So I decided to update my wall decor. This time around I used a $25 pad of [...]
i wonder if that inexpensive nylon ribbon you can get from floral supply and craft stores would work well too? Hmmmm…gotta do some research! Thanks for the idea.