Bookcase Makeover Using Upholstered Cardboard

Make a huge impact to a bookcase by adding color and pattern, without the permanence and work of paint. Try this bookcase makeover using upholstered cardboard. Upholstering (a fun word for covering) cardboard inserts is an inexpensive and easy DIY.

I first upholstered cardboard bookcase inserts to reduce the overwhelming oakiness of our living room’s full wall oak bookcase. As we plan to redo the bookcase in a few years, I didn’t want to spend too much time or money on a solution.

From experience, I’ve learned that refinishing or painting oak takes a lot of work. I considered peel and stick wallpaper, but wasn’t sure of the impact on the oak if we left the paper on for several years (we plan to re-use the oak for other projects). Plus, coaxing peel and stick wallpaper to lay smooth in the bookcase nooks seemed like a massive headache.

So, I took a safe and completely removable approach using my massive stockpile of cardboard and upholstery fabric. Re-purposing materials feels so satisfying and you can’t beat the cost! This DIY is great to spruce up inexpensive bookcases with cardboard backing, media cabinets with cord holes in the back or for renters looking for interesting, but removable, decor.

The trickiest part of this project is finding large enough pieces of cardboard for long or tall shelves. Save big boxes and ask friends and family to pass along large boxes. In a pinch, combine pieces of cardboard with duct tape before upholstering. Also, foam board can substitute for the cardboard and is usually available at Dollar Tree and craft stores.

Use all one fabric, or mix it up with coordinating colors or different patterns in one color. I chose three patterns in the same color, a solid for the shelves with books and patterns behind photos and mementos.

If you’re looking for another way to repurpose cardboard, check out our duct tape covered storage boxes and under couch toy storage boxes.

Selecting Upholstery Material for a Bookcase Makeover

I’ve used this upholstered cardboard method on three bookcases using fabric, peel and stick wallpaper and paper. All three look great – here are my thoughts on each.

Fabric is my favorite – it is forgiving (easy to reposition and remove wrinkles) and the color/pattern options are essentially limitless. Fabric can be expensive, so look for sales. Thick fabric works best for this project as it doesn’t easily wrinkle or stretch. Look for upholstery, canvas, duck or outdoor fabric.

Peel and stick wallpaper is slightly more difficult to smooth and re-position than fabric. It comes in many colors and patterns, but not as many as fabric.

Paper is a more delicate material and slightly more difficult to smooth than fabric. Most decorative paper is too small to cover an entire shelf back but seams aren’t too noticeable. Wrapping paper is a good option because of its large area and low cost. For geography-minded folks, an upholstered bookcase is a great use for old maps.

Bookcase Makeover Using Upholstered Cardboard – Materials

How to Makeover a Bookcase Using Upholstered Cardboard

These directions are for fabric upholstered cardboard, but the instructions are the same for paper or peel and stick wallpaper. The only exception is that spray adhesive is not needed for peel and stick wallpaper.

1. Measure For and Prepare Fabric

Measure each shelf back and add an extra inch on each side. For example, for a 12″ x 24″ shelf insert – the fabric piece would be 14″ x 26″. Combine measurements of all fabric pieces to calculate amount of fabric to purchase. Keep in mind:

• Fabric length is measured by the yard: 1 yard equals 36 inches.
• Fabric is sold in various widths, measured in inches, often 54″. Depending on the shelf back width and pattern orientation, a single width of fabric may only accommodate one shelf insert.
• Buy extra fabric to allow for measuring or cutting mishaps or if you want to align a pattern from one shelf to the next.

Pre-washing fabric is not necessary. Iron fabric to remove wrinkles.

2. Measure and Cut Cardboard

Protect the work surface – I cut on top of extra pieces of cardboard. Measure shelf back and mark measurements on cardboard. Some shelf backs are uneven, so measure several places along the edges.

Cut cardboard just slightly larger than shelf back to ensure a snug fit, add no more than 1/16″ for the horizontal and vertical measurements.

Cut by running sharp utility knife along metal ruler (carefully of course). Use steel carpenter square to ensure lines are perpendicular.

Test fit cardboard and trim if necessary. Snug cardboard can be tricky to remove – if cardboard doesn’t come out easily, gently pry out with a flat instrument, such as a flathead screwdriver or table knife.

3. Cut Fabric for Bookcase Makeover Using Upholstered Cardboard

Lay cardboard on fabric. If using patterned fabric, line up fabric so pattern is straight (or as straight as possible). Cut fabric with 1″ excess on each side.

4. Upholster Cardboard

Cover the unmarked inside of the cardboard piece with spray adhesive (markings on the outside of the cardboard may show through, especially if using a light colored fabric). Use spray adhesive outside or in a well ventilated area with surfaces covered to prevent sticky overspray.

Flip cardboard over and apply spray adhesive on outer 1″.

Place sticky side of cardboard on wrong side of fabric. Leave 1″ excess fabric on each edge and align so pattern (if any) is straight.

Apply white or craft glue to fabric overhang.

Fold corner fabric down diagonally to cover the corner. Add glue to turned fabric. Cover all corners first, then move to the sides.

Starting at the center of each side, fold fabric over the cardboard moving toward one corner, then the other.

Pull fabric snug, but not so tight it pulls the fabric on the opposite side.

Smooth any wrinkles.

The glue should be enough to hold the fabric, but to keep secure, tape edges with clear packing tape.

5. Insert Upholstered Cardboard Into Bookcase

Place the upholstered cardboard in the shelf and press against the back. Tension holds cardboard in place. Repeat for each shelf.

Tips for Using Peel and Stick Wallpaper

Peel and stick wallpaper can rip if the backing isn’t peeled off evenly. Repair rips by aligning the sides when applying the paper to the cardboard.

If a wrinkle forms, carefully peel back the paper, re-position, and re-stick.

Where possible, order wallpaper wider than the shelf back so there is enough paper to fold over the cardboard. Even a very small overlap is fine; the edges can be secured on the back of the cardboard with tape. If the wallpaper isn’t wide enough, use two pieces and align pattern.

Tips for Using Paper

A glue stick worked as well as spray adhesive for paper as the upholstery material, but make sure to tape the back edges for secure attachment. After applying adhesive, smooth paper in one direction starting from one side. Wrinkles in the paper will lay flat when smoothed with firm pressure.

We’ve been really pleased with our updated bookcases. The upholstered cardboard backs add a lovely pop of color and we can easily change them out to try something new. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments.

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