Artisan Accents: 5 Unexpected Ways to Decorate with Wallpaper Remnants

Key Takeaways

  • Wallpaper remnants are too beautiful to waste — Morris designs lend themselves to a remarkable range of creative applications.
  • Framing wallpaper remnants as art is one of the simplest and most effective ways to extend a design throughout your home.
  • Lining drawers, shelves, and the backs of bookcases with Morris wallpaper creates moments of unexpected delight.
  • Wallpaper remnants can be used to create bespoke stationery, gift wrap, and decorative accessories.
  • Thinking creatively about remnants is both economical and environmentally responsible — values that Morris himself would have applauded.

When you order a Morris wallpaper, you will almost certainly have remnants left over — offcuts from trimming, partial rolls from a room that needed less than expected, or simply the beautiful sample that convinced you to buy in the first place. These remnants are far too precious to throw away. Here are five unexpected and genuinely beautiful ways to put them to work.

1. Frame Them as Art

Iris & Chrysanthemum Wallpaper - Sapphire Blue

The simplest and most effective use of a Morris remnant is also the most obvious: frame it. A well-chosen section of Iris & Chrysanthemum Wallpaper in Sapphire Blue, mounted in a simple white or gilt frame, becomes an instant piece of botanical art. Group several framed sections together for a gallery wall effect, or use a single large piece as a statement artwork above a fireplace or bed. As Wikipedia notes, Morris always insisted that there was no distinction between fine art and decorative art — and a framed section of his wallpaper proves the point beautifully.

2. Line Your Drawers and Shelves

Forest Rose Wallpaper - Grey Blue Rose

Lining the drawers of a chest or the shelves of a wardrobe with Morris wallpaper is one of those small domestic pleasures that makes everyday life feel more beautiful. The Forest Rose Wallpaper in Grey Blue Rose is a perfect choice for this application: its delicate, romantic pattern transforms the interior of a drawer into a private garden, visible only to you.

3. Back Your Bookcases

Artichoke Wallpaper - Mint Green

Lining the back panel of a bookcase with wallpaper is a classic decorator's trick that never fails to delight. The Artichoke Wallpaper in Mint Green creates a beautiful backdrop for books and objects, its botanical pattern visible between the spines and adding a layer of visual richness to the entire piece of furniture. This works equally well with built-in bookcases and freestanding ones.

4. Create Bespoke Gift Wrap

Peonie Wallpaper - Cotton Blue

A gift wrapped in Morris wallpaper is a gift that makes an impression before it is even opened. The Peonie Wallpaper in Cotton Blue makes particularly beautiful gift wrap: its soft, romantic palette and delicate botanical pattern feel genuinely luxurious, and the recipient will almost certainly keep the paper long after the gift has been unwrapped.

5. Decoupage Furniture and Accessories

Lemon Tree Wallpaper - Porcelain

Decoupage — the art of decorating surfaces with cut-out paper — is enjoying a well-deserved revival, and Morris wallpaper is the perfect material for it. Use remnants of the Lemon Tree Wallpaper in Porcelain to transform a plain tray, a set of storage boxes, or the front of a chest of drawers into something genuinely beautiful. Seal with several coats of decoupage medium for a durable, professional finish. As BBC Culture has noted, wallpaper has always been a medium of creative possibility — and these five ideas are just the beginning.

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