How to Spruce Up a Hutch With Shelf Liner

Decorate the Doors

• Over time, the surface of your hutch’s doors may become chipped or begin to lose their luster. Turn solid hutch doors into colorful displays by adding patterned contact paper directly to the doors. Patterned floral papers lend themselves well to country-chic designs, while striped paper creates a modern feel. Keep the look monochromatic by choosing tone-on-tone designs. Use the shelf liner to frame glass front doors, creating a frame for displaying the goods kept within the hutch.

Line the Back and the Shelves

• Dress the hutch’s shelves with patterned papers. Line the back of the hutch with shelf paper to help all your goods stand out. Wrapping the shelves or lining the back of the hutch helps draw the eye from across the room. Think of the shelf paper as the hutch’s outfit, while its content are the accessories. Patterns with a dark background provide a complementary contrast for china patterns that are mostly white or bone colored. Choose paper a shade or two darker than the room to give the hutch the appearance of a built-in cabinet. White contact paper works well for giving the piece a bright, fresh finish.

Remember the Drawers

• While pretty, colorful shelf liners certainly provide your silverware with an appealing resting place, a hutch’s drawers are one area that benefits from the addition of more utilitarian shelf liners. As the drawer opens and closes, rubber liners grip the items, preventing them from rolling, clanking together or becoming chipped.

Chalkboard Paper

• Chalkboard papers add a fun element. Add chalkboard paper to any solid surface, such as a solid door or side of the cabinet, to transform the hutch into a family message station. Use the chalkboard to keep track of messages, display your nightly menu or even record a grocery list.

Tips for Applying Shelf Liner

• The biggest challenge when applying adhesive shelf liner is keeping the surface smooth and free from air bubbles. Line up the shelf liner with the back of the shelf, or top edge of a door or the back of a cabinet. Press the paper flat with your hands, smoothing any air bubbles to the edges of that paper. Slowly pull the backing off a couple inches at a time. Continue to smooth out the paper as you go, eliminating air bubbles. Consider working with a partner, using one person to remove the backing and another person to smooth the surface. DIY blogger, the Lost Housewife, suggest cutting paper with a rotary cutter on a cutting mat for sharp, even lines.