Beyond the Four Walls: 5 Creative Ways to Use William Morris Wallpaper Scraps

After wallpapering a room with beautiful William Morris patterns, you're often left with scraps and partial rolls too precious to discard. These remnants of botanical beauty deserve second lives beyond the recycling bin. Here are five creative ways to repurpose Morris wallpaper scraps, extending their beauty throughout your home while honoring the Arts & Crafts principle of using materials thoughtfully and avoiding waste.

1. Line Drawers and Shelves

Transform mundane storage spaces into delightful discoveries with Morris wallpaper linings.

Arbutus Wallpaper – Sunflower — perfect for lining drawers and shelves

Dresser drawers: Line clothing drawers with Morris patterns for a luxurious surprise every time you open them. The wallpaper protects drawer bottoms while adding beauty to utilitarian spaces. Choose lighter colorways that won't show through delicate fabrics.

Kitchen cabinets: Line the backs of glass-front cabinets with Morris patterns to create stunning backdrops for dishes, glassware, or collections. The pattern shows through the glass, transforming ordinary cabinets into display cases.

Bookshelves: Back open shelving with Morris wallpaper to add depth and interest. The botanical patterns create beautiful backgrounds for books, objects, and collections. This works particularly well with built-in shelving where the backing is permanent.

Closet interiors: Line closet walls or the backs of closet doors with Morris scraps. Opening your closet becomes a moment of beauty rather than mere function.

Application tips: Use wallpaper paste or double-sided tape for removable applications. Measure carefully and cut precisely for professional-looking results. Seal edges with clear varnish if the area will see heavy use.

2. Create Custom Art and Framing Projects

Morris wallpaper scraps make stunning framed art at a fraction of the cost of original Morris prints.

Arbutus Wallpaper – Rose — a beautiful choice for framed wall art

Simple framing: Cut wallpaper to fit standard frame sizes and frame as-is. Group multiple frames with different Morris patterns or colorways for a gallery wall. This is the easiest way to create instant art from scraps.

Matted presentation: Mount wallpaper on backing board and add a mat for a more finished, professional appearance. Choose mat colors that pull tones from the wallpaper pattern.

Triptychs and diptychs: Create multi-panel art by framing coordinating sections of Morris patterns. This works beautifully with patterns that have clear vertical or horizontal movement.

Shadow boxes: Combine Morris wallpaper with three-dimensional objects—dried flowers, vintage keys, antique buttons—that relate to the pattern's botanical or historical themes.

Decoupage on canvas: Adhere wallpaper to stretched canvas using decoupage medium for a contemporary art piece. Seal with additional medium for protection and slight sheen.

Arbutus Wallpaper – Cochineal Pink — stunning in gallery wall groupings

Styling tips: Hang framed Morris wallpaper in hallways, powder rooms, or grouped on large walls. Mix with other art for eclectic gallery walls. Use matching frames for cohesion or varied frames for collected charm.

3. Furniture Makeovers and Decoupage

Transform tired furniture into Morris-adorned statement pieces through decoupage and creative application.

Blackthorn Wallpaper – Forest — ideal for furniture makeovers and decoupage projects

Drawer fronts: Cover dresser or desk drawer fronts with Morris wallpaper for instant transformation. This works particularly well on plain IKEA furniture or dated pieces needing refresh. Seal with polyurethane for durability.

Tabletops: Decoupage Morris wallpaper onto side tables, coffee tables, or desk surfaces. Cover the entire top or create a centered panel. Seal with multiple coats of polyurethane for a durable, wipeable surface.

Cabinet doors: Apply wallpaper to flat cabinet doors or the recessed panels of traditional cabinetry. This works beautifully on bathroom vanities, kitchen cabinets, or china cabinets.

Headboards: Create a fabric-covered headboard with Morris wallpaper instead of fabric. The pattern adds visual interest while the padding provides comfort. Alternatively, apply wallpaper directly to a flat wooden headboard.

Trunk interiors: Line vintage trunks or storage chests with Morris patterns. The interior becomes a beautiful surprise when opened.

Blackthorn Wallpaper – Indigo — a rich choice for cabinet doors and headboards

Application method: Clean and lightly sand furniture surfaces. Apply wallpaper using decoupage medium or wallpaper paste. Smooth carefully to eliminate bubbles. Seal with multiple coats of water-based polyurethane, sanding lightly between coats for a smooth, durable finish.

4. Lampshade Covering and Lighting Projects

Morris wallpaper creates stunning custom lampshades that cast beautiful patterned light.

Bird & Pomegranate Wallpaper – Bayleaf/Cream — a lighter colorway that allows beautiful light transmission on lampshades

Drum shade covering: Cover plain drum lampshades with Morris wallpaper for instant custom lighting. The pattern shows beautifully when the lamp is both on and off. Choose lighter colorways that allow light transmission.

Empire shade transformation: Apply wallpaper to empire (tapered) shades by carefully cutting and piecing to accommodate the shape. This requires more skill but creates beautiful results.

Pendant shade creation: Create custom pendant shades by forming wallpaper into cylinders or cones. Reinforce with wire frames and add appropriate lighting hardware.

Sconce shades: Cover small sconce shades with Morris patterns to coordinate with wallpapered rooms or add pattern to plain spaces.

Acanthus Wallpaper – Madder/Thyme — rich tones that glow warmly on pendant and sconce shades

Safety considerations: Use LED bulbs that produce minimal heat. Keep wallpaper away from bulbs to prevent fire hazard. Consider using flame-retardant spray on wallpaper for additional safety. Never use with high-wattage incandescent bulbs.

Application tips: Use spray adhesive or double-sided tape for smooth application. Overlap seams at the back where they'll be least visible. Trim precisely at top and bottom edges for professional finish.

5. Decorative Accessories and Gift Wrapping

Small Morris wallpaper scraps can create numerous decorative accessories and special gift presentations.

Acanthus Wallpaper – Slate Blue/Thyme — elegant for covered boxes and gift wrapping

Covered boxes: Transform plain storage boxes, hat boxes, or gift boxes with Morris wallpaper. These become beautiful storage solutions or gift packaging. Coordinate with ribbon in colors pulled from the pattern.

Book covers: Create custom book covers for journals, sketchbooks, or favorite novels. Morris patterns make books into decorative objects worthy of display.

Coasters: Cut wallpaper into circles or squares, adhere to cork or wood backing, and seal with polyurethane for custom coasters. Make sets as gifts or for your own use.

Tray liners: Line serving trays with Morris wallpaper under glass or acrylic for beautiful, functional serving pieces.

Luggage tags: Create distinctive luggage tags by laminating small pieces of Morris wallpaper. Add your contact information and attach to bags.

Gift wrap: Use Morris wallpaper scraps as luxury gift wrap for special presents. The recipient can frame the wrapping paper as art. Add coordinating ribbon and botanical elements like dried flowers or greenery.

Greeting cards: Create custom cards by adhering small pieces of Morris wallpaper to cardstock. These handmade cards become keepsakes.

Bookmarks: Cut wallpaper into bookmark shapes, back with cardstock for stability, and laminate or cover with clear contact paper for durability.

Additional Creative Uses

Other ways to use Morris wallpaper scraps:

- Stair risers: Apply to stair risers for unexpected pattern
- Ceiling medallions: Back ceiling medallions with wallpaper for added interest
- Switch plates: Decoupage onto switch and outlet covers
- Mirror frames: Decoupage around mirror frames
- Planter wraps: Cover plain planters with wallpaper (seal well for moisture protection)
- Clipboard decoration: Cover clipboards for stylish office organization
- Magazine holders: Line or cover magazine files
- Jewelry boxes: Line interiors or cover exteriors

Acanthus Wallpaper – Manilla/Stone — a neutral tone that works beautifully on stair risers and mirror frames

Preservation and Protection

When using Morris wallpaper scraps for projects:

Seal properly: Most applications benefit from sealing with polyurethane, decoupage medium, or clear varnish to protect the paper and make surfaces wipeable.

Use appropriate adhesives: Wallpaper paste, decoupage medium, spray adhesive, or double-sided tape depending on the project and whether you want permanent or removable application.

Protect from moisture: Seal well if projects will be exposed to moisture (bathroom applications, planters, coasters).

Avoid direct sunlight: Even sealed, wallpaper can fade in direct sun. Position projects away from intense UV exposure.

The Arts & Crafts Spirit

Repurposing Morris wallpaper scraps honors the Arts & Crafts movement's values:

- Avoiding waste: Using every scrap respects materials and reduces environmental impact
- Handcrafted beauty: Creating custom objects embodies Arts & Crafts ideals
- Personal expression: Handmade projects reflect individual creativity
- Quality over quantity: Thoughtful repurposing creates meaningful objects rather than disposable decor

Acanthus Wallpaper – Charcoal/Grey — a timeless pattern that embodies the Arts & Crafts spirit

Key Takeaways

• Extend beauty everywhere: Morris wallpaper scraps can transform drawers, shelves, furniture, and accessories throughout your home.
• Create custom art: Framing wallpaper scraps provides affordable, beautiful art that coordinates perfectly with wallpapered rooms.
• Transform furniture: Decoupage techniques turn plain furniture into Morris-adorned statement pieces with proper sealing for durability.
• Custom lighting: Wallpaper-covered lampshades create coordinated lighting while using scraps beautifully (with proper safety precautions).
• Honor Arts & Crafts values: Repurposing scraps reduces waste while creating handmade objects that embody Morris's design philosophy.

William Morris wallpaper scraps are too beautiful to waste—with creativity and basic crafting skills, they can bring botanical beauty to every corner of your home.