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How to make DIY Map Wallpaper

Since we moved into this house I’ve been removing wallpaper; but last week I hung some wallpaper. Well, sort of.
 
How To DIY Map Wallpaper by @craftivityd
I’ve long admired map walls and have been itching to do something dramatic and daring in this home. The dining room is beautiful {reveal coming this week!}; but the color palette is neutral and simple. I wanted that for our dining room since it is the place we’ll decorate for parties and holidays. It needs to be flexible. Our entryway, however, does not have to be so simple.
 
How To DIY Map Wallpaper by @craftivityd

The entryway can be bold. It can say…

“Hello!” // “Welcome to the Green household” // “This is our style and personality.”
 
How To DIY Map Wallpaper by @craftivityd
I love making small spaces pop. It completely contradicts that old way of thinking which says “don’t do anything bold in a small space, it will only make it feel smaller.” Instead — a small space is the perfect place to try something bold, because its unexpected.
 
How To DIY Map Wallpaper by @craftivityd
So how did this map wall come together? This “wallpaper” requires no messy wallpaper paste, tedious seams or expensive roles of paper AND I finished this project in about 30 minutes tops. Instead, you’ll just need the following:
  • Old Atlas {or old maps}
  • Straight Edge
  • Utility Knife
  • Sticky Tac {affiliate link}

 

How To DIY Map Wallpaper by @craftivityd
To start, I cut out a bunch of the maps. I chose maps that had plenty of blues and greens; but, besides that, there was no method to picking them out. I cut them out with a straight edge and utility knife, just like I did here.
 
How To DIY Map Wallpaper by @craftivityd
 
To continue with the haphazardness… there was also little method to hanging the maps. I just started in one corner and kept adding the maps both to the side and up the wall. I tried to mix up the direction and overlap them to keep it interesting and give it some depth.
 
How To DIY Map Wallpaper by @craftivityd
 
I know this “unorganized method” might stress some of you out; and that’s totally okay! You could be much more structured in both choosing your maps and lining them up. Like my husband said “I’ll have to get used to the fact that it’s not a grid.” You might guess that he would have gone about this project differently…
 
How To DIY Map Wallpaper by @craftivityd
 
I read different blog posts about how to attach the maps and saw everything from pins to tacks to glue. Glue was too permanent, messy and tedious for me. Pins or tacks would result in a bunch of tiny holes in the drywall… and due to ALL THE WALLPAPER in this house, I already do tons of wall patching. So, I finally settled on this sticky tac {affiliate link}.
 
How To DIY Map Wallpaper by @craftivityd
 
It was definitely the right choice. So easy. I didn’t have to worry about hanging the map perfectly because I could pull it back off and adjust it. Plus, it’s temporary. If I change my mind about a map wall, it will take all of 5 minutes to pull it down. I really don’t expect to change my mind anytime soon; but having that freedom let me be bold in a choice for our walls.
 
How To DIY Map Wallpaper by @craftivityd
So what would you try on your walls if it could be temporary and simple? Is there a small space in your home in which you’d like to make a bold decor choice? What would that bold choice be?

Do you like maps and globes? I do, too:

 

Craftivity Designs

Tuesday 16th of June 2015

Thanks, Amy!

Amy Lee

Tuesday 16th of June 2015

This map wall is brilliant! It adds so much personality to this space! Thank you for sharing it at the Talented Tuesday Link Party!

Craftivity Designs

Tuesday 12th of May 2015

Thanks!! :) I'm really pleased with it -- though I can't claim to be the first ever. I've seen some beautiful actual map wallpaper around the online world that inspired me!

Craftivity Designs

Tuesday 12th of May 2015

Thanks!! Yeah the fact that it's easy to remove definitely made it easier to try something different.

Your office idea sounds great!! It would be something fun!

TwoPlusCute

Tuesday 12th of May 2015

Love the maps idea. I like maps in general but this is also a unique entry you made!Another plus is you can remove it at any time if you get bored with it.

I want to go bold in our office, with game maps (maps from pc games) but I haven't settled yet.