Stamped Star Wall DIY (Money Saving Wallpaper Alternative)

There are SO many reasons why wallpaper might not be the best choice for you. First of all, it’s expensive and the installation costs add up fast. It’s also a big commitment, so if you’re renting or already have wallpaper in a room nearby or are thinking of moving soon, it may not be the most practical choice.

The good news is there are SO MANY ways to fake the look of wallpaper for a fraction of the cost! In our girls’ new shared bedroom, I wanted to personalize it, but I wasn’t interested in the commitment or expense of wallpaper. Our girls are currently sharing a room on a *trial basis* and at any time we could switch back to two rooms. So, I didn’t want to invest too much time and money into this current situation, but I did want to make it look and feel cozy in ways that were easy and cheap.

So I did a DIY version that cost me less than $10 for the entire room. You read that right. Under 10 bucks! 

Here’s how it turned out:

Pretty, right? I love how it gives the room just a bit of pattern and detail, while staying light, bright and clean.

It’s also low cost and low commitment because I can paint over it in 10 minutes if I change my mind!

OK, here’s how I did it …

First of all, you need a sample pot of paint. You won’t use much, so a tester size is more than enough. I chose the color Applesauce Cake by Behr. It’s a muted mustard color.

Next, I made stamps from craft foam. You’ll just need one thick sheet of craft foam and some scissors. Draw the shapes before cutting them. If you do a pattern like mine, it helps to make a bunch of various sizes. You can also layer paint colors for a more detailed look—like florals.

Next, just use a paint brush (I prefer small foam brushes) to apply paint to the stamp and press it onto the wall. For a stamp like this, you will want to press down on each arm of the star before pulling it off. Once in a while, you’ll get one with a terrible application, but don’t worry—they can be easily touched up with a paint brush at the end. I like the stamped look overall, though, and didn’t do too much filling in.

Here are some photos of our completed room. We used the same blackout blinds in this room that we did in our main bedroom too—they are so good!

Here are some links to other statement wall techniques. IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, YOU CAN DO IT!
Gold Cactus Wallpaper (done with a paint pen)
20 Easy Accent Wall Ideas
Handwriting Statement Wall
Geometric Painted Wallpaper 

Thanks so much for reading our blog. xx! Elsie

Credits//Author: Elsie Larson. Photography: Amber Kelly. Photos edited with A Color Story Desktop.