accent wall Archives - A Dabbled Dwelling

The Ultimate DIY Guide for You to Hang Wallpaper (Yes, You Can Do It!)

July 25, 2025 by kelsey.mackall

My bedroom was feeling so boring, and after wrapping up several other projects, it was finally time to jazz up my space. If you’ve been itching to give a room in your house a bold new look, wallpaper is one of the easiest ways to add instant charm, personality, and texture. I chose the Haveli Block Print in Blue/Tan (Matte Vinyl) from the new Fariha Nasir x Chasing Paper collection, and it’s truly everything wallpaper dreams are made of. Whether you’re drawn to vintage florals, modern geometrics, or playful prints for a kid’s room, the right wallpaper can completely transform your space—and while the idea of hanging it might feel a little intimidating, don’t worry—I’ve broken it down step-by-step so even first-timers can pull it off like a pro.

Anyone Can Hang Wallpaper

Start by cleaning your walls until they’re dry, smooth, and free of dust or grime—especially important in kitchens and bathrooms. Remove nails, switch plates, and outlet covers. Patch up any holes or cracks, then sand them smooth.

Pro Tip: If you’re working with dark-colored walls, apply a primer first to prevent the old color from showing through.

Next, measure the width of your wallpaper. Using a level or plumb line, draw a vertical guideline on the wall where you’ll place your first panel. Don’t rely on the corners—they’re rarely straight!

Cut your first strip a few inches longer than the wall’s height to give yourself room for trimming. If your wallpaper isn’t pre-pasted or peel-and-stick, brush or roll on a thin, even layer of paste. Then gently fold the paper paste-side in (a method called “booking”) and let it rest for a few minutes.

Line up the first strip with your vertical guide, leaving a bit of extra at the top and bottom. Press the wallpaper onto the wall from top to bottom, smoothing out air bubbles and extra paste as you go with a brush or smoothing tool.

Trim any extra paper along the ceiling, baseboards, and outlets using a sharp utility knife and a straight edge. Take your time and replace the blade often for clean, precise cuts.

Continue with the next strip, carefully matching the pattern at the seam. Overlap slightly if needed, depending on the wallpaper’s design. Smooth it down and wipe away any extra paste with a damp sponge.

Let the wallpaper dry completely—usually about 24 hours. Keep the room well-ventilated, and avoid touching or repositioning any panels during that time.

That’s a Wrap!

Hanging wallpaper takes patience, but once you get the hang of it, it’s incredibly rewarding. Whether you’re doing an accent wall or covering a whole room, wallpaper brings so much personality to a space. Just look at my bedroom! If that doesn’t convince you of the impact wallpaper can have, I don’t know what will. Don’t be afraid to jump in and get started!

How to DIY a Striped Accent Wall

January 15, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

While I was renovating my girls’ bathroom I wanted to give it a really girly touch. What’s a better girly touch than pink stripes? Since all of my kids are girls I figured that there wasn’t a better color for them than pink. So I added a DIY striped accent wall.

The Process of a Striped Accent Wall

I started with the blank wall and my laser level. Then I taped off stripes with Frog Tape. You can use any width you would like to create your preferred stripe pattern. I wanted even stripes with the pink and white being every other stripe, so I taped accordingly. Once it was taped I painted the wall the base color again, doing that helps to get crisp, clean paint lines. The next coat of paint to go on the wall was… PINK!!! I painted it right over the stripes and when it was still a little wet, I pulled the tape off the wall. To remove the tape I started at the top and pulled straight away from the wall. I couldn’t believe my eyes, it turned out so well!

Woman is excitedly peeling tape off painted wall

DIY Striped Accent Wall Done!

It is so cute!!! I absolutely love the way that it turned out and it is so darling and whimisical. The entire renovation is coming together and I love the softness that this accent wall provides. My girls are going to love their new bathroom. Click here if you would like to see the reveal for this whole space!

Cute bathroom with pink and cream striped walls

This Bedroom Makeover Gave Me My Home Birth

May 13, 2021 by kelsey.mackall

So how did this gifted bedroom makeover come to be? One of my most defining moments of this year wasn’t all the major DIYs I pulled off pregnant, in fact, it wasn’t one of my own DIYs at all. My most defining moment was a pipe burst. Or as my followers recognize- THE pipe burst.

THE Pipe Burst

In February 2021 Texas experienced an unprecedented freeze and snow. Which caused unprepared homes to experience pipe bursts and major flooding. Ours included.

The very day I had planned on removing carpet and giving my bedroom a pre-baby update, water came pouring from the ceiling. Then, from the weight of the sopping wet sheet rock, that ceiling came crashing down. Water and insulation everywhere.

bedroom with ceiling falling on top of bed and insulation everywhere

bench tipped over onto ground surrounded by white insulation

exposed ceiling rafters where sheet rock fell

It wasn’t just that my project plans were ruined but in the very room I was planning a home birth… In 6 weeks. I helplessly stared at the damage and cried. The family frantically ran around me trying to contain the mess. My husband assured me everything was going to be okay. My dad offered me solutions via phone. And I simply cried.

Now if you know me, I’m pretty tough. I don’t let much get me down. But in that moment I felt absolute defeat. Not only was I feeling the weight of the end of my pregnancy, but my home, my bedroom, my sacred space, was ruined. A home birth had been important to me, especially in the midst of a pandemic. Having my home turned upside-down would have been traumatic for any nesting pregnant woman.

The Construction

A few days later we had contractors tear the room down to the studs and demo other effected areas of the house. This included all our laminate flooring and 1ft of drywall around most of the bottom floor. I cried more.

bedroom ripped down to the studs and subfloor after flood damage

family colors on subfloor in empty bedroom. husband, pregnant wife, and 2 daughters get ready for a room makeover — Trying to make the best of things by letting the kids color on the subfloor

But then something amazing happened. My community (YOU) showed up for me. A gofundme alleviated the financial burden of our insurance deductible. The outpouring of love and support turned my sad tears into happy ones. I didn’t feel deserving at all considering so many people around Texas experienced a similar tragedy. Grateful for the generosity, I came to terms with the room likely not being ready for a home birth. I was too pregnant and lacking the time and man power to complete it. Not to mention almost all our belongings and furniture in the bedroom needed to be replaced. I knew I’d be lucky to have finished walls and floors in 6 weeks because contractors and insurance were so backed up. So we put a mattress in the playroom upstairs and buckled up for weeks of construction.

empty bedroom with freshly painted white walls and new flooring to be prepped for a bedroom makeover — One week before my due date

The Gifted Makeover

Just as I had accepted the change in my birth plans, two incredible women and fellow DIYers, came to my rescue. Cara (@neverskipbrunch) and Jessie (@eyeinthedetail) were Instagrammers that I looked up to and learned from so when they reached out offering to take on this bedroom makeover project I just about fell over. They designed the entire space, lined up sponsors to fund it, booked flights, and showed up for a room makeover just DAYS before my due date.

Now that experience in itself was an absolute dream. Meeting, observing, and working with DIYers I admired. They worked tirelessly to pull it off in just 4 days! (You can follow that adventure in my Instagram highlights.) Not only did I end up with an insanely beautiful bedroom makeover but Cara and Jessie gave me something so priceless by allowing me the opportunity to move back into my own space and experience the home birth I longed for. They gave me peace.

Completed bedroom makeover. Newly furnished bedroom with denim colored wall covered in box trim, burnt orange throw pillows, leather ottomans at the foot of the bed, and white curtains by cushioned window seat

sunny window bench with cushion, throw pillow assortment, white curtains, and roman shades after bedroom makeover

The Home Birth

Baby Lennon made her appearance on Easter, April 4th, 2021. At home! And it was perfect. Suddenly what seemed like a tragedy 6 weeks prior, felt like a blessing. The stress fell away and we fell in love. I was able to hide out in my gorgeous new space to soak up all those sweet moments in her first days. In the end I wished I could have told the girl who cried while watching water pour from her ceiling, that everything was going to be okay and that so much good was coming. Scroll down to see some of the photos from our home birth.