How to Decorate a Shelf for Kitchen Pots

Cover the shelf board with contact paper. Wrap the contact paper completely around the width of the board and mark the nearest cutting line on the backing paper. Measure the length of the shelf and the width of the contact paper to determine how many pieces you need to cover the entire shelf; add an inch or two to account for the overlap at each seam. Measure the thickness of the shelf and add an inch for the end pieces.

Cut the contact paper to size, according to your measurements. Include two small pieces to cover each end of the shelf, and attach the end pieces first. Peel the backing paper ½ inch away and press the contact paper down to the top of the shelf firmly with your fingers, smoothing out any wrinkles or air bubbles. Wrap the piece around the edge of the shelf, slowly pulling off the backing paper as you go and smoothing the paper until you get to the underside of the shelf and the end of the paper, which should overlap the bottom by ½ inch. Repeat on the other end.

Peel the backing paper away from a corner of one of your cut sheets. Starting in the top corner of the shelf, carefully line up the edges. Press the paper down firmly, smoothing as you go. Slowly peel the backing paper away at a diagonal angle, smoothing and pressing the contact paper onto the shelf. Use a ruler to help smooth out any wrinkles or air bubbles. Continue over the front of the shelf.

Carefully turn the shelf over and continue to apply the contact paper on the underneath side until you reach the back of the shelf. Repeat for each sheet of contact paper until the entire shelf is covered, overlapping the previous sheet slightly, matching the pattern as closely as you can. Trim excess paper with the utility knife.

Sand each bracket with fine-grit sandpaper to roughen the surface. Apply two or three coats of paint in contrasting or complementary colors to the contact paper with a 2-inch paintbrush or small foam roller, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next. Allow the brackets to dry overnight before installing the shelf.

Install the wall shelf using the enclosed mounting hardware and following the kit instructions. Display a few pieces of your favorite cookware with a few smaller kitchen-related items to add interest. Place larger objects behind smaller objects for a layered look.