Lining Drawers in Furniture and Cabinets

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Close up photo of a dresser drawer with navy polka dot drawer liner.

Details matter. This is true for many things in life, and it is definitely true when it comes to furniture refinishing. And yes, we all want everything to look amazing at first glance, what’s inside is important too. Once way to add a special touch to your refinishing project is by lining the drawers. It adds a fun design element and protects the insides as well. Drawer liners can also add a fun and protective element to cabinets in your kitchen, laundry room, or bathrooms.

What to use for lining drawers

Peel and stick wallpaper

This is my favorite product to line drawers with. It is easy to apply and easy to remove. Plus, there are so many beautiful options out there to choose from (some of my favorites are linked here). Below you can find my step-by-step process for using peel-and-stick wallpaper.

Traditional pasted wallpaper

This is another great option to line drawers, and when going this route I generally do not paste them down, just cut them to size and let them lie unattached in the bottom of the drawer. That way they are easy to remove. The paste can make it difficult to remove them down the road.

Wrapping paper

Wrapping paper is another option, similar to traditional wallpaper. However wrapping paper is usually thinner, so using an adhesive spray to hold them in place is helpful. Sticking to thicker wrapping papers will also make the job easier. Keep an eye out for wrapping paper on sale when you’re out and about.

Fabric

Fabric drawer liners add a touch of elegance to your project. They require a bit more work because you will need to cut a piece of posterboard to size, and then attach the fabric to the board with adhesive spray. They then lay nicely in the drawer and you can take them in and out easily.

Felt

Felt is a great option for drawers where jewelry, silverware, or fine china/glassware are stored. You can either buy a self-adhesive felt or a regular felt and attach it with double-sided tape. The self-adhesive gives a more professional-looking finish but may be more difficult to remove down the road.

What NOT to use

What should you NOT use when lining drawers Contact paper. The adhesive is incredibly strong, making it very difficult to remove. Whenever I come across a potential piece to refinish and it has contact paper in the drawers, I groan. Often you will need a heat gun, scraper, etc… to get it all off and it’s not a fun process. Peel-and-stick wallpaper has all the advantages of Contact paper and is easily removed.

The process: steps for lining drawers

There are many ways to tackle this project. You can measure exactly, cut out templates, etc… but I find it easiest to skip all of that and just stick it in there and use an exacto knife to trim off the excess. Templates are necessary if you are using fabric and some thicker papers. This is why my preference is for peel-and-stick wallpaper – it is easily maneuverable and repositionable. And it works for any drawer shape.

Cutting a piece of wallpaper to add as a drawer liner.
Step 1
Positioning a piece of peel and stick wallpaper when lining a drawer.
Step 2
Using a smoothing tool to flatten wallpaper in a drawer.
Step 3
Cutting excess peel and stick wallpaper when lining a drawer.
Step 4
  1. Remove the drawer from the furniture/cabinet. Measure and cut the paper slightly wider than the drawer. This does not need to be an exact, even cut, just make sure to have a little extra on all sides. Remove backing from paper, making sure not to let the paper stick to itself (this can be the most challenging part)!
  2. Take the factory straight edge and line it up with the front of the drawer (use the back of the drawer if the drawer front is curved).
  3. Using a wallpaper smoothing tool, smooth out the paper so it’s flat and doesn’t have any air bubbles. I work from the center to the edges.
  4. Take an exacto knife and cut along the edge, then remove the excess.

As always, please post any questions in the comments. I’m happy to answer! And if you are thinking of taking on a painting project and need a quick refresher, make sure you check out my article on learning how to paint furniture.

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