When I cleaned out and organized my closet, I decided to do something funky to the walls. I’ve been crazy for Thibaut Tanzania wallpaper for ages and knew I’d love to see it in pink in my closet, but figured painting it would be easier and cheaper than the real deal wallpaper. The back wall is the main wall you see when you enter my closet, so I wanted to remove the jewelry that was hanging there previously, and make it more of a feature wall with framed art. I really like how it turned out!
The Tanzania design is a wild, random pattern with leopard-like shapes and comes in several color ways. Isn’t it cool?!
Here’s a close-up of the pattern.
My walls were a blank canvas before.
I used Centastional Girl’s technique of cutting a sponge into four small shapes and dipped them into the paint and applied randomly to the walls, eyeballing spacing them out appropriately to mimic the pattern. It looks like I cut my sponge into smaller pieces than she did and I also spaced my pattern out more.
Below is a close-up of the shape of my sponge and how it looked on the wall.
I started with the largest shape and sponged that one over the entire wall, before moving onto my next sponge. I did that for all four sponges, then went back and filled in any gaps.
The finished result is really nice, exactly what I had in mind.
I repeated this pattern on the two adjacent walls also. Then, I couldn’t help but feel that the bottom ledge would look really cool in the same pink- Sherwin Williams ‘Coming Up Roses’. It’s the same color I painted my office doors.
I debated whether to leave the island top the pale pink, but ultimately couldn’t leave well enough alone and painted the top the bright pink also. It might be too much, but I think it’s fun for now. One thing I know is that it’s better to go ahead and paint while you’re in the groove and all your supplies are out than to put everything away, only to decide you “wish you would have” later.
Also, although I love the natural light that the windows provide in my closet, they have their downside too. First, I realized they did fade clothing if it was hanging there too long, and second, sometimes it gets too hot, especially in the summer. Hence, why I’m not afraid to cover some of that light with the frames.
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Meet Megan
Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!
Looks great! I really like that shade of pink.
Sarah
Sweet Spontaneity
Thanks Sarah, this pink is really a fun color!
love your closet! How did you hand your jewelry. Is that pins? or screw hooks? looks fab! thank, im always looking for a better way to organize my jewelry. love your blog!
K
Thanks Kelly! The necklaces are just hanging on silver pushpins. You could do this on a cork board or poster board too.
Super cute! I love the pink 🙂
Thanks so much!
I adore this! I've loved that pattern for years, as well, and I'm so glad to know the DIY is actually doable 🙂 Great job!
Just cut the sponge in small, random shapes. Easy!!
Love this! You make it look so easy! I'm inspired to give it a try too!
I'm all about the easy projects! 😉
Such a cute idea! I also love the color of the top of the island, very good choice 🙂
I wasn't so sure about the island, so thanks for saying you like it Robyn!
Girl that is so genius! I love it!!!!
Thank you for the shout out Court!
Fun project, Megan! My girls would love to do this 🙂
Perfect little project for kids. I'll take all the help I can get! Have a great weekend Emily!
So genius and so awesome! Love it:)
Thanks Shavonda!
so fun, I love the pink shelves too!
The shelves were also scuffed up, so painting hid all that too. 🙂
I actually like your painting technique more than the actual wallpaper. Really pretty!
Oh wow! That's a big compliment. I've never hung wallpaper, but I'm sure it's way harder than my sponge paint!
That is so fun…love it!! The pink is perfect…I just swoon every time I see your closet! And J will be fine on the plane!! Prep just like you would a road trip…lots of stuff on the ipad and a few snacks! xo
He's so excited to fly! We're on a small plane, but that's okay. His friends will be on the trip with us too.
Love the pink shelves and island top. Beautiful color!
It looks great! I love the shelves & the top of the island, the pink really makes your closet pop 🙂
xoox, SS
The Southern Stylista
The pink island is growing on me!
Megan, it looks fabulous! You have the most beautiful closet ever! I love the island top the bright pink. You did a beautiful job.
Thank you Allison! I've always enjoyed it, but having it all clean and organized makes it even better.
This turned out so fab Megan 🙂 I love that pink and orange combo 🙂 xo
Not really sure where else in our house I could pull off pink and orange!
What a closet! Love how the paint treatment came out, what a great knock off!
Thanks Jennifer! I know you've been knee deep in paint lately! Your cabinets are just gorgeous!
What a beautiful job you did ! I like it a little more spaced like you did it – makes it a little more subtle and not so busy. The matching pink shelves and island are gorgeous, too! What a closet !!!
Thanks Cathy, I like the pattern more spaced out too. So glad to hear you like the island, I thought I went too crazy at first. But now I'm liking it!
The hanging jewelry display was my favorite part of your WIC. I'm so glad you hung it back up after painting. The walls came out lovely.
Having the necklaces hanging is the practical way for me to see everything. Makes accessorizing so much easier. I'm thankful to have the wall space for it!
Gorgeous! The pattern you added totally made it ultra-fab!!!!
That closet is amazing! I love anything pink and polka dotted! Thanks for sharing!
This is so genius!!
So pretty! love all the pink!
I'm designing a restaurant in town and am saving this idea for the ladies room, Thanks!
my oh my! you have the most beautiful closet that i have ever seen in the blog land megan♥
your technique looks so pretty, plus wallpaper is more difficult to change in the future 🙂
thanks for sharing,
rea