Applying Drawer Liners: From Zero to Zing!

Drawer liner is like frosting on a cake.

Liner can cover old damage or protect against future damage. But whether a piece of furniture needs liner or not, I like to use it because it adds a fun splash of color and pattern.

Many people become frustrated when applying liner. Wrestling a large sticky piece of paper into a prescribed spot can be daunting. Read on for some tips on how to make the process easier.

Selecting Liner

Once upon a time, the most common adhesive liner was Con-Tact® paper. Now there are a considerable number of alternatives. Don’t be limited to products advertised as drawer liners. Peelable wallpapers are a comparable option with a wide variety of prints and colors available.

Measuring Liner

Remember the old adage: measure twice, cut once. I measure the length and width of the drawer in multiple places. Not all drawers have true right angle corners; some taper from front-to-back or side-to-side. I rely on the largest measurement for each side. You can always cut off extra, but you can’t add more!

To trim, I use a cutting mat, a measuring grid, and a rotary cutter. Scissors and a ruler will work fine, but these tools help make an accurate cut easier. Most liners now have a grid on the reverse side that helps you measure your cut, too.

After I cut my liner, I set it into the drawer with the backing still on to see how close I got. If a bit still needs trimming, I use my fingernail to make a crease where the bottom meets the side. This helps remind me where to cut when I’ve removed the paper from the drawer. Once I’m satisfied with the size of the liner, I’m ready to peel off the backing.

Applying Liner

This is the intimidating step for many because this is where the most difficulties occur. Either the paper curls and sticks to itself, it applies wonky and can’t be straightened, or creases or ripples occur during installation. Fear not! I have a trick that will help.

Flip over your liner so the backing faces up. In many cases when the paper is bent backward, a sort of “bubble” will form from edge to edge in the middle. (This is where the liner has started to separate from the backing.) Slip a pair of scissors into the gap between the liner and backing as shown. Then cut to the opposite side only through the backing. Be careful not to nick or damage the decorative side.

If no bubble has formed naturally, use your fingernail to separate the liner from the backing at the edge. Then slip the scissors into the gap you’ve created and cut as directed across the center.

Here’s where the magic happens. Be sure you’ve dusted out the drawer so no lumpy bits will get caught under the liner. Then set your liner into position. Place your left hand to the left of the slit you’ve made and press firmly. Slip your right hand underneath the center and grasp the backing to the right of the slit. Very slowly pull off the backing, moving from the center to the right.

As you pull the backing away, use your left hand to smooth the paper up and down as you go. Basically, you’re closely following your backing-pulling right hand with your liner-smoothing left hand so there’s no chance for the paper to shift, curl or crease.

Once the right side is adhered, repeat the process for the left side, beginning in the middle again and moving left. After you’ve finished, you can use the edge of a credit card to gently smooth any blips. However, I’ve never had them appear using this method.