A Dramatic Decoupage Makeover with Damask Decoupage Paper
This little loony number caught my eye during a quick thrift stop on my lunch break. I was supposed to be looking for vintage linens… but instead, I found this quirky oval table with a loon placemat tucked under the glass top. Yep—you read that right. A placemat.
It was someone’s style, but definitely not mine. The whole thing needed some love, so I brought it home.
After removing the backer and glass, I gave the whole frame a fresh coat of black paint and turned my attention to the real star of the show: Damask decoupage fiber paper.
I painted the backer board white so that the design would pop. The paper is see through so the base color will affect the overall look.
PRO TIP: Iron the paper to remove the creases before you decoupage. I learned the hard way that the creases will show if you don’t.
I used decoupage glue and covered the whole surface. Make sure to paint an even coat of the glue so there’s no uneven spots on the finished piece.
The detail of the Damask design absolutely popped on the white—but it was too much. The white made everything a little too bright, too stark. It wasn’t giving that moody, vintage vibe I’d fallen in love with when I ordered the paper.
Glaze to the Rescue
That’s where Rust-Oleum’s Smoked Glaze came in. This stuff is a lifesaver for toning things down without covering up the detail. The smoked color is perfect for this paper because the color of the glaze is a blue gray color.
I brushed it over the entire surface, letting it settle into the texture of the paper. Around the edges, I built up more of the glaze to create a hazy vignette effect, which helped center the eye and bring back that aged elegance I was going for.
You can really see what I mean in this photo, where I had just started applying the glaze. The original white background made the Damask look a little washed out, but as soon as the glaze started to settle in, it added depth and richness to the whole piece.
I absolutely love how it turned out—moody, romantic, and a little bit mysterious. It’s amazing what a little glaze can do!
Loved this transformation?
Check out this other amazing before & after — you won’t believe the results!
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