Contact paper works well as a canvas or a backdrop for acrylic paint, and a variety of colors, textures and patterns are available. Paint on the perfect backdrop for your cartoon image, add knots and detail to a wood grain or paint a sunny day on a solid bright blue. Best of all, when finished, the canvas can be framed, applied to a cardboard backdrop or even pressed onto a wall for a permanent mural.
The use of contact paper to enhance furniture has been the secret to success for furniture companies who use particleboard instead of solid wood. They lay patterned contact paper over the particle board to make it look like oak, cherry wood or stained pine. Though this can make for a beautiful bookshelf or dresser, you can make your furniture look even better by doing it yourself. Lay a sheet of contact paper over the piece and then detail it as you like with acrylic paints. It is recommended to apply acrylics after you have already applied the contact paper to your furniture, so an unexpected corner or crease doesn't ruin your design.
Use contact paper and acrylic to add color and life to accessories. From vases to cell-phone cases, and bracelets to skateboards, nearly any solid accessory can become a unique piece of art. Cover the accessory in contact paper and paint according to taste. The variety in paper styles and the durability of the acrylic paint make certain your accessory will look beautiful and exclusive. Spray a fixture on often-used accessories after the paint has dried to lock in the fashion.
Acrylic paints are vibrant and often hard to match with texture-adding elements such as fabric or wood. Overlap layers of contact paper to create a woven texture, or skirt the edges of a piece to give it a "feathered" look. Whether as a backdrop or a texture-enhancing element, contact paper is a great way to add texture without sacrificing visual aesthetics.