d-c-fix 346-0001 Decorative Self-Adhesive Film, Matte White, 17" x 78" Roll

I swear by the white matte. I’ve bought at least 50 rolls over the years and it’s the easiest to apply and the best color compared to white paint.Funny story, I first bought it at Menards 5 years ago. I was allowed to paint my cabinets so I abandoned the whole contact paper idea. I just moved last month and I want a white kitchen. Cant paint here. I couldn’t remember the name of the brand but I did find one tiny piece that didn’t get thrown out. I searched everywhere, bought everything, none were it. Then I found the red grid lines on the back of it and almost cried I was so happy.I’m in real estate so staging is necessary and I love projects at my own home. This is THE BEST CONTACT PAPER FOR CABINETS. It blows EVERY SINGLE COMPETITOR OUT OF THE WATER.A lot of people don’t realize something is purple til they compare it to what it should be.2 suggestions: DO 2-3 layers to make it that softer white and DO NOT use a hairdryer unless you’re tightening around the edges. Bubbles galore otherwise.

It is easy to work with, but no matter how much of an expert you think you are with contact paper you will still get bubbles. This product seemed to give me more bubbles, but if you poke a hole with a razor and then use a credit card to smooth it out the bubbles disappear. You really have to clean the counter purposefully, measure carefully, cut carefully, and apply slowly to get a good result.A hair dryer is helpful for areas that don’t want to stick down at first press.Overall, it will suffice until we move out of the rental we are in.

I got one of those starter furniture desks that's made of cheap metal bars and pressboard shelves, and there was a gash along the back edge of the top shelf. I didn't want to go through the hassle of exchanging it for a purely cosmetic defect (and maybe-or-maybe-not get one that wasn't mangled), so I got a roll of black marble contact paper instead! (And yes, "Marble" is my real last name and I buy stupid things that are marble patterned because it's my name.)Real talk: Everyone putting this on kitchen counter tops is INSANE. I hope you're all using some kind of plastic or glass layer that protects the contact paper because this stuff gets little scratches on it from using a folded piece of cardboard to smooth it down (see photo). It stands ZERO chance of surviving when your dumb but well-meaning friend or relative gets a little drunk at Xmas and decides to use a knife directly on the counter top (that might just be my friends and family but I think you can see the point). Now, I don't mind the little imperfections because you really won't notice them unless your face is right up against the surface and there's no real harm unless it gets cut all the way through. Looking at the desk from across the room or from normal sitting-at-desk height, it's reflective like polished stone, the print is not pixelated at all (I bought a different brand and the printing on that one was a nightmare), and the veins are slightly blue-toned but they look brighter in the photo with the scratches because of the flash (the inset photo is closer to how it looks in normal light: more subtle but still obviously marble, and the scratches don't show that much in normal light either).I don't remember if I saw it here or in some DIY article about using this stuff, but whoever said to use an industrial heat gun (like you use in retail to make shrink-wrap shrink) is a freaking genius, because that's the trick to making it adhere properly. Since I don't have an industrial heat gun in my house, I used a hair dryer on hot/high until the contact paper was warm to the touch, and it worked! Once you heat it up this stuff is not coming off again. If you don't heat it, it peels up pretty easily so you can keep laying it back down until you don't have anymore trapped bubbles.Tl;dr: Great for accent furniture, desks, shelves, things like that; scratches easily, so don't put anything sharp on it; heat it up to make it stick FOREVER.

This product is awesome. You get a ton of the paper in one roll. I had more than enough to do the project I wanted it for plus some for more projects of the same size. I probably have enough to do two more of these desks the same way. It went on fairly easy, but easier with two people. It’s very smooth and shiny and does make my desk look like a marble top. Also much easier to clean and wipe down than the previous painted wood.Some tips:-the best way to apply it is to first cut it to fit, and lay the precut paper across the surface you wish to put it on. Have someone else present on the center of it to hold it in place. On one end, peel back about 2-3 inches of paper from the backing. Press it on from the middle of the edge, and press out the bubbles towards the sides. Now with the backing still on the vast majority of the paper, roll up the other end of the contact paper upside down. So the roll is coming back from the top.. does that make sense? Now as you pull off the backing slowly, i roll the rest and smooth out the bubbles as you go.-leave a little extra on the edges to wrap around and underneath-use a blow dryer for the corners and any part of the contact paper that doesn’t have great adhesion. It helps soften the vinyl and smooth out the corners-fold over the edge on the back first. Slit the corners with scissors, then fold down the sides. Then fold down the front last.

The color is lighter than the photo online, but I read the reviews first so I anticipated this and it’s the perfect color that I wanted. It was very easy to put on and rub out bubbles (I didn’t need to use a squeegee I just used my fist and there were no issues) and has a nice matte finish. It was easy to apply as it’s sticky enough to stay but not too sticky that it’s difficult to apply. It feels decent quality, so you’ll want to avoid scratching it, but that’s how vinyl is anyways. I bought it to match some curbside furniture to the entertainment center I already had and it worked great! Feels durable, you’ll just want to stay conscious that it is vinyl and could potentially get scratched if you’re really rough on it, but it’s not too fragile either.