Painting or traditional wallpaper are not always necessary to change the appearance of your walls. Fabric wall coverings might be the perfect solution if you’re looking for a distinctive, comfortable, and sophisticated substitute. Any room can feel more individualized and cozy by using fabric to cover or upholster the walls. This adds warmth, texture, and a hint of luxury.
You don’t need to be a professional designer to drape fabric on walls; all you need is a little perseverance and imagination. Fabric offers countless options in patterns, colors, and textures, enabling you to express your style whether you want to cover an entire room or create an accent wall.
We’ll take you step-by-step through the process of successfully covering or pasting fabric over your walls in this guide, from selecting the ideal material to perfecting the installation technique. By the time it’s all over, you’ll know exactly how to apply a gorgeous fabric finish to your walls that makes a statement.
Step | Description |
1. Measure and Cut Fabric | Measure the walls, then cut the fabric with extra for seams. |
2. Prepare the Wall | Clean and smooth the wall surface; apply a light adhesive. |
3. Attach Fabric | Start at the top, align the fabric, and smooth it down as you go. |
4. Secure Edges | Use staples or adhesive to secure fabric edges neatly. |
5. Trim Excess | Carefully trim any excess fabric at the bottom and sides. |
- Interior decoration with fabric upholstery instead of wallpaper on the walls: relevance in the interior
- Textile decoration of walls: requirements for fabric
- Advantages and disadvantages of fabric drapery
- How to sheathe or glue fabric on the walls of a house with your own hands: master class
- Process of work
- Wall upholstery: how to fix on a large surface
- Painting fabrics on the wall: how to glue
- Can walls covered with fabric be cleaned
- Video on the topic
- The ideal wall finishing system | Fabric walls and architectural textiles
- Wall decor with craft paper #ideasforrepair
- Draping walls with fabric – comfort created by yourself (21 photos)
Interior decoration with fabric upholstery instead of wallpaper on the walls: relevance in the interior
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When decorating walls, fabric can add a unique sheen and novelty to the space instead of the typical wallpaper. Many eminent interior designers think that fabric finishing will take over as the primary decorative technique and that paper wallpaper is becoming obsolete. Its significance is clear:
- chic appearance;
- such repairs can be done by yourself;
- non-typical and novel design.
You can use any kind of material, from inexpensive silk to thick velvet, and from simple textiles to thin linen.
Textile decoration of walls: requirements for fabric
The attractiveness and quality of the chosen drapery are determined by the quality of the textiles. Certain natural materials, like cotton or linen, are not advised by experts to be used; instead, they advise using synthetic or even mixed materials.
Ideal varieties of ornamental textiles:
- natural fabrics – jacquard, jute or sisal;
- from artificial fabrics – viscose, polyester or polyamide.
These materials are easy to work with, do not stretch, and do not sag over time. It is preferable to use thick textiles, like jacquard, to increase sound insulation. Synthetic materials treated with a water-repellent composition in an area with high humidity.
Advantages and disadvantages of fabric drapery
Like any design choice, fabric finishing has clear benefits and drawbacks.
- ability to create an atmosphere of coziness;
- suits any interior style;
- keeps clean for a long time;
- more durable than regular wallpaper;
- allows you to hide problem areas;
- no need to prepare the walls themselves;
- no damage as a result of building shrinkage;
- such walls guarantee free access of air;
- do not fade for a long time;
Additionally, there is no special preparation needed for fabric finishing.
- expensive material;
- difficult to install electrical outlets and switches;
- difficult to choose glue for the selected fabric.
Even with the aforementioned drawbacks, fabric finishing is becoming more and more popular. Furthermore, the selection of finishing materials keeps growing daily.
How to sheathe or glue fabric on the walls of a house with your own hands: master class
There are various methods for finishing fabric:
- paste over;
- upholster with material;
- drapery.
Partial finishing techniques are also used, such as decorating zoning screens, appliques, and niches.
Process of work
There are benefits to using the traditional method, such as the ease with which the upholstery can be removed for cleaning or replaced.
- Around the perimeter of the wall, nail slats, forming a frame, which is made of the simplest materials: wood or metal, plastic, or use a kit for attaching a suspended ceiling.
- Cover the frame with fabric: secure it with furniture staples, screws or small nails. You need to start from the top corner, then fix it from below and, finally, the sides.
- Decorate the attachment point if the upholstery is nailed. Cover the attachment points on top with a decorative cornice, and at the bottom – with a baseboard.
Thin foam rubber can be used to fill the frame. This will produce more sound insulation and aid in heat retention.
Wall upholstery: how to fix on a large surface
There are two approaches to using textiles to cover the walls:
- put the material under the lath;
- nail the fabric over the lath.
- Cut out the canvas, allowing about 8-10 cm on each side.
- Fix it with nails at the top from the corners, stretching the material as much as possible.
- Start fixing the decorative strip from the top of the corner. Fastening step – about 20 cm. For this, you can use self-tapping screws.
- After fixing the top, fix the bottom also at the corners. Hide the fastening points with a decorative lath.
- Fix the trim with a fabric strip on the sides.
- If necessary, remove excess canvas.
Painting fabrics on the wall: how to glue
The most labor-intensive approach is this one. It takes two people to put into practice. Additionally, the wall needs to be further prepared:
- First clean the wall surface, then putty and prime it.
- Soak the material in water in advance, dry and iron it in order to prevent shrinkage.
- Sew a canvas from the existing fabric corresponding to the size of the wall plus 18-22 cm.
- Roll up.
- Apply glue directly to the wall from one edge to create an even strip of 10 cm. Apply the fabric to it (taking into account all the allowances made).
- Apply the next strip of glue on top.
- Spread the 2nd side with glue, and then secure the fabric.
Making draperies out of fabric
The most intricate and costly method of room decoration is drapery. More material is needed for this project than the room’s total wall area.
- Measure the height of the drapery.
- One edge of the fabric is secured in the upper left corner with a small nail, the other in the right. The material should be stretched as much as possible during the process of fixing.
- A wooden strip is secured on top of the fabric using screws and a screwdriver. Fastening step – up to 30 cm.
- The same technology is used to secure the drapery at the bottom of the wall.
- Cut off excess material with a knife.
This technique for stretching the canvas is comparable to the two earlier approaches. The rail is fixed on top of the canvas, which is the only notable difference.
Overarching suggestions for the interior design solution
It is feasible to use textiles to embellish the walls:
- Partially, when natural or synthetic materials are used when decorating individual parts. So for decorating only the wall near the sleeping area or fireplace or mirrors.
- Completely, while sophistication can be added by combining fabrics belonging to the same color scheme, or, on the contrary, the combination of materials can be based on the contrast of shades or patterns.
- Textile elements cut out using a stencil, for example, diamonds, ovals. This will add zest and originality to the interior.
Pieces of the canvas can be stretched onto the frame or glued to the ready surface.
An artistic and fashionable substitute for wallpaper that gives warmth and texture to any space is covering walls with fabric. This do-it-yourself tutorial will take you step-by-step through the textile upholstery and drapery finishing processes while providing helpful advice on material selection, installation, and preparation. Wallpaper simply cannot compare to the personal touch that fabric wall coverings can add to your space, whether your goal is to create a warm, sophisticated, or distinctive atmosphere.
Can walls covered with fabric be cleaned
Fabric-finished walls can be cleaned with specialized cleaning solutions, vacuumed, and washed. You have two options for doing this: on your own or by hiring a cleaning service.
Other choices: how to apply textile wallpaper with glue
Generally speaking, when using textile wallpaper:
- To glue a roll on a non-woven base, glue is applied directly to the wall, and the wallpaper itself is not processed. Only paper-based wallpaper is coated with glue. But in both cases, it is necessary to strictly ensure that there is enough glue, but without excess, otherwise the canvas may be soaked through.
- If the glue comes out in the area of the seams on the outside of the wallpaper, then it is better to immediately replace the canvas.
- To reduce the risk of getting a defect to a minimum, it is worth gluing 2 canvases and waiting until they dry, and then assess the quality of the work. This will help to identify and correct the mistakes made, adjust your further actions.
Seamless systems are an expensive but practical option. The fabric used to hang stretch ceilings is ideal for completing a space. Its quality and additional factors make it appropriate for this use.
Using fabric on your walls rather than wallpaper gives your house a special touch of sophistication and coziness. It’s a flexible choice that gives you more creative control over colors, patterns, and textures than paint or conventional wallpaper can.
Although DIY textile upholstery and drapery finishing may seem difficult at first, anyone can complete the project with the right supplies and a little perseverance. The secret is in the planning: making sure your walls are tidy and smooth, and selecting the ideal fabric to fit your preferences and style.
The opportunities are endless once you’ve mastered the fundamentals. The right fabric can totally transform the atmosphere of your room, adding coziness, elegance, or even drama. Examples of such fabrics include airy linen and luxurious velvet. Additionally, the process itself can be satisfying as you see your area become uniquely yours.