No Paint/No Wallpaper Wall Treatment
Not being a seamstress, I have still admired some of the fabrics that are available in the stores.
I wished when I was renting.....that I knew of this craft technique to do something with the walls in my all-white rental spaces. Whodathunk...that for as little as the cost of some liquid fabric starch and some fabric that you purchased off the clearance table at your fabric/craft store, that you would be able to completely change the look of a room. Whether you do all the walls, or just one or two, is entirely up to you.
That's right.....we're going to apply fabric to the wall! It's temporary....as in, you can easily remove it once you move (much easier than wallpaper), wash the starch off the wall, and you're good to go!
Not only that....you can easily coordinate some pillows/curtains/lampshades....whatever else you like to go with your walls.
You're main choice of fabric should be lightweight (cotton). Of course, you will need to measure the wall(s) you are going to cover to determine how much fabric you will need to complete the project. You will also need to buy liquid starch, preferably by the gallon.
Measure and cut your fabric by the strip, allowing at least 1" extra at the top and the bottom of where you are hanging it (whether that be horizontally or vertically). If there is a pattern, make sure abutting strips are cut to match the pattern of the previous strip (just as you would in wallpaper). By choosing a small pattern fabric, this should be easy to do with very little waste.
Make sure your wall is clean! Use a large bucket to pour your fabric starch in and immerse your strip of fabric. Wring out as much as possible and smooth your fabric onto the wall, leaving one inch at the top and bottom that goes beyond the area you want to fill. This will be cut off once the fabric is dry. Use some push pins at the top of the fabric to help hold it until it drys. Be sure to work out any wrinkles and air bubbles as you go along.
Once the fabric is dry, you can now easily cut the excess off using an exacto knife.
When it's time to move, carefully peal up a corner and start removing the fabric. If it doesn't come up easily....re-wet the fabric and it will immediate release from the wall. Don't forget to re-wash the wall to remove any remaining starch.
This technique could also work well for those melamine cupboards that are so often installed in rentals. Or how about some old metal file cabinets or press board furniture pieces! Once applied to inexpensive press board furniture....please allow plenty of time for drying, then apply polyurethane for protection and easier cleaning.
I wished when I was renting.....that I knew of this craft technique to do something with the walls in my all-white rental spaces. Whodathunk...that for as little as the cost of some liquid fabric starch and some fabric that you purchased off the clearance table at your fabric/craft store, that you would be able to completely change the look of a room. Whether you do all the walls, or just one or two, is entirely up to you.
That's right.....we're going to apply fabric to the wall! It's temporary....as in, you can easily remove it once you move (much easier than wallpaper), wash the starch off the wall, and you're good to go!
Not only that....you can easily coordinate some pillows/curtains/lampshades....whatever else you like to go with your walls.
You're main choice of fabric should be lightweight (cotton). Of course, you will need to measure the wall(s) you are going to cover to determine how much fabric you will need to complete the project. You will also need to buy liquid starch, preferably by the gallon.
Measure and cut your fabric by the strip, allowing at least 1" extra at the top and the bottom of where you are hanging it (whether that be horizontally or vertically). If there is a pattern, make sure abutting strips are cut to match the pattern of the previous strip (just as you would in wallpaper). By choosing a small pattern fabric, this should be easy to do with very little waste.
Make sure your wall is clean! Use a large bucket to pour your fabric starch in and immerse your strip of fabric. Wring out as much as possible and smooth your fabric onto the wall, leaving one inch at the top and bottom that goes beyond the area you want to fill. This will be cut off once the fabric is dry. Use some push pins at the top of the fabric to help hold it until it drys. Be sure to work out any wrinkles and air bubbles as you go along.
Once the fabric is dry, you can now easily cut the excess off using an exacto knife.
When it's time to move, carefully peal up a corner and start removing the fabric. If it doesn't come up easily....re-wet the fabric and it will immediate release from the wall. Don't forget to re-wash the wall to remove any remaining starch.
This technique could also work well for those melamine cupboards that are so often installed in rentals. Or how about some old metal file cabinets or press board furniture pieces! Once applied to inexpensive press board furniture....please allow plenty of time for drying, then apply polyurethane for protection and easier cleaning.
posted by J. Martin @ Sunday, April 23, 2006
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