Wallpaper is a great way to add personality to a room. But sometimes traditional wallpaper just doesn’t work with the space or budget you have.
Luckily, there are other options for adding pattern and color to your walls that are both inexpensive and easy to apply. One such option is fabric wall covering.
Can You Use Fabric As Wallpaper?
Fabric can be used to cover any surface. The versatility of fabric as a wall covering is a major advantage over other traditional wallpapers, which tend to be designed with specific uses in mind. Fabric covers walls, windows, furniture and floors (including carpeting), ceilings and doors. It’s not just for walls!
Why Should I Use Fabric as Wallpaper?
Fabric is easier to work with than wallpaper. With fabric, you don’t have to worry about getting it straight and even. You can use scraps of fabric that are longer than necessary and trim them down once they’re up on the wall. Fabric is also much easier to clean than wallpaper, so if you’re worried about little ones making a mess or if your dog likes to lick the walls, then fabric might be the way for you to go.
Fabric can be removed from walls easily without causing damage to either the walls or your sanity! This makes it ideal for renters who like temporary decorating changes because they won’t have holes in their walls after removing old decorating ideas, which may not have worked out).
It’s also easy enough for do-it-yourselfers who might want something different but aren’t sure how long something will stay where they put it—the fabric allows them flexibility when changing up their space as well as time frames for when those changes should happen next season/month/weekend depending on what mood strikes them at any given moment throughout any given year.
What Type of Fabric is Typically Used for Fabric Wallpaper?
There are many types of fabric that can be used for wallcovering. Some common ones include silk, cotton, linen and wool. Silk is a popular choice because it’s very durable and easy to clean. On the other hand, canvas and burlap are great options if you’re looking for something more rustic or rugged for your room.
Linen has a nice feel to it but tends to wrinkle easily; polyester fabrics such as velvet have a certain appeal that many people enjoy as well. The variety of choices available means there’s something for everyone.
Is Silk Fabric Great as Wallpaper?
You may not have known that silk fabric is a great choice for wallpaper. Silk is a natural fibre, which means it’s very durable and can withstand lots of wear and tear. It’s also fire retardant, which is good if you’ve got kids running around.
It’s important to note that some silks are treated with chemicals, so make sure you get the right kind by asking your local fabric store owner or contractor.
Should I Use Starched Fabric as Wallpaper?
You can use starched fabric as wallpaper, but it may not be a good idea depending on the type of wall you’re applying it to. When you starch fabric, it stiffens up and becomes easier to work with. This is especially important when working with large pieces of fabric because they can be difficult to cut if they’re too flexible.
Starching your fabric will make it easier for you to cut and apply directly onto walls. It also makes your pattern stand out more because the stiffer material doesn’t bend around curves in the way that unstarched fabrics do.
How Do You Install Fabric Wallpaper?
- Prepare the surface. You will need to prep your wall by priming it with a white base coat of paint, or using wallpaper paste if you’re using paper.
- Measure the wall and cut your fabric accordingly. This can be done in one of two ways: either use a pattern (like an old bedsheet) that has already been cut out and then iron it onto the wallpaper roll, or measure out all the pieces yourself by hand and cut them as needed with an X-Acto knife or scissors. Don’t forget to leave enough extra fabric around each piece so that when you attach them together, later on, there’s enough overlap for a seamless look!
- Hang up your fabric panels on drywall walls using tacks or double-sided tape; make sure they’re straight! You can also hang them from ceiling tiles if desired—this will create more movement than placing them directly onto the wallboard but may cause issues depending on how much weight is being put on it at once (so do so at your own risk). If necessary add additional supports below each piece such as wooden dowels inserted through holes drilled into baseboards/flooring etcetera so stability is maintained properly during assembly processes over time.”
Should I Hang it or Glue the Fabric to the Wall?
You should always hang fabric wallpaper. If you glue your fabric to the wall, you run the risk of damaging your wall and having to remove it. To hang fabric wallpaper, use a leveller or straightedge to make sure that all pieces are properly straight on the wall before applying adhesive.
You should also use an adhesive designed for hanging fabrics like wallpaper or drapes; contact cement will damage most fabrics over time as well as potentially cause damage to your walls from bubbling up around the edges.
Can You Staple Fabric To a Wall?
The first thing you’ll need to do is choose your fabric. You can either buy some on Amazon or a local fabric store or make it yourself! Once you’ve chosen your fabric, the next step is to measure out and cut your fabric.
To do this, find the right length of staples, these are usually available at hardware stores that will fit into the head of your staple gun and use a hammer to pound them into the wall where you want them placed with a few inches between each one so that they don’t overlap too much when stapled onto it.
Once all four sides have been secured together by these staples, unroll it across any large flat surface in front of you while holding onto both ends tightly so they don’t come apart again.
This can take some practice though because what happens if one side comes off? Well, luckily there are many different ways around this problem such as using tape instead.
How Long will Fabric Wallpaper Last?
Like any wallpaper, the longevity of your fabric wallpaper depends on how you take care of it. A well-made, high-quality paper should last for at least a few years before needing to be replaced. If you have kids or pets, then it’s likely that your fabric will show signs of wear and tear in as little as one year. However, if you choose your fabrics carefully and use them sparingly for example: only in one room, then it may last much longer than that.
Fabric wallpapers are not meant to last forever; they’re meant to be changed out every few years or so. And while different types will fade at different rates some more quickly than others, all fabric wallpapers should give you an idea of how long they’ll last before needing replacement: just look at their packaging.
Conclusion
I hope you found this article helpful, and that you’re now ready to start wallpaper shopping! If so, I’d love for you to check out our collections of tips and hacks for quilters and fashion lovers.