Dress Up Your Walls With Fabric

Pleated Technique

Materials and Tools:

medium-weight fabric
staple gun
scissors
hammer
nails
decorative molding

Steps:

1. Measure from the ceiling to the top of the baseboard or floor for length. Measure the width of the entire wall and double that measurement based on the fabric width or desired pleat width.

2. Work from one side of the wall to the other and pre-cut all the panels. Beginning at the upper left edge, pleat and staple fabric along wall. When the top edge is finished, repeat the process along bottom edge. Overlap fabric edges and repeat until entire wall is covered.

3. Cover raw stapled edges of fabric along the top and bottom with painted or stained molding.

Shirred Fabric Technique

Materials and Tools:

shirring tape
fabric

Steps:

1. Measure walls as above and get enough fabric for three times the width for each panel.

2. Sew shirring tape along top and bottom edges of each panel.

3. Pull tape strings to gather the fabric, and then staple to the wall.

Rod Shirring

Materials and Tools:

curtain rods
lightweight fabric

Steps:

1. Measure walls as above and get enough fabric for two to three times the width for each panel.

2. Cut fabric panels adding extra for rod pockets. Sew a pocket along the top and bottom edge of each panel.

3. Thread fabric onto curtain rods and hang taut with appropriate hardware (cover an entire wall or create paneled areas around a room).

Flat Fabric Walls

Materials and Tools:

heavy upholstery fabric
staple gun
scissors
hammer
nails
decorative molding or trim
hot glue gun/fabric glue sticks

Steps:

1. Stretch and staple the fabric panels along the top and bottom wall edge.

2. Cover raw edges with molding or attach wide decorative trim with hot glue.