Published on October 19th, 2022

Last updated on February 6th, 2023

How To Hang Fabric On Wall: Fabric Wall Hanging DIY

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
how hang fabric wall

Perhaps you want to give your home a makeover by hanging some pretty fabric on the wall. Or you rent an apartment and do not want to swear with the owners because of self-painting the walls. In any case, covering a wall with fabric will be a great way to decorate the room without harming the interior. To hang the fabric on your wall, use the following steps:

  1. Prepare the fabric;
  2. Apply starch to the wall;
  3. Hang the fabric on the wall;
  4. Cut the fabric;
  5. Final actions.

Decorating the walls with fabric is a great idea to transform a room. As for the glue, you can make your own with simple ingredients you can find at home. This way of decorating the walls will not harm them, and you can remove such fabric anytime.

This guide will tell you how to quickly and safely hang fabric on a wall.

Hanging Fabric on the Wall Step-by-step

hang fabric on wall

Hanging fabric on the wall is an enjoyable and safe way to brighten the decor and make your space more attractive. To decorate the walls of your room with fabric, you first need to buy it from a fabric store. Choose colors that will match your room furniture and lift the mood of your room. Measure the dimensions of your walls and buy fabric with a margin, which is definitely enough. Also, don’t forget to wash and iron the fabric before attaching it to your wall.

So, let’s move on to covering a wall with fabric. First, let’s look at the list of tools that you will need to get started.

Required tools for cloth wall covering:

  • Scissors;
  • Stepladder;
  • Paint roller with low pile lid;
  • Paint tray;
  • Wallpaper smoothing tool;
  • Metal ruler;
  • Sharp utility knife;
  • Roulette;
  • Textile fabric;
  • Napkins;
  • Laundry starch.

Once you have prepared the necessary tools, let’s take a closer look at the steps that will help you hang the fabric on the walls.

Prepare the fabric

The first thing you need to start with is preparing your fabric for hanging it on the wall. To do this, measure out the desired piece of fabric, leaving an extra 2 inches on each side. If you plan to hang the fabric on a wall with a window, measure the exact dimensions of the fabric so that it fits the window perfectly. We advise you to cut the fabric after you hang it, so you are less likely to make sizing errors. Also, do not forget to rewash the fabric and trim the edges.

Prepare the wall

Before putting the fabric on the wall, you also must prepare the wall itself. Remove all sockets that are on this wall, as well as light switches. Wash the wall and wait for it to dry completely. And also, cover the floor with rags or newspapers so as not to stain it during work.

Apply starch to the wall

To help your fabric stick to the wall, apply starch to the wall. This method will help you not damage the wall while attaching fabric to it and remove it at any time. We advise you to apply the starch with a paint roller. It is relatively quicker and cleaner than using brushes. Carefully apply starch to all walls, being careful not to spill the product on light bulbs, switches, and sockets that may have been left during your work. Once you’ve applied the starch to the walls, close the leftover starch box tightly so you can continue using it if you need to stop working on the wall.

Hang the fabric on the wall

fabric on walls

Now you can hang your fabric on the wall. Although this may take a lot of time, we must say that this work is not difficult.

  1. Tape the strips of fabric one at a time onto the wet starch, starting at a corner in the room. Move away from the wall occasionally to check that you have glued your fabric evenly. The top and bottom of the fabric should be 1-2 inches longer than the end of the wall. As for the sides of the fabric, one should protrude half an inch.
  2. You can also use tacks to secure the fabric to the top of the wall.
  3. After applying the fabric to the wall, go over it with a ruler to press it well against the wall.

Cut the fabric

When everything is dry, carefully cut off any excess fabric on all sides using a ruler and a utility knife. Be very careful around the outlets so as not to touch the protruding wires.

Final actions

After you have hung the fabric on the walls and cut off all the excess, you need to wipe the baseboards from the whitewash and install sockets and switches in their places.

If your wall gets dirty, you can go over it with a sponge dipped in water and dish soap. To remove the fabric, wet the corners with a sponge; after they get wet, you can easily remove each strip of your fabric.

Thus, a cloth wall covering will be a good substitute for painting the walls. This method is excellent in cases where you cannot use a more serious repair. And also, such an easy way to spruce up a room is well suited for periods of holidays and other events. You can easily remove the fabric at any time and be sure that nothing has happened to the wall.

FAQ

How to hang fabric on the wall?

To hang your fabric on the wall, choose the fabric you like in the store and buy a roll of fabric with a margin. Wash your wall, coat your fabric with glue and apply it to the wall, pressing it from all sides with a ruler. Such a simple way will help you get beautiful and exciting room decor for both a holiday and a permanent time.

Is it necessary to use nails to hang fabric on the wall?

No, you can use starch to stick the fabric on the wall. And you can also find fabric with Velcro, adhesive tapes, or clips. Choose your option and decorate your room.

Can I easily remove fabric from a wall glued with starch?

Yes, this method of gluing fabric to the wall is not super strong. The starch will allow your fabric to stick to the wall until you want to remove it with your hands. If you need to remove your fabric, wet the corners of the fabric and gently pull the fabric until it falls off.

Do landlords allow you to stick fabric on the wall as room decor?

Yes, this way of decorating a room will not spoil the walls and cannot be forbidden to you. Glue the fabric to the starch or pin it to the wall with any needles and easily remove it when needed.