Applying Fabric to Walls

Use Starch to Apply Fabric to Walls

Using starch instead of wallpaper paste to attach fabric to walls is a great way to cover a wall with fabric.

A lightweight fabric, like polished cotton or chintz, works best. The advantages of starch are ease of application, less mess and ease of removal. When you tire of the fabric or need to deep clean it, just peel away a corner and slowly strip it off.

If it doesn't come away easily, dampen with a sponge first. It's also easier to smooth out bubbles from fabric with the starch method.

Materials for Applying Fabric to Walls

• Lightweight fabric such as polished cotton, chintz or gingham
• Linit Starch-n-Crafts Stiffener or other spray starch
• Clean sponge
• Masking tape and paper
• Push pins
• Metal straightedge
• Craft knife

Directions for Attaching Fabric to Walls

• 1. Wash wall to remove any film.
• 2. Measure and cut fabric strips matching the pattern and allowing 3 extra inches of length.
• 3. Mask ceiling and floor to catch any starch overspray.
• 4. Spray starch on the top half of the wall the width of fabric panel.
• 5. Starting at the ceiling and leaving 1 ½ inch above (to be trimmed later), lay first panel against the wall and smooth it down.Use push pins to temporarily hold the fabric in place. Spray more starch going down the wall and smooth fabric as before until you reach the floor. If you measured and cut correctly, you should have 1 ½ inch of extra on the bottom as well.
• 6. Spray more starch on the top surface of the fabric, making sure to moisten the fabric evenly all the way through. Smooth using the sponge. Work from top to bottom as you did before: spray and smooth; spray and smooth.
• 7. Position the next panel with 1 inch overlap to the previous panel and with patterns matching. Hang as before.
• 8. Allow fabric to dry thoroughly so that all shrinkage occurs before you trim.
• 9. Using metal straightedge and craft knife, trim extra fabric from top and bottom.
• 10. Again using the straightedge, slice through both layers of fabric down the center of the vertical overlap. The ½ inch strip of overlap on top should practically fall off on its own. Next gently reach underneath to grasp and strip away the bottom ½ inch piece of overlap. You may need to apply a little more adhesive or starch to the area that was stuck to the fabric you just removed (rather than to the wall). Then press it gently against the wall for a virtually invisible seam.
• 11. Remove push pins (duh!).