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Fabric Wallpaper

Tips on How to Make Fabric Wallpaper

I want to use a sailcloth material (matching drapes) as a wallpaper border in a small bathroom.

Is there any product or technique available to make the fabric stiff enough, or to adhere to a backing board to affix to the wall?

Bob

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What you want is fabric stiffener or starch. Buy Plaid Stiffy or Aleene's Fabric Stiffener. You will probably need a few 16 oz. bottles because you need to soak the fabric and then hang it.

Here are some tips to help you get started making your own fabric wallpaper.

Do a test first. Whether to trim to size before or after hanging depends on the weight and weave of your sailcloth. You also want to determine whether there will be any shrinkage you need to take into account.

Once you know how your sailcloth and the stiffener work together, cut your border fabric. Pour the stiffener into a clean paint tray or rustproof pan.

Soak a strip. Position it on the wall. You may need to tack it with staples or push pins until it adheres.

Watch for bubbles as the fabric dries. If any appear, pierce them with a pin and smooth out the bubble.

If you are trimming after hanging, let the fabric dry completely first. It will then cut cleanly.

Should you want to remove the fabric, simply work one corner loose and peel. If it doesn’t come away easily, soak with a wet sponge.

You may even want to use the fabric in another project. Just throw it in the wash machine to remove the stiffener.

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