I am a renter, and so that dramatically limits a lot of my options when it comes to personalizing my living space. So, I’m always looking for ways to decorate that won’t permanently "damage" my apartment. I came across a slide show of ideas on CasaSugar that had several renter-friendly alternatives to paint.
There was one that I had never heard of before: hanging fabric as wallpaper with liquid or spray starch. Am I late on the band wagon with this one, or is this news to you as well?
I went to the Linit Starch website, where they have instructions for turning any washable fabric (though they recommend lightweight polished cottons, ginghams, or chintzes) into custom wallpaper. It seems pretty straightforward. Here is a quick summary of the instructions:
-measure and cut fabric panels to fit your wall (matching pattern if necessary)
-spray or paint starch on the top part of the wall
-affix fabric panel to the starched area and continue adding the starch and fabric to the baseboard
-use push pins to temporarily hold fabric in place
-spray or paint another round of starch on top of the fabric and smooth out any bubbles
-repeat for additional panels
-cut overlapping fabric once everything is completely dry
Supposedly you can simply remove the fabric panels when you are tired of them, with only the help of a little water. Just think you could have your walls covered in any of these:
Marimekko Unikko in pink and red
Cicada Studio Hydrangea Blue
Needless to say, I love this idea, but I’m scared of trying it. What do you think is this something you would do? Should I test it out?
(images from CasaSugar, Amy Butler Design, Marimekko and Cicada Studio)
I used this technique for an “accent wall” in my first apartment out of college. It is so simple to do! I actually put the fabric in a bucket of starch and squeezed out the excess (it was a textured blue fabric so any wrinkles didn’t matter, but you could just smooth them out on the wall). You may have to touch up the corners every once in awhile and the starch wears off, but it has a beautiful effect. When it was time to move I stripped off the fabric, sponged off the walls and now the fabric is ready for another project!
That is very interesting, I would be willing to try it and I own a home!
One other idea that I would like to try is one that I saw Hildy do on a long ago Trading Spaces episode. She took rolls (tons) of gross-grained ribbons and made a basket weave effect on a wall, it added texture and fun flair to a wall. She did it as just one wall which is what I would do as well. You could tack it up with staples and then glue another decorative ribbon over the staples to hide them, and it wouldn’t do serious damage to the wall.
I am VERY interested to hear of this works!
I would test it out on a piece of painted drywall first- you do not want the fabric to pull off any plaster, or you will be spackling forever! What about hanging fabric panels floor to ceiling on a track instead?
Well, I think it can end up looking pretty cool but…
1) That is a lotttt of fabric to buy, even if you only do one wall.
2) If you hang pictures on the wall or mount shelves or something, you’ll have to go through the fabric with the nails/screws which might make the fabric harder to re-use later
3) I’m not a gigantic fan of patterns on walls (some exceptions)
So no, I doubt I’ll do it… maybe if it were a small wall or something, or I got a great deal on some fabric I LOVED…
And then what if the ink from the fabric bleeds into the wall over time and you end up with a stained wall afterward? AHH!
*Joyful Abode, I agree, it is a TON of fabric to buy for a big wall, and even more than that what is really daunting to me about this (and any other wallpaper) is matching the pattern with each strip. One idea that I had was to use this in place of wall decals. I like wall decals, but they are getting to that oversaturation point. So cutting out a great shape–or even words (names in a kid’s room, etc) might be an easy way to use fabric scraps or not have to go broke redecorating.
*Laura, I’m so glad to hear that this worked. And that you used a textured fabric, what kind was it? I’m going to have to brainstorm some projects to experiment with this technique this summer.
This is something Nate Berkus recommends all the time as well. He says he did it to his dorm rooms in college. I say go for it!
So long as it’s not in a bathroom or kitchen near it works great! Kitchen would be fine away from cooking areas… I did this when I was in college with a lightweight cotton fabric.
Yes, and yes!! I did it to a small wall in my entryway, and it was totally worth it. I blogged about the process here, with pics -
http://kristendirmeier.blogspot.com/2008/09/purple.html
I actually have plans to do part of a large wall in my bedroom. I don’t want to do the whole thing, so I thought I would do a vertical stripe and create a “framed” effect by nailing some thin bamboo poles along the edges.
Have fun with your project, and good luck!
The fabric I used was from a $1/yd bin at a big box store (which greatly controlled the cost since you have to buy so much!) so I’m not 100% sure but it was definitely a synthetic of sorts. Hope that helps!
I tested this several years ago on a wall that was painted paneling. It removed the paint which wasn’t what I intended and of course the paneling grooves showed. I think it would be fine on another type of surface and you should be safe from color bleed if you stick with medium to light shades. Go for it!
I came across the greatest website for wallpapers and fabrics. Check out http://www.source4interiors.com. One wallpaper I purchased from this site is from Thibaut Design they have the most beautiful wallpapers I have ever seen in my life. They have a new book called Residence that has a pattern called Baron comes in both wallpaper and fabric. Wow! is all I can say on this new pattern it looks great in my new living room. I just wanted to suggest you all take a look as I found it a very nice site to visit and who knows you might find something you like.
Does anyone know if you can do this method to a wall that already has texture (like the sprayed drywall that most apartments have?) I don’t want to go through all the trouble to do this is it is just going to bubble up in a zillion places because the wall wasn’t perfectly smooth. I can’t seem to find ANY info on which types of walls this technique work on, and which it doesn’t work on.
This is actually a very old technique. From what I understand, it works quite well and leaves no trace after it is removed.
I have been doing this for years and it lasts an amazingly long time. My master bathroom has a printed linen fabric that I put up 12 years ago. The only reason I need to take it down now, is that my cat keeps rubbing on the corners, fabric still is up but it is getting soiled where she rubs. I learned this trick years and years ago from decorating military wives who lived in government quarters. Amazing what they did in those places. Don’t be afraid, jump in. It is a little messy, —I also sewed yards and yards of piping in the same fabric and hotglued it on top of fabric at top, bottom, in corners and around light fixtures.
25 years ago this was commonly done by military wives living on base. They used king sized sheets, with the hems trimmed off. It was quite easily put up, and more easily taken down. Knowing that this technique passed exit inspections should encourage renters to try it themselves!
P.S. Don’t use this in damp places, like bathrooms, musty basements, or beneath window a.c. units.
this works. and does not mess up the walls. i have had to rent so many places that do not allow you to paint or do anything to the house. but i do this. and it is so neat. i cut out “restroom” people shapes for the bathroom door (makes it easy for company to find) and shapes for my kids bedrooms.
I have done this before it works really well takes a lot of starch but last a long time if it gets dirty you just pull it off and wash it..the only down side is the traces of starch left on the walls needs to be wiped off before it’s put back up!!
I love the beautiful patterns above they have a lovely punch of color and would make a wonderful accent in the design of your room. thanks for sharing.
Very creative way to save money, I would try it.
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Be careful that your fabric doesn’t bleed! My daughter has a duvet cover in that bright Marimekko Unikko pattern and years later it still loses color.