How to Decorate an Entire Wall Without Paint
Find out exactly how far it is from the ceiling to the floor of the wall you want to cover, and how wide side to side., Browse your local fabric stores or online and find a pattern of fabric that you like., Remember that while this is easier to put...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Find out exactly how far it is from the ceiling to the floor of the wall you want to cover
The inch measurement here will likely be close but not exactly what the room is measured at on your floor plan.
Write this information down to use later. -
Step 2: and how wide side to side.
Upholstery weight fabric is good for this project, although lighter fabric could possibly work.
Don't pick something too heavy, faux fur or leather aside from being insanely expensive are likely too heavy for this project. , Be choosy, pick something you know; you will like for a while! All rules about good taste, tackiness, and matching your decoration apply here. , Wider is better in this case so if you are torn between two designs, choose the wider one.
Now, figure out how many "widths" of fabric it will take to add up to the height of your wall plus 2 inches (5.1 cm) at the top, 2 inches (5.1 cm) at the bottom, and an inch for every seam that will have to be sewn.
For 2 widths- 5 inches (12.7 cm).
For 3–6 inches (7.6–15.2 cm).
The width of your wall * how many widths you just calculated will be the length of fabric you will need.
If you are trying to match a pattern or stripes so they line up, you will need extra (how much you may want to ask a sewing friend for help if you can't figure out yourself
- it will vary depending on the pattern in your fabric).
Add about 12 inches (30.5 cm) to this measurement to be on the safe side. , Try to avoid having any other lengths as it means extra seams.
If you allow the person at the counter to cut your fabric, make sure they're reasonably consistent and straight with their cuts. (Some places are lazy and try to get away with otherwise). ,, Match all the sides up on one end, and if the others are a little uneven trim after sewing.
Remember that we allocated an inch per seam of fabric total, so each side gets 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm).
Sew one straight line over each seam to hold it better than the pins, then a triple straight line, followed by a zig zag stitch.
This is a lot of weight to hold.
Be careful, go slow, this is a lot of fabric to work with and handle, and a lot of seam to take out if you mess up.
It's pretty simple though. ,, If you overbought fabric for reuse on a larger wall later you can make a huge hem to just fold it back. , These need to be heavy-duty enough to hold the fabric and you may need anchors depending on your wall.
If you have a choice of colors pick something that will match your fabric.
You'll also need a drill and drill bit, a staple gun, and staples for the gun.
If you used lightweight fabric, you may want to pick up some small nuts to sew into the bottom hem to weight it down if needed.
You'll also need some 1*2" boards, length total to the width of your wall (you'll probably have to cut one of the pieces but most hardware stores will make a cut for free like this- a handsaw will also do if you do it yourself.) , Place the boards on top of the fabric at the top, so that you can fold the edge of the fabric over the side and onto the top of the boards.
Use the staples and staple gun to secure the fabric, starting at one end and working to the other, and holding it taught (width wise not height.) , Have 1-2 people hold the boards, while another person will be doing the securing. , Take the boards down and mount anchors if you're using them.
Put the screws into these holes.
You will be able to see the head of the screw on the "nice" side of the wall.
If the color matches, or coordinates, nobody will ever notice.
If it doesn't, once you're finished mounting them take a bit of acrylic paint that matches your fabric and paint the screw heads. (Ok, we lied, you might use $1 worth of paint that never touches your wall). , Only use enough to weight it down to hang straight. , Tiny nails, staples, or thumbtacks will all do the trick.
Whatever looks best and will do the least amount of damage to the wall behind it. , To take it down gather your friends again and go in reverse, untack, then unscrew it, then take the fabric off the board and roll it up to cart off for whatever.
A bit of DAP and touch-up paint will take care of the screw holes. -
Step 3: Browse your local fabric stores or online and find a pattern of fabric that you like.
-
Step 4: Remember that while this is easier to put up than paint
-
Step 5: it's more expensive and you won't be changing it very often.
-
Step 6: Figure out how wide the fabric is.
-
Step 7: Buy the fabric in one length or the lengths of the individual pieces you will need (width of the wall + a few inches).
-
Step 8: Buy a spool of upholstery thread that matches your fabric
-
Step 9: and a needle for your sewing machine that will handle the thickness of what you're sewing.
-
Step 10: Pin the pieces together lengthwise so that you can sew them into one large panel.
-
Step 11: Trim the end you didn't line up so it's mostly even.
-
Step 12: Hem the bottom
-
Step 13: and both sides.
-
Step 14: Buy screws.
-
Step 15: Lay the fabric out so that you can access the entire top edge.
-
Step 16: Hold the boards up at the top of your wall
-
Step 17: against the other walls and the ceiling.
-
Step 18: Drill a hole through the front of the fabric
-
Step 19: the board
-
Step 20: and into the wall for the screw.
-
Step 21: Add those nuts to the bottom hem if the fabric doesn't hang straight enough.
-
Step 22: Tack the fabric to the wall down the sides in a few places if needed.
-
Step 23: Enjoy your awesome wall!
Detailed Guide
The inch measurement here will likely be close but not exactly what the room is measured at on your floor plan.
Write this information down to use later.
Upholstery weight fabric is good for this project, although lighter fabric could possibly work.
Don't pick something too heavy, faux fur or leather aside from being insanely expensive are likely too heavy for this project. , Be choosy, pick something you know; you will like for a while! All rules about good taste, tackiness, and matching your decoration apply here. , Wider is better in this case so if you are torn between two designs, choose the wider one.
Now, figure out how many "widths" of fabric it will take to add up to the height of your wall plus 2 inches (5.1 cm) at the top, 2 inches (5.1 cm) at the bottom, and an inch for every seam that will have to be sewn.
For 2 widths- 5 inches (12.7 cm).
For 3–6 inches (7.6–15.2 cm).
The width of your wall * how many widths you just calculated will be the length of fabric you will need.
If you are trying to match a pattern or stripes so they line up, you will need extra (how much you may want to ask a sewing friend for help if you can't figure out yourself
- it will vary depending on the pattern in your fabric).
Add about 12 inches (30.5 cm) to this measurement to be on the safe side. , Try to avoid having any other lengths as it means extra seams.
If you allow the person at the counter to cut your fabric, make sure they're reasonably consistent and straight with their cuts. (Some places are lazy and try to get away with otherwise). ,, Match all the sides up on one end, and if the others are a little uneven trim after sewing.
Remember that we allocated an inch per seam of fabric total, so each side gets 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm).
Sew one straight line over each seam to hold it better than the pins, then a triple straight line, followed by a zig zag stitch.
This is a lot of weight to hold.
Be careful, go slow, this is a lot of fabric to work with and handle, and a lot of seam to take out if you mess up.
It's pretty simple though. ,, If you overbought fabric for reuse on a larger wall later you can make a huge hem to just fold it back. , These need to be heavy-duty enough to hold the fabric and you may need anchors depending on your wall.
If you have a choice of colors pick something that will match your fabric.
You'll also need a drill and drill bit, a staple gun, and staples for the gun.
If you used lightweight fabric, you may want to pick up some small nuts to sew into the bottom hem to weight it down if needed.
You'll also need some 1*2" boards, length total to the width of your wall (you'll probably have to cut one of the pieces but most hardware stores will make a cut for free like this- a handsaw will also do if you do it yourself.) , Place the boards on top of the fabric at the top, so that you can fold the edge of the fabric over the side and onto the top of the boards.
Use the staples and staple gun to secure the fabric, starting at one end and working to the other, and holding it taught (width wise not height.) , Have 1-2 people hold the boards, while another person will be doing the securing. , Take the boards down and mount anchors if you're using them.
Put the screws into these holes.
You will be able to see the head of the screw on the "nice" side of the wall.
If the color matches, or coordinates, nobody will ever notice.
If it doesn't, once you're finished mounting them take a bit of acrylic paint that matches your fabric and paint the screw heads. (Ok, we lied, you might use $1 worth of paint that never touches your wall). , Only use enough to weight it down to hang straight. , Tiny nails, staples, or thumbtacks will all do the trick.
Whatever looks best and will do the least amount of damage to the wall behind it. , To take it down gather your friends again and go in reverse, untack, then unscrew it, then take the fabric off the board and roll it up to cart off for whatever.
A bit of DAP and touch-up paint will take care of the screw holes.
About the Author
Rachel Stone
Brings years of experience writing about home improvement and related subjects.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: