Fabric Walls

Fabric Walls using Double Sided Tape

Fabric has been used going as far back as medieval times when people would hang thick tapestries on the walls to help insulate against drafts. The 17^th century saw the introduction of fixed wall upholstery.

Fabric walls are a stunning and unique way to transform interiors with texture, colour & warmth and presently becoming very on trend and adds natural luxurious character to your walls.

Upholstery Fabric, Soft Furnishings & Tapestry Fabric can be used. The scope is immense with linens, velvets & woven fabric options, which gives a wide variety of choices to suit your taste.

The advantages of Fabric Walls

Good Insulator.
Has great acoustics properties.
Can cover most structural imperfections.
You can apply it to surfaces such as wallpaper, wood, painted walls, tiles and textured paint.
Creates a lovely ambience.
Many different options to suit your personal & unique design.
Fabric usually has a larger width than wallpaper.
You can match with furniture such as headboards and chair coverings.
Relatively easy to apply.
Fabric walls are easy to clean if you follow some simple steps and use the right tools and products.

The advantages of using double-sided tape to apply fabric to walls

Using double sided tape to secure the fabric is a relatively easy and simple installation.
You just peel off the backing and press the tape to the wall which makes it a quick hassle-free method compared to stapling or using adhesives.
Double sided tape can be used on painted walls, wood, tiles and glass so is very versatile.
A big benefit is that it can be removed without damaging the wall which is great for renters or anyone who wants a temporary change as it will leave no marks once removed.
As the double-sided tape is hidden between the fabric and wall it helps to achieve a professional finish without visible fasteners.
It allows for easy adjustments if you need to reposition the fabric, unlike more permanent methods.

How much fabric

Measure your wall’s height and translate that figure into metres. Multiply the number of widths by number of metres for total meterage needed to cover your wall or walls.

Tools Needed

Step Ladders
Scissors
Drawing Pins
Plumb Line or Spirit Level
Double sided tape.
Stanley Knife (for trimming the edges)

General Advise when applying fabric with double sided tape

Clean the wall surface and make sure it’s free of dust/dirt.
Wash and dry the fabric before you begin to avoid shrinking or wrinkling later.
Always check if the chosen fabric is washable.
Cut the fabric to fit the wall, leaving some extra fabric at the edges for trimming, around 2 inches.
Use a strong double-sided tape. Acrylic adhesive tapes have strong bonding properties.
Secure the fabric at the top with drawing pins to keep it in place whilst working your way across and down the wall.
Use your plumb line or spirit level to make sure it’s straight.
Start in the top corner edge and secure the double-sided tape horizontally across the wall, moving downwards once secure, spacing them about 12 inches/30 centimetres apart.
You can apply it by hand or a brush and smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles with a wallpaper smoothing tool or a credit card.
Press the tape firmly to ensure it sticks to the wall.

Tips

Make sure you measure the wall correctly and order the right amount of fabric.
Have all your tools ready.
Decide the best place to start which is usually a top corner.
Beware of the salvage on one side of the fabric, (account for it when cutting and measuring)
Leave extra fabric at the edges to be cut later.
Turn off any sockets.
Draw a straight line where you want to start as this will help the rest of the project.
Secure the fabric with drawing pins, this will help if the fabric is patterned to make sure an exact joining match and keeps it in place until secured.
Avoid getting the tape on the front of the fabric as this may damage it.
It isn’t a one-person job.

Conclusion

Applying the fabric is a very similar process to applying wallpaper so if you have done this before then it shouldn’t be too difficult.

Securing the fabric with the drawing pins can be a game changer and make the process so much quicker and easier. The heavier the weight of the fabric the more difficult it will be to keep in place when sticking down. It’s best to start at the top and go sideways on, then move downwards.

Why not look at our Boutique, Suede, Tapestry, Velvet to name but a few.

Imagine what a difference it could make to your room.