Wallpaper Wednesday: Fiber Walls

Her is something cool I just discovered, covering walls with textiles!  The crazy thing is that it's not a new idea.  It was very common back in the day in France with the royals.   Using textiles instead of wallpaper can be a great solution to your design needs.  Textile wallcoverings are very durable, much more than wallpapers, can reduce sound/noise and can control climate.  It is much more of an investment since the dollar/yard can be much more for textiles than wallpapers.

There are many different ways to install textile wall treatments.  If you have a big job it's best to get it professionally installed.  But if your looking for a quick change with something new, here are some installation techniques.

Stretcher Method.. Stretch it like a big painting and hang as a piece of artwork.  You can change the shape of the frame to fit the space.  Repeat the frames and it will appear as paneling.

http://www.wikihow.com

Stretch to the Wall Method.. This method is the same idea as the Stretcher method but the frame is attached to the wall.  With this method there is only the top and bottom bar being used.  Staple the fabric to the top beam and attach that beam to the wall.  Attach the second bar to the base.  Stretch the fabric and attach with staples.  This method os more permanent  and sturdy than the stretcher method and can allow you to use thicker fabrics.

The Starch Method..  It is best to choose lightweight fabric.  Wash and completely dry the fabric.  Cut the fabric to fit the wall with about two inches of extra fabric and the top and at the bottom.  Keep in mind matching up the patterns from yard to yard.   With the Starch Method the wall will not be damaged and the fabric can easily be removed.  Use a paint roller, it's less messy and faster than using a brush or dipping the fabric into a container of starch.  Hanging is easy, simply roll the starch onto the wall.  Apply a good thick layer.  Then hang the fabric and smooth with a wallpaper smoothing tool.  Then roll one more starch layer over the fabric and let dry.  A couple of thumbtacks at the top will hold it in place until it dries.  Overlap each strip about 1/2 inch.  When the fabric is dry, take a straight edge and box cutter, and trim away the extra fabric.  Voila! Your done!

http://budgetdecorating.about.com

Using textiles can add a whole new dimension to a room, adding more texture and dimension that's not normally found in an interior, well not since the 1800's.  

Be bold and try something new!

peace & love

Rebecca