Hi friends and happy hump day! I hope you all are having a great week so far and enjoying the start of summer. It’s getting quite roasty toasty around here, and I’m kinda lovin it 🙂
Today I’m sharing with you my newest project and a new method I came up with for attaching fabric to furniture. I was happy to be guest posting for Rachel over at Rachel Rossi Interior Design on Sunday. She is one talented lady, and even better, she is starting to get into repurposing old furniture! My kind of lady 😉
If you missed my post, go read it now! But here’s a little sneak peak too. (Note how awesome my new backdrop looks!)
This post contains affiliate links.
HOW TO APPLY FABRIC TO FURNITURE
I’ve done a few projects where I’ve used fabric on furniture and I always did things the same way: with Mod Podge. Now don’t get me wrong, it works great, but I’ve always struggled with cutting the fabric straight and getting a clean edge. The solution? POSTER BOARD!
If you’re still confused let me break it down for you. Now keep in mind this will only work on certain pieces, and it worked especially well on shelves. I was trying to decide how to get a super clean line on the edges without having any fraying fabric or crooked lines. And then it hit me! Paper is SO much easier to cut straight, and it’s so thin you’ll barely notice it’s there.
STEP 1:
First I cut my paper to the size of the shelf.
STEP 2:
Next I cut my fabric out a little bigger than the paper (roughly an inch on all sides, and a few inches on the front). I folded it over the edges of the poster board and glued it down.
Next I took both pieces and covered the backsides with glue and some extra on the shelf itself. I found this stuff at JoAnns, but you could really use any type of glue.
As I mentioned, I left a little extra fabric on the front end and that’s because I wanted it to fold over the entire shelf.
STEP 3:
I simply used a staple gun to attach it underneath and voila! Crisp, clean edges and you would never know there was poster board under there 🙂
Again, this won’t work for every piece of furniture and it depends what you are trying to cover, but it’s a good trick to know and hopefully will save some of you some frustration in the future 🙂
Penelope Smith
Wow, this is some really good information about attaching fabric to furniture. Do you know if that fabric glue works better on thicker or thinner fabrics? I have been thinking about reupholstering some chairs in my house with a heavy fabric soon.
Alyson Percy
I use iron interfacing as it stiffens the fabric and does not fray and rather than using a stapler I use carpet spray adhesive, ” That fabric aint going anywhere”
brepurposed
Great tips, thanks!
doreen @ altered-artworks
Your nightstand is adorable! I love your use of fabric, coordinating with the paint color! Pinned!
Michelle from Weekend Craft
Bre thank you so much for linking up at the Creative Spark Link Party I loved this project so much that I had to feature it! I hope you stop by again this week to link up! http://bit.ly/1vvIGjo
brepurposed
Aw thank you so much Michelle! So excited to be featured at your party 🙂 Have a great day!
Heather Smith {Woods of Bell Trees}
AWESOME tip! I once had a very similar nightstand and wish I still had it so I could redo it! I love the way yours looks!
brepurposed
Thanks Heather! Too bad you don’t have it anymore! I’m sure you can find another similar one 🙂
Amy
Brilliant! Such a great idea, love how it turned out!
brepurposed
Thank you so much Amy!!
Katie @ UpcycledTreasures
This is absolutely adorable and I love the fabric you chose! I definitely need to try this out 🙂 Thanks for sharing at The Makers!
brepurposed
Thank you so much Katie!!
Virginia
Great tutorial. Thanks!
Katie
Your table is so stinkin’ cute!!! I would have never thought about using that glue stuff. I would love it if you linked this to my Motivate Me Monday linky party on IT’S A ginger SNAP.
brepurposed
Thank you so much! I’ve linked up, thanks for hosting the party!
Rachel
This is genius!! Thanks for sharing (Pinning for later) 😉
brepurposed
Thank you Rachel! 🙂
Bre @ Average But Inspired
Bre this is so smart! I’m planning to add some color to a tv stand in the near future and I just might use this. Pinning! – Bre @ Average But Inspired
brepurposed
Perfect timing! Can’t see what you’re working on 🙂
Emily, our house now a home
that is the cutest little table, I love the pattern of the fabric.
brepurposed
thank you so much, Emily!!
Marie@The Interior Frugalista
Fabulous tip Bre and very timely for a project I’m currently working on. I’m definitely pinning this!
brepurposed
Wow, great timing!! Can’t wait to see what you’re up to 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Julie
Clever idea, and I love your finished piece. I’ve never had this problem but hen I’ve never tried! Definitely keeping this tip for when I need it, thanks
brepurposed
Thank you Julie! If you ever run into this problem, you’ll have a great solution 🙂
lthorpe
Genius! I am so using this tip!
brepurposed
Thank you! I hope it works well for you!
Nicole B.
The backdrop definitely makes the furniture piece pop! Perfect!!
brepurposed
Thanks Nicole! I think so too! 🙂
Kristi
Brilliant!!! By the way, that yellow is fabulous and I’m LOVING that backdrop!!!
brepurposed
Thanks Kristi! I’m loving it too! 🙂