Inspiration: Use Fabric for Wall Treatments

We absolutely love this idea for a wall treatment in an apartment. Not only is hanging fabric one of the easiest options to change a room drastically if you aren't allowed to paint your apartment--it's the fastest option as well.

The picture shown here is actually a couple of coverlets on a metal ceiling track. Because the fabric is already hemmed on all sides, it makes for an easy DIY. But If you're looking for something even easier, we have some ideas. You could always hang your fabric on a metal wire with hardware from IKEA. They also have this option if you wanted to clip the fabric on a wire. We love how hanging fabric on a wall adds another element of texture to a room.

Do you have any other options for hanging fabric on a wall?

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[Image from Domino Magazine]

Comments (10)

I wouldn't recommend hanging anything other than sheers from a curtain wire system - Most fabrics are simply too heavy and will cause the long lengths of wire to sag.

Best to stick to a rigid track.

posted by bepsf on September 26th 2008 at 2:52pm
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I really like this idea. I saw it on Oprah once, when they redid a woman's apartment in NYC. She had a realllllly teeny place, but the fabric looked nice on the wall.

posted by periwinklepeach on September 26th 2008 at 2:52pm
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I love this room-it's so simple, but there's something very satisfying about it.

posted by aweekinparis on September 26th 2008 at 3:08pm
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I did this exact same fabric in my dorm behind my bed a few years ago. It was always a hit.

An idea that I saw on some video blog was to use those cork squares they sell with the self adhesive, and then use thumbtacks to adhere the fabric to it at the top and bottom. I wish I would have thought of that. I just used Elmers spray glue, which probably ever so slightly damaged the walls.

posted by Garrett on September 26th 2008 at 3:37pm
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Stick-on hook & loop tape. Hook side to the wall, loop on the fabric.

posted by quiltmaster on September 26th 2008 at 6:48pm
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Hot glue. Peels right off later.

posted by quiltmaster on September 26th 2008 at 6:48pm
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I did this a number of times in the spaces I've occupied in the past couple of years. It started when I covered a whole with crumpled cinefoil (a cool matte black foil for use with film/studio lights). I decided I liked having TEXTURE on the wall, not just color. A few months later, when I moved, I used thin fabric with brown paper behind it. Again, color plus texture, but this time with neat layers as well.

Just today I covered a wall in heavy black curtain for the listening room.

posted by Citizen Gain on September 26th 2008 at 7:03pm
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we're planning on doing smth similar in our tiny BR.

posted by Nudik on September 26th 2008 at 8:13pm
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I've done this for a few years now in my bathroom using one of those expandable poles and it looks great. Be careful with your choices of fabric though. I used a beautiful satiny turquoise fabric in the bathroom but when I tried this in my room with a floral pattern I felt claustrophobic. Had to take it down the following day.

posted by OliviaTokyo on September 29th 2008 at 4:52am
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I did this behind the headboard in my tiny bedroom. There is a small window on the only wall that the bed could go against and it looked too funny sitting off-center compared to the window. The curtains go all the way to the ceiling like pictured.
I used this curtain rod:
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1285&f=13299
and love it since it sticks out just enough to go around the window molding and it's invisible!

posted by smashleee on September 29th 2008 at 8:46am
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