I Love This Fabric Furniture Makeover Idea So Much, I Have to Steal It

If there’s one thing I love, it’s a good furniture makeover. I’m an active Facebook Marketplace scourer; I’m constantly looking for hidden gems to breathe new life into with a lick of paint or a bit of elbow grease, sandpaper, and fresh stain. Having recently moved into a new house, my nightly Marketplace trolling has taken on new motivation as I work to furnish our space in a more sustainable and budget-friendly way. 

That said, there are only so many times you can paint a piece of furniture before you want to try something new. For a while now, I’ve wanted to try my hand at covering a piece of furniture in fabric. I even have the perfect candidate — an Art Deco-inspired hutch with plenty of charm, but a flimsy wood veneer that has seen better days.

The only problem? I couldn’t find many good examples of fabric-covered furniture done right — that is, until I stumbled upon this funky DIY from Ashley Poskin (@ashleyposkin), who used the technique to revitalize a “spiderweb-covered nightstand” she found on the side of the road.

When faced with the well-worn piece, which boasted plenty of dings and scratches as well as a harsh nicotine scent, Poskin (who frequently creates creative projects for Apartment Therapy) turned to scrap fabric she had lying around to lend help where paint just wasn’t enough. The House of Hackney Hollyhocks print is vibrant and packed with personality, which makes it the ideal way to disguise any signs of wear and tear and inject some fun into the piece. 

Choosing an abstract print was a particular stroke of genius by Ashley — and one I will definitely be copying when I try my hand at this DIY — as that kept her from having to tediously match pattern edges around the piece. To attach the fabric to the furniture piece, she used Mod Podge, which helped the fabric adhere to every nook and curve; it preserved the integrity and shape of the piece, while giving it a very modern spin. 

Needless to say, Ashley’s beautiful results have finally given me the confidence to try my hand at my own fabric furniture DIY. The only thing left to do? Deciding which bold fabric I should go with myself.