How do you make fabric wall panels?

Question

Next month I will be moving into an apartment, and I have all kinds of crazy fun ideas for designing this place to make it comfortable and unique to me.

One of the ideas I'm considering is putting some fabric on the walls, as a more temporary method of changing the wall color, without the hassle of painting. I'm considering making wooden frames with fabric stretched across the front, and use these panels to decorate the walls, but I'm not sure I'll be able to set things like framed pictures over the fabric as well. The only other method I can think of would be to simply tack a large sheet of fabric directly to the wall, but I would need to think of some way to disguise the tacked corners. I thought about curtains, and I'm not much of a fan of that style. My thinking was that a totally flat fabric on the wall, with a subtle color I enjoy, or a tame pattern, might look more clean and modern.

Please submit your suggestions, or explain if you've tried doing something like this in the past. What sort of pitfalls might I run into, and what sort of equipment will be needed? What sort of fabric works the best? Any feedback or comments are welcome.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I would try using tacks or a staple gun to put the fabric directly on the wall and then adding some thin wood molding to cover the corners.  

I would just use some type of cotton quilting type fabric.  The only problem you may have is that the fabric is not wide enough to cover the wall seamlessly (you could do some type of wainscoting to cover the seams)

Here are some DIY about using fabric to cover walls.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_fabrics_othe...

http://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/fabric-wa...

http://belladia.typepad.com/bella_dia/20...

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/wallpap...

Answer 2

I would purchase some 4x8 or 2x8 sheets of board insulation.   I think the thinnest you could get is 1".   Dry fit them to the wall, cut out for switches, receptacles, etc.  Then spray with adhesive and cover with fabric.  You can X cut in the outlet openings.  If you want the fabric to have some cushioning to the touch, you can add a layer of foam behind it, (but you'll use double the adhesive).   The insulation board will hold thumbtacks and nails for photos and pictures, as long as they're not too heavy.

Board insulation is sold at any lumber yard.

Foam is available though McMaster-Carr Co.  

http://www.mcmaster.com