How to Apply Fabric to Furniture

Date
Jun, 25, 2014

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

Yellow Painted Shelf With Owl Knob

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!

Before of Yellow Painted Stand

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.

Poster Board for Fabric Shelves

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.

Attaching Fabric to Poster Board

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.

Glue to Attach Fabric to Stand

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 🙂

Yellow Owl Stand Makeover with Fabric

Yellow Stand with Fabric

Owl Knob on Furniture Makeover

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 🙂

brepurposed

35 Comments

  1. Reply

    Penelope Smith

    August 29, 2018

    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.

  2. Reply

    Alyson Percy

    September 21, 2015

    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”

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      September 23, 2015

      Great tips, thanks!

  3. Reply

    doreen @ altered-artworks

    January 18, 2015

    Your nightstand is adorable! I love your use of fabric, coordinating with the paint color! Pinned!

  4. Reply

    Michelle from Weekend Craft

    July 2, 2014

    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

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      July 2, 2014

      Aw thank you so much Michelle! So excited to be featured at your party 🙂 Have a great day!

  5. Reply

    Heather Smith {Woods of Bell Trees}

    July 2, 2014

    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!

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      July 2, 2014

      Thanks Heather! Too bad you don’t have it anymore! I’m sure you can find another similar one 🙂

  6. Reply

    Amy

    July 1, 2014

    Brilliant! Such a great idea, love how it turned out!

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      July 2, 2014

      Thank you so much Amy!!

  7. Reply

    Katie @ UpcycledTreasures

    June 26, 2014

    This is absolutely adorable and I love the fabric you chose! I definitely need to try this out 🙂 Thanks for sharing at The Makers!

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      June 29, 2014

      Thank you so much Katie!!

  8. Reply

    Virginia

    June 26, 2014

    Great tutorial. Thanks!

  9. Reply

    Katie

    June 26, 2014

    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.

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      June 26, 2014

      Thank you so much! I’ve linked up, thanks for hosting the party!

  10. Reply

    Rachel

    June 25, 2014

    This is genius!! Thanks for sharing (Pinning for later) 😉

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      June 26, 2014

      Thank you Rachel! 🙂

  11. Reply

    Bre @ Average But Inspired

    June 25, 2014

    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

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      June 26, 2014

      Perfect timing! Can’t see what you’re working on 🙂

  12. Reply

    Emily, our house now a home

    June 25, 2014

    that is the cutest little table, I love the pattern of the fabric.

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      June 25, 2014

      thank you so much, Emily!!

  13. Reply

    Marie@The Interior Frugalista

    June 25, 2014

    Fabulous tip Bre and very timely for a project I’m currently working on. I’m definitely pinning this!

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      June 25, 2014

      Wow, great timing!! Can’t wait to see what you’re up to 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

  14. Reply

    Julie

    June 25, 2014

    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

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      June 25, 2014

      Thank you Julie! If you ever run into this problem, you’ll have a great solution 🙂

  15. Reply

    lthorpe

    June 25, 2014

    Genius! I am so using this tip!

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      June 25, 2014

      Thank you! I hope it works well for you!

  16. Reply

    Nicole B.

    June 25, 2014

    The backdrop definitely makes the furniture piece pop! Perfect!!

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      June 25, 2014

      Thanks Nicole! I think so too! 🙂

  17. Reply

    Kristi

    June 25, 2014

    Brilliant!!! By the way, that yellow is fabulous and I’m LOVING that backdrop!!!

    • Reply

      brepurposed

      June 25, 2014

      Thanks Kristi! I’m loving it too! 🙂

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Hi, I’m Bre! Follow along as we renovate our current home and share modern DIY ideas.
 

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