Textiles have long been used by people to decorate living quarters, and such rooms looked very solemn and luxurious. Once upon a time, wall decoration with fabric was carried out only with noble and expensive materials - velvet, silk, brocade.

Previously, a space with such walls seemed purely royal. Various fabrics can now be used with certain quality characteristics, which are selected for general style premises.

With the help of textiles in the room, a special feeling of coziness, warmth and comfort is created, which is difficult to achieve using ordinary paper wallpaper, plastic and wooden panels or other finishing methods. There are several ways in which wall decoration is carried out with fabric, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages, including the method of installation. Below we will consider the main of these methods, their features and applicability in different styles interior.

Common methods of textile wall decoration are: wall upholstery with fabric, similar to the procedure for installing stretch ceilings, pasting walls with fabric, similar to pasting a surface plain wallpaper, and wall drapery with fabric, thanks to which you can decorate the room or part of it in an original way. In principle, any of these procedures can be performed independently, but this is a rather laborious process.

When these methods seem too complicated or energy-consuming, and you still want to decorate the room with textiles, they often resort to using textile wallpaper, the gluing procedure of which is practically no different from gluing paper wallpaper.

Upholstery

The upholstery of the walls with fabric is rather a covering, since a special frame is covered with a certain material around the perimeter. It is difficult, but possible, to carry out such a procedure on your own. Most often, people turn to construction companies that decorate surfaces in a similar way. In specialized firms, a selection of materials is presented from which the frame for the wall or its part is made. They can be made from wood, metal, plastic, or rubber.

The upholstery of the walls with fabric involves special fastening devices, thanks to which the fabric does not stick or nailed to the frame, but passes into the gaps on it and is fixed. To increase the soundproofing of the wall, you can use a backing made of foam rubber or padding polyester, which will also make the surface soft.

If the procedure is performed independently, the easiest way is to make a frame from wooden planks and nail or glue the canvas to them.

But such a wall decoration with fabric means that during the repair the entire structure will change along with the frame. When using the special mounting systems described above, it is possible to simply change the textile fabric by re-fixing the new one on the old frame.

Often, in this technique, only part of the surface is performed, making it a panoramic picture of fabric, which is also used for curtains, tablecloths or furniture upholstery.

Taking into account the choice of a certain color, the walls in the interiors in the classic, modern, and some ethnic styles are decorated in a similar way. Different colors and textures allow you to use this method of wall decoration in almost any style, except for high-tech and techno styles.

Pasting

The textile fabric can also be glued to the wall surface by preparing both the fabric and the wall surface in advance. The walls are prepared as follows: first they are cleaned, then putty and primed.

Walls to be wrapped with cloth must be clean, smooth and dry so that the textiles adhere well to the surface.

Pasting the walls with fabric also means preparing the fabric itself. The first step is to measure a small piece of the material used, and then soak and dry in a warm place. If the fabric does not shrink, it is used without pretreatment. If it has sat down, then the entire textile fabric is then wetted and dried so that it does not shrink during the gluing process. In any case, iron the fabric thoroughly before gluing it.

The fabric is cut into strips from ceiling to floor length with allowances of 10-20 cm. Then these strips are sewn together into a large canvas, which should be equal to the area of ​​the wall with allowances along each edge. It is desirable that the canvas is as wide as possible so that there are as few seams as possible. Some sew a canvas equal to the entire surface area of ​​the walls, but it is very difficult to work with such a large area of ​​material. Before gluing the canvas to the wall surface, it is ironed again, especially at the seams, and then rolled into a roll along the height of the wall.

Pasting the walls with cloth is usually done by two people. The fabric is not glued over the entire area, but along the edges of the canvas - on top, on the sides and below. The order of gluing can be different: first one side, then top, and at the end the second side and bottom, or first top, then sides and bottom.

More often, one edge of the wall is first glued, for example, the right one, then a fabric is applied to it along the entire height from floor to ceiling and ironed with a roller. Then the roll is unwound further and the top edge is glued.

If the fabric is too heavy, it can be additionally secured with strips so that the glue “seizes”.

After these two edges of the web are glued, i.e. the glue dries up, begin to glue the two remaining edges of the canvas. To do this, the fabric is stretched and glued to the left. Then the canvas is again slightly stretched and glued from below.

Once the glue is dry, you need to carefully remove the strips using pliers and holding the fabric. The stock of textiles at the edges is removed or folded and left under the skirting board. The choice of skirting boards at the edges depends on the style of the room. The advantage of this method is that the places where there were slats, or instead of a plinth, you can use textile decor - fringe, small draperies from the same material, etc.

Most often, in modern interiors, not all walls are pasted over with fabric. One or two walls are chosen, most often in the living room, which will be the main ones in the room - it is they who are pasted over with silk or velvet. They are hung with mirrors, pictures or TV, i.e. the textile wall becomes the center of attention in the room.

Drapery

The simplest way, among others, is to drape the walls with a cloth, but this same method provides unlimited scope for imagination, since it can be skillfully applied in a variety of rooms.

Wall drapery with fabric provides for the installation of a decorative strip under the ceiling, which covers a kind of cornice. It is on the cornice that the canvas is fixed, which is much wider than the width of the room, due to which the folds necessary for drapery are formed. The eaves installation method is very simple, so you can easily do it yourself.

There is nothing more beautiful and original than wall decoration with fabric. The elegance of the room is simply mesmerizing.
Despite the large number of modern finishing materials, fabric has recently become very popular.

In order to perform with the use of fabric, you can use any of its types and textures.
The following have become quite popular:

• Chintz.
• Silk.
• Drap.
• Tapestry.
• Velours.
• Velvet.

Specifications:

• If there are doubts about the proposed options, then you can use ordinary furniture fabric, which, in principle, is intended for any finishing work. She is not afraid of moisture.
• It is very easy and simple to work with suede, velor and other dense fabrics. These types are conveniently glued.
  Cotton and viscose are easy to stretch fabrics. For draping walls, it is best to use very light fabrics that have a high density.

Advice. As practice has shown, it is best to use synthetic fabrics in finishing work, since they are more easily affected than natural ones.

Note. It is also worth considering that the price for this type of finish in some cases may be higher than when using wallpaper.

Methods for finishing with fabric

On the this moment there are several options for finishing work using fabric.
Namely:

• Gluing.
• Drapery.

The technology of each such process is individual.

Stretching the fabric is the easiest way to decorate a room.
In order for the finish to be of high quality, you must use:

• Small wooden slats.
• Self-tapping screws for wood.
• Screwdriver.
• Dowels (if necessary).
• Level.
• Pencil.
• Roulette.

Stages:

• Using a level, a pencil and a tape measure, measure the required distance from the floor and ceiling to mount the wooden strip.

Advice. To simplify the task along the entire perimeter, you need to draw a line for mounting the rail.

• Wooden slats are mounted under the ceiling and above the floor surface on the wall using dowels or self-tapping screws. In this case, it all depends on the structure of the wall.
  If it is brick or stone, then it is better to use a dowel. If it is made of drywall, then self-tapping screws can be used.
• The distance between the top and bottom slats should be the same along the entire perimeter so that the fabric stretches evenly and does not form defects in fabric finishing.
• The fabric is stretched and fixed to the slats with nails with decorative caps. After completion of work, these hats can be hidden under decorative decoration in the form of a floor or ceiling plinth.

Advice.
Immediately the fabric is attached to the top rail and stretched across the width. After that, it is necessary to stretch it evenly and attach it to the lower rail gradually so that no folds form as a result.

Due to the fact that the rail has its own size and acts as a frame for the fabric, a space is formed between the wall and the material, which can be used for insulation work.
They apply:

• Thin foam.
• Thin polyurethane foam.
• Felt.
• Mineral wool in small mats.

Installation:

• How to fix the insulation on the wall surface, because the fabric will not hold it? Everything is very simple.
  For this, a special construction glue is used, which is applied to the surface of the wall and to the surface of the insulation material.

Advice. Since the fabric can very easily absorb dirt and moisture, it is necessary to approach the process of warming a room very carefully and try to prevent the glue from coming out through the joints of the material.

• If this does happen, then you can use a finishing tape and hide the defects under it. It is glued to the joints of the material.
  It is also worth considering that ordinary glue cannot be used for the installation of insulation material. He can corrode it over time and the insulation will become deformed.

Note. If the fabric is light in color, then the insulation should be the same.

Gluing fabric

The pasting of fabric has become very popular lately. For this, any kind of fabric is used.
To carry out such a process, it is necessary to qualitatively prepare the surface. It should be even, as for wallpapering the surface.
Application of additional materials:

• There are two options: drywall and plaster.
• Plasterboard is a fairly quick and easy way to level the surface. As for the plaster, the result of the work will directly depend on the master.
• This method is considered dusty and time consuming.
• There is always a lot of rubbish after it. The same cannot be said about leveling the surface with drywall.

In order to carry out the gluing of the fabric to the surface, you cannot do without a partner.
For the process itself you will need:

• Sharp clerical or ordinary knife with a thin blade.
• An old powerful "grandmother's" iron.
• Special furniture glue that can only harden when exposed to high temperatures.
• Metal ruler (at least 1 m).

Stages:

• Since furniture glue hardens only under the influence of high temperature, you can immediately spread it over the entire surface. After that, the canvas is taken and the process of pasting the surface begins.
• It is also necessary to stretch the fabric from top to bottom. To prevent the fabric from leaving its place, the upper corner of the canvas is fixed to the surface with a small nail.
  With the help of an iron, according to the principle of leveling the wallpaper on the surface, the fabric is ironed. You also need to start it from top to bottom, so that the glue is gradually absorbed into the seamy side of the fabric and hardens.

Advice. To prevent defects in the finishing of fabrics from forming in such a process, the canvas should also be well stretched.

• It is for this reason that a second person is needed to hold the canvas in place at the top of the wall. If there is no partner, then the fabric is fixed with studs or an ordinary construction stapler.
• The fabric is ironed with an iron several times to achieve desired result... After the whole process, using a knife, the remnants of the fabric are cut off at the top and bottom.
  But here it is necessary to act very carefully, since the glue in such places might not acquire strength and the fabric will begin to fray. To prevent this from happening at the bottom of the wall and above, as well as at the joints of the canvases, it is necessary to apply more furniture glue, which, after hardening, will not allow the finish to deform.
• The glue is very flexible and dries completely within 3 days. After completing the work, the surface must be checked for air bubbles that could have formed under the canvas and they do not allow it to lie flat on the wall.
  If they are, then it is necessary to act on the principle of eliminating bubbles on the wallpaper. They can be punctured or re-glued to the surface of the entire canvas or any part of it.

The video shows the process of pasting a surface with a cloth. You can do it yourself.

Drape surfaces with fabric

The most in a difficult way the design of a room with the use of fabric is considered a drapery. A fabric is used for this, which in size exceeds the size of the room itself.
It is not possible to carry out such work alone.

For this finishing method you will need:

• Canvas.
• Wooden slats.
• Nails.
• Self-tapping screws with decorative caps.
• Screwdriver.
• Level.
• Ruler.
• Pencil.
• Roulette.
• Saw or jigsaw.

Stages:

• Initially, using the level, the height of the drapery is measured. If the ceiling is already decorated, then you can start from it in such works.
  If in the near future it is planned to repair it and use a tension or suspended structure, then you can level and set the level of the drapery by eye, but try as high as possible.
• This level is traced on the surface with a pencil using a ruler. After that, the canvas is taken and one of its edges is fixed at the top of the wall along the marked line with the help of a small carnation.
  Then a wooden strip is taken and mounted on the surface on top of the fabric with self-tapping screws and a screwdriver. The distance between such fasteners should be no more than 20-30 cm.
  The fabric must be stretched before securing. Such work is carried out around the entire perimeter of the room.
• Then the whole process goes down. In principle, the technology of stretching the fabric is similar to the two previous methods, only the strip is attached over the fabric.
  The fabric is stretched and also gradually fixed to the surface with the help of a strip. Excess tissue residues are cut off with a sharp knife.

Advice. So that with this method of decorating the room, the fabric at the bottom and top does not fray, it is necessary to clearly measure its required length and width, adding 1-2 cm to the resulting dimensions.This excess is tucked in and masked under the rail.

The photo shows the result of such finishing work.

Preparatory work on the surface before finishing with fabric

Instructions for preparing the surface for finishing works with the use of fabric does not exist. But there are certain recommendations, following which it will be of high quality.
So:

• The first thing to do is to clean the surface of dust and various contaminants. It is best to vacuum the surface and wash it with a cleaning agent. This applies to stone walls.
• If the surface is made of plasterboard, then it is not recommended to wash it. If there is visible dirt on it, then it is best to treat such a surface with plaster or putty.
  In some cases, it is colored.

If on the surface on which the fabric will be stretched there are outliers of rust or other construction defects, then it is best to treat the surface with a special solution and paste over it with wallpaper.

Decorating walls with fabric is the oldest way to decorate a room. Fabric drapery adds sophistication and charm to the interior, filling the atmosphere of the house with comfort, warmth and coziness.

Modern designers use advanced materials and tools to successfully bring old technologies to life.

Cloth wall decoration - royal chic of a modern interior

During the Middle Ages, draping walls with fabric was the most popular way to decorate royal bedrooms, halls, greenhouses and even treasuries. The decoration was carried out exclusively from expensive and noble materials: brocade, velvet, silk.

And today, the use of textiles in the interior gives the room a luxurious and solemn look. However, the approach to the choice of fabrics and room design has changed somewhat.

Different fabrics can be used for wall hangings that complement general form premises or are bright accent in the interior

Bedroom in classic style... The interior uses textiles with the same pattern for decorating walls, sewing curtains and pillows. This combination gives harmony and sophistication to the bedroom.

Children's room. Using fabric Descor ( Stretch walls) added to the atmosphere of comfort and warmth.

The cheerful pattern of textiles on the walls in the office helped to soften the work environment and make the room fun and original.

An interesting solution for the dining room is a combination of textiles for upholstery of chairs and walls of the room.

Living room in Provence style. A fragment of the wall is decorated with a fabric that is precisely matched to the overall style of the room.

Finishing with fabric drapery allows you to achieve evenness of the walls without dust and dirt. With this design, the room becomes cozy, and the space visually increases (if the fabric is light colors).

Advantages and disadvantages of fabric drapery

Wall draping with fabric has both advantages and some disadvantages. The advantages of textile wall upholstery include:

Disadvantages of fabric drapery not as many as merits. However, many consider them quite weighty and do not dare to upholster the walls with fabric. Is it really?

Textile wall decoration is not suitable for decoration of premises with high traffic, where the probability of staining the fabric is very high

Fabric requirements for wall decoration

From quality finishing material the durability and attractiveness of the drapery will depend.

Linen and cotton fabrics are not desirable for wall decoration. Preferred - synthetic or mixed materials

It will be easier for beginners to work with upholstery fabric for furniture - it is originally processed protective equipment and is resistant to damage

DIY fabric wall decoration: various finishing methods

The choice of textiles and the final design result depend on the finishing technology. Three methods of textile finishing are most often used:

• wall upholstery (cotton materials, cotton / viscose blend);
• pasting walls (velor, velvet, suede);
• drapery (thin dense textiles).

Cloth upholstery

There are two ways to make a wall upholstery made of fabric with your own hands:

1. Pull the fabric under the rail.
2. Pull the fabric over the rail.

The first option is considered the most time consuming, and it is better to perform it together. Wall upholstery sequence:

The traditional way is to cover the frame with fabric. The frame for fastening the fabric can be made of plastic, wood, rubber or metal. The frame can be made independently from wooden planks or you can use ready-made fastening devices, as for stretch ceilings.

The advantage of using special fasteners is that the fabric from the frame can be removed and reinstalled without deforming the textile fabric.

Work order:

To create a frame of a non-standard curly shape, you need to use PVC profile

Sticking fabric on the wall

Before pasting, the wall must be prepared: clean, putty on irregularities and prime. The surface must be smooth and dry.

Before decorating the wall, soak the fabric in water, dry it and iron it with an iron. This must be done so that the textiles do not shrink after applying the glue and drying.

The procedure for pasting a wall with a cloth:

You can also glue a textile fabric in a different sequence: first of all - the top of the fabric, then - on the sides, and then - the lower edge of the fabric

Creation of fabric drapery

Wall drapery with fabric is often used in interior decoration in bars, restaurants, museums. The use of this finishing method in an apartment (bedroom, living room) will add oriental and classic notes to the design.

Wall drapery with fabric: photo

The drapery technique is quite simple. A piece of fabric that is wider than the wall is attached to a decorative strip under the ceiling. The width of the fabric determines the number and depth of waves in the drapery.

Consider in stages how to drape a wall with a cloth with your own hands:

The draped fabric can be secured on four sides. To do this, you need to make a frame from wooden or plastic slats.

When creating fabric walls with your own hands, it is important to consider some important points:

Textile wallpaper as an alternative to fabric finishing

If it was not possible to pick up required type fabrics or living conditions do not allow the use of textiles, you can use textile wallpaper. Appearance a wall covered with textile wallpaper practically does not differ from a surface with a fabric finish - the texture of the material is preserved, and the seams between the canvases are invisible.

Textile wallpaper is formed by gluing threads onto non-woven or paper base... Linen and cotton threads, silk, jute, felt, acrylic, velor and viscose are used.

Textile wallpaper is applied to the leveled surface of the wall, gluing cloths - end-to-end

The cost of textile wallpaper is from 10 to 80 dollars per 1 sq. M., The services of specialists in wallpapering will cost from 5 dollars per 1 sq. M.

Using textiles to decorate walls is a time-honored method of decorating a living space. V modern interior fabric drapery is a kind of synonym for such concepts as "luxury finishing", "refined taste" and "high style".

»We were talking about textile wallpaper: what are the advantages and disadvantages of textile wallpaper, for which rooms they are most suitable, how to apply them. In the second part, we will talk about other methods of textile wall decoration. That is, about the use of fabrics. Walls can be covered with fabric, covered or draped. Each of these methods has its own advantages, the main of which is a special atmosphere of comfort.

Pasting walls with cloth

Instead of wallpaper, you can use real fabric, pasting it over the walls. Basically pasting walls with cloth has been popular at all times. What is good about this option in comparison with finishing with textile wallpaper is the ability to use one fabric for walls (part of the walls), and for decorating windows, and for sewing various textile decorative elements. For example, to create a country-style kitchen interior, you can paste over kitchen apron, and to make it waterproof, it can be varnished in several layers or covered with glass. The same fabric can be used to sew curtains with ruffles, tablecloths, decorative napkins and chair covers. It will turn out to be very cozy, original and stylish.

Of course, the work of pasting the walls with fabric requires a certain skill. Not everyone will be able to make such repairs on their own. The walls are carefully prepared - cleaned, putty, primed. The surface must be absolutely smooth and dry.

Prepare the fabric too. First you need to cut off a small piece of fabric and measure it, then wet and dry in a warm place. After that, the piece of fabric must be measured again. If there is a noticeable shrinkage, the fabric must be decorated before finishing the walls - that is, all the canvas that will be glued to the wall should be completely wet, dried, and then ironed. If the fabric did not shrink or the shrinkage was slight, then decotation can be omitted, but you still have to iron the fabric.

The fabric, of course, needs a wide one so that there are fewer seams. It is cut into strips with a length equal to the height of the wall from floor to ceiling, plus a few centimeters of stock. Then the strips are sewn in width in one large canvas, equal to the length of the wall (plus a margin of 10-20 centimeters). It is better to sew a separate canvas for each wall. Although, of course, you can paste over the entire room with one large canvas, but this will be more difficult. After stitching, the fabric can be ironed again, especially at the seams, to make them smoother. After that, the canvas must be rolled up along the height of the wall.

There are several ways to apply fabric. You will need at least two pairs of hands to work. As a rule, only four edges of the canvas are glued, pulling it. First, coat one edge of the wall (for example, "Bustilat") with glue (for example, "Bustilat") one edge of the wall (left), applying glue in a strip of about 10 cm. ceiling and directly from the edge). One person holds the roll while the other smoothes the fabric by rolling it with a roller. If the fabric is heavy, then it is advisable to use it to strengthen wooden slats temporarily fixing the fabric on the wall at the gluing point. The slats can be fixed with nails, slightly driving them into the wall at a distance of 10-30 cm from each other. When the fabric at the edge is fixed with glue or with glue and a strip, the upper edge of the wall is coated with glue (a strip of glue - 10 cm). One person unwinds the roll, and the other smoothes the upper edge of the panel, gluing it and, if necessary, additionally securing it with slats.

After that, you need to let the glue dry. When the fabric is well anchored, you can glue the remaining two edges - the right and the bottom. First, a strip of glue is applied to the right edge of the wall, the fabric is pulled up and smoothed with a roller, and fixed with a strip. After that, the lower edge of the wall above the floor is coated with glue, the fabric is pulled up and fixed again. However, you can do the work in a slightly different sequence - first, the fabric is glued at the top edge, then the side edges, and then the bottom. Reiki, if used, is removed only after the glue is completely dry. The slats must be removed carefully, holding the fabric. Use pliers to remove the nails. The left stock of fabric is neatly trimmed, then the edges are trimmed plastic skirting boards, polyurethane moldings or wooden planks - depends on the chosen style of room decoration.

Cloth wrapping is used for decoration , as a rule, not all walls of the room, but one or two or even part of the wall. Often materials are combined - for example, three walls are finished with wood wall panels, and one with a fabric, the same one that is used in curtains and in other textiles. Pictures, mirrors or a TV are hung on the wall, trimmed with fabric. That is, this wall becomes the central one that attracts the main attention.

One fabric for both wall and curtains (from ballardstylestudio.com)

Cloth upholstery

Today it is rather even not upholstery, but covering... The technology is similar to that used for the installation of stretch ceilings. It will hardly be possible to do this with your own hands, but many companies offer such a service. However, you can also buy special mounting systems from them - a frame made of guides (rubber, metal, plastic or wood), into which the canvas is pulled. By the way, by contacting a company specializing in wall decoration with fabric, you can order a seamless canvas, as well as a backing, thanks to which the wall will be soft. This will increase its soundproofing.

Thus, if desired, if you have the skills, you can cover the walls with fabric with your own hands by purchasing everything you need from a company specializing in this type of finish. However, you can independently make a frame from wooden planks, to which the fabric is simply nailed or glued. However, ready-made mounting systems are much more convenient, since the fabric is not nailed, but only pushed into the gap on the bar and secured with a clip.

This option of finishing the walls with a cloth is preferable, since it allows you to easily and quickly change the design of the walls, just by changing the fabric, pulling it over the same frame.

One of the walls is covered with fabric (the Clipso system is used, which is used for installing stretch ceilings). The fabric is seamless, with a photo print.

This is one of the easiest ways. Multiple layers light fabric with a width much larger than the width of the wall, they are fixed on a thin curtain with a decorative strip nailed to the ceiling. The fabric is draped in waves.

There is another option - fastening draped fabrics from the four edges of the wall - for this they also use wooden frame or plastic / metal guides. First, folds are laid on a wide canvas and fixed with a seam. In this case, it is important not to be mistaken with the width of the canvas.

The draperies are ideal for wall decoration in living rooms and bedrooms. The drapery looks great in the bedroom on the wall behind the matrimonial bed. In addition, draperies are used to decorate nightclubs, bars, hookah bars. Draperies are indispensable if you want to bring the spirit of the East into the room.

The wall behind the bed is decorated with draperies in the same fabric as the windows.

What fabrics to use for wall decoration?

In principle, you can use any fabric - even chintz, even silk, even tapestry. However, it is better if the fabric for the wall is thick and elastic enough. In order not to be mistaken, you can choose an upholstery fabric for furniture - as a rule, it meets all the necessary parameters. Upholstery fabric often specially treated to make it reliable, resistant to damage, not afraid of moisture. And it will be easier to work with such fabric. Suede, velor, velvet are often simply glued on. Cotton fabrics and a cotton / rayon blend are suitable for stretching. Light, thin fabrics can be used for drapery, but they should be as dense as possible. Experts say that it is easier to work with synthetic fabrics than natural ones.

Textile wall decoration will cost more than pasting walls with paper or vinyl wallpaper... Both textile wallpaper and fabric for gluing or stretching have a higher cost. But the work of masters specializing in textile wall decoration will not cost more, and maybe even cheaper (if it comes(e.g. pulling fabric on walls).

Wall decoration with fabric.

Very strange, huh? Walls, decorate with fabric ... I read Nina Campbell's books and very often in her interiors I come across a mention of the fact that there is fabric on the walls. It interested me very much. Here's what I found ...

In order to upholstery walls with fabric yourself, you need to remember and follow a few simple rules.

Not any fabric will suit you, but only one that is guaranteed not to fade in the sun, will "breathe", and, moreover, will be strong enough to withstand everyday household influences;
- work on wall upholstery with fabric begins with the preparation of the fabric itself, which is cut into strips of the required length and width, each of which is folded along the edges on a typewriter;

If you find a fabric whose width is equal to the height of your walls, then you can upholster the entire room around the perimeter with one tape, which will save you from any seams;

Only after that you can proceed to the construction of the frame, which is attached to the walls with screws or glue; already on it you strengthen a layer of plywood or drywall, on which a layer of thin foam rubber is glued;

Before stretching, the fabric is treated with a special water and dust-repellent solution (you can find out more about it in your nearest building materials store);

Seams of individual strips when do-it-yourself fabric upholstery closed with slats painted to match the color of the upholstery or covered with the same fabric.

You have to buy fabric for wall upholstery with a margin, so that you always have a margin for the restoration of leaky or torn areas;

In the future, you can remove stains on fabrics using soap and powder solutions and warm water.

Cloth upholstery

Fabric drapery is currently used to decorate rooms in art nouveau and art deco styles. Matter helps to better reveal and emphasize the depth of space. This can be done using the play of light and shadow in the folds of draperies, or emphasize the difference in textures. Combinations of textured contrasting fabrics - matte and shiny - are in fashion now. Due to this, the light is reflected in different ways from the walls, interesting effects arise, familiar rooms are transformed. Draped walls, as opposed to wallpaper, scatter light differently. The rays are reflected more chaotically, so glare and halos do not form on the surface (the only exceptions are fabrics with lurex). The perception of the walls becomes independent of the intensity and angle of incidence of light. Heavy fabrics with barely noticeable folds will create a feeling of mystery, warmth and slightly expand the space of the room.

Natural textiles do not impede the circulation of air and moisture, due to which the walls of the room "breathe". This is the most environmentally friendly coating possible. The pile of the fabric is pleasant to the touch. It creates a feeling of comfort and warmth. The fabric-upholstered walls help you relax. Noise isolation eliminates unnecessary sounds. The appearance of the fabric is much more decorative than that of all types of wallpaper and embossed plasters. As a result of all this, your apartment will become noticeably more comfortable and beautiful. You can buy a cloth soaked in antiseptics. Then mold or any insects will not start in it.

Damask fabrics add luxury to the interior. Walls decorated with velvet will make the room cozier, while tulle will help create an atmosphere full of glamor. If you want to give the room a romantic look, drape the ceiling in the form of a tent or sail. But in addition to its decorative function, fabric drapery also performs a utilitarian one: under the fabric, you can easily hide various communications. With the help of fabrics, you can emphasize the most significant parts of the room or carry out zoning. Modern styles require creativity from drapery, while classical styles are focused on centuries-old traditions of using fabrics to decorate a home.

For wall decoration, fabric began to be used in ancient times. In Babylon and Assyria, carpets were used, in Ancient Rome - silk, in medieval Europe - tapestries. In rich houses of the 18th-19th centuries, for this purpose, they used expensive materials: silk, velvet, brocade. In poorer dwellings, the walls were mainly upholstered in chintz. With the invention of wallpaper, fabrics receded into the background, but no material gives walls more beauty than fabric.

There are currently a number of synthetic coatings on a textile basis. They are made on a paper or non-woven base, and on top are covered with dirt and water-repellent compounds. The fabric is an environmentally friendly material that allows the walls to "breathe". In addition, the fabric is treated with antistatic agents, so that it does not attract dust.

Most often, jacquard fabric is used for wall upholstery. The pattern on the pile fabric is created by the difference in the length of the bristles. Such a coating is pleasant to the touch, has good heat and sound insulation. Jacquard is produced in rolls 2.8, 2.9 and 3.1 m wide and up to 50 m long. A feature of the decoration is that the fabric is pulled without cutting, thus obtaining a monolithic coating with a single seam. After the fabric is installed, cut holes for door and window openings. The jacquard coating is produced without a synthetic winterizer or foam lining, which quickly begins to crumble and peel off from natural matter. The single-seam design excludes the occurrence of color differences between individual sections of the wall (as is often the case with wallpaper from different series). In addition, the fabric cover when correct fastening will never peel off, retaining its original appearance during all years of service. When dyeing matter, special pigments are used that do not fade in the sun. A special impregnation will protect the coating from swelling when high humidity... After finishing the upholstery work, the seam is sealed with a strip of fabric. You can glue the fabric only on a special glue that is sold with the coating. But it is better not to try to stick a single-seam coating on your own, it is more expedient to resort to the help of professionals.

It should be remembered that when fastening the fabric with a single-seam method, it is necessary to ensure that the angle from which the drapery begins is strictly 90 °. Otherwise, the ends of the roll will not converge in one plane.

But most often the fabric cover is two-layer: on the back of the fabric there is a foam backing. Its thickness is small, only 2.5 - 3.5 mm. But thanks to this layer, the coating gets high degree heat and sound insulation. If the coating is made on a porous base, then a layer of synthetic film is laid between the fabric and the base, which protects the material from glue that can protrude from the substrate, and the base from moisture. Such fabric is fastened either with separate canvases or in a seamless way, it all depends on how it is more convenient for you to carry out the work. The length of one roll can be up to 100 m, but a 25 - 30-meter roll is quite enough for upholstering an ordinary room.

Fabric wall coverings can be either uniform (natural, artificial) or mixed (artificial fibers are added to natural fabrics). The most commonly used natural fibers are silk, sesal, cotton, linen and jute. A feature of this material is the presence of nodules. This is due to the fact that natural fibers are rather short (usually 5-10 cm, while the length of synthetic threads can reach 8-10 km), when they are connected, thickenings are obtained. Knots are one of the signs of natural fabrics. By choosing natural fabric, it must be remembered that it stretches much worse than synthetic, and it is impossible to obtain a perfectly flat surface with the help of such a coating.

Artificial (viscose, acetate) and synthetic (polyacryl, polyester, polyamide) poorly let the air through. Therefore, such fibers are crimped and then twisted into threads.

Many manufacturers of synthetic and blended fibers cut the threads shorter to simulate natural linen. Thus, nodules appear on the fabric, as well as on natural materials. The cost of natural linen is much higher, so their choice is small. Purely synthetic fabrics are also rarely used. In the overwhelming majority of fabrics for wall upholstery are produced mixed and treated with special compounds.

A special layer is usually applied to the surface of the fabric covering to protect it from contamination. Such materials do not attract dust and do not fade in the sun. In addition, many fabrics are coated with moisture-repellent compounds. From such matter, water simply rolls down, leaving no traces and not being absorbed. To remove dust, the walls are vacuumed (at least once a year), and every two years the fabric covering is cleaned with an organic solvent. If a dirty stain does form on the fabric, remove it with a mixture of gasoline and chalk. To do this, the mixture is applied to the stain, and then after 30-40 minutes it is removed and the fabric is wiped dry (with a soft cloth or brush). If the matter can be moistened with water, then ordinary stain removers are used to remove dirt. During general cleaning, the upholstery is carefully removed, each panel is numbered (if the upholstery was not made using a seamless method), washed, ironed and reattached to the walls.

When gluing the fabric, they do not glue the fabric with glue, but the wall. A layer is applied to its surface special composition, then the canvas is pressed tightly against the wall and smoothed with your hands. When gluing the fabric, the composition is applied in strips 15 - 20 cm wide.Glue is applied to the walls around the perimeter of the room, around the door and window openings and sockets. Then the fabric is pressed against these places. In order for the matter to stretch, it is advisable to make the wall slightly concave. To prevent the fabric from settling after drying, it is fixed along the line of the plinth and cornice with wooden planks. Nails are driven in at intervals of 7 - 10 cm. To minimize shrinkage, the fabric is moistened with water before pulling, dried and ironed properly. During gluing, each section of the fabric must be properly smoothed. As a result, you should get a perfectly flat surface.

The fabric does not need to be glued, but simply nailed to the wall. In this case, the fabric is fastened in the corners with roofing nails, and in the middle of the walls - with nails with decorative caps. The lower edge of the fabric is fixed with a plinth, and the upper edge with a wooden strip, which, after the end of the work, is masked with a decorative cornice. This method of fastening is suitable for any matter, and it is almost impossible to spoil it.

Wall upholstery starts with preparatory work... First, measure the width of the fabric between the edges, then the exact height of the walls from the floor or baseboard to the line of the ceiling and window sills, from the ceiling to the door lintel.

The amount of fabric you need to upholster a room can be calculated as follows. The height of the panel is equal to the height of the walls plus 6 cm (for entering under the upper and lower planks), the width is the width of the panel minus 3 cm (on side seams). Let's take an example of how such a calculation is carried out. Let's take the most common ceiling heights: 2.2, 2.5 and 2.7 m. The length of the wall is 4 m. Usually the fabric is produced in rolls with a width of 1.5 m, the useful value is 1.47 m. For the first case, the height of the panel should to be 2.26 m, for the second - 2.56 m, for the third - 2.76 m.Thus, to upholstery one wall, you will need 6.8, 7.7 and 8.3 m of fabric. This leaves a small piece of scrap that can be used to upholster the space above the door on another wall. If you plan to upholster the walls with patterned rather than plain fabric, then experts recommend purchasing it 10-15% more, keeping the uniformity of the pattern. If the pattern is large, then make a larger margin for adjusting it: 20 - 25%. Having calculated the required amount of fabric according to this scheme, you can go to the store.

You need to connect the cut panels as follows. Cuts of fabric are swept or fastened with sewing pins, and then sewn on sewing machine... It is necessary to ensure that the seams are smooth, not knocked together. The edge of the fabric should be invisible. After all the panels are sewn, iron them with an iron. Choose the temperature that is suitable for the type of fabric you have chosen (usually there is a special mark on the iron, there may also be a corresponding label on the fabric). Iron the seams especially carefully. After such preparation, attach the sewn panels to the wall and check if all dimensions are correctly observed.

After trying on, you can start upholstery. First, the material is secured with upholstery nails along the upper cut. Adjust the fabric tension offhand. Then, using a plumb line, it is necessary to check how correctly the panel is located, whether the verticality is observed. For this, the tool is applied to the seam between the panels. Next, look at how well the fabric is stretched and nail it in place along the bottom and sides.

In the corners of the walls, nail shaped slats, the length of which will be equal to the height of the walls. The slats are a quarter-circle segment and are used to provide the desired tension on the fabric. Cover the upper and lower planks, as well as the corner planks after finishing work, with scraps of fabric or decorative baguettes... You can attach these elements using special glue.

In the event that an outlet is located on the upholstered wall, you can do it in two ways. If the socket or switch is embedded in the wall, then when cutting the panels, cut a hole in the right place, exactly corresponding to the dimensions of the socket. In this case, measurements must be carried out very carefully, since, unlike wallpaper, the remaining free space around the device will be practically impossible to mask. If the switch (or socket) is removable, then it is necessary to unscrew it and remove it from the wall. This can be done only after you de-energize the house by turning off the plugs. After that, lay the fabric on the wall and mark the outlines of the future hole with chalk. Then it must be carefully cut. Fasten the socket or switch only after finishing the work on the upholstery of the room.

In order to improve sound and heat insulation, a felt lining can be nailed under the fabric. It is fixed in the same way as any other matter. The distance from the ceiling, floor, doors, windows, sockets and switches to the edge of the felt pad should be 1-2 cm.

There is also a more complex technique for upholstering rooms with fabric. If in previous version fastening was carried out under the slats, then with this method the matter is stuffed onto the slats. This will ensure proper ventilation space between the fabric and the wall and protect the fabric from excess moisture.

To strengthen the fabric in this way, pick up the planks first. Their width should be 5 - 7 cm, thickness - 1 cm. Attach the slats to the wall with nails or screws. Pre-cast in concrete or brick wall it is necessary to drill holes for screws. The planks are fixed horizontally (at the floor, ceiling, door lintels and window openings) and vertically (at the corners and at intervals of 50-60 cm over the entire surface of the wall). Leave a distance of 2 - 3 mm between the top plank and the ceiling and between the lower plank and the floor so that you can fold the fabric and hide its trims.

The upholstery starts from any corner of the room, from the ceiling. You can fasten the fabric with shoe nails or furniture clips. Sewn and well-ironed panels are stuffed roughly to the top bar. In this case, it is necessary to leave 2 - 3 cm unsecured, in order to then bend it under the bar. Pull the fabric fairly tight, but be careful not to break it. Then check the vertical position of the matter with a plumb line. Check the fabric again for proper fit and nail on top and bottom. Leave 2 - 3 cm to go under the bottom rail. If you suddenly have a crease, carefully peel the fabric and pull it to the side. The wrinkles should disappear. Do not make the distance between the fasteners too large or too small. The optimal gap is 5-10 cm. After all the walls are upholstered, use a screwdriver to tuck the remaining strips of fabric under the lower and upper planks.

If upholstered with the same fabric that was used to decorate the walls, and also furniture (armchairs, chairs, sofas, ottomans), then the room will acquire additional volume. And the combination of fabric and stucco molding will make the interior of the room luxurious, giving it the look of an apartment in a royal palace.

Another upholstery method is the carriage tie. This method got its name due to the fact that previously the carriages of high-ranking officials were decorated in this way. The material used for this is leather or thick fabric. Not recommended for thin fabrics such as silk or taffeta. The upholstery principle is as follows. A layer of soft sound and heat insulating material is glued to the wall (latex or polyurethane foam can also be used). Then, on a sheet of paper, you need to sketch and calculate the right amount material. The length of the panels should be such that the fabric goes slightly under the skirting board, and the upper cut is 2 - 3 cm below the junction of the walls and ceiling. Carriage coupler can form diamond or square patterns on walls. It depends on the direction of the fastening strips: diagonally or vertically and horizontally. Fastening strips can be made of the same material as for the main background, or use contrasting colors or textures. After the number of fastening strips has been calculated (it depends on the height of the walls, the frequency and direction of fastening), they begin to mark the material. Risks are applied to the surface of the fabric or skin in the places where the nails are supposed to be driven. It should be remembered that this must be calculated very accurately: you will not be able to remove punctures from the surface of the fabric. After all the marking work has been done, you can start upholstering the walls. It is best to do this together. For ease of use, the top edge of the panel can be glued to the wall. Then fastening lines are applied to the fabric and nails are driven in at the marked places. To make the upholstery look spectacular, use nails with decorative caps. As a result, you should have a wall with somewhat convex rhombuses or squares. The degree of relief depends on the amount of soundproofing material glued to the wall.

To make the room stylistically complete, upholster with the same material and upholstered furniture... The best way to do this is to use the carriage coupler method.

Another way of attaching fabrics is on flexible profile from polyvinyl chloride. This method is good because the plastic frame makes it possible to mount a frame of any shape. Behind it you can hide various pipes, radiators, corners. The profile is capable of holding any fabric (silk, velvet, cotton, jacquard, polyester) and even leather. The cost of such a frame is quite high, but it is worth it.

If you decide to attach the fabric to a PVC profile, then a polyester fabric is best suited as a drapery. Cloths of material are produced in widths from 3 to 5 m, the height of the canvas should be slightly more than the height of the walls. Polyester fabric underneath high pressure impregnated with polyurethane, which gives the fabric additional density and strength. The texture of the polyester fiber is similar to the texture of the canvas. On such a surface you can paint acrylic paints... The canvas, inserted into the PVC frame, does not sag. The fabric does not fade in the sun, does not crack (unlike many other synthetic materials). In addition, the coating does not attract dust and can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. Polyester fabric has good sound insulation, which allows you to reduce the level of noise pollution in the apartment. The material has two drawbacks: the high cost and the complexity of assembling the structure (it will not be very easy for you to tuck the fabric into the frame yourself). Frame mount almost indispensable if you want to drape a niche, opening or ledge.

The easiest way to attach fabric to the wall is with Velcro. To do this, one part of the tape is glued to the wall (usually with "loops"), and the second is sewn onto the fabric (with "hooks"). The fabric can be easily removed from the walls and just as easy to attach it back.

Clips are easier to attach than frames or upholstery. This method is similar to that used for installation. false ceilings... Attached around the perimeter of the room plastic profile... The ends of the web are snapped into place at the corners. After the correct position is checked, the rest of the fabric is secured. The fabric is slipped under the profile with a spatula and fixed there.

The color and texture of the fabric should be chosen depending on the purpose and size of the room, the style of the interior, furniture and color scheme the whole apartment. The fabric pattern should be chosen taking into account that part of the time the room will be illuminated by an artificial light source (this changes the perception of colors, and the light falling from above can create the illusion of a change in proportions), the pattern will be visible on large area, it should be combined with furniture and paintings or photographs hanging on the walls.

When choosing a fabric, attach a piece of it to the wall and, moving back a little, see how it will look. To upholster a large living room, you can use thin, delicate fabrics: taffeta or silk. If the room has a small area, then its walls can be decorated with wool or satin in a small pattern. Furniture should be upholstered with the same fabric. Then the room will acquire stylistic completeness and will seem more comfortable. The walls, upholstered in gray and pearl fabric, give beautiful combination with dark cherry, dark blue or olive upholstery.

The fabric hides cracks on the walls well. There is no need to plaster the surface and create cavities for electrical wiring - all this will be masked by matter. If the neighbors flooded you from above, then there will be no special problems with the repair: the area of ​​the soiled coating is carefully removed from the wall, washed, dried and nailed into place. Remember to iron the fabric before upholstery. In addition, matter is much more durable than wallpaper: it is more difficult to tear it, and it gets dirty less. And if there is a cat in the house, then you can choose a more durable fabric for upholstery of the walls that will not tear under its claws (there is simply no wallpaper that a cat cannot damage). Special care for the fabric is not required, and she gets bored, according to psychologists, much less often than any other covering. You can reduce the cost of wall cladding by saving on plastering.

A clear advantage of the fabric cover is that its colors are more diverse than that of wallpaper, and the texture can be selected in accordance with your interior. The disadvantage of the coating is that the fabric quickly absorbs odors, so you should not use it in kitchens and in places for smoking.

During wall cladding, pay close attention to temperature regime(not less than 15 ° С) and humidity (not more than 80%). In addition, there should be no drafts in the room. Use only the glue specified in the instructions. Otherwise, stains, streaks may appear on the fabric, and the fastening itself will not be strong enough. If the wall is concave in places and this flaw cannot be corrected, then choose a fabric without stripes that emphasize the unevenness of the surface. Plastic fasteners used to fix the fabric at windows and doors can be pasted over with the same fabric after finishing work. This will make the corners less visible. It must be remembered that when fixing various lamps and pictures on the wall, the holes left as a result of the incorrect marking of the wall for the dowels are almost impossible to disguise. Therefore, measure their location as carefully as possible. Before drilling the walls, cut the fabric crosswise in the center of the intended hole, and use a dust extractor during work. This will prevent dust from entering the space between the cover and the wall. Outlets and switches are best flush-mounted.

If you want to decorate the fabric with embroidery, you can order work from professionals. The drawing can be anything. It all depends only on your desire and financial capabilities. A decorative panel on the draped wall, you can distinguish the stucco molding, which protrudes from under the fabric. This detail will resemble the interiors of palaces.