DIY Design & Decorating host Nancy Golden explains how to create a rich-looking padded-fabric wall from fabric, batting and plywood. Materials:
Tape measure
1/8" plywood cut into 16" squares
Fabric -- drapery fabric or velvet works well
Cotton or polyester batting
Scissors
Staple gun
Hammer and nails
Curtain jewelry or buttons
- Measure the wall to determine the number of 16" squares you'll need in order to cover it. The 16" squares will line up with the wall studs, which should be 16" apart, making it possible to nail the corners of each square into a stud.
- Cut an 18" square of batting and fabric to cover each plywood square.
- Place a fabric square face down on your work surface with a matching piece of batting on top of it. Center a plywood square on the fabric and batting. Clip away the excess batting at each corner (figure A).
- Use a staple gun to attach the batting and fabric to the back of the plywood square. Fold one hem to the back of the square, and staple it in place in the middle (figure B). Pull the opposite hem tight and staple in place, then do the other two sides the same way. Staple each side right up to the corner of the board. Pull the remaining fabric tight over the corner and staple (figure C).
- Cover each plywood square the same way.
- When all the squares are covered, nail them in place on the wall, butting each square up against the next. Drive a nail into all four corners of each square, securing the squares to the wall studs (figure D).
- Hide the nailed corners by pinning a piece of curtain jewelry into the dry wall at the point where four squares intersect (figure E).
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