How to Hang Fabric to Hide Basement Walls

A basement that's going unused because of its unfinished state or downright scary atmosphere is living space waiting to come alive. Invigorate a cold, unfriendly, or spine-chilling area's persona with area rugs, plush furniture, plenty of pillows — and fabric on the walls. Hang textiles in one of a few basic ways, but only after you make sure the space is fabric-friendly.

When fabric and dampness get together, mold is born — and a moldy basement is not a healthy place to hang out. Before hanging fabric on basement walls, rectify any moisture issues. If the space is too humid simply because of temperature changes or dankness, a space heater or dehumidifier should help; for serious dampness or mustiness, look at improving ventilation.

If water seeps through wall or floor cracks, filling them with hydraulic mortar may only provide a bandage; the exterior walls might need to be resealed, or the drainage improved, such as with drain tile to carry rainwater away from the foundation.

Curtains aren't just for windows — you can think of them also as ready-to-hang fabric walls. Although masonry wall anchors provide a secure connection for mounting curtain rods on concrete or block walls, look up for another option. You may be able to screw ceiling-mount drapery rods to the wood joists overhead. This is much easier than drilling into concrete.

If ceiling-to-floor curtains are sufficiently full and thick, they create an almost insulation-like warmth, blocking at least some of the chill that can come from unfinished walls and disrupt your low-level retreat's comfort.

Crinkly fabric-covered walls look much homier and more chic than rough, exposed concrete. Liquid fabric starch acts as the glue to secure fabric panels to the wall in wallpaper-like fashion. Mix things up by using a patchwork or wall-tile design of pleasantly contrasting patterns and colors. Paint gray concrete white, so it won't discolor semi-transparent material.

Alternatively, adhere fabric smoothly to lightweight foam-insulation panels, and mount the panels to the wall with construction adhesive, or use removable fasteners or double-sided tape for a more temporary wall treatment. This effect can appear more prim than crinkled fabric, and the foam helps keep the room warmer.

In a partly finished basement with framed walls, but no drywall, you can staple fabric directly to the exposed studs. Measure and cut the fabric panels a little long — you can trim any excess from the bottoms when they're in place. Work from a corner out and from the top down, until the wall is fully covered.

If you prefer a draping effect, wrap the top end of each fabric panel around a 1x2 wood strip, and mount the strip end-to-end along the top of the wall. Weight the panel bottoms or tack them to studs to keep the fabric flat.