DIY Fabric Applied to Cabinets

Cover boring cabinet doors with bright patterned fabric.

Fabric comes in a wide range of patterns that are difficult to replicate with paint. If you’re tired of monochrome cabinets, you can use decoupage techniques to cover them in any thin fabric you like. Covered cabinets add a colorful, stimulating aesthetic to classrooms and nurseries, and the waterproof decoupage glue prevents stains from penetrating the fabric.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Fabric
• Rotary mat
• Rotary cutter
• Screwdriver
• Electric sander
• Sanding disks
• Wood putty
• Putty knife
• Latex primer
• Paintbrushes
• White latex paint
• Colored latex paint (optional)
• 440-grit sandpaper
• Hard coat decoupage glue
• Drill

Instructions

1. Take the dimensions of all the cabinets that you want to coat with fabric. For best results, only apply fabric to flat surfaces. Subtract 1/2 inch from each of the dimensions to leave room for an attractive border around the fabric-covered surfaces. If the fabric goes all the way to the edges, it will eventually fray and wear off.

2. Cut fabric to match the dimensions measured in step 1, using a rotary mat and cutter.

3. Remove all cabinet hardware and take the cabinets off their hinges using a screwdriver.

4. Sand the cabinet surface with an electric sander. Start with rough-grit sanding disks and work your way up to finer grits to create a smooth, even surface.

5. Fill any holes and dents in the cabinet, including screw holes for hardware, using wood putty. Smooth out the putty with a putty knife and lightly sand it once it is dry.

6. Coat the cabinet with a latex primer. After the primer dries, use white paint to coat any areas of the cabinet where you want to apply fabric. If you apply any other color to these areas, it may show through the fabric.

7. Paint the rest of the cabinet any color you wish. Allow the paint to dry before proceeding.

8. Wet-sand the white parts of the cabinet with 440 grit sandpaper and allow the surface to dry.

9. Apply a thin layer of decoupage glue over the area to be covered in fabric. Place the fabric over this area and smooth out any wrinkles and bumps. Coat the fabric with two layers of decoupage glue. Allow the layers to dry and coat the fabric with six more layers, allowing each layer to dry before adding another.

10. Drill holes through the fabric where the original hardware screws were. Replace the hardware and hang your cabinets in their original position.

References

• Jcaroline Creative: Fabric Decoupaged Nightstands

Resources

• Apartment Therapy: How to: Cover the Kitchen Cabinets in Fabric