Draping the Ceiling With Tulle Fabric
Draping your ceiling with tulle will give it a soft, ethereal look, transforming a room into a fairytale kingdom. Whether you are decorating for a special event or merely adding a touch of elegance to a bedroom, tulle is a simple yet breathtaking decoration. There are a variety of ways to drape tulle from the ceiling, both in terms of how you want the tulle to look and what you use to hold it in place. Therefore, you must visualize your decorated ceiling and examine the structure of the room before you begin. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Ladder
- Soft tulle
- Ribbon or fishing line
- Nails, tacks, hooks or adhesive strips
Instructions
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Preparation
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Visualize exactly how you would like to hang the draping. One traditional method is to anchor one end of each drape at a corner of the room, bringing the other ends together at a chandelier or other centerpiece. Another possibility is to hang drapes at intervals along the ceiling, fastening the ends where the ceiling meets the wall and anchoring the center of the drape in the middle of the ceiling. Your plan for the room will determine how much tulle you need and how you will anchor it.
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Examine the structure of the ceiling to determine the best way to anchor the tulle. If your ceiling has beams or panels, you can simply tie the tulle to the ceiling without leaving any holes from nails or hooks. If your ceiling or walls are made of wood, you may prefer nails or hooks to adhesive fastenings because they will not leave any residue.
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Measure the ceiling to determine how much tulle you will need. If you are draping the tulle from the corners to the center of the room, measure diagonally from one corner of the room to the next. If you are hanging tulle at intervals, measure from one side of the room to the next, then multiply that number by the number of drapes you intend to have.
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Multiply your measurement by 20 percent to account for the slack from draping the tulle.
Draping
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Sew ribbon to each end of each piece of tulle, or thread fishing line through the netting and tie a knot to secure it to the fabric.
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Tie the fishing line or ribbon to the ceiling beams or braces if your ceiling has them. This will allow you to hang draping without leaving any nail holes or adhesive residue.
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Attach hangers, hooks, drywall anchors, embroidery loops or adhesive strips to the walls if your ceiling does not have beams or braces. Tie the fishing line or ribbon into a loop and hang it from the hooks. Alternatively, nail or tack the tulle directly to the wall.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are draping the ceiling of an area you don't own, such as a reception hall, talk to the owners of the venue before you begin. They may have rules about whether you are allowed to put nails or hooks into the wall. They may also have suggestions on the best way to drape the ceiling within the venue's terms of use.
Do not use stiff tulle, as it will not drape as well as soft tulle. If you purchase the tulle in person, drape it over your hand to test its flexibility. If you buy it online, make sure that the website describes the material as "soft tulle." You may wish to buy only from sites that have a free return policy in case the tulle is not as soft as you expected.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
