How to Protect Art Studio Walls

Whether your studio is a room in your home, a garage or a rented space in an industrial building, you need to protect your walls against paint splattering. Choose from the many options such as plastic sheeting, kraft paper, cellutex or fiberboard, cork board, foamcore board or burlap.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Apply heavy duty plastic sheeting for the best protection against liquid spills. Cut out glare by covering the sheeting with paper or fabric. Staple the sheeting directly onto the wall or onto thin strips of wood or moulding at the top and bottom of your wall.

2. Use heavy-duty kraft paper with a waxy surface for an inexpensive covering that you can also draw on. Staple it directly onto your walls.

3. Nail cellutex or fiberboard to walls. The cellutex, also called homosote, is painted white for a neutral backdrop on which you can pin up drawings and sketches. You can also paint directly onto canvas stapled onto the cellutex.

4. Cover your walls with large pieces of foamcore board. Pin sketches onto this surface.

5. Attach long lengths of cork to your walls or glue them first onto a backing, then attach. Use thumb tacks to post notes and sketches.

6. Tack up burlap for a covering. You can use pins to secure sketches to burlap.

7. Affix painter's drop cloth to the walls. The more expensive ones repel moisture.

Tips & Warnings

• For maximum protection against moisture, first apply plastic sheeting, then cover it with fabric, foamcore board or cork.
• It's easy to find all the supplies you'll need. Purchase foamcore board at art stores or office supply stores. Buy plastic sheeting, fiberboard and cork at home improvement stores. Pick up burlap at fabric stores. Order kraft paper from paper suppliers.