How to Make Your Own Wall Decals From Fabric

If you live in an apartment where you can't paint the walls, or if you want to spice up a room without any commitments, you can make fabric wall decals. Using cornstarch as a paste means cleanup is easy once you are ready to remove the decal---just pull the fabric off and wipe clean with a sponge. Brighten your walls and add flair to your room in just a few hours.

Things You'll Need

• 1 tbsp. cornstarch Paint brush Fabric Sponge

Instructions

1. Choose your pattern. For best results, you should use a lightweight fabric that doesn't have a lot of stretch to it. Because you will get it wet when you apply the paste, do not use silks or other dry clean only fabric because it may become discolored or the dye may bleed onto your wall. Wash your fabric but do not use fabric softener.

2. Iron the fabric and draw your design onto it. Cut out your pieces, and iron them again. To check your work and make sure it looks how you want it to, tape the pieces to your wall with painter's tape.

3. Boil 1 cup of water. Mix 1 tbsp. cornstarch in 2 tbsp. room temperature water in a small bowl to form a paste. Slowly add the hot water, stirring as you pour until you have a consistent liquid.

4. Perform a spot test. Cut a scrap of fabric, or a scrap of each fabric you are using. Use the paintbrush to cover one side of each of the pieces of fabric with the starch mixture and smooth them onto an inconspicuous place on the wall. Allow to dry and then peel them off, checking that the paint on the wall is intact and not discolored by the fabric.

5. Remove one piece of your design from the wall and paint the back of it with the cornstarch paste. Make sure to cover it entirely. Dip the sponge into the paste, wringing it out as well as you can. Smooth the decal onto the wall, wiping it with the sponge to remove any air bubbles. Repeat with remaining pieces of fabric.

6. Use a clean, damp sponge to clean up excess paste around the edges of the decals. Check the rest of the wall for any possible drips and wipe them up before they dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Lay down newspapers or an old towel underneath the area you will be working in to protect against spills. Use leftover scraps of fabric from another sewing project, or commemorate an old piece of clothing by using the fabric as a wall decal.

• Always perform a spot test before you commit to the final project.