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Add Fabric to Shelving Unit

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DIY Projects· One Room Challenge· Room Makeovers

8 May

DIY Wall Shelf with fabric added to the back for a fun pattern

As promised in my One Room Challenge reveal, here is the tutorial on how to add a little twist to your shelving unit using fabric. I first saw the idea of decorating the back of your shelves at A House Full of Sunshine. However, she used a stencil to create the pattern on the back. During the One Room Challenge, I saw another example from Winder and Main, and she used a shower curtain for her backing. Clever, right? I’m sure there are multiple options for how you could pull off this look (I also thought wallpaper…), but I’ll tell you how I ended up doing the shelving unit for our powder room.

What You Need to Decorate A Shelving Unit With Fabric

Items needed to decorate the back of a shelving unit: Fabric, tacky spray, and clips

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  • Outdoor Fabric- See some options below. I chose an outdoor fabric as it was much more durable than other types of fabric. You want your fabric piece to be at least an inch wider than your shelf backing all the way around.
  • Adhesive Spray– There are options when it comes to adhesives sprays. You can get one that will permanently hold things in place, or you can get a tacky spray that will allow you to remove/reposition your fabric. The choice is yours. I chose to go with one that I could remove/reposition because that way I can change out the fabric in the future; or… if I make a mistake when applying the fabric, no worries, I can remove and reposition the whole thing without much effort.
  • Binder Clips
  • Nails & Hammer

How to Add Fabric to Shelving Unit

Start by ironing your fabric to remove any wrinkles. Then remove the backing of your shelving unit and secure your fabric of choice to the backing with binder clips. This keeps the fabric straight while you’re gluing it down. Keep in mind that your fabric should to be about 1/2″ longer/wider than your shelf backing on all the sides.

Fabric secured to shelf backing with binder clips

Take this outside because you probably don’t want adhesive glue sprayed all over your house. Once in a place with good ventilation, flip the fabric up over your binder clips so the entire back of the shelving unit is showing, then spray the backing with adhesive spray. If you are working on a large shelving unit, do this in smaller sections, working from top to bottom.

Spraying adhesive spray to back of shelving unit in order to add fabric

Once the backing has been lightly coated with the adhesive spray, roll your fabric down over the backing and smooth the fabric as you go. Once your fabric is in place, you can remove the binder clips and spray the adhesive underneath where they were so you are able to secure the fabric all the way around.

Removing binder clips in order to spray adhesive under fabric

You can now cut the excess fabric from around the backing so it doesn’t show once you replace the backing onto the shelving unit. Another option would be to wrap the fabric around the backing and staple it in place. I chose to cut the fabric because when I tried to wrap it around and staple it, the backing was so dense the staples wouldn’t go in.

Trimming excess fabric from the back of shelving unit prior to replacing

You can now nail the backing onto the shelving unit. (Got my hubby to do it for me.)

Nailing the back of shelving unit back onto shelf after adding fabric

And there you have it.

Shelving unit with fabric covered backing for a fun pattern

Shelving unit with fabric back to create pattern. Displayed with small vintage lantern

Shelving unit with a fabric covered backing displayed with small hand soap and block sign

Fabric added to the back of a shelving unit to create pattern in a powder room

 

Love it? Pin it!

Add fabric to the back of a shelving unit to add color and/or pattern to any space.

27 Comments

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Comments

  1. Cheri Hins says

    November 20, 2015 at 8:14 AM

    I have the perfect shower curtain for this. Thanks for sharing . Love the lanterns.

    Reply
  2. Cat @ Pocketful of Posies says

    August 18, 2015 at 8:50 AM

    Erin,

    Your shelf update looks great! I have a couple of book cases I’ve been wanting to do this to. I really love how it totally changes the look with minimal effort! Thank you for sharing on Dream. Create. Inspire. Link! I hope we’ll see you there again this week!

    Cat

    Reply
    • Erin says

      August 18, 2015 at 9:07 AM

      I really am only able to conquer simple, easy projects, but it sure is fun when it makes a huge impact. Thanks for stopping over and I plan on linking up again this week!

      Reply
  3. Tenisha says

    June 8, 2015 at 9:04 AM

    I love this idea! I have a blank canvas I’m planning to decorate and I think this is a marvelous way to spruce it up! Thanks for sharing

    Reply
    • Erin says

      June 8, 2015 at 7:47 PM

      I love when one idea inspires another! Thank you for stopping over! Have a beautiful evening!

      Reply
  4. Kimberly says

    June 5, 2015 at 10:45 AM

    Gorgeous! And so easy to do. Pinned it! Visiting from Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      June 5, 2015 at 2:39 PM

      Thanks for stopping over Kimberly! This was such an easy way to add a little something to a room. Thanks for pinning! Have a fabulous day!

      Reply
  5. Jane says

    June 3, 2015 at 9:01 AM

    This is beautiful- very elegantly done. Thank you for the tutorial and for sharing at the Show and Tell party!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      June 3, 2015 at 3:32 PM

      Thanks so much Jane! And thanks for the tweet regarding this post! Have an amazing day… I need to click over and check out your blog now.

      Reply
  6. Angela McKinney says

    June 1, 2015 at 7:38 PM

    Love the looks of this. Glad you shared at #HomeMattersParty

    Reply
    • Erin says

      June 2, 2015 at 5:50 AM

      Thanks Angela! And thank you for hosting and stopping over to comment! Have a beautiful day!

      Reply
  7. Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai says

    May 24, 2015 at 5:25 PM

    LOVE this idea! Imagine the possibilities… a little fabric, a whole lot of pop! Please come share your blog posts over at the Home Matters Linky Party! We’d love to have you for a visit. The Door is OPEN. http://lifewithlorelai.com/2015/05/21/home-matters-linky-party-38/ 🙂

    ~Lorelai
    Life With Lorelai

    Reply
    • Erin says

      May 25, 2015 at 6:29 AM

      Thanks Lorelai! I agree that you could do so much with this idea. Thanks for the invite over to your party. I just started blogging in February, so I’m still learning about all the great linking parties out there. I will definitely check it out. Hope you are enjoying your Memorial Day weekend!

      Reply
  8. Kathy says

    May 22, 2015 at 10:04 PM

    I love doing this to my bookshelves. It makes such a difference. Thanks for sharing at The Creative Circle.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      May 23, 2015 at 9:08 AM

      It’s nice to add a little color/pattern to a space in a fun way. Thanks for stopping over Kathy!

      Reply
  9. Carrie This Home says

    May 21, 2015 at 8:02 PM

    I love love love that fabric! This project turned out so pretty and functional! Thanks for sharing this at the Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop (this is going to be one of the featured posts at the next party!)

    Reply
    • Erin says

      May 21, 2015 at 8:22 PM

      Thank you so much! It would be an honor to be featured there. Have a wonderful evening Carrie!

      Reply
  10. Sandy Sandmeyer says

    May 19, 2015 at 5:22 PM

    What a great idea for an apartment where you can’t paint the walls. It makes a room so much more visually interesting. Thank you for visiting and sharing with #AnythingGoes.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      May 19, 2015 at 9:56 PM

      I hadn’t really thought about this idea in an apartment, but you’re right, it would be a great way to bring in some color and pattern when you can’t do anything to the walls…and think of all the different fabrics one could choose from. Thanks again for stopping over Sandy!

      Reply
  11. Sue says

    May 19, 2015 at 3:25 PM

    love it! The fabric looks really great thanks so much for sharing at #AnythingGoes

    Reply
    • Erin says

      May 19, 2015 at 9:54 PM

      Thank YOU Sue!

      Reply
  12. Lianna@theresnoplacelikehomemke says

    May 12, 2015 at 6:17 AM

    looks fantastic! love it – so simple and makes the space pop!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      May 12, 2015 at 7:02 PM

      Thanks Lianna! I think it’s a fun way to add color or pattern to a room (especially one that doesn’t have curtains or pillows).

      Reply
  13. Ashley says

    May 11, 2015 at 1:54 PM

    Hi there! Visiting from Meet Up Monday. This is so cute! I love the fabric you chose! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      May 11, 2015 at 9:11 PM

      Thank you so much for stopping by Ashley. I just found the Meet Up Monday linking party a few days ago. Always nice to find ways to meet other bloggers and get new ideas.

      Reply
  14. Sharon @ Pretty Practical Home says

    May 8, 2015 at 4:21 PM

    I might try this on some IKEA shelves in my younger daughter’s room before getting rid of them.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      May 10, 2015 at 8:45 PM

      It was so easy to do and made such a difference! And, hey, if you are planning to throw them out anyway, you might as well try it just to see if you like it!

      Reply

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Hi there! I'm Erin. Welcome to Lemons, Lavender & Laundry, where we believe that creating a clean home should be done as simply and naturally as possible. [Read More...]

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