DIY Guide: Creating Your Own Upholstered Wall Panel
Adding a cushioned layer to a wall can make a space feel cozier and more inviting. This do-it-yourself method walks you through building a fabric-covered wall panel, whether your goal is to protect kids in a play area, fashion a plush headboard, or achieve the appearance of a professionally upholstered wall.
By Rowan Scott6 steps
Cover a padded wall panel in the fabric of your choice.
Padding a wall adds a sense of warmth and softness to any room. Building your own padded wall panel is a fairly straightforward do-it-yourself undertaking, whether you want to cushion a playroom wall for your children's safety, make a soft headboard for your bedroom, or you just appreciate the appearance of an upholstered wall.
Step 1
Trim a piece of plywood so it matches the dimensions you want for your padded wall panel. Use sandpaper on the edges and corners to smooth away splinters and rough spots.
Step 2
Lay the plywood sheet over a large piece of foam measuring 1 to 2 inches in thickness. Trace along the plywood's perimeter with a marker, then take the plywood away. Following those traced lines, slice through the foam using a sharp utility knife.
Step 3
With scissors, cut one sheet of cotton quilt batting and one sheet of fabric. Each should extend roughly 6 inches beyond the foam on every side.
Step 4
Spread the fabric face down on a clean, flat work surface—a large table or the floor works well. Layer the batting over the fabric, aligning all edges carefully. Center the foam on top of the batting as best you can, then set the plywood sheet over the foam.
Step 5
Bring the fabric edges up and around the plywood, fastening them with a staple gun. Start at the top center of the panel and staple outward at intervals of about 2 inches, then stretch the fabric tight and repeat along the bottom edge. Do the same for the right and left sides. When working with a patterned fabric, pull it evenly to keep the design from turning out crooked.
Step 6
Find two studs in your wall with a stud finder, or by tapping the wall and noting where the sound is not hollow. Choose studs that are spaced as widely apart as possible while still sitting within the area your padded panel will cover. Drive two flush mounts into the studs at a consistent height, then rest your padded panel against the wall and mark where the mounts will line up on the panel's back. Attach the matching half of each mount to your panel with screws, then raise the panel and slide it onto the mounts to hang it on the wall.
