Looking for a way to decorate your space with renter-friendly wallpaper? Try this budget-friendly tutorial for creating an accent wall to add some fun to your place.
You may have stumbled upon tutorials in to the past about using liquid starch to add fabric to your wall as an alternative to wallpaper. This tutorial will instead show you how to make your own liquid starch using what you may already have in your home.
Materials & Tools
- A cotton-based fabric of your choice
- Wall smoothing tool or something with a smooth edge
- (2) medium-large size bowls (heat-safe)
- 1-1/2 tbs. of corn starch
- 1-1/4 cup of water
- A 2″ paintbrush or larger
- A cooking pot
- A whisk
- Scissors
- Tape measure
How Much Fabric Do I Need?
You may be wondering how much fabric to use for your wall. For this tutorial, I used 3-1/2 yards of fabric. However, this will solely depend on the space in which you’re looking to cover.
I recommend measuring out the space, so you’ll know how much fabric to purchase.
Step 1: DIY Liquid Starch
Start by adding your 1-1/2 tbsp. of corn starch and just enough water (less than 1/4 cup) to one of your bowls. You’re going to whisk it until the corn starch has dissolved and you’re left with a milky mix.
Yes, it is only a small amount at this point, but don’t worry! This will increase as we move on to our next step.
Bring 1-cup of water to boil. Once boiling, very slowly, begin adding in the milky corn starch mix about a teaspoon at a time. Continuously whisk as you add. The mixture will begin to thicken pretty quickly.
After you’ve adding all of the cornstarch mix and your new mixture has thickened up to a jelly consistency, remove from stove.
Transfer the mixture to a heat-safe bowl and let it sit for about 20-minutes, or until cooled to the touch. Then give it a good mix before using.
Step 2: Prep Your Fabric
As your mixture is cooling, now is a good time to iron your fabric. I highly recommend this step because it will make applying it to your wall easier. It will also look way better!
If you’re going for a specific shape (I decided on a half-circle) now is also a good time to cut that out. You can choose to pin the entire fabric to the wall using thumbtacks in order to trace out your shape, then cut.
Step 3: Applying Fabric
Now that your mixture has cooled, begin applying a thin layer to the back of your fabric using a paintbrush. If your fabric begins to darken, don’t worry, it’s only temporary and will revert back once dry.
Once you’ve got a good amount layered on you can adhere it to your wall. Starting at the top and working your way down is a good way to not get overwhelmed. An extra set of hands can be very useful at this step.
After your fabric is laid out in the correct space, you’ll want to begin pushing from the middle outwards using your wall smoothing tool. This will bring excess mixture out from behind the fabric and tighten the bond between the fabric and wall. You can clean away the excess with a damp paper towel.
Admire Your Accent Wall
Your new accent should be fully dry after 24-hours. Marvel at your hard work and give yourself a pat on the back.
Don’t forget to share your walls with me! I’d love to see how you’ve used this tutorial.
