Instant Wall Glow-Up: The Damage-Free Decor Secret No One's Talking About!

cheaptasticchick
Jun 30
10 min read

Easy, Temporary Wall Makeovers for Renters & Beyond

Ready to ditch those bland, boring walls without losing your security deposit? If you're an apartment renter, a commitment-phobe when it comes to decor, or just someone who loves a good DIY hack, then you, my friend, have stumbled upon a game-changer: using liquid starch to hang fabric on your walls!

Forget expensive, permanent wallpaper or the dreaded task of patching a gazillion nail holes. This magical method lets you transform your space with beautiful textiles, and when you're ready for a change, it peels right off with just a little warm water. Seriously, it's like magic, but without the top hat and rabbit.

As your resident Cheaptastic Chick, I'm all about making your home fabulous without draining your bank account. This liquid starch fabric "wallpaper" is one of my absolute favorite tricks, and I'm here to spill all the beans – from mixing up your own budget-friendly starch to hanging your fabric like a pro.

Why Liquid Starch is Your New Best Friend

Let's be real, who wants to commit to a wall decor decision for years on end? Not me, and probably not you either! That's where liquid starch swoops in to save the day.

The Low-Down on Liquid Starch

Think of liquid starch as a temporary, fabric-friendly adhesive. When it dries, it creates a gentle bond that holds your fabric firmly in place. But here's the genius part: introduce it to warm water, and that bond dissolves, allowing your fabric to peel right off without damaging your walls or leaving sticky residue. It's truly a renter's dream come true, and a dream for anyone who likes to switch things up as often as they change their socks.

The Perks of Going "Fabric Wallpaper"

Temporary Transformation: This is the big one! No more worrying about permanent choices. Change your fabric with the seasons, your mood, or whenever a new pattern catches your eye.
Budget-Friendly Brilliance: Fabric is often far more affordable than traditional wallpaper, especially if you snag some on sale or scour your local fabric store's remnants bin. Plus, if you make your own starch (which we'll get to!), you're saving even more.
Damage-Free Decorating: Say goodbye to nail holes, sticky wallpaper paste, and the fear of losing your security deposit. This method is incredibly kind to your walls.
Easy Removal: When you're ready for a fresh look, simply mist or sponge warm water onto the fabric, and it'll loosen its grip, allowing you to gently peel it away. Wipe down any remaining starch residue with a damp cloth, and your wall is back to its original glory. (Have you ever tried removing wallpaper? It is definitely not easy!!!)
Unleash Your Creativity: The options are endless! From bold prints to subtle textures, you can find fabric that perfectly matches your style and instantly elevates any room.

DIY Liquid Starch: Your Wallet (and Walls) Will Thank You!

While you can certainly buy pre-made liquid starch, why not whip up your own? It's ridiculously easy, uses common kitchen ingredients, and gives you complete control over what goes on your walls. Plus, it's generally more affordable and often preferred by those who want to minimize chemicals.

Your Secret Recipe for Wall-Hanging Success

This recipe will give you a good amount for a small to medium-sized project, and you can easily scale it up or down.

Ingredients:

4 cups of water (your standard tap water works perfectly)
1/2 to 3/4 cup of cornstarch (the magical binding agent)

Instructions for Crafting Your Own Starch:

Boil the Water: Grab a large pot (you'll want some room for stirring) and bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil. We're talking serious bubble action here.
Prep the Cornstarch Slurry: While your water is heating up, grab a separate bowl. Measure out your 1/2 to 3/4 cup of cornstarch. Now, here's a crucial step: add a small amount of cool water to the cornstarch, just enough to form a smooth, thin paste or "slurry." This prevents clumps when you add it to the hot water. Think of it like making gravy – you wouldn't dump dry flour into hot liquid, right?
Combine and Conquer: Once your 4 cups of water are boiling vigorously, slowly, slowly pour your cornstarch slurry into the boiling water. Stir constantly as you pour. This continuous stirring is key to preventing lumps and ensuring a smooth, consistent starch.
Thicken It Up: Keep stirring over the heat. You'll notice the mixture beginning to thicken, somewhat similar to the consistency of fabric softener or thin gravy. Don't overdo it! We're not making glue here, just a temporary adhesive. If it gets too thick, it'll be harder to work with.
Cool Down: Once you've reached that perfect, slightly thick consistency, remove the pot from the heat and let it cool completely. This is important! You want it at room temperature before you start slathering it on your walls.

👉 Cheaptastic Chick Tip: If your starch ends up a bit too thick after cooling, you can always whisk in a tiny bit more cool water until you reach your desired consistency. If it's too thin, you can gently reheat it and stir in a smidge more cornstarch slurry (pre-mixed with cool water, of course!).

Getting Your Fabric Wall Ready: Prep Like a Pro!

Before you dive into hanging, a little prep work goes a long way. Trust me, future you will thank present you for taking these crucial steps.

What You'll Need :

Lightweight, cotton fabric: This is key! Cotton fabrics (like quilting cotton, broadcloth, or even thin sheets) work best because they're breathable and absorb the starch well. Avoid heavy upholstery fabrics or anything with a significant texture, as they won't adhere as easily.
Liquid starch: Your freshly made DIY batch, or store-bought.
Tacks or painter's tape (or duct tape): For temporarily holding the fabric.
Drop cloth: To protect your floors from any starch drips.
Paint roller and roller cover: For even starch application.
Paint tray: To hold your starch.
Utility knife: For precise trimming.
Step ladder: For reaching those high spots.
Sharp scissors: For clean fabric cuts.
Measuring tape: For accurate measurements.
A buddy (optional, but highly recommended!): An extra set of hands makes this project much easier, especially with larger pieces of fabric.

Hanging Your Fabric Wallpaper: Step-by-Step Magic!

Alright, it's go-time! Follow these steps for a smooth, successful, and stress-free fabric wall transformation.

Step 1: Measure Twice, Buy Once (Plus a Little Extra!)

Before you even think about buying fabric, measure the space you plan to cover. Seriously, measure it twice! Most fabrics are sold by the yard and come in widths of 40-50 inches. Once you have your measurements, add at least an extra yard to your purchase. Why? Because accidents happen, cuts go awry, and sometimes you just need a little wiggle room.

Step 2: Wash, Cut, and Clean

Pre-wash your fabric: Yes, even if it gets wrinkled! This helps pre-shrink the fabric and ensures it will lay flat on your wall.
Trim the selvage edge: The selvage is that tightly woven edge on both sides of the fabric that often has tiny holes or printed information. Cut it off with sharp scissors to prevent fraying and ensure a smooth, seamless look on your wall.
Protect your floors: Lay down a drop cloth directly under the wall you're working on. Liquid starch can get a bit messy, and nobody wants a sticky floor surprise.
Clean your wall: Give your wall a good wipe down to remove any dust, dirt, or grime. A clean, dry surface is essential for proper adhesion. Wait until it's completely dry before moving on.

Step 3: The Big Placement (A Helping Hand is Gold!)

This is where your buddy really shines! The goal is to get your fabric positioned exactly where you want it on the wall.

Have your helper hold the fabric up against the wall while you stand back and guide them into place.
For drywall: Tacks or push pins work great for temporarily holding the fabric at the top.
For plaster walls or paneling: Skip the tacks! Use painter's tape or duct tape to secure the fabric. A quick tip: if you're taping directly to the cut edge, you might experience some fraying. To avoid this, fold the edge under slightly before taping over it.
Leave an overlap: Make sure to leave a slight overlap (about an inch or two) at the corners, baseboards, and the top of the wall. You'll trim this excess later for a super clean finish.
Cut around outlets: Using your utility knife, carefully cut out openings for any electrical outlets or light switches. You can do this now or once the fabric is partially adhered.

Step 4: Starch the Wall (Work in Sections!)

Now for the star of the show: the liquid starch!

Pour your DIY liquid starch into a paint tray.
Dip your paint roller into the starch, making sure it's evenly coated but not dripping excessively.
Only coat the area where you will immediately be applying the fabric. This stuff dries surprisingly fast! If it dries before you get the fabric on, just add more starch.

Here are two ways to tackle this, depending on your comfort level:

The "Lift and Roll" Method (My personal favorite for large pieces!): After you've temporarily positioned your fabric with tacks/tape, have your helper lift the fabric all the way up for you. While they hold it, you can reach underneath with your roller and coat the wall with starch. You won't be able to reach right up to the taped/tacked edge, but don't worry – you'll go back and get that spot later. I prefer this because getting the fabric positioned perfectly the first time is often the hardest part, and this method keeps it in place.
The "Roll and Reposition" Method: After step 3, you can remove the fabric from the wall, coat the entire section of the wall with liquid starch, and then carefully reposition the fabric back onto the wet starch, holding it in place with your tacks/tape. This method can be a bit trickier for larger pieces to get the fabric perfectly aligned.

Step 5: Smooth and Adhere

Once the wall section is coated with starch, carefully smooth the fabric down over it.

Start from the top of your fabric piece and work your way downwards.
Use your hands, a clean roller (without starch), or a smoothing tool (like a wallpaper smoother or even a credit card) to press out any air bubbles or wrinkles as you go. Work from the center outwards to push out any trapped air. If you're at the edge of a wall, work from the corner outwards and downwards.
Don't panic if it doesn't stick perfectly everywhere just yet. The next step will seal the deal!

Step 6: Saturate the Fabric (The "Seal the Deal" Step!)

This is the most satisfying part!

Load up your paint roller with more liquid starch.
Roll the liquid starch directly over the top of the fabric. Yes, you read that right! You want to totally saturate the fabric, making sure the starch seeps through the fabric and creates a strong bond with the starch already on the wall. You'll see the fabric darken as it absorbs the starch.
Continue smoothing out any bubbles or wrinkles as you go, working the starch thoroughly into the fabric.
Corners and Baseboards: Leave an overhang of fabric at your baseboards and corners. After the fabric dries, you'll trim this for a super crisp, clean line with your utility knife. For the corners, use your fingers or a stiff piece of cardboard to really press the fabric into the corner, ensuring good adhesion.

Step 7: The Final Touches (Patience is a Virtue!)

Let it dry completely: This is crucial! Give your fabric plenty of time to dry, ideally overnight, or even 24 hours. The fabric will likely feel stiff once dry.
Remove temporary fasteners: Once everything is completely dry, carefully remove any tacks or tape you used to temporarily hold the fabric.
Starch those hidden spots: Go back and starch any areas where you couldn't reach before (like right under the tacks/tape at the top edge). Apply a little starch to the wall and smooth the fabric down.
Trim the excess: Using a straight edge (like a ruler or a long level) and your utility knife, carefully trim any excess fabric from the top, bottom (along the baseboard), and corners. This will give your "wallpaper" a professional, finished look. Change your utility knife blade frequently for clean cuts!

My Cheaptastic Chick Pro Tips & Wisdom:

Textured Walls: This method works best on smooth walls. If your walls have a heavy texture (like popcorn ceiling texture, but on a wall), the fabric might not adhere as evenly or smoothly. You can try it, but be prepared for some potential imperfections.
Bubbles & Ripples: Don't stress if you see a few small ripples or bubbles while the fabric is wet. As the fabric dries and tightens, many of these will magically disappear. If some persist after drying, you can try re-wetting that area with a sponge and smoothing it again.
Cleaning Your Fabric Wall: You can spot clean small marks with a damp cloth. However, if your fabric gets truly dirty, your best bet is to remove the entire piece, machine wash it (if the fabric allows), and then reapply it. Trying to thoroughly wash it while on the wall might cause it to come down!
Go Up to the Ceiling or Add Trim?: You can run your fabric all the way up to the ceiling for a dramatic effect, or for a super crisp finish without running the fabric all the way up, consider adding a piece of decorative trim along the top edge of your fabric. This creates a beautiful, custom look.
Covering Up Imperfections: One of the unsung heroes of fabric wallpaper is its ability to disguise minor wall imperfections! A little ding or a less-than-perfect paint job? Fabric can often cover it right up.
Existing Wallpaper/Paneling?: Yes, you can apply fabric over existing wallpaper or even smooth paneling! This is fantastic if you have outdated wallpaper you can't (or don't want to) remove.

Ready to Transform Your Walls?

There you have it, my frugal friends! The ultimate guide to using liquid starch to create stunning, temporary fabric "wallpaper." This project is a fantastic way to inject personality into your space without the commitment or the hefty price tag. You'll be amazed at how quickly and easily you can give your home a fresh, new look.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab some fabric, whip up some starch, and unleash your inner interior designer!

And for more Cheaptastic Chick DIY projects, money-saving deals, and savvy home advice, be sure to follow my Cheaptastic Chick Facebook Page! Let's make our homes fabulous, one budget-friendly project at a time!

Have you tried liquid starch fabric walls before? What are your favorite fabric patterns or colors you'd love to try? Share your thoughts in the comments below!