Making a fabric-covered room divider screen typically involves preparing panels and then covering them neatly with your chosen fabric. One common method for applying the fabric involves using stiff boards, such as MDF, as the panel base and securing the fabric to the back.
Materials You Might Need
- MDF boards or other suitable panel material
- Fabric of your choice
- Staple gun and staples
- Scissors or rotary cutter
- Measuring tape
- Optional: Wood for frame, hinges, legs, paint, batting
Steps to Cover Panels with Fabric
Based on the provided reference, covering a single panel involves these key actions:
- Prepare Your Workspace: Lay your fabric out flat, right side down.
- Position the Board: Place your MDF board onto the fabric. Ensure the fabric is large enough to wrap around all four edges of the board with overlap.
- Start Folding: On one side, fold over the edge of the fabric onto the back of the board.
- Staple Securely: Carefully staple the folded fabric edge to the MDF board using the staple gun. It's crucial to hold the fabric taut as you staple to prevent wrinkles on the front.
- Repeat for All Edges: Repeat this process for all four edges of the board. Work your way around, pulling the fabric taut before each staple, particularly at the corners, for a clean finish.
(As described in the reference: "Board onto the fabric. Step three on one side fold over the edge of the fabric. And carefully staple it to the MDF. Board with the staple gun holding the fabric tort repeat for all four edges.")
Building the Full Screen Structure
Covering the panels is just one part of the project. A complete room divider screen usually consists of multiple fabric-covered panels joined together.
- Panel Quantity: Decide how many panels you need based on the desired width and height of the screen. Three to four panels are common.
- Joining Panels: Panels can be joined using hinges installed along the vertical edges. This allows the screen to be folded for storage and adjusted for positioning.
- Adding Stability: You can add simple feet or a base to the bottom of the panels for extra stability.
- Finishing: Consider painting or finishing the exposed edges of the MDF or any frame you build before or after adding the fabric.
By carefully following the steps to staple the fabric tautly to the panels, you can create smooth, professional-looking sections for your custom room divider.
