DIY Fabric Panels: Do or Don’t?

I’ve had a lot of people asking me about fabric panels lately.  Do-it-yourself fabric panels, that is.  As in: get a flat surface (foam core, canvas, old art piece), get some fabric, wrap and staple the fabric to the surface, and hang it on the wall as art.  Or, if you’re feeling really fancy you can frame a piece of fabric.  My thoughts on this are not firm: it depends. I can think of a million reasons why fabric panels are terrible: among them, “I don’t really have anything I want to put on the wall.” I can also think of a lot of reasons why fabric panels are great: among them are framing a sentimental textile, toning down an otherwise visually busy space, or utilizing a piece of material that you love that is too expensive to use as upholstery or drapery.

Here is my collage of “not too cute” fabric panels.  If they work, they work…and there’s nothing wrong with art for $100 or less. I particularly love this look against white walls.

Do or don't? (Images clockwise from top right: Purlbee, source unknown, Design4Home, personal, Apartment Therapy)

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