Easy Way to Cover Drop Ceiling With Fabric

Staple It

You can cover a drop ceiling with fabric to give it a new look.

1. Measure the width and length of your ceiling with a measuring tape. Add four inches to both your width and length measurement to determine the amount of fabric needed to cover the entire ceiling with fabric. Measure diagonally across the room from corner to corner, if you want to sash your fabric. Divide the measurement you get in half. Add this figure to the original length to determine the length to cut each sash.

2. To cover the entire ceiling, fold over the raw edge of each side of fabric. Glue it in place with a glue stick or other adhesive that won't show through the fabric. Place one corner of the fabric against the ceiling in the corresponding corner of your room. Staple the fabric to the ceiling. Continue stapling along the edge of the fabric until you've completed two edges. Hold the fabric taut and add a staple approximately every one to two feet across the ceiling to hold the fabric in place and keep it from sagging. Staple the other edges to complete the ceiling.

3. Fold the piece of sash fabric in half. Find the exact center of the room with a measuring tape. Staple the center of the fabric to this spot. Fan out each side of the fabric, creating a sash. Staple the ends of the fabric to the ceiling as close to the wall as possible.

Glue It

1. Wash the ceiling with a damp sponge to remove any dust or dirt. Let it dry.

2. Measure the width of your ceiling. Decide whether you'll need more than one length of fabric; most fabrics are 45 inches or wider.

3. Measure the length of your ceiling. Cut the fabric to this length.

4. Apply glue to both the ceiling and the fabric, a section at a time, with a hot glue gun. Smooth the fabric over the ceiling. Continue the process until you've applied all the fabric to the ceiling. Use push-pins or tacks to hold the fabric in place while the glue dries, if needed.