Clara’s Closet: A Simple DIY Fabric-Lined Closet Makeover

This might be my favorite little project yet: a quick, affordable, and joyful update to the back wall of my daughter Clara’s deep closet. The goal was to make it feel like a tiny hideaway inside her room—a playful, cozy space where she stores a dollhouse and a few favorite toys. The result looks far more elaborate than the effort required: a fabric-covered closet back wall that took under two hours and cost only the fabric, some glue, ribbon, and a staple gun.

For a while I’d been picturing something fun on that back wall—wallpaper or a stencil would have worked—but when I found a fabric called Peaceful Perch by Waverly at a local shop, I knew it was the one. Clara loved it instantly, rubbing her face in the pattern and squealing about the birds, so the decision was made on the spot.

The closet is very deep—about 6.5 feet deep and 4 feet wide—which made a single bolt’s width of fabric an ideal choice. I bought three yards to be safe, which covered floor to ceiling with a little wiggle room. I removed everything from the closet (including shelves and hanging bars) so I had full access to the back wall.

With a step ladder and a staple gun I started in the top right corner and worked around the perimeter, pulling the fabric taut and stapling every few inches. Because the print was loose and organic rather than tightly striped or geometric, I didn’t have to worry about matching a pattern—my focus was simply keeping the fabric wrinkle-free and straight. If you have a patterned fabric where alignment matters, plan for extra time and careful measuring.

One handy trick: wrap the fabric around any shelf boards or ledges and staple it on the sides to create a clean, finished look. I left the fabric untrimmed while fastening it to avoid accidental overcutting. If a section didn’t sit right, I’d remove a few staples with a flat-head screwdriver, re-pull the fabric, and re-staple until it was smooth.

After stapling the perimeter snugly, I used an X-Acto knife with a fresh blade to trim the excess fabric along the wall edges. The goal is to cut through the fabric cleanly without gouging the drywall; if you press carefully and keep the blade shallow, you can get a neat edge. Because I planned to apply a trim ribbon over the raw edge, a tiny nick in the drywall wouldn’t be noticeable.

To finish the look I selected a soft pink ribbon that blended nicely with the room’s wall color and the fabric’s palette. I didn’t have quite enough at home, so I picked up two spools and used a clear fabric glue (similar to fabric adhesive or clear silicone) to attach the ribbon around the perimeter. Run a thin line of glue along the trimmed edge, press the ribbon into place, and allow it to dry—this creates a polished, sewn-like finish without any visible staples or rough edges.

Once the glue dried (about an hour) I reinstalled the shelves and the hanging rod and returned the contents to the closet. The transformation is dramatic and playful: visitors assumed it was wallpaper until they touched it and discovered it was fabric. It feels cozy, personal, and perfectly suited to a child’s hideaway.

Clara was over the moon—and so were we. This is the kind of DIY that feels luxurious but is actually simple: no drywall work, no wallpaper paste, and minimal tools. Materials list: three yards of fabric (choose a width to fit your closet), a staple gun, scissors or an X-Acto knife with a fresh blade, fabric glue, and decorative ribbon for trimming. Time required: roughly 1.5 hours to staple, 30 minutes to trim and glue, plus drying time.

This closet fabric wall is an ideal small-scale children’s room makeover: it’s budget-friendly, reversible, and makes a big visual impact. If you’re looking for an easy DIY to add color and personality to a playroom, nursery, or closet, consider covering a back wall with fabric—it’s fast, forgiving, and delightfully rewarding.