How to Mod Podge Fabric to Wood Furniture

Are you curious how to Mod Podge fabric to wood furniture? This post will give you tips and tricks on how to glue fabric to wood, as well as sample projects (at the bottom)!

I get a lot of questions about re-doing furniture by Mod Podging fabric. If you are thinking of gluing fabric to wood, it’s not as hard as it looks – and I wanted to give you some tips and share some projects that I think you’ll enjoy.

Before we jump into the how, let’s start with an obvious question: to glue fabric to wood, what craft glue do you need?

Why MOD PODGE, of course! The Mod Podge will bond fabric to wood, as well as seal the project when complete. Other tutorials may say that spray adhesive and Gorilla glue will work, and they do.

However, I find the decoupage medium to be the most durable long term. The bond between fabric and wood is very, very strong with a layer of Mod Podge in the middle.

Where I think we should start is with a video! It’s going to give you the basics of furniture decoupage (though it’s done with paper). Whether it be paper or fabric, the surface preparation and application is the same. It will help you get started:

So where do you begin? Now that you’ve decided to Mod Podge fabric on wood, you have to prepare the surface first. I completely explain how to prep furniture for decoupage so visit that post to get started.

Preparing your piece for decoupage has an important impact on the end result. You want to make sure you do that correctly.

Once you’ve watched the video and read my article about prepping, you’re ready to start decoupaging. I recommend you read the following tips and tricks next! I’m going to walk you through a project starting at step 1 . . . assuming you’ve already prepped your furniture.

Glue Fabric to Wood: Tips & Tricks

1. Basecoat your furniture with an appropriate color.

Yes, you can decoupage on raw wood. You can also Mod Podge fabric to wood that is already painted.

Having said that, here’s the issue: if you decoupage cotton fabric that is light on a surface that is dark underneath, you WILL see the paint through the fabric. LIGHT cotton fabric tends to become somewhat transparent when decoupage medium is applied.

So for example, if I were decoupaging a bookcase with a light yellow cotton fabric, I’d go with a light color like white or light yellow underneath.

Now, if your fabric is decorator’s weight, you probably won’t need to do this. The fabric is likely thick enough so that it won’t show the paint below.

2. Wash and dry your fabric.

Before you begin gluing fabric to wood, you’ll want to wash and dry it. People ask me all the time if they have to do this step. You don’t have to. Having said that, you are taking a big risk if you don’t.

This is because fabric has sizing in it and sometimes it can cause dark blotches. It doesn’t always do that, but sometimes it does. Removing the sizing doesn’t always solve the issue, but it really helps.

(if your fabric is really wrinkled after washing, use an iron to smooth out any wrinkles).

3. Use Hard Coat Mod Podge.

A lot of the tutorials on my site for furniture were done before the invention of Furniture Mod Podge. Furniture Mod Podge has been discontinued (though some people still have bottles of it), but Hard Coat is still around. It’s the perfect formula for gluing fabric to wood.

4. Prepare the fabric with Mod Podge.

Before attaching fabric to wood, I always place my fabric down on a piece of wax paper and brush Mod Podge on top of it. You can see the demonstration of that here. The reason for that is because it’s easier to work with fabric that has been decoupaged.

It doesn’t fray, and it takes on a less floppy, more paper-like consistency. It’s especially important when decoupaging large areas with fabric.

Trim the fabric for your fabric (and then don’t forget to set aside excess fabric for scrap crafts!).

5.Decoupage both the wood and the back of the fabric.

When you Mod Podge fabric to wood, you’ll add decoupage medium to both the back of the fabric and the top of the wood.

6. Use a brayer.

To go along with step 5, you’ll want a brayer for smoothing your fabric down. You can do it without one, but I’m telling you – you want one. My favorite is this Mod Podge Tool Set. You have the brayer and then the squeegee is for inside corners (like on the inside of a drawer or tray).

7. Work slowly and in sections.

You need to apply the Mod Podge quickly, but the overall project should be done slowly. Meaning, if you are applying fabric to a tabletop, do it in sections.

In your mind, divide the tabletop into four sections (for example). Decoupage one end of the fabric down – then work in sections to the other end – applying Mod Podge and smoothing down as you go.

Basically what I’m saying is: don’t get crazy and try to glue one huge piece of fabric to the top of a tabletop at once. The Mod Podge is going to dry before you get it all down, and it’s going to cause bubbles and be annoying.

Note: when the Mod Podge dries (wait 24 hours), you can add a final protective layer with a clear polycrylic brush-on or spray on formula if you like. Some people choose to if the furniture is going to get a lot of wear and tear (every layer helps). Sand with a fine grit sandpaper between each layer.

8. Consider practicing.

If you have a furniture piece you really don’t want to ruin, think about using a $1 wood plaque from the craft store and a piece of scrap fabric to get comfortable. Practice makes perfect and – especially if you’ve never decoupaged before – you want to do it right!

9. Be ready for setbacks.

Of course the hope is that you do your project perfectly the first time. BUT if you place your fabric down and smooth and then find you don’t like it – what do you do?? Rip up as soon as possible, sand, paint, and start over. It’s going to be okay and you’ll be gluing fabric to wood again the next day. I promise!

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I’d love to hear your questions or tips for Mod Podging fabric to wood in the comments!

For more projects where you’ll be gluing fabric to wood, visit these links:

• Decoupage Tabletop with Fabric (and Mod Podge!)
• How to Decoupage Fabric Onto Shelves
• DIY Step Stool Makeover with Mod Podge
• Fabric Coffee Table with Mod Podge (Easy!)