DIY: Drawer Liners
As promised, I’ve got a fun DIY to share. I spent quite some time searching the web for unique drawer liners when I finally decided to make them myself.
I found this fun fabric on sale and just had to buy it. I didn’t know what I would do with it, but after seeing how funky and fresh it was inside the dresser, I just knew a purpose had been found.
It’s not like many people will ever see the inside of my drawers, not to mention, I plan to have clothes and other odds and ends in the there, but details matter. It’s little hidden surprises like funky, scented drawer liners that puts a smile on my face.
What You Will Need:
Fabric (enough to cover drawer bottoms)
Liquid Fabric Stiffener
Mrs. Meyer’s Ironing Spray
Double Sided Tape or Spray Adhesive
Begin by diluting the Liquid Fabric Stiffener with water in a large bowl.
Submerge fabric in the stiffener mixture until completely coated.
Ring all excess liquid from the fabric and then lay completely flat to dry. Once dry, the diluted fabric stiffener will make the fabric feel heavily starched, with the flexibility similar to cardstock paper.
Before the fabric was completely dry, I sprayed it with Mrs. Meyer’s Lavender Ironing Spray and gave it a quick press with the iron to smooth out all of the wrinkles.
At this point, the fabric will be dry and stiff, making it very easy to cut. Measure your drawer bottoms and cut fabric accordingly.
To secure fabric in the bottom of the drawers, you can either use double sided tape around the edges or a light application of spray adhesive. I chose to use the double sided tape so I can easily change the fabric later with no sticky residue.
Easy peezy lemon squeezy. Now I have darling drawer liners with the wonderful aroma of lavender.
While searching for drawer liners, scented sachets and such, I stumbled upon many wonderful and clever ways to freshen up dresser drawers. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Place a new bar of scented soap in your drawer. Not only will it fill your drawer with a delightful smell, it will also give the soap time to dry out making it last much longer in the shower.
- Give drawers a fresh air fragrance by tucking a new dryer sheet under drawer liner or tape one to the back of each drawer.
- Have empty perfume bottles? Remove the cap and leave the empty bottle open in your drawer, your clothes will thank you.
- Save perfume samples from magazines. It’s and easy and free way to freshen up a drawer.
Do you have any tips or tricks you would like to add? What’s your secret to great smelling drawers?
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| Photos by KHJ + CMJ |
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Comments (33)
I love this idea! So much easier than fussing with drawer liners made of sticky paper. I've never lined my drawers because it has seemed so tedious, but this I think I might try! Do you mind if I snag one picture for my blog and direct everyone to your instructions? They are too fabulous not to share with as many people as possible.
LOVE it – I'm going to link to it today!
Tanya – Of course you can snag a picture, the more people with snazzy drawers the better!
Jessica – So glad you love the post, thanks for the link love.
Great idea! So much better than struggling with the sticky stuff…
Very cute! Like your silly bandz too.
Is this fabric stiffener different from starch?
Golden Star – Fabric Stiffener is different from starch. The fabric stiffener is used to completely harden fabrics, (i.e. if you were to drape the fabric over a balloon it would dry/harden into that shape.) However, it can diluted to create a stiff, yet moveable fabric. I am sure a heavily starched fabric would would just as great. You basically need the fabric to be stiff and flat. Once it is taped down I'm sure either method would work. Good luck!
hi! do you have any idea who makes this fabric? it's amazing!
super cute fabric — lovely drawer liners!
Sarah – I bought this fabric in a clearance section and I am not sure who makes it. I may still have the fabric edge where the designer's name is printed. I will check tonight when I get home. It's a super fun print for sure!
Sarah – Found it! The fabric is by Michael Miller, "Paula Prass Flights of Fancy Zinnia Path"
http://www.formandfabric.com/products/Paula-Prass,-Flights-of-Fancy,-Zinnia-Path-%252d-Summer.html
what a great idea!!! i can't wait to do this to make me smile every time i open my drawers in the morning! thank-you xo
ps. I TOTALLY thought i was following you ages ago! ugh.
and btw– if i ever get round to GA again then a few hours, we're totally meeting up!
Micaela – I smile everytime I open my drawers, the only bad part is now I don't want to put my clothes in there, haha! You better let me know if you're ever in GA, we'll chat it up over coffee for sure!
In the UK 'drawers' is also the word for 'underwear' or 'panties' so I'm afraid in true English style, I have appreciated your crafting abilities but I have also been giggling like crazy:
'It's not like many people will ever see the inside of my drawers'
'What's your secret to great smelling drawers?'
'I smile everytime I open my drawers'
Tee hee – sorry, childish, I know.
And don't get me started on the US use of 'fanny'….
I just found this when I was looking for fresh ideas to line the drawers in the dresser we just repurposed for our nursery – what an excellent idea! Thank you!
One question, though – did you use the ironing spray just for the lavender scent, or does it also help to starch the fabric a little more? Because it's for a baby dresser, I want to avoid the scent, but I do want to make sure the fabric is stiff enough.
Thank yo uso much for this great idea!
Hi Susie! So happy you found this tutorial. Repurposed furniture is so fun!
I used the lavender ironing spray for the scent and to give me a little "steam" to iron out any wrinkles. After the fabric is soaked in the fabric stiffener and dried, it will look kind of like clothes that are left to hang dry (kind of crinkly). I used the iron to smooth out these "crinkles" and give the fabric a nice smooth finish. Hope this helps!
Hi, I guess this lavender ironing spray is no longer available. I went to Mrs. Meyers website, and they only thing they have is the fabric softener. Do you think this would work if I used it along with the fabric stiffener? Not sure if the two would react, causing the stiffener to not work properly. Any help would be great, thanks!
Christa – I can't believe they stopped making that ironing spray, that was one of my favorites.
Unfortunately, I don't think the lavender fabric softener would have the same effect. Once you soak the fabric in the stiffener, it has a mild "glue smell" (nothing major, just a little). I used the lavender spray while giving it one final press with the iron to freshen the fabric and remove the glue smell. You could always use any other scented ironing spray or linen water. It's actually pretty easy to make your own spray. Here's a DIY link that tells you how: http://www.save-on-crafts.com/howtomakyour2.html
Hope this helps!
How many parts stiffner to water? Thanks!
Kara – The directions on the bottle say you can add up to 50% water depending on the type of fabric and stiffness required. I believe I might have added a little more than that because I didn't need the fabric to be perfectly stiff, just a heavy starched feel. My ratios were around 1/2 cup stiffener to 1 cup water. I was basically trying to create enough liquid to submerge my fabric with out diluting it too much. Hope this helps!
Beautiful! I will be linking to your post!
I love this! And the fabric you have as your drawer liners is lovely.
My mom puts soap bars in our drawers too! Hahah, it's random, but it works!
Love the idea… adding to pinterest.
Does the tape hold the fabric in securely enough? I would be afraid it would easily become dislodged when moving things around.
Sarita – The tape seems to be holding fine. You'd really have to make an effort to get it to lift. Just make sure you clean the bottom of the drawers out so there is no dust and the tape gets a good bond.
Awesome idea! Can't wait to try this out in our new house! Great ideas on freshening the drawers too.
Blessings,
Mel
Please feel free to stop by: Trailing After God
Great Idea! I will be adding a link from my blog!
What a brilliant idea! I just got a new-to-me dresser and I need to line the drawers. Found this on pinterest. I'll be sure to link back to you when I do my drawers.
[...] 1 In a step-by-step DIY, Blue Eyed Yonder shows us how to renovate cloth into unbending element same to paper that works beautifully to line [...]
Yippee, I just found a link to this page via Apartment Therapy. Love the idea! I keep my drawers smelling fresh and yummy by storing my (massive) scented candle collection in them. I only use the candles I have that are in boxes, so they don’t make oily spots on my clothes. I put a box in each drawer and voila – great smelling drawers AND easy-to-find candles for any occasion.
I love this idea and am trying it this weekend! When I post it to my blog, I’ll link back to yours if that is ok. Another great way to scent your drawers is to put a candle in them. I have two drawers filled with candles for different seasons and those two drawers made very drawer in the chest smell amazing!
I loved your liners so much that I tried it today. It was the easiest and “cleanest” looking liner ever! I have lined drawers my whole life and your method it the BEST! Because I have an old dresser(about 100 yrs old) I measured each drawer twice then left a little extra when I cut using a rotary cutter. Then I placed the liner in the drawer and used my finer to score the fabric along the edges, then I used an exact-o knife and ruller to trim the most off and followed up with scissors- to get the places that the knife missed. It sounds complex but it only took about 5 mins to cut and fit all three drawers! THANK YOU!
That’s awesome Heather! I bet they look great! I’d love to see some pics.