Decorating
Creative Ways to Use Oilcloth in Your Home
Waterproof, hard-wearing and available in myriad colours and patterns, oilcloth makes for a very versatile addition to your décor
Think oilcloth and the mind jumps to colourful Mexican blooms, polka dots and modern British chintz, but there’s much more to this material than you might at first assume.
Also sometimes called ‘American cloth’, oilcloth has a long history of providing a cheap alternative to leather and other waterproof fabrics for luggage, flooring, roofing, accessories and clothing. Traditionally made from boiled linseed oil poured over a tight-weave cotton or linen, it’s now mostly manufactured from vinyl or PVC bonded to flannel, or a printed vinyl with a synthetic fabric backing. Acrylic-coated options are available, too.
From table-topper to shelf-reviver, oilcloth can be used in lots of ways to add colour and convenience to your home. Bookmark these ideas to try yourself or share with a professional.
Also sometimes called ‘American cloth’, oilcloth has a long history of providing a cheap alternative to leather and other waterproof fabrics for luggage, flooring, roofing, accessories and clothing. Traditionally made from boiled linseed oil poured over a tight-weave cotton or linen, it’s now mostly manufactured from vinyl or PVC bonded to flannel, or a printed vinyl with a synthetic fabric backing. Acrylic-coated options are available, too.
From table-topper to shelf-reviver, oilcloth can be used in lots of ways to add colour and convenience to your home. Bookmark these ideas to try yourself or share with a professional.
Make clearing up child’s play
Easy-clean oilcloth is a key part of most young kids’ lives, being used for everything from nappy bags to play mats. Make the most of it by using it to cover your child’s tabletop for fuss-free colouring and Play-Doh sessions.
You could also try making a sweet, round-cornered oilcloth book for babies and toddlers. Stitch each sheet back to back, wrong sides together, and then turn it the right way out. This gives you a proper, neat seam. The beauty of this project is it won’t matter if it ends up covered in sticky fingerprints.
Easy-clean oilcloth is a key part of most young kids’ lives, being used for everything from nappy bags to play mats. Make the most of it by using it to cover your child’s tabletop for fuss-free colouring and Play-Doh sessions.
You could also try making a sweet, round-cornered oilcloth book for babies and toddlers. Stitch each sheet back to back, wrong sides together, and then turn it the right way out. This gives you a proper, neat seam. The beauty of this project is it won’t matter if it ends up covered in sticky fingerprints.
Go for a gloss finish on fitted seating
The lacquered look works well on this beach-house-style corner seating. This is quite an ambitious project to tackle yourself, but an upholsterer could knock up some made-to-measure seat pads for you in durable oilcloth in no time at all.
Try a similar approach in a bay window, kitchen corner, summerhouse or porch.
Read reviews of local upholsterers.
The lacquered look works well on this beach-house-style corner seating. This is quite an ambitious project to tackle yourself, but an upholsterer could knock up some made-to-measure seat pads for you in durable oilcloth in no time at all.
Try a similar approach in a bay window, kitchen corner, summerhouse or porch.
Read reviews of local upholsterers.
Add a subtle sheen to soft furnishings
This room is particularly Mexican-influenced and lends itself very well to the region’s bright, bold oilcloths, which look wonderful lined up on the bright red sofa.
To make these yourself, follow a fabric cushion pattern, but make sure you don’t use pins (as they leave holes!) – paperclips or masking tape does the job well instead.
However, machine-stitching oilcloth can be tricky, as the cloth often sticks, so it’s advisable to get your oilcloth cushions made up by a soft furnishings professional.
This room is particularly Mexican-influenced and lends itself very well to the region’s bright, bold oilcloths, which look wonderful lined up on the bright red sofa.
To make these yourself, follow a fabric cushion pattern, but make sure you don’t use pins (as they leave holes!) – paperclips or masking tape does the job well instead.
However, machine-stitching oilcloth can be tricky, as the cloth often sticks, so it’s advisable to get your oilcloth cushions made up by a soft furnishings professional.
Reboot your chairs
As well as tabletops, your kitchen chairs are a great place to work in some oilcloth magic. Old school chairs like these (which you can pick up online for a steal) look great with a little sanding down, revarnishing and a new seat cover.
You can do this yourself in much the same way as you’d cover the tabletop as described above. This time, however, add a little foam padding on top of the seat board before you wrap your oilcloth around it.
Use this as an opportunity to go for a contrasting print to your table and other patterned areas of your kitchen, rather than being too matchy-matchy.
Not confident you could get a good finish? Find furniture restorers near you who can revive second-hand chairs.
As well as tabletops, your kitchen chairs are a great place to work in some oilcloth magic. Old school chairs like these (which you can pick up online for a steal) look great with a little sanding down, revarnishing and a new seat cover.
You can do this yourself in much the same way as you’d cover the tabletop as described above. This time, however, add a little foam padding on top of the seat board before you wrap your oilcloth around it.
Use this as an opportunity to go for a contrasting print to your table and other patterned areas of your kitchen, rather than being too matchy-matchy.
Not confident you could get a good finish? Find furniture restorers near you who can revive second-hand chairs.
Smarten up shelves
In craft rooms or creative corners, a splash of colourful oilcloth can make a playful and practical addition to your workspace shelves. Here, oilcloth provides just a flash of colour and pattern at seat level, with a bright pattern cheering up the under-desk shelving.
This is a particularly good option if you have a battered old work desk that needs a little tidying up in places, or a shelving unit that’s seen better days. As shown here, any products with the potential to leak or spill can sit quite happily on these wipe-down surfaces.
In craft rooms or creative corners, a splash of colourful oilcloth can make a playful and practical addition to your workspace shelves. Here, oilcloth provides just a flash of colour and pattern at seat level, with a bright pattern cheering up the under-desk shelving.
This is a particularly good option if you have a battered old work desk that needs a little tidying up in places, or a shelving unit that’s seen better days. As shown here, any products with the potential to leak or spill can sit quite happily on these wipe-down surfaces.
Line a drinks trolley
What better surface to use on an old drinks trolley than oilcloth? It’s adept at catching spills, great for adding colour and so easy to clear up after a party.
The way you adhere this material depends on whether you want to remove it later. Use a hot glue gun if this is a permanent fix and you’re not fussed about damaging the existing surface.
If it’s temporary, simply cut the oilcloth to fit very neatly and slot into place within the tray with a tiny spot of double-sided tape if absolutely needed. The weight of the cloth should mean it will lie flat without you needing to stick it down.
Tell us…
Are you a fan of oilcloth beyond the kitchen table? Would you try any of these ideas or do you have any others to share? Leave your thoughts in the Comments section.
What better surface to use on an old drinks trolley than oilcloth? It’s adept at catching spills, great for adding colour and so easy to clear up after a party.
The way you adhere this material depends on whether you want to remove it later. Use a hot glue gun if this is a permanent fix and you’re not fussed about damaging the existing surface.
If it’s temporary, simply cut the oilcloth to fit very neatly and slot into place within the tray with a tiny spot of double-sided tape if absolutely needed. The weight of the cloth should mean it will lie flat without you needing to stick it down.
Tell us…
Are you a fan of oilcloth beyond the kitchen table? Would you try any of these ideas or do you have any others to share? Leave your thoughts in the Comments section.
Oilcloth is the go-to kitchen tablecloth choice in many homes these days, especially if there are children around. The laminated surface makes tidying up after mealtimes or craft projects so much quicker. But had you thought about making it more of a permanent fixture?
If you have a wooden table, simply measure and cut your chosen oilcloth to fit the top, leaving about 10cm all the way around.
Arrange the cut piece of oilcloth on your table so the overhang is equal all the way around. Make sure it’s smooth with no wrinkles, then get to work attaching it to the tabletop with a hot glue gun. Because the material is varnished, the glue won’t show through.
Pull the fabric tight and smooth as you go once the glue is holding in each spot. You can use a heavy staple gun to fix the excess on the reverse.
This can be quite a tricky job to get right, so for a really neat finish, check out upholsterers and furniture restorers in your area.