Question on Repurposing Shelving Units for Fabric Storage
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PROFESSIONAL Longarm Quilter NW Indiana
Posts: 3,398
I picked up 2 about 9" deep shelving units at a yard sale. Of course they need to be cleaned up, reinforced a little, and repainted. They are wood.
Should I be concerned about putting fabrics directly on the painted surface?
Did you use a special type of paint? Latex or oil based or spray on? Did you use a clear top coat of some type?
Did you use decorate shelf liner? Was it paper or fabric?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Should I be concerned about putting fabrics directly on the painted surface?
Did you use a special type of paint? Latex or oil based or spray on? Did you use a clear top coat of some type?
Did you use decorate shelf liner? Was it paper or fabric?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
#2
The shelves I'm using are of several varieties.
One had the super cheap particle board and I covered that with a marble look contact paper.
Some of the shelves are just wood planks stained and finished with clear polyurethane.
The others are just standard bookcases.
I've not used painted shelving specifically for fabric storage so I can't tell you anything on that except that it was never a problem when my kids used painted shelves for their stuffed animals, etc.
One had the super cheap particle board and I covered that with a marble look contact paper.
Some of the shelves are just wood planks stained and finished with clear polyurethane.
The others are just standard bookcases.
I've not used painted shelving specifically for fabric storage so I can't tell you anything on that except that it was never a problem when my kids used painted shelves for their stuffed animals, etc.
#3
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Glenmoore, PA
Posts: 7,941
Originally Posted by quiltinghere
I picked up 2 about 9" deep shelving units at a yard sale. Of course they need to be cleaned up, reinforced a little, and repainted. They are wood.
Should I be concerned about putting fabrics directly on the painted surface?
Did you use a special type of paint? Latex or oil based or spray on? Did you use a clear top coat of some type?
Did you use decorate shelf liner? Was it paper or fabric?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Should I be concerned about putting fabrics directly on the painted surface?
Did you use a special type of paint? Latex or oil based or spray on? Did you use a clear top coat of some type?
Did you use decorate shelf liner? Was it paper or fabric?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
#4
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
If fabric is in contact with wood for a long enough time, acids from the wood can leach into the fabric. I would use good quality shelf liner, or seal the wood with poly.
ETA: We made bookshelves last year and used polyurathane. Recommendation was that you wait 2 weeks before you put anything on the shelves, and 1 month before you put anything heavy, like books on them.
ETA: We made bookshelves last year and used polyurathane. Recommendation was that you wait 2 weeks before you put anything on the shelves, and 1 month before you put anything heavy, like books on them.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 853
In my opinion the paint would not specifically matter as long as it was well-cured before adding fabrics. However, light and dust are not friendly to fabrics. I would add a curtain or something to the front of the bookcases if you are going to store fabric there. Fabric also needs to be aired out if you don't want it to smell like used thrift store does. You can alleviate this by keeping a small bar of dial soap or a Bounce fabric softener sheet on your shelves but not touching the fabrics. This also helps repel any pests.
Good luck! There are 4 bookcases in my workspace. They are white so that I can more easily see...but there are no fabrics there...just books, tools, supplies, etc. Fabrics are in drawers sorted by color and type.
Good luck! There are 4 bookcases in my workspace. They are white so that I can more easily see...but there are no fabrics there...just books, tools, supplies, etc. Fabrics are in drawers sorted by color and type.
#7
I agree with what everyone else has said. The only thing that I would add would be to use the no-slip shelve liner (the spongy kind) on the shelf before you place the fabrics. AFTER you have allowed the paint/finish to cure.
That keeps a barrier between your fabric and the shelf. But it also allows some air circulation under the fabric. HTH
That keeps a barrier between your fabric and the shelf. But it also allows some air circulation under the fabric. HTH
#8
I would be leery of bare wood and oil based paints. Ideally a coating of poly would take the worry away :D Or lining all of the surfaces the fabric could touch with paper, replacing it periodically :D:D:D
#10
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PROFESSIONAL Longarm Quilter NW Indiana
Posts: 3,398
Originally Posted by Jingle
I would use contact paper or paint them and use shelf paper, or the rubbery shelf covering you can get at Dollar General or Wal Mart.
Thinking again about repainting them :idea: :idea: :lol: :lol:
These are 'antiqued' bookcases :lol: :D Do you know how much $$$ people have to pay to get "the look". I'm going to scrub them down today. Let them dry out in the sunshine and use them as is. I could always claim them belonged to "my great-great aunt". ROFL
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