Glue for Home Decor and Upholstery

Glues and Adhesives are essentially the same things. While I'm not a huge fan of the stuff, glue can be helpful for some home decor jobs. Here are the most common glues you'll use for your Furnished By Hand projects.

Fabric Adhesives

There's a wide range of craft glues to choose from. The one that you choose depends, for the most part, on whether you want a temporary or permanent bond between your materials.

white craft glue bottle on blue background

Permanent and Water Resistant Fabric Glue.

To wash or dry clean upholstery, the items must be made of good quality fabric that can withstand regular cleaning and maintenance.

Upholstery can be crafted with fabric glue as long as the glue is water-resistant and the upholstery is to be located in low to no-traffic areas. This type of fabric glue can come into contact with water, so it can be machine-washed, without weakening the bond.

Permanent adhesives create a flexible, strong bond that's unlikely to dissolve once it has been set.

Temporary or Non water-Resistant Fabric Glue

Temporary fabric glue can easily be dissolved in water and soap. The temporary bond weakens until it can be effortlessly pried apart.

This glue can be used to temporarily hold the hem of lightweight curtains in place while you sew. The glue can then be washed away afterward.

It's a great adhesive to use if you'll need time to arrange and re-arrange your glued fabric pieces. It will allow you to do so, as it's quite forgiving and won't bond firmly. It comes in a fluid, a spray or sticky pads.

Spray Glue

This adhesive comes in an aerosol spray can, but you can purchase it in a large tin for heavy-duty projects that involve heavier materials. It's a type of liquid glue, which has a watery texture and is usually light yellow in colour.

Spray glue is a solvent-based contact adhesive. It is applied by spraying onto the surfaces that you want to stick together.

It has different levels of bonding strength. The highest bonding strength cures fast, and is often used to attach thin materials to a solid base.

Once it's out of the spray can, the glue behaves like a cross between candy floss and 'silly string'.

Be careful with it, because this stuff has a tendency to fly off in undesired directions (especially when the can is nearly empty) and it will mess up the surrounding area.

Because spray glue is solvent-based, prolonged exposure to its fumes can cause eye damage and respiratory problems.

When using this glue, please wear proper protective eyewear and a mask.

Make sure that your work area is well-ventilated. If you can't work outside, open all of the windows and doors, and use a fan to dissipate the fumes.

Let's look at the strength and types of spray glues that you may need for your projects.

Spray Glue Strengths

Spray glue comes in different strengths of hold. The one you buy will depend on your intentions for its use.

High-tack spray glue provides an immediate hold and can be used for projects like car interiors or sticking down carpet lining.

Once high tack glue is set (which happens very quickly), you can't reposition your work.

Low tack spray glue allows you to reposition your work if you have a change of heart.

This adhesive is used to mount posters, prints, and photos to a solid base.

Spray Glue for Foam

This is the adhesive that I use most often. It's good for attaching several different materials together, for example, Dacron to high-density polyurethane foam or memory foam .

As this is the adhesive that I have the most experience with, I'll tell you how I use this one.

How To Use Spray Glue for Foam

1

Read the label first. It details important information about the directions for use, drying times, and water resistance.

2

Shake the aerosol several times.

3

Remove the lid and spray the glue evenly on the surface (you can spray on both surfaces if necessary).

4

Leave the solvent to evaporate. Place the sticky side of the surface (a) onto the surface (b).

5

Read the label. It details the directions for use, drying times, and water resistance.

Spray Glue for Rubber and Vinyl

This is a high-performance Contact adhesive. It's designed to bond materials that don't stick together easily. You can use it to bond leather to metal or vinyl to wood.

Iron-on Adhesive

There are a wide variety of iron-on adhesives, ranging from very flexible to very rigid. These adhesives come in large sheets and can be used for projects that include dress fabric, upholstery fabric, foam, leather, and vinyl.

grey heart shaped fabric piece mounted on denim

They provide a permanent, strong, and long-lasting bond. This allows you to create designs directly onto your fabric without using pins.

A lightweight iron-on adhesive, for example, is used with light to medium fabrics.

It produces a durable union without making the item heavy or rigid. This adhesive is water-resistant.

Iron-On Adhesives: Woven or Non-woven

An iron-on adhesive is a thin layer of adhesive. It is backed with either a woven or non-woven material. The woven variety is backed with fiber webbing, while non-woven are backed with release paper.

The thin film of adhesive is solid at room temperature. Once it's been heated to its melting point, it can bond different materials together. It can adhere decor textiles.
To be clear, the adhesive will perform differently depending on how you apply it and the materials you apply it to. In my personal experience, the bond is usually semi-washable, as temperatures over 40 degrees C will weaken and break down the adhesive over time.

Some craftsmen and craftswomen find that using non-woven fusing adhesives makes it easier to cut out designs. The adhesives don't have any fibers or webbing that will snag on the blades of cutting tools.

Non-woven tapes and fusing adhesives are made of a thin film of glue layered onto glassine release paper.

You can draw, trace, print, and cut out designs from the sheets. The cutouts can be ironed onto your fabric. You can hand-stitch through them without getting sticky, gummed-up needles.

Glue Gun

Glue guns reach very high temperatures. Both the glue gun and molten adhesive pose a potential hazard and must be used with caution.

While children are not supposed to use this device, glue guns are often small and brightly coloured like toys, so children may be tempted to check them out.

Glue Sticks for a Glue Gun

The most popular glue stick for glue guns is a long cylinder made of ethylene-vinyl acetate. It's solid and non-tacky at room temperature and is clear or opaque in colour.

The glue stick is heated in a glue gun and melts at temperatures ranging between 65 - 180 degrees C, depending on the type and variety of the glue and what you will use it for.

Once heated, the glue becomes a hot liquid. The molten glue quickly solidifies as it cools, and it can be a great solution if you need a rigid, fast drying option.

While it can create a firm union between a number of porous materials, (doesn't work as well on non-porous), it isn't strong enough to hold together items that will be put under pressure.

For example, it couldn't safely hold together the legs or the load-bearing part of a chair. In extreme temperatures, the adhesive bond may peel, shrink or melt. Because hot liquid glue is thick, it can be used to fill holes and to stick uneven surfaces together. With very attentive adult supervision, children should learn about its use and hazards.

How to use a Glue Gun and Glue Sticks.

Wipe the surfaces of the items you want to join together.

Slide the correct-sized glue stick into the barrel via the hole at the back of the glue gun.

Insert the glue stick and turn on the glue gun. Leave the device to heat up for at least 6 minutes (melting time will depend on your glue stick).

The glue will turn molten, and you can control the amount that flows out of the gun by squeezing the trigger.

Apply to surface a and press the sticky side of surface a to surface b. You have a few seconds where you will be able to reposition the materials, but I would advise against doing that with this type of glue. I find the first position provides the strongest hold.

After you've used the glue gun, you may have some glue remaining in the barrel. You can leave it there for the next project.

Please be careful. Do not allow the glue to come into contact with your skin. Molten glue has been known to give 2nd-degree burns, which is a very painful experience indeed.

High Strength Multipurpose adhesives

There are times when you may require high-impact glue for your home decor projects. This may be to bond no-sew embellishments to fabric panels. Or perhaps, as in this case, you wish to create a 'Furnished By Hand' tool or accessory that is both strong and durable.

High Strength adhesives that bond multiple materials will come in handy for these tasks.

These glues will bond different materials together, including laminate, mdf, wood, leather, fabric, and PVC.

irritant hazard label - black cross on orange background

irritant warning red bordered white square with black exclamation mark

Both the liquid and the vapor are toxic. They can irritate your skin and will irritate your eyes.

Inhalation may cause dizziness, nausea, or drowsiness. It's essential to use these glues in a well-ventilated area.

Powerful glues like model adhesives, rubber cement, and industrial-grade glues are highly flammable. The fumes are dangerous to pets including aquatic life.

On The Go Work with Glue

Using these glues requires protective items like a high-powered fan for ventilation, a protective mask to reduce inhalation, and possibly work gloves to prevent contact with your skin. It is a lot more convenient to use these glues in your craft space.

If you intend to craft while travelling, remember to check with your chosen airline, as many flammable types of glue are prohibited in both carry-on and checked-in luggage.