How to install fabric panels to your Ikea Morliden Glass Doors

You've bought your Morliden Glass Doors to go on your Billy Bookcases. And you've bought the material to add a personal touch.  Now here is a step-by-step tutorial for installing the fabric into the glass doors.

First, remove the black/white panel from the glass door and set the glass door where it will be safe from both smudges and breakage. Set the panel on top of the WRONG side of your fabric.

Determine what part of the fabric to use for your panel and make sure everything is straight.  I did this by lining up the panel one half inch from the selvages.  I measured from both ends.  If your fabric is tricky, or has repeats, you might need to do a lot of figuring for this step.

Double and triple check that everything is straight.

Get out your item you will use to mark your fabric. I am using the Clover Chaco Liner in yellow, which I find to be the most amazing marker ever for woven fabrics.  However, you might use pencil (lightly on the wrong side), disappearing ink marking pen, tailors chalk or possibly, depending on how gutsy you feel, pen.

My main question was should I mark right up against the panel, or add an extra allowance of fabric?  The answer is:  make your mark right up against the panel.

Cut carefully along your chalk lines.  Then set the glass door on the table, with the side which will get the fabric and panel facing up.  Do NOT put your fabric in at this time.  Instead, stretch a scrap of fabric (or some yarn or string) across the glass panel. 

Set the panel into the glass.  Again, there is NO fabric between the panel and the glass except for the scrap/string/yarn.  When you put your panel in, put the side that will be on the inside (that is, against the fabric) facing up.

Use whatever screwdriver you are using to attach the hinges, following the directions.  This was the hardest step for me.  My advice is to make sure the panel is fully seated in the glass area and to get that hinge to "click in" (it will happen and you will see what I mean) before you start turning those screws.

It is important to put the wrong side of the panel facing up in this step because you might make smudges or marks on it as I have.  Happily, no one will ever see those marks.

Use your scrap of fabric/yarn/string to easily remove the panel from the glass door.  If you have neglected to do this, use a butter knife to lever the panel up and away from the glass.

Place your fabric onto the glass door and smooth it, double checking it's sitting exactly as you want it.  When you set the panel in, you have to slide the panel under the hinges while not moving the fabric too much. I found that one end fits in nicely, and then you can hold the fabric on the side opposite the other one while you slide the panel under the hinge.  Be sure to keep a finger under the panel until you are moderately sure everything is even.

Grab your scrap of fabric/yarn/string and lay it across the corner of the panel, before letting the panel seat itself into the glass door.

Stand the door up and double check that everything is as you want it.  Make sure you look all the way around the perimeter and also check to see if wrinkles have somehow made their way into the picture.

If something has gone wrong, use the scrap material in the corner to lift the panel and adjust everything.  Check again and keep adjusting and checking until everything is right.

When everything is as you want it, remove and discard the scrap/yarn/string.  Place the tabs in as shown in the directions.  This was another sweaty part.  My advice is to make sure the panel is fully seated in the glass and apply strong pressure as you turn the screwdriver.

Install your doors following the directions. Sit back and admire your work.

If you have questions or comments, please add a comment to this post.