
Home Decorating Guide – Soft Furnishing Fabrics
Fabrics offer more than comfort; they also provide texture, color and pattern.
Fabrics can also be the unifying force which holds a room together. It is not unusual to find a piece of fabric that you like so much that it not only inspires a whole color scheme, but forms the basis of the decor of a room.
Such a material can be used for more than making curtains; it can transform a selection of cheap or mismatching furniture, giving it a smart unified look.
A table can be made from a circle of chipboard set on a stand and dressed up with floor-length circular cloths made from this fabric. Cushion covers can be run up from the same material and it can be used to edge or make lampshades. Even a plain wicker chair can be transformed with a loose cover, slipped over and secured with little fabric ties.
Even if you do not use the same material throughout a room, you can pick out elements of it, such as a particular color, which can provide the linking force in a scheme. By varying the texture and weight of the fabrics used but keeping to this color you will achieve an harmonious but not over-fussy look.
The visual appeal of a fabric must be matched by its performance and comfort factor. Fabrics designed for upholstery now have to be treated with a fire-resistant product. There are also many protective treatments which will guard other fabrics against fire, stains and insects, however it is still down to the decorator to choose the right fabric for its intended use. Some need to be more durable than others, for example the covering of a sofa will get a great deal of wear and must also be comfortable to sit on. So if it is a hot country, a cool, smooth linen will work much better than a warm wool. Think too about using a protective treatment to guard the fabric against stains and general wear-and-tear.
In bedrooms, the linen you choose for the bed is as much a part of the decorative scheme as the curtains or carpets. If you cannot find anything that matches the other colors or patterns in the room, then buy a plain inen in a neutral color and trim it with the same color you have used for the curtains. This will neatly tie it in with the rest of the decor for very little effort and at very little cost.
Alternatively upholster a bed head with matching material, padded with foam, and carry the theme on through with a bed valance.
Other treatments which produce a wonderfully luxurious and co-ordinate look involve using the curtain material to make a canopy for over the bed. This could range from simple folds of fabric suspended from curtain poles above the head of the bed, to a more formal tent effect.
While the kitchen and bathroom require less soft furnishings than the rest of the house, there are still many potential uses for fabrics. Windows need to be dressed, shelves can be edged and covers made for any chairs. The bathroom may need a shower curtain, or a curtain to finish off the basin. The opportunities to use soft furnishings imaginatively are enormous. Trimmings can be a designer’s best friend -they can be used to bring color to a plain curtain or cushions. Patterned furnishings can be finished with a plain-colored edging or border to bring out an accent or dominant color in the design.
About the Author
Learn how to build a birdhouse outside your house to create attraction for your kids. If you don’t find enough time to visit a GYM for fitness exercises, you can also learn how to build a Home GYM. Save time and money at the same time.
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Heritage Lace Red Rooster 13-Inch by 19-Inch Placemat, Cafe, Set of 2 $12.99 A saucy red rooster stands guard over the 13″x19″ placemat, and struts across both ends of the 13″ x 45″ runner. Fabric is 100% polyester Pellora linens in a Point d’Esprit design, in cafĂ© with bold end stripes…. |
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Blossom Collection This simple, yet intricate, design has silhouettes of delicate blossoms cascading from the center onto the edges of each piece. Runners are a narrower 12″ width for use on narrow furniture, or layering on top of other wider fabric runners and placemats. Machine wash. Made in U.S.A…. |
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Butterflies Collection The delightful Butterflies collection includes window treatments, window accents and table textiles.The design captures in lace all of the beauty and delicacy so admired in nature. Each item features a series of graceful butterfly motifs against a simple mesh background and intricate butterfly edge detailing. Both traditional and thematic, Butterflies will enhance almost any decorating style…. |
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Prairie Console – Burke Decor $515 Prairie Console – Burke Decor Clean lines, organic materials the perfect console whether your look is traditional country or industrial chic. Materials: Iron and Wood in a raw iron and natural wood finish. Measurements: Height 32.25″ Width 16″ Length 47.5″ |
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Sample of Country House Pine Self-Adhesive Wood Grain Contact Wall Paper – Burke Decor $10 Sample of Country House Pine Self-Adhesive Wood Grain Contact Wall Paper – Burke Decor PLEASE NOTE, THIS PRODUCT IS FOR A SAMPLE OF THE WALLPAPER LISTED ABOVE. Please allow 1-2 weeks for samples to be delivered. Please note, Burke Decor does not accept wallpaper returns at this time. Why? Wallpaper is produced in batches (similar to tile) and due to dye-lot variations that occur based on when the rolls are produced, we are unable to accept returns. |
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Country House Pine Self-Adhesive Wood Grain Contact Wall Paper – Burke Decor $90 Country House Pine Self-Adhesive Wood Grain Contact Wall Paper – Burke Decor Features: Peel and Stick Decorative Vinyl Faux Woodgrain Contact Paper. Peel away backing, Repositionable. Roll Dimensions: Approximately 74 square feet (18 in. Wide x 49.5 ft. Long). Please Note: This design is a form of contact paper. Please note, Burke Decor does not accept wallpaper returns at this time. Why? Wallpaper is produced in batches (similar to tile) and due to dye-lot variations that occur based on when the rolls are produced, we are unable to accepts returns. |
