5 Creative uses for fabric in home decor

One of the major mistakes homeowners make in home decor is ignoring the power of pattern in creating an interesting space. Fabric is an excellent way to introduce pattern into your space and there are so many ways to use it. 

 I am a sucker for fabric patterns and textures and often buy  on spec when I find a good deal. If you are removing fabric from a room e.g., drapes, you may be able to upcycle them.  Don’t forget about the beautiful fabric finds at thrift stores.  Be creative.  These ideas should get you thinking.

 Make a throw

Look for large scale textured fabrics and sew on a fringe to create a throw for your sofa. 

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Heavy fabrics work best for this application.  If you think it is heavy enough to upholster a dining chair it will be heavy enough to pull off this look .  If you don’t like fringes omit that element and just do a double top stitched seam.  FYI this image is a bought throw. 

 

Upholstery fabric folded over a chair back – as simple as it gets

Margaret Ryall

 Frame fabric

Matted and framed fabric art

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You have to look twice to realize these are pieces  of fabric.  They are so chic. The mat works wonders to show off the pattern and connect with the lovely blue wall.  I would have them a tad smaller to work with the narrow space.  That’s just me and my need for any art to have breathing room.

Fabric stretched over wooden frame

Margaret Ryall

This is one of my favourite quick art solutions.  Find a fabric that you love and works in your room.  It will need to be larger in scale to read at a distance.  Buy a stretcher frame in an art store or make one using pine.  Stretch the fabric over the frame and staple on the back of the stretcher. 

 

Cover a lampshade

 Choose fabric for lampshades wisely

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Many DIY projects  look homemade.  The trick is to elevate your project into high design by choosing your fabric wisely.  Ask yourself …Would I find this in a store?  If the answer is Yes -Go for it.  If  you think it will look like you made it — pass!  Aim for sophisticated design.

 Fold fabric over an upholstered headboard

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What a way to add and frequently change colour in a monochromatic bedroom.  I just love the connection between the roses and the magenta  fabric.  Quick and classy. 

 Upholster a headboard

Upholstered headboard and matching pillows 

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No doubt this is an upholstered headboard done right.  The pattern adds to the other plain fabrics in the room.  It connects with the pattern in the art.  Everything is perfect. Are you handy enough to create this look yourself?

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6 effective uses for valances

A client recently asked me if valances were outdated.  Of course the answer is never yes or no in decor;   it’s usually “that depends”.  When it comes to window treatments for 2013 the key works are  streamlined  and crisp.  The once popular love for  yards of gathered  or draped material, floppy tabs and ruffles has died a quiet death.

 A valance is a  soft  window treatment  made from fabric that is used at the top of  a window and usually mounted on a strip of wood or a  velcro rod.  Valances  conceal drapery hardware, blinds  or architectural flaws and are commonly used in more traditional decor to add layers and soften the decor.

Valances are not to be confused with cornices that are usually structured from wood and padded.

 I still recommend valances for certain windows and rooms, but you won’t see a gather or tab in sight.

1.  Soften a bare window 

Sometimes you have windows were privacy is not an issue and you don’t want to have bare windows. A fitted valance is a great way to add softness without covering the window.

Margaret Ryall

 

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These  banded valances   with  tassels function well in a more traditional home.  The pattern duplicated in pillows  serves to move the eye around the room.  This application works well because  the colour scheme is neutral and nothing is overpowered.

This space has a totally different feel- a more sparce contemporary one.   I believe that this is a cornice,  but the same look could be achieved with a valance in white and gray.

2. To soften the look of roman shades/blinds

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This is a great solution for multiple windows.  The roman shades are mounted separately and the valance is continuous.  The colours are neutral and the added decorative motifs add sophistication to this otherwise plain window treatment.

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A colourful floral fabric adds  pattern to this pastel kitchen.  When using woven blinds choose a fabric that has the colour of the blind integrated in the pattern  to achieve a more cohesive look.  

 

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In cases where a valance is covering a blind it is best to have an outside mount.   In this way the blind can move easily if it needs to be raised.  This placement also add more prominence to the treatment. I like the way the energy of the circles works with the horizontal lines of the blind.  Curves help to soften the horizontal lines that are common in most blinds.

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This tight colour scheme of white and pink is duplicated in the  valance.  The scalloped valance is feminine and soft, fitting in with the overall decor.

3.  To add pattern to a space 

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4. To hide blinds in the daytime

 5. To give draperies a finished look

  
 Valances are a great when you have multiple windows in a room because they provide a horizontal line  against the verticals of the drapes and provide an additional layer in the room. This look works well in more traditional decor.

6.  To make a statement in a kid’s room

 

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 What a great idea for any colour scheme in a little girl’s room.  Easy as installing a rod ( I sometimes use shower  tension rods if the width  is large enough) and tying a knot in lengths of ribbon.  What is great about this idea is the option of adding lots of pattern in the ribbons if you wish.

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Use nautical signal flags attached to a strip for a colourful boy’s valance.

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