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Fabric Finesse
By Doris A. Black
Tired of the way your family room looks? Does your bedroom lack pizzazz? Don’t replace the furniture, order new carpeting or paint the walls. You can create an entirely new room just by changing the fabrics.
Start by determining what color and style you prefer. Choose fabrics dominant in your favorite color. By using layers throughout your room you’ll create depth and interest. In addition, you’ll have fun mixing and matching fabrics. For a successful layering look, choose fabrics with large, medium and small scale patterns to mix and match. For example, you might choose a large scale floral pattern for a couch, a medium scale stripe for curtains and a small print to cover pillows and a footstool. Remember to keep that dominant color running throughout the room.
Slipcovers can be purchased at traditional home stores as well as online. Some online sources are www.surefit.com, www.slipcoverseat.com, www.1-800slipcovers.com and www.slipcovershop.com.
It’s fun to mix and match pillows with slipcovers. Even with the most basic sewing skills, you can make a pillow cover. Try combining a striped pillow and a solid color pillow on a floral slipcovered sofa. Or for a more traditional look, go with a restful plaid and small floral print over a solid color slipcover. You can buy ready-made covers and add your choice of trim to customize them for your home. Customize pre-made curtains as well. For example, if you’ve found the perfect drapes but not in the right length, consider adding your own coordinating trim to the bottom. A jewel-toned velvet fabric adds a rich elegant touch to a medium-weight drape in a deep floral pattern. Add trim to the curtain width too, if necessary. Maybe some leftover plaid fabric you used for a pillow will do. Remember, if you stick with the dominant color rule, your fabrics should look well together no matter where you use them.
For windows, consider this professional trick. Install a curtain rod above a window to make it look taller or buy an extra-long curtain rod if you want your window to look wider.
Swag curtains are among the easiest to install. (It’s almost criminal to say "install" because a long length of fabric is just draped over the curtain rod at either end. But it sounds like you went to a lot of trouble.) Tie a large knot at the tips of the rod. Use a sheer fabric to filter the light and let the swag hang all the way to the floor for an elegant look. Tab-top panels over a fancy roll-type shade work well together. You can use any kind of curtain rod for tab-top curtains. I’ve even seen the knotty branch from a tree used for a rustic flare.
A tailored Roman shade is functional as well as smart styling. As with curtains, to make the window look larger, install the Roman shade on the outside of the window, overlapping the window on both ends. Do not use Roman shades for windows larger than six feet as the weight of the shade will make it difficult to raise and lower. Use more than one shade instead. You might consider covering your Roman shade with a coordinating valance for a layered effect. A good rule of thumb for a valance size is one-fourth to one-third the height of the window. Trim your valance with fringe or tassels for added detail.
If you know how to sew, there are simple or complex patterns available for everything from Roman shades to valances and your choice of fabrics is infinite. There are no-sew methods for creating curtains and shades, too, by using fusible tapes and hot glue guns. Ask your local fabric store for details. Follow your imagination and create your own masterpieces with fabric to bring new life to your home.
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