Fabrics

Re-upholstering and new curtain fabrics are pleasant to look, add value to the furniture and windows they cover and define the style of a room. Hence, they should be chosen with their planned utilization in mind. Often, a heart inspired by a desire to create the perfect marriage of colours, patterns and textures.
Project guide service
Paint calculator
Wallpaper calculator
Colour it!
Related Projects
Related Tips
Page 1/1
Choosing fabrics
Special needs call for special choices
Utilization
The perfect marriage
Some marriages that last and last
Striped and geometric fabrics
Abstract patterns
Plain but textured fabrics
Original ideas

Choosing fabrics

Within the limitations of one's budget, it is possible to nicely re-upholster a sofa and an armchair, and achieve subtle wonders in marrying colours, patterns and textures. Choosing a fabric is a delicate matter that should not be taken lightly. Upholstering and covering fabrics can create atmosphere, and bring back the feeling of times gone by. Used as drapes, a fabric can soften natural light and ensure privacy. Used as a ceiling cover or over a wall as background, the same fabric can change the mood of a room dramatically.

Special needs call for special choices

To meet special needs, the following aspects must be considered when choosing the fabrics:
  • colour (matching, psychological effects, style)
  • price
  • ease of maintenance
  • width
  • fire and sun-discolouring resistance
  • humidity resistance
  • friction resistance
  • opacity
  • natural or synthetic fibres
  • weight
  • texture
  • allergy problems

Utilization

A number of factors need to be considered in choosing a fabric. Furniture needs fabrics that are friction resistant and easy to clean. Polyester, for example, is more resistant to repeated friction than cotton. When it comes to drapes, budget often determines what choices are affordable, considering both the style you may want and the level of transparency required. When it comes to beds, on the other hand, you will likely prefer cotton because of its comfort, ease of maintenance and for the great variety of patterns and textures in which it is available.

The perfect marriage

In a monochrome decor, for example, you need to pay attention to textures as well as colours to set off a piece of furniture or a window. If, on the other hand, you are considering a very colourful decor, you should find the combination of patterns that can set off a decor without overpowering it while respecting its style. To achieve the perfect marriage, it is imperative that you overlook traditional prejudices such as those which suggest squared patterns are incompatible with flowered or striped motifs, or that red and orange simply do not go together. There are as many prejudices as there are winning recipes in this business. And what is fashionable today is likely to be unfashionable tomorrow. That is why you should choose fabrics for their inherent interest. Then you can be bold in their utilization and arrangement. The unavoidable classic arrangements are obviously a worthwhile starting point. But, the rest is up to you to imagine and invent.

Some marriages that last and last

Cotton and linen:
  • Squares and stripes
    Arrangement with a touch of fun. Use over simple shapes and avoid overloading

  • Small patterns
    Warm up your kitchen with cushions made of Provençal fabrics. Provençal cotton is very colourful and lively, and its small patterns adapt well to curtains, tablecloths and cushions with bright colours that allow you to use strong shades such as ochre, sea blue or orangey red on your walls. Whatever your choice, these fabrics blend in well with earthenware and cast iron accessories. A good choice for small rooms, bathrooms and kitchens.

  • The great motifs
    Great motifs are at the heart of many a successful decor. They must be used with care and moderation.
Veiling, lace and chiffon
Transparency is increasingly appreciated in all types of upholstering and covering fabrics. It brings a feeling of space, voluptuousness and elegance to any decor.
Silks, damasks and moirés
These luxurious fabrics have been objects of great appreciation over the centuries and have symbolized wealth. Today, imitations are offered at affordable prices.
Velvets and tapestries
They are generally chosen for their comfort and for the richness of their texture and colours. Their characteristic heaviness accentuates the style of Gothic decors and they mix well with passementerie.

Striped and geometric fabrics

Striped and geometric fabrics, whether coloured or contrasted, must be applied in such a way as to avoid distorting their patterns. You should display them as you would a painting. Never gather or ruffle such fabrics. You will lose the pattern and make the fabric uninteresting.

Abstract patterns

Abstract patterns are more difficult to handle. But they adapt perfectly well to contemporary decors or to wide open, airy spaces.

Plain but textured fabrics

Plain but textured fabrics can also produce a beautiful effect. They are especially suited to busy rooms which could look overdone with printed fabrics.

Original ideas

Transform an embroidered shawl or an old lace piece into a tapestry. You'll find the effect quaintly romantic.

Hide damage on armchairs and sofas with a shawl, blanket or throw, and give your furniture a warmer feel. Or use them to add style to a large, uninteresting chesterfield.
A heart inspired by beauty is looking for an enchanting marriage of colour, look and fabrics to create the perfect decor.
Page 1/1