Fabric decoration of modern interiors

Decorating with fabrics – it is one of the most important elements of any interior decoration composition. Curtains, sheers, valances, covers for sofas and chairs, blankets, pillows, cushions and other fabric decoration elements – are all part of any successful interior design scheme. They determine the style and set the atmosphere of your home or apartment.

Fabric window treatments have long been an integral part of your interior. From a purely functional household item, drapes have become the main component of the overall décor of the room. They highlight the style, properly distribute the room space, make the room a secluded protecting from prying eyes, decorate the window and adjust the amount of daylight entering inside: bright sun in the summer and cold drafts in the winter, which saves energy on air-conditioning and heating.

Drapes are usually made of velvet, velour or tapestry, complemented with swags, tassels or fringe. They create classic, conservative look. This is also a good choice for the bedroom.
One of the latest trends and the easiest way to decorate a window – sheers. Sheers are light curtains made of tulle, silk (plain or lace trimmed),combined with lambrequins the top, they truly give the finishing touch to any elegant interior. Sheers pass the light through, keeping natural lighting of the room. It is also a great choice for decorating Bay and Bow windows.

When choosing window coverings, it’s important to consider the shape of the windows and purpose of the curtains. There are three standard lengths of drapery: up to the sill, below the sill and to the floor. The last option is an important part of the décor and draws attention to the window. The curtains to the window sill or below are less formal. These curtains look good on the small windows in small rooms and are commonly used for decorating the kitchen and bathroom.

Among other recent trends are fabric curtains – Roman shades, tie curtain, cloud curtain, balloon curtain, criss-cross curtain, screens, fabric blinds.

A professional designer will consider the style and proportions of the interior, as well as your personal aesthetic preferences and will offer the best design solutions. The end result – a well designed window treatment should have a timeless feel to it. It should look as if it has always been there, tailor-made for the window, color matched to other décor elements, giving a room a satisfying “finished” feel.

Draping the Holiday Season

As the seasons change and fall rolls along, there seems to be an avalanche of holidays coming our way. Recently, we celebrated Thanksgiving. Many of us are now looking forward to other holidays. Hanukkah, Eid Al-Adha, Kwanzaa, Christmas are just some of the holidays that will bring family and friends together before New Year’s Eve when we bid adieu to the old year and welcome the new. With holidays comes preparation. Lots of time will be spent shopping for table setting and glassware and, most importantly, the ingredients for all the mouth-watering delicacies, among a whole array of dishes.

But, preparation is not just about the food; we are equally obsessed with how our homes will appear to our guests. As much as we’d love to purchase new pieces of furniture to spice up the living or dining rooms, buying new furniture is a luxury we can’t always afford. So what is the alternative? How do we stretch the buck?

Well, we could consider re-painting, or paint touch-ups, and possibly sprucing up furniture by re-upholstering or re-staining. But that’s a lot of work and we have so little time these days.

The easiest, quickest and proven way to transform the look of a room is to add new window treatments.

I can hear you thinking that there is so much to consider when choosing draperies. Allow me to explain: If nothing else, your drapery must complement or accentuate the best features of the room.

It is no surprise that color is a primary consideration. You need not do this alone: your drapery consultant will assist you by providing you with variations of hues and tones that add subtle changes to the room in keeping with the existing furniture, the size of the room and, of course, the color of the paint or the design of the wall paper. So hiring a qualified, experienced drapery consultant is another very important decision. This consultant will save you time, money and make the process enjoyable and pleasant.

The good thing about custom made draperies is the twin benefit of relevance and fit. Your drapery consultant will help you to choose fabric and lining that fit the needs of the room you wish to decorate. Some rooms require sheer, full-length whimsical curtains, while other rooms invite heavy, side stationery panels that complement existing wooden shutters. Still yet, there is the very important issue of privacy: some rooms need drapery to block out light and add romance. And some rooms have very large windows that should really not be blocked, so custom-made panels are the most relevant.

As you convey your needs, a consultant will provide you with design ideas, choices of fabric, hardware, accessories and installation details. You’ll find the entire process to be fun and easy. So, you’ll want to do it all over again – in another room, of course.

So first things first: decide on your budget at the outset, then invite a consultant who will add glamour and style that reflect your personality and lifestyle. Plan ahead and …enjoy the holidays.