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Fresh Design Ideas

Fabric Guidelines

Fabric selection will do more to transform a space than any other change. Choice of fabrics will determine the area's color scheme and set the overall mood. Fabrics bring color, pattern and texture to your room. They can be used in upholstery, slipcovers, window treatments and possibly as wall coverings. Following are a few simple principles which will make deciding on your fabrics much easier.

Is The Fabric Appropriate For Its Intended Use?
· Is it for upholstery or for draperies? Durability is an important factor for either use. Will the upholstered piece be used frequently?
· Does the fabric need to be sturdy and long lasting? Will the fabric be exposed to sunlight? This is an especially important consideration with regard to delicate fabrics used as window treatments (i.e. silk).
· Is the fabric soil resistant? Will children or pets come in contact with it? Dining areas are especially prone to spills and stains. Try to get a fabric that has been treated with a soil and stain repellant (many today come pre-treated) for use in areas prone to soil/stains.
· Is the price suitable? Don't spend your entire budget on fabric for the children's playroom, but don't use something visibly cheap on a good piece of furniture or in a public area.

Is The Fabric Consistent With The Room's Feeling?
· Choose fabrics that are appropriate in style and mood.
· Color is the paramount consideration in your fabrics. Is the room to be warm and cozy or cool and sophisticated in feel? Prior to shopping for fabrics, the color scheme should be determined.
· Your primary fabric, that with the largest pattern and variety of colors, can be used as a guide in the choice of secondary fabrics. Use the minor colors in the main fabric as an aid in choosing the remaining fabrics for the space.
· Texture is also an important consideration in achieving a particular character for the room. If the space is to be formal and elegant, smooth, soft, rich fabrics will be appropriate; in a casual area, however, fabrics with a more coarse texture are suitable.
· The pattern of the fabric will impact the feel of the room dramatically and needs to fit the intended mood (formal or casual, bold or reserved, traditional or innovative).

Before

Is The fabric Compatible With The Other Elements In The Room?
· The size of the fabric's pattern needs to be considered both in relation to the size of the piece of furniture or window it may be covering, but also with regard to the size of the room as a whole.
· The quality of the fabric should be in accord with all elements in the space. Opulent fabrics are appropriate in an elegant public room, while standard fabrics should only be used in private areas such as a child's playroom.
· To achieve a balanced look, patterned fabrics should be distributed as evenly as possible throughout the room. Fabrics with texture should also be placed throughout the room to achieve balance.

Selection of fabrics can feel overwhelming and daunting, however, it can be the most enjoyable and creative aspect of designing your room. Understanding the principles just discussed will go a long way toward making the whole process totally pleasurable.

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