For that touch of class

Fabrics in home furnishings can completely revitalise the look of a home. By using home décor fabrics sensibly, a home owner can add spunk to a plain looking nook or give the home a refreshing new look.

Archana Jain, of an interiors design and architecture firm in  Bangalore says, “Choosing the right fabric for the kind of look you want is very important. Fabrics can make the room or mar it if they are used tackily. There is a dizzying array of home décor fabrics available in the market, from rich silks and satins to cotton jutes and synthetic fabrics. A customer can choose the fabrics according to her taste and budget.

Colours and textures

Silks add class and are elegant but they require high maintenance. If the budget is not high, then one can go for synthetic fabric that have the same sheen as silks and are also easy to maintain.”

Rinku Lohia, an interior designer from Ranchi says, “Choosing the right colours for the upholstery and curtains is very important as different colour carry different emotions that set a desired mood.

Sunny yellow drapes in cool cottons can liven up a family room while aquamarine greens and blues have a very calming effect. White always looks pristine, pure and very classy and reds though bold can make a style statement and goes well with modern contemporary homes. The colour of the season is lavender, lilac and purple. And there is a plethora of choice in the market for all kinds of fabrics.”

Crisp cottons are good for the casual, informal look but formal areas need to be treated with opulent fabrics such as silk, velvet, jacquard, satin etc to give them a classy feel.
One must always choose a fabric to suit one s curtain treatment. Stiff, heavy fabric should not be used if one wants pleated curtains as it will not gather nicely.

For formal living rooms, two layers of curtains can be used- a sheer one for the day and a heavier dressier fabric for the night. One can also use one curtain in a textured or patterned sheer that doubles up as both day and night curtain. Blinds are best for bed rooms and curtains in flowing material are well suited for living rooms.

“Just as in fashion, a designer label home décor fabric naturally comes with a price to match. Generally, you get what you pay for – that is, higher quality, a more luscious feel and a distinctive look. Of course, you can also combine both generic and designer brands in your decor. For instance, get a cheaper made-in-Asia upholstery fabric and unique textured designer home decor fabrics for curtains”, says Archana Jain.  

A muted tone of beige and white work well for sofas as they are neutral colours and gives you the scope of playing with a little splash of colours. Cushions are an easy and quick solution to add flavour to a living room or bedroom. Colourful and bold patterned cushions can add a touch of drama to the whole look. Embroidered fabrics can be a wonderful way to accent a room. The three dimensional quality of these fabrics and their tactile nature make for a unique feature that most fabrics do not have.

Fabrics can also be used in unique and interesting way. They are now widely used as panels on wardrobes. Rich silk or printed fabrics are used as wardrobe panels to give colour, add brightness to the room, making it look classy and glamorous.

Bold and beautiful

Bright and beautiful coloured fabrics in silk, tusser can be framed and used as a painting and be the highlight or the focal point of a room.

Fabrics can also be used as headboards in beds. A headboard always gives structure and focus to a room. An upholstered headboard gives a novel facet to a room.  
The material used can be leatherite, silk or velvet. An embroidered duvet cover or bed skirt too enhances the look of a room. Embroidered fabrics are classic, enhance the look and give colour to what might be a simple space.

Fancy upholstered piece of furniture in bright and loud colours in otherwise neutral coloured furniture makes a style statement.

A stand out piece always adds interest and variety, keeping the room distinctive and
fresh. One can add a bright, colourful single seater sofa, a chair or a lounge chair for that final effect.

It is important that the curtains, upholstery and bedspreads in any room have a certain symphony and that they complement each other. If the décor has carved furniture then, traditional fabric prints would go well. And with modern contemporary décor, abstract fabric prints are ideal. Same fabrics add an unexpected fun element that helps tie the room together.

Also fabrics in contrasting colours help create excitement in the décor. The result is seamless yet inviting space that radiates with contrasting materials. As Rinku Lohia aptly says, “flirting with fabrics and colours can give a new dimension to any house.”