| A common design dilemma is how to change the look | | | | worn may be taken to a shop for re-upholstery. When |
| of an entire room without blowing the budget. Major | | | | re-upholstering the furniture, the extent of damage |
| changes in furniture, structural renovations to the home | | | | equates to the amount of repair that the sofa will |
| and any other major works are out of the question. | | | | undergo some may only need a small amount of |
| However, if there's one thing that professional | | | | repair while others need major repair: such as the |
| designers agree on, it's the capacity of fabric in various | | | | foam completely changed or complete over-haul. |
| textures and colors to bring life to a room. Fabric, | | | | Re-upholstery entails the permanent change of the |
| when incorporated properly, can define the theme for | | | | outer skin or covering of the sofa using new fabric or |
| the season or the mood of the room, and can bring life | | | | a covering material such as faux leather. When |
| to even the dullest spaces. | | | | choosing the fabric for re-upholstering, choose one that |
| Depending on its use, fabrics can bring unique moods | | | | will blend in with various color schemes, as |
| to a room. Heavy, rich-colored and textured fabrics | | | | re-upholstery is permanent in nature. |
| usually bring a more formal, ornate feel to a room, | | | | For temporary punches of life, color, or even design |
| while sheer fabrics used in windows, made to hang | | | | themes, slipcovers are the better choice. Slipcovers |
| over bare walls, or even just thrown over the back of | | | | are available ready-made in department stores, or you |
| a couch or an ottoman bring a fun, flirty feel to a room. | | | | may have them custom-made especially for your sofa |
| The following are some fabulous ideas to incorporate | | | | to assure a snug-fit. Slipcovers will allow for seasonal |
| fabric in different places in the home | | | | color changes of the room, and even for mixing and |
| Window Treatments | | | | matching the sofa with other furniture or accessories |
| A window positioned anywhere in a room provides a | | | | to better suit the decor of the room. |
| dramatic statement, a focal point, or may even provide | | | | For the dining area, the dining chairs or stools may be |
| an opportunity to bring the outdoors inside the room. | | | | fitted with covers and skirts for a more decorative |
| With window treatments, fabrics may be used in | | | | effect or to better continue a color scheme in the |
| curtains and window valances. | | | | room. |
| In order to provide a dramatic statement in a room via | | | | Tables Around the House |
| the window treatment, you can make use of two | | | | Fabric table covers serve two important purposes: |
| extreme types of fabrics, either heavy, rich-colored | | | | they bring colors, patterns, and excitement to a room's |
| fabrics, or sheer draperies: or possibly a combination of | | | | design, and protect the table from water or other |
| both. Heavy, rich-colored fabrics make a dramatic | | | | corrosive materials that come in contact with it. When |
| statement with their strong colors and eye-catching | | | | using fabrics on tables, you may experiment with |
| patterns (like damasks, flower prints, stripes, etc.). | | | | various lengths - using long fabrics to cover the entire |
| Sheer draperies, on the other hand, bring a light, sunny | | | | table for a formal effect, shorter fabric to fit the table |
| feeling to the room by letting in just enough sunlight, yet | | | | top exactly to allow for storage under the table, or as |
| allowing for a light and flirty curtain solution. | | | | a long, thin, table runner to bring drama to a table and |
| Used together, putting sheers behind the heavy fabric | | | | emphasis to the table decor. |
| draperies, provides texture and color contrast. The | | | | Fabric is used in these various scenarios is, primarily, to |
| heavy fabric draperies may be opened in the morning | | | | bring color or color themes into the room. The use of |
| with the use of trimmings and tassels, allowing for | | | | fabrics by themselves or in color and pattern |
| sunlight to come through the sheer draperies. To | | | | combinations allows you to mix and match as you |
| create a more formal feeling, some of the heavy | | | | wish. The same colors used over and over again in a |
| fabric draperies may be incorporated into a window | | | | room poses no threat when working with fabric, |
| valance. | | | | because with fabric, you may use the same color in |
| The Sitting Area | | | | various shades, patterns, and fabric textures to avoid |
| In rooms like the living room and the dining area, the | | | | monotony. |
| sitting area comprises much of the space. This means | | | | Used properly, fabrics achieve design changes at a |
| that most of the design that can be incorporated into | | | | cheaper price and with less effort. Fabrics take the |
| the room must come from the sitting area, if it is to | | | | place of added accessories and furniture, create as |
| make a visual impact. | | | | much impact as a new coat of paint or wallpaper, and |
| For the living room, fabrics are the best solutions to | | | | allow for versatility of design by mixing and matching, |
| provide either temporary or permanent overhauls for | | | | and temporary solutions such as slipcovers at a |
| the sofa or couch. Sofas that are badly stained or | | | | fraction of the cost of permanent changes. |