| Mixing Fabrics |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-513 |
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Q: Are there some designer guidelines for mixing and matching fabrics? A: (Nancy Golden, Ask DIY Design expert) There certainly are, and they can do a lot to clear up anyone's confusion on the subject. Here are the dos and don'ts for coordinating fabrics: - Choose one larger-scale fabric to work as your anchor fabric. The anchor fabric will have all the colors used in the room. You won't necessarily use this fabric the most, but all the colors will be represented in it.
- Mix two or three smaller patterns. If your anchor fabric is a floral, for example, a plaid and a tone-on-tone print would work well as accents.
- Don't mix similar patterns. For instance, if you choose a plaid as an accent fabric, don't use a second, smaller plaid -- it would just be too much.
- Don't forget solids and neutrals. This is where you can bring in a pop of color, add some personality or choose the color you want to dominate your decor.
- To see how different accent colors can change a look, check out the images at the right!
- Click here to see a sunroom Nancy Golden designed for an episode of DIY's Bare Walls (the furnishings were featured in this segment).
Q: Should I choose the fabric for the room first or the wall color first? A: Always choose the fabric first -- a paint store can match any color from your fabric. Q: What kind of fabrics complement a contemporary decor? A: You'll want to avoid a lot of prints and go for a plainer, more subtle look. Fabric types such as silk dupioni (which is a solid fabric but still has some sheerness), metallics (only a touch -- maybe an accent pillow) and animal prints work well. If you have leather furniture, be sure to use textured fabrics. And if you do use prints, go for more stylized, cartoon-like ones to help avoid a traditional feel. Q: How can I tell the difference between upholstery fabric and drapery fabric? A: Generally by their respective weight. For instance, upholstery fabric is more tightly woven with less "give" to it -- in other words, it won't wiggle or move around. It's often heavy and fabric-backed. Drapery fabric, on the other hand, tends to be softer and to fall in folds. You can use upholstery fabric in window treatments, so long as you use them only on cornices and side panels; they're too heavy for other window-treatment uses. Q: What type of upholstery fabrics work well with leather furniture? A: Highly textured ones, such as chenille or velvet -- anything to add warmth.
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