DEAR Marc: After reading other homeowners' design dilemmas for some time now, I have decided to design my living room. I'm working on a tight budget, so I won't be able to replace my furniture. The sofa and chairs are in good condition, so I would like to reupholster them and paint the walls. I went shopping the other day for fabric and fell in love with this bold-patterned fabric but I don't know if I can redo all my furniture in this same fabric. -- Amy
Dear Amy:
When I am browsing through my fabric selections for a space, I always keep this mantra in mind, thus enabling me to select a fabric that is bold enough to stand out and make a statement, yet blend together in the overall design.
The key to selecting the appropriate fabric pattern for a space is to have the fabric reflect your chosen colour scheme. This is quite important. Many homeowners will choose their colour scheme after they have made all their purchases, which will cause headaches in the end. Design purchases are sometimes impulsive and emotional. We have all heard someone say, I just had to have it, it's perfect! I know it doesn't really work in the space, but I will change around the wall colours, buy a new sofa, then it will work!
Meanwhile, if the homeowner sticks to the set colour scheme when purchasing all the design elements, there is a great chance the project will come on budget. Same goes when selecting fabric. Bring your colour swatches to compare with the fabric pattern and colours. Ask yourself if the fabric overpowers the colour scheme. The chosen fabric should stand out, yet blend together with the colour scheme.
If you want to use a bold fabric, then I suggest not using the fabric on all the pieces, so as not to overwhelm the eye. In doing so, you can use the bold fabric as an accent by applying it to your chairs. The sofa can be done in a neutral solid pattern with accent pillows in a patterned fabric. This will add dynamism to your design, so it doesn't become bland with the use of the same fabric.
Designer spaces exude many different textures, patterns and colours. Exploring these design elements can easily be done by grouping fabric samples with colour swatches and seeing which ones work well together. Ask your local fabric supplier for advice on which fabrics can be successfully placed together. Many of these retailers have an eye for fabric and, therefore, they will be able to guide you in the right direction during your reupholstering project.
Successful reupholstering projects are all about organization. Prepare a folder for the project, which holds images of spaces that have inspired you, and a list of all the information about your current space (room and furniture dimensions, and an inventory of the room's contents). Take a few pictures of the room at different angles and put them in your folder. Every fabric sample and colour swatch collected should be kept and stored in the folder, as well. This way, when you're browsing through fabric samples, you are not shopping blindly. You can refer to your file for dimensions, images of the pieces, and you'll have a clear vision of your space.
-- Canwest News Service
Marc Atiyolil is the editor-in-chief of Canadian Home Trends -- Canada's Home Decor & Lifestyle Magazine. To submit a question for Marc Atiyolil, visit CanadianHomeTrends.ca.
