Jackie Carton, interior design architect at Carton Interiors and President of the Interiors Association advises how to add pattern and texture in soft furnishings…
Jackie Carton, interior design architect at Carton Interiors and President of the Interiors Association
Whilst neutral tones, especially grey, have remained popular over the last number of years, recently people have been requesting cosier interiors to make their home more cocooning and a retreat from the stresses of the world. Using soft furnishings like curtains, cushions and upholstery is the perfect solution to reinvent your space and add pattern and texture to your home.
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It can be difficult to know where to start when choosing textured or patterned fabrics as the options are numerous. Bespoke or custom made curtains are an investment and people sometimes fear their choices not lasting in terms of style. There’s no need to worry! With a vast range of fabric types from luxurious yet practical velvets and tactile jacquards to soft brushed cotton, I advise searching for one that strikes you and working from there.
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Whilst the sheer amount of choice can be daunting, it facilitates a unique and individual look if you are prepared to combine colour, pattern and texture. Begin with a feature fabric, perhaps one displaying a graphic or pattern. Its colours will be used as the basis for your room design. Firstly choose where to use this feature fabric. A full-length set of curtains in a stunning fabric adds an instant wow factor to your space. Or you may prefer to introduce it as an accent, perhaps an upholstered headboard in a bedroom.
Next, choose some of the colours from the fabric and use them as plain fabrics or as trimming accents throughout the rest of the room. For example, if your fabric included the colours magenta, gold and green, perhaps use the gold as a cushion colour and have an accent piping on it in magenta. The green could become your sofa colour or the colour for your rug. Using the colour palette of the feature fabric in this way will result in a very cohesive room scheme. This approach works well if your wall colours are neutral. However, it’s possible to thoroughly elevate a design scheme by including accent colours on your walls also, the choice is yours. A rich, strong dark colour can give instant cosiness, whereas a lighter tone of the same colour will blend in for a more low-key, and harmonious look.
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Fabrics may also be used to reupholster your existing furniture, giving it a new lease of life. If you don’t wish to change every piece, an accent patterned chair, chaise or footstool in a textured fabric will add some interest to the space. For a maximalist approach consider using multiple patterns and colours within the same room. Perhaps only for the braver amongst us, it will certainly result in a home that’s full of personality.
Professional, qualified members of the Interiors Association offer everything from one-off consultations to fully bespoke design schemes. For more information visit theinteriorsassociation.ie
