Using fabrics to customise your home

Picture a house which is beautifully built and looks amazing on the outside. However upon entry, it contains only the bare minimum: a chair. You take a seat as you think to yourself, “ok at least I can sit down, it could be worse!” Start imagining how you can breathe life into this interior space. Begin by throwing a few cushions on the chair. Envision the floor with a carpet, which doesn’t have to fill the entire room. A fabric wall hanging of a large colourful batik in an attractive frame will definitely liven up the room. Now wrap it up by placing a centre table in the middle of the carpet and put a collection of flowers on it. As you visualized this scenario did you notice how different decorative elements begun to complete the room? Fabrics are an essential aspect of home décor. However, using fabrics beyond its function to accessorize your home can produce astounding results. Throughout this article I will explore unique ways to incorporate fabrics in your home in a simple yet effective way. Cushion covers Cushion covers come in a range of fabrics, popular examples include cotton, velvet and polyester. Textile artists combine their creativity with dying techniques such as tie & die, batik, or screen prints to create beautiful patterns on fabrics which are then made into cushion covers. You can find a collection of unique cushion covers, amongst other home accessories at African Gift Corner, which is located in town behind Dorona House, opposite BCK. A sofa without cushions is one which lacks charisma. Cushions arranged on a couch gives it a pleasant-professional feel and using cushions of the same shape and size will assist in creating diversity. Using different variations of colours, print or texture is an alternative method of adding diversity to your cushion arrangement. Plain coloured sofa sets can be brought to life when accessorized with cushions of bold and defined prints. On the other hand, a sofa which has imagery printed or woven into it is best complemented by plan cushion covers. Identify one or two colours that run throughout the sofa and apply them to the cushion covers. When used well, cushions heighten a sofa’s overall appearance and make it more comfortable to sit in! Integrate your curtains Curtains give us a sense of security by covering the windows to prevent outsiders from peering into the house. It is vital for the curtains to correspond with the theme of the room and to achieve this, visualize the mood of your room. Then decide on a curtain material that will be best suited to the theme. Other decorative elements in a room, such as wall art and furnishing should guide you towards choosing curtains appropriately. For example, if your furnishing has bold patterns on it, use neutral curtains. Something else to consider before purchasing curtain fabric is the size of the room. A smaller room will benefit more from curtains which are soft in colour and light in weight. Dark curtains in a small room will only make the room feel smaller and claustrophobic. On the other hand, a larger room will benefit more from thick-lined curtains of dark colour. Such curtains will give a large room an inviting atmosphere by making it cosy and warm. If you already have dark curtains which blend into your décor but are transparent and light in weight, don’t feel like you have to toss them and spend money on brand new ones. Instead have a tailor join it to lining of a dark colour that matches the curtains. A house is more than a mere roof over your head. It should also be place you love to be, one which is irreplaceable. The outside appearance does not sum up a home, but rather it is the inside which seals the deal. Any interior space can be manipulated and enhanced with fabrics to look beautiful regardless of what the outside structure of the house looks like. ms.efuahagan@gmail.com The author specializes in interiors and fashion.