Magical Fabrics

By Chirag Sharma

Photography: Courtesy World Wide Web

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Very often, a refreshing change in the visual atmosphere can work wonders for the overall décor. Take a pick from our variety of fabrics and the options we propound on refurbishing with fabric…

While items of furniture and the colour of your walls, for that matter even your layout remains unchanged for years, the only other element in your décor – your upholstery, drapes and other loose covers call for an inviting reassurance that you still have a home as good as brand new!

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A wide variety of fabrics are woven into the interplay of colour and texture to create diverse moods and cater to the ambience accordingly. The materials that make an emphatic, yet stylish statement in interiors are suede, velvet, leather, wool, damask, viscose, voile, satin, silk, tissue and the like. It depends largely on the mode of application and the quality of the fabric.

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At times, the décor revels in the purity of a natural fibre; at others, the man-made co-exists. However, silks, brocades, velvets, and damask are generally chosen for formal settings. Polyester fabrics are suitable for informal settings.

Points to Ponder:

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• Plain upholstery fabrics (pure cottons, soft linens, woolens, velvets and suede) can interestingly be employed for the gamut of tactile nobility that they offer.

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• Plain curtain fabrics (woven and smooth cottons, linens, silks, moirés, velvets, and wools) can be teamed with patterned upholstery of similar colouring, or used to pick out dominant tones in a carpet, rug, or painting.  They can also be matched with a patterned blind, or used in conjunction with patterned curtains. 

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• Produced in a wide variety of finishes, sheers range from the cheaper cheese-cloths and muslins, through nets and synthetics to more expensive laces.

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• Lace has a gentle, delicate appearance and a softening effect on most furniture. It filters light most beautifully. Even the flimsiest of sheers can be used in the build-up of pattern in a room if they are chosen with a similar or matching design to the curtains with combinations in bright hues, subtle tones, or temperance of both.

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• With more patterns, fewer colours is a safe approach. Always pre-determine the textures and patterns that are already available in the room through accessories like carpets or rugs, table linen, and the like.

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• Coarse fabrics are better suited to a rugged ambience with exposed brick walls or an unkempt wood finish 

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Many a time, the weave in the material is a significant contributor to the décor. Jacquard is one such weave that can produce elaborate designs. Commonly used for upholstery, the jacquard fabric lends a regal look to the ambience. Then we also have the romance of Jamevar, the intricacy of Bandhini, the colourful geometrics of Kutch, the elegance of Tussar and the primeval earth tones of Tribal Art that embellish our fabrics.

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However, the last word always endorses the fact that decor is predominantly a matter of individual taste and practicality.