Soft furnishings are vital if you are to turn your house into a comfortable home. Not only do they help to set the tone of a room - whether formal or relaxed, but they also create a feeling of warmth, luxury and opulance. However, with such a huge selections of styles, materials and colours, how do you know which soft furnishings are right for you?
Soft furnishing ideas you may wish to consider
- Fabrics
Ask for samples of fabrics before you buy as they may look very different in the lighting of your room compared to how they look in a shop, showroom or on your computer monitor. If you are completely refurbishing a room you should avoid choosing paint before choosing fabrics, as it is far easy to find a paint colour to match the fabric than a fabric to match the paint.
Fabrics come in a huge variety of colours and patterns and some may be embellished with beads or sequins. You may want to avoid these if the fabric will be subject to heavy use. Texture is key too; velvets and silks are luxurious and opulent, cotton and linen give a lighter, cooler and more casual feel and suede and leather can add warmth to a room.
- Linen
Linen wrinkles easily and so some formal linen garments, such as tables cloths, will need ironing often. Linen is cool to the touch and is strong and durable, but due to its low elasticity its fibres will break where there are creases or sharp folds. It resists dirt and stains and can be machine washed, dry cleaned and steam cleaned.
- Curtains
Lined curtains can help to keep heating bills down and are good for filtering out more light. The length of curtain is important too and needs to be appropriate for the size of the window. As a rule of thumb, large patterns on small windows or in small rooms can be overpowering. To soften heavy or dark coloured curtains you can add co-ordinating sheers underneath. These are also useful for allowing sunlight into the room whilst giving you some extra privacy.
- Drapes
For a well dressed window, consider adding drapes. These add a touch of opulance to a room and give it a well finished, quality feel. The type of fabric you choose will very much depend on the tone and style of the room. Thick, heavy drapes suit much more formal or traditional rooms that have large windows and classic furnishings. Drapes don`t tend to work as well on small windows or in small rooms as they do restrict the amount of natural light coming in.
- Blinds
You need to decide what function the blinds have: are they for dress only, do you want them to block out sunlight or do you simply need them for privacy? There are a whole variety of options and colours to choose from including wood, faux wood, plastic, fabric or bamboo. Avoid fitting the same blinds throughout every room of your home as each room tends to be styled differently and although the style of blind may look good in one room they may not suit another. Fabric blinds are the most versatile as you can find a colour or texture that suits most room styles and matches your other furnishings. They are particularly useful for kitchens and bathrooms and are best made to measure rather than bought off the peg.
- Rugs
Rugs used in heavy traffic areas such as hallways or living rooms should be durable and have dense pile with close stitches and tufts . Twisted yarn also adds to durability. A rug is a great way to brighten up a room and to make it feel cosier. Patterned rugs hide the dirt better, as do darker colours.
- Throws
Throws can make a room feel warm, inviting and luxurious. If they have a practical use rather than just being used to dress a room, you should ensure they are made of a fabric that can be cleaned easily. Faux fur is a popular choice, however this is usually dry clean only.
Remember soft furnishings should be co-ordinated with the colour scheme of your room and reflect the tone and purpose of the overall design. That doesn`t mean everything has to match but they should complement each other.
Stripes are a good way of bringing different colours together and to keep the colour palette flowing. Patterns are best used as highlights i.e. as cushions or curtains - too much use of a pattern can be overbearing, particularly in smaller rooms.
How to care for soft furnishings
Many fabrics are washable, either by hand or machine. You should always treat fabrics and soft furnishings with care and dry clean if in any doubt.
Remember to take out www.gocompare.com/home-insurance too, so that your furnishings are protected should they suffer from accidental damage. Accidental damage cover tends not to be included on a home insurance policy as standard and so, depending on the insurer, you`ll need to add this on to your policy as an extra cover option