Planning the Colors & Patterns

When planning the style of a room, try to visualize the colors and patterns of your sewing projects and how they will be used in the room. Avoid using equal amounts of all the fabrics. Use the primary fabric for about two-thirds of the room furnishings, use a secondary fabric for about one-third, and use accent colors in small amounts. The size of the fabric samples should be in proportion to how they will be used, such as large samples for draperies, small samples for accent pillows.

Vary the textures in the room. Nubby or textured fabrics and surfaces, mixed with smooth ones, add interest. For example, textured sheers contrast with a shiny brass pole.

How to Plan a Coordinated Decor:

       1.Select the primary patterned fabric. This will be he main fabric and will be used for about two-thirds of the fabric
          in the room. Select a print that will coordinate with existing furnishings, such as carpeting.
       2.Add accent patterned fabrics to be used in small amounts. These fabrics can introduce another color from the
         primary fabric. Or you can add texture by selecting fabrics such as lace; some prints have a textural appearance, 
         even though the fabric has a smooth surface.
       3.Add a secondary patterned fabric that includes some of the colors from the primary fabric. The secondary
          pattern is used for about one-third of the fabric in the room. Striped fabric works well as a secondary pattern,
          but florals or plaids may be used, if desired. Vary the scale of the pattern so it is different from the primary print.
       4.Select solid-colored fabrics to unify the patterned fabrics and give visual relief. Choose colors you want to 
          emphasize from the other fabrics. 

 
  Choosing Colors

Keep these points in mind as you shop for fabrics:

        *What colors already exist in the room? Take paint chips, carpet swatches or small cushions with you when you
          compare fabric. 

        *What wood tones are in your room? Fabric colors can enhance the natural tones and richness of wood.

        *Color affects your mood. Pastels, neutrals and cooler shades, such as blues and some greens, are soothing. 
         Bright shades and warmer colors like reds and yellows tend to stimulate. Dark colors create a cozy feeling. 

        *Color alters perceptions. Colors appear darker against light backgrounds, lighter against dark surfaces.
          Warm colors make objects seem larger, while cool colors make them recede. In general, avoid using bold
          contrasting colors in small rooms. 
 

        *Keep the room's exposure in mind. You may want to warm a northern exposure with warm tones, or cool
          down a hot sunny room with pale blues.
 

        *Light colors show soil more readily than dark colors.
 

        *At windows, pale colors diffuse light while dark colors block it. Hold up a length of fabric into direct sunlight
          to see if it creates the effect you want. 
 

         *Finally, consider your own preferences. Use these guidelines and your own taste to choose colors and patterns 
          that beautify your home and reflect your personal style.
 

Design Considerations 

Line. In addition to the lines created by furniture, consider all the lines in a room, such as moldings and beams, chair rails, and flooring. When selecting a window treatment, use a simple curtain rod if a decorator rod will create too many additional lines in a room. 

Color. Don't forget to think of the tone of the woodwork and the color of the fireplace brick when choosing fabric and carpet colors to blend with a room.

Texture. Dressy fabrics and casual fabrics usually have contrasting textures. Velvets and rough, nubby textures do not mix in the same room. Heavy-textured plaid upholstery fabrics do not mix with silky, sheer balloon window treatments.

Pattern. The more pattern in a room, the more country-like and traditional the room feels. Several patterns may work effectively in a room, but quieter, simple tailored fabrics may be more pleasing for longer lengths of time.

Direction. The focus, or direction, of a room may be a fireplace wall, a piece of art, a view, or a conversation area. Use fabric and color to help focus or coordinate the area.

Unity and composition. A room with a "put- together" feeling has unity and composition. It is often a successful mixing of the old with the new. This style, called eclectic, is the most difficult to achieve because there are so few rules. As an example, to make a room more interesting you may use contemporary fabrics and colors with traditional antiques and country furniture.
 

Mixing Patterns

There are six basic categories of patterns in fabrics, and any decorating plan may use several of them in the same room. All six patterns can be used effectively in one room if you have a balance of color along with pattern size and scale.

Solids are often used in flooring, carpeting, walls, wallcoverings, and window treatments.

Geometric prints, such as checks and plaids, are not strictly for sporty looks. Many soft, silk-like fabrics have treated finishes and can be used in living rooms for casual, elegant look. As chair coverings and throw pillows, they blend well with other textures.

Medallion patterns are usually small in scale and are often used in wallcoverings and in fabrics for chairs and pillows.

Stripes in subtle colors are often used in casement draperies and foyer wallcoverings; bolder stripe patterns may be used on chairs and sofas.

Overall prints and florals are most easily used on larger pieces, such as sofas and chairs, or major areas, such as draperies and valances.

Combination prints use two or more of the above patterns, and look best when used in larger areas, such as sofas, draperies, valances, and accent pillows.
 

Preview Fabrics at Home
When shopping for fabric, take along samples from the room, such as an arm cover from a sofa, pillows from a chair, carpet samples, wallcoverings, and paint chips. These samples will help you select what you will take home to preview. Colors are very difficult to remember without samples for matching.

When looking at fabrics in the store, set aside the ones that blend well with your samples and remove those that do not. Select several fabric samples to take home.

Because of the difference in lighting, fabric may not look the same in your home as it does in the store. Store lighting is usually all or part fluorescent, whereas home lighting is usually natural or incandescent. To see how a fabric looks in a home environment, look at it in daylight and under home artificial light.

When you get home, drape the sample close to or on the area where it will be used. Keep it there for at least 24 hours to see if you like it. If the colors do not work or you dislike the pattern, this trial period will help you select something on your second outing that is closer to the effect you want. If you have a lot of solid colors in your room and want to switch to a print, the room will become more active. Make sure that the fabric sample you take home is large enough to show the pattern and the effect it will have on the room.

If you are attempting to match a solid color, be aware that dye lots can vary from the sample. If a close match is necessary, be sure there is enough fabric on one bolt for the project or that other bolts have the same dye lot. When you order from a swatch, request a cutting of the current dye lot for approval before the goods are actually shipped.


Tips from a Designer

Update a room at minimal cost with one new fabric repeated two or three times around the room; for example, use the same fabric for a valance, tieback panels, and pillows.

Add interest quickly and easily with two exciting new fabrics to re-cover chair cushions, a bench cushion, a window seat, or a table covering.

Mix patterns and furniture styles. Contemporary fabrics are acceptable on traditional furniture; traditional fabrics are acceptable with contemporary window treatments, such as mini-blinds and louvered shades.

Change a fabric if a room feels heavy instead of light and airy. Avoid using too many small prints of the same scale in the same room.

Warm up a plain, conservative room with a splash of color. Make some new pillows, or add a new side panel or valance treatment to traditional draperies.

Four to six different patterns tend to become eclectic.

Less pattern mix is often more contemporary in feeling.

Repeat one strong-patterned print at least once or twice in the room. For example, a strong print in a sofa could be repeated in a valance. If both areas are on the same side of a room, you could also cover a chair, bench, or cushion across the room.

Mini-prints can be overdone. Do not repeat more than two mini-prints in the same area, including wallcoverings. If you use two mini- prints, their scale could be different and the colors reversed.

Compare the outfitting of a room with personal tastes in clothing. Several prints, color, and textures can be worn together, but colors must be coordinated effectively, textures must feel right together, and there must be an accent or a point of interest.

Repeat strong accent colors more than once.

Have fun. Do not be afraid to let fabric and colors reflect your personal taste. Take time to find out what your taste and style preferences are. Then carefully follow the step-by-step process for decorating success. 
 

More Tips and Ideas
All of the materials for "Tips and Ideas" are used with permission from the publisher. You can find more tips and ideas from the following books, which can be obtained at amazon.com. Simply type the title of each book in the search box.

Singer: Sewing Reference Library. Sewing Projects for the Home, 1991. Publisher: Cy DeCosse Incorporated, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343.

Singer: Sewing Reference Library. Sewing for the Home, 1984. Publisher: Cy DeCosse Incorporated, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343.

Singer: Sewing Reference Library. More Sewing for the Home, 1987. Publisher: Cy DeCosse Incorporated, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343.