Soft furnishings can be used to transform your interior instantly, but they also provide you with the ideal opportunity to showcase your personality. Here are four things to consider when searching for the perfect finishing touch.
Colour When it comes to colour, a room needs both harmony and contrast. To determine the colour palette you want to introduce to your home, think about the colour combinations you like. An easy way to do this is to consider the feel you want for a room - warm, soothing, or energetic? That in itself often determines the colour tone.
When combining, work on "harmony" before "contrast". Harmonious colours are better used as a base, before adding contrast. Earth tones are great way to start a room, before you add a splash of colour. This way, the room looks tasteful - yet interesting.
Coordination Textiles can be adopted into your home in many ways, from wall tapestries to pillows. When placing accessories, think first of the entire room and divide it into areas, planning placement in each area. Start with less, adding more as you go along.
It helps if you determine where your focal area is. If you think your living area should be your main focus, start by putting pillows on your sofa. Then, place the things you want to coordinate the pillows and sofa with - throws, wall hangings and runners - alongside. Look around the entire room again. You can now start to visualise where all these coordinating items should go to give the room a strong story. As you place your soft furnishings about the room, you'll soon develop more ideas - such as introducing another colour to reinforce the room's story.
Design Stripes and geometric shapes can be soft or loud according to the size of the print and colours used. Florals can be romantic or funky, depending on the design of the flowers. For an eclectic look, emgallery uses a lot of woven floral motifs and South-East Asian prints based on traditional craftsmanship, reinterpreted with modern flair for a strong statement.
Texture Although a less obvious factor, texture plays a very strong role in home décor and interesting effects can be produced by various processing and weaving methods. Silk fabric is known for its smooth surface and beautiful lustre, while unprocessed "raw" silk is rougher in feel with a matt appearance. Weaves which are more intricate also produce beautiful raised patterns, with interesting effects such as waffles and pleats.
Tactile soft furnishings provide an extraordinary level of comfort, be sure to browse thoroughly to research what appeals to you. emgallery, Tel: 6475 6941, www.emtradedesign.com
Posted Apr 2010
