Fabric by the Yard

You walk through the fabric section of a craft store, and inspiration can just jump out at you.  All those bolts of fabric are home projects all wrapped up and ready to measure and cut.  Whether you are a crafty sort that can sew anything you desire or the perfect delegator willing to turn over large and small projects to someone who can, fabric has the power to really dress up your home.

Let’s start big.  Reupholstering can be a big and pricey project depending on what you want to recover.  You can take a sofa or a side chair with good bones and update either with a contemporary fabric.  You can take a dated headboard and do the same.  You can build a new headboard with the right wooden structure and padded look you want for a bed and customize it with fabric to coordinate with your bedding.  This scale of project is well suited for a professional, but there are plenty of smaller jobs for a weekend DIY project enthusiast. 

If you can work a sewing machine and a needle and thread, pillows are something you can crank out pretty handily.  Throw pillows made from fabric selections you love can take a seat on your sofa, occasional chairs, or atop every bed in the house.  Pillow shams in both the standard and Euro sizes can round out the look of your bedding with a custom touch.  You can also add a matching throw blanket to the end of the bed or over the arm of the couch. 

If you can never seem to find a tablecloth or placemats you love, you can take fabric by the yard and create your own look for the dining table.  If you think that’s doable, making coordinating chair cushion covers would not be a stretch.  Measure for your own custom window treatments, and a simple hemming job can produce window panels ready to hang from ring clips.  To turn one of your selections into another decorative element, frame sections of fabric to create wall art or cover the base of a wooden serving tray for a visual upgrade. 

There are countless ways to use fabric by the yard to update the look and feel of your home on both a large and small scale.  For both the do-it-yourselfer and the hire-a-pro homeowner, a little yardage can go a long way.

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 27th.

 

      

A Closet Case

If you’re sticking to “get organized” on your New Year’s resolutions’ list, consider upgrading your storage materials to make your lofty job that much easier around the house.  Your closets and shelves just might thank you.

If closet space is tight, you could consider a splurge on “skinny hangers.”  Sold in packs, these thin hangers take up less space and come in slip resistant material.  Hanging belt, tie, and scarf keepers get these thin items out of drawers and up on the rack in a narrow space, allowing you to see what all you have at once.  Boot inserts allow tall knee boots to stand up and not fall over so they can stand together on a closet floor or upper shelf.  If your lower hanging rod has a shelf over it, divided jewelry trays can slip right in below your upper hanging clothes for concealed storage at hand while you’re dressing.

For a storage closet, utilizing all the space at your disposal can keep supplies easily accessible.  Hang an over-the-door pocket system for a variety of materials like arts and crafts supplies, batteries, small tools and picture hanging supplies, or gift wrap accessories.  Install a short cleaning tool rack to get mop and broom handles up on the wall so they don’t tumble every time the door opens.  Line your shelves with storage bins for anything from files to seasonal decorations to special dishes.  If wall space is open in a walk-in or reach-in closet, hang up hooks for reusable shopping bags or dog leashes.  To keep the floor of the closet neat, use boot trays for a tidy shoe arrangement and clean floor. 

Whether you hang it up, hook it up, or line it up, creating that place for everything will put every inch of your shelving, wall, and floor space to tip-top use, giving you the ability to retrieve and return your supplies with organized perfection.  The right supplies, however simple or extensive, can make all the difference when you really want to keep things straight.  That’s a closet case you can be proud of.  

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 20th.

   

Little Showoffs

A little updating can go a long way.  When you want to toss some new [small] pieces in the mix without bursting the bubble of your budget, some creative purchases can add a renewed sparkle to your decorated space.

Attractive storage boxes like those with a glossy paper coating, matching lid, and paper label insert on the front, can take storage to center stage.  Whether you really use them to store photos or trinkets or leave them empty, stacking and scattering a few small storage boxes on shelves or end tables amounts to organized décor.  Additionally, lacquered boxes in various shapes, sizes, finishes, colors, or prints make nice toppers to a stack of books or a partner to a lamp or floral arrangement. 

Let the kitchen loose in the rest of the home by displaying pitchers, decorative bowls, platters, or trays.  Sometimes you see cute kitchen accessories in stores that do not necessarily “go with” your pieces at home.  No bother; buy a stand-alone item and show it off on a coffee, sofa, or entry table or entertainment center shelving.  Vases can play the same role.  No flowers are required to allow a grouping of cohesive vases to decorate the center of your dining table or buffet. 

Artwork can be small and simple and certainly not carry art gallery price tags.  You can hang little groupings of framed art or wrapped canvases to make a larger art statement on a chosen wall.  Or you can even use individual pieces off the wall by leaning them against the wall over the mantle or sit them on a bookcase shelf as a backdrop for a little cluster or scattering of small decorative items in front.  Small knickknacks can go from clutter to catchy simply by arranging them properly and can top off a display perfectly.

Little finds can equal big surprises.  The next time you see one of those affordable “gotta’ have it” items, don’t stress about how you could use it to the point of leaving it behind.  Take it home and pick a spot to put your find on display.  Chances are, you’re going to love it.    

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 13th.

Tips and Tricks for New Year Flair

For a little refresher to jumpstart 2013, here are some tips and tricks for maximizing your design know-how and boosting the look and appeal of the space you call home. 

To increase the surface space you have to display decorative items, swap an end table for a short, open bookshelf alongside your living room seating or in a room that serves multiple purposes, like a guest space and home office.  You keep the tabletop you need for a lamp and add extra layers for displaying books, décor, a throw blanket, or bins of office supplies. 

In a larger room, put two matching area rugs together for a more economical option for floor covering than one oversized rug.  With a repeating pattern, place the two rugs right together for a visual extension.  For another option, place two non-matching rugs near each other to add a textured, layered look to the space. 

Instead of built-in seating below an empty windowsill, try adding a wooden or upholstered bench.  This added decorative layer can hold a couple of throw pillows for an inviting seat or a stack of books for a multi-functional bookshelf.  When space is limited, use a backless stool or cube ottoman in place of a desk or vanity chair, allowing you to push your seating completely under the furniture piece. 

As an alternative to a mirror or large scale artwork over a bed, hang two square or rectangular mirrors behind the bedside lamps directly over the nightstands.  This adds depth to the room and a classy element for a hotel-style feel.  For a little variety in the wall pieces you buy, choose pieces and mirrors that can hang vertically or horizontally to be able to switch their positions and move from room to room.

In a wider entryway, forego the narrow sofa table against the wall and opt for a round table in the center of the foyer.  When layered over a runner rug beneath the room’s lighting fixture, you have a nice focal point just past your front door.  To highlight your wall art, draw the eye toward a cohesive grouping by hanging pieces with one primary color scheme.  This mix can be created with a blend of framed art, wrapped canvases, and framed or decorative mirrors. 

Whether you swap one item for another or use your design eye to choose multifunctional pieces, your stylized placement of both large and small items can be the difference between just being fine and truly having flair. 

 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 6th.