Tag Archives: curtains

Gingham Home Decor is Easy to Make

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Gingham is at home in both rustic and elegant settings. Gingham home accessories such as these curtains are easy to make.

As Diane reminded us yesterday, gingham can be a fabulous fabric for home decor. It is available in both apparel weight,and in upholstery and drapery weight.

Apparel weight gingham is appropriate for lightweight curtains to add charm to your kitchen, breakfast nook, or bedroom. Basic curtains simply require neatly finished sides, plus a hem at the top and the bottom; the hem at the top is left open to form a heading for the curtain rod.

Oilcloth (vinyl) gingham is a classic for tablecloths. It can simply be cut to the size needed and requires no hem, because it does not ravel.

Home decor: let’s talk about lace

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Let’s talk about lace.  Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is a wedding gown or a woman’s lacy nightie.  But lace can be used in home decor as well.

  • Lace curtains are pretty, pure and simple.  They add a soft and feminine look to a bedroom, bath area or country kitchen.  It is best to choose a cotton lace that is machine washable for these areas as they are subject to moisture and splatters from food, makeup etc.
  • Vintage lace can be turned into accent pillows for the bed.  Apply it to a strong backing to protect it and use it for decorative purposes only.
  • Several yards of lace can be used as a tablecover for a formal dinner party, bridal shower or ladies luncheon. 
  • Lace comes in many different colors.  White, ecru, cream, sage, gray, even black lace is available making it possible to customize your window treatments, pillows or linens with your home decor.

Don’t overlook this beautiful fabric because it might be too girlie, too fragile or too old-fashioned.  There are many options available for use in all types of decorating projects.

Fabric: Let the sun shine in with sheer fabrics

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Nothing says summer like soft sheer draperies billowing in the wind; it just makes you feel cooler.   Sheers, as they are referred to, are most often used as a second layer to draperies.  They soften the light, provide a small amount of privacy and can hide an ugly view outside.  The fabrics used are soft and drapey and include cotton, silk, linen, voile and even polyester.  However, today’s sheers are not the ordinary white curtains your grandmother used.  Far from it!  The selection available today feature patterns that range from soft florals to bold geometrics in colors or tone on tone embroidery.  See if any of these decorating ideas will work in your home.

  • Consider using a sheer fabric with a golden tone to cast a lovely glow in a dark room.
  • Drape fabric over a pole for a simple, no-sew window treatment.
  • Sheers added to a four poster bed (or just two posts) will create a cozy and romantic spot.
  • Replace those heavy winter drapes with lightweight sheers for the summer months and don’t worry about privacy.  Throw the doors open and let the sun shine in !
  • A sheer overlay makes a pretty tablecloth.
  • Add an extra layer to your shower curtain.  This will hide the tub enclosure but still let the light in.
  • Use the leftover fabric to wrap a winebottle.  Simply tie a ribbon around the neck of the bottle and you have a beautiful gift presentation.

Sheers are an affordable way to change the look of your room in minutes.  Enjoy the soft breezes of summer now and, when fall arrives, choose a fabric with subtle embroidered leaves, for instance.

Fabric: How to use gingham in your summer decorating

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Not sure exactly what gingham is?  Remember the blue and white checked apron/dress Dorothy wore in “Wizard of Oz”?  That is gingham.  And in days past it was used to make little girl dresses or picnic tablecloths.  However, this fresh and crisp fabric is making a sophisticated comeback in the interior decorating world.

How can you use gingham in your decorating?  Well take a look at some of these ideas that are guaranteed to add a light, summery feel to your home.

  • We are all familiar with the red and white gingham used in picnic baskets, outdoor tablecloths and napkins.  How about surprising Yogi Bear and making your “picanick” (as Yogi would say) a bit more sophisticated with a black and white gingham basket and linens!  Green gingham will provide a fresh and cooling feel to your picnic.
  • How cute are these gingham plates?  They will add a summery feel to any meal.

    photo by Geoffrey Sokol
    High Quality Photo

  • Replacing those thick and heavy chair cushions with a gingham fabric for the summer is a sure way to lighten  the feel in your eating area.
  • Gingham curtains are a staple in a country interior but they can add a lighthearted feel to a bath or kitchen area in any style home. 
  • As you can see by the plates in the photo, gingham is available in many colors from soft pastels to urban chic black and white.
  • How about  a crisp black and white lampshade like this one offered by Ballard Designs.  You could use this in an informal eating area, a relaxed family room or even a covered porch area.

Gingham is a very affordable fabric so if you try something and you don’t like it, no need to panic.  But I am confident that you will enjoy the light and fresh feel this summery fabric will add to your home.

Updating window treatments

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Are your draperies starting to look a little worn?  Do you need something to finish off the bamboo blinds you just purchased?  Maybe your windows are bare and you don’t know where to begin.  No worries–this post talks about window treatment options that are easy and affordable and carry a big “wow” factor.

Draperies

Draperies can be full pinch pleated drapes on a traverse rod, tab top panels attached to a decorative rod or a set of stationary panels placed at either end of the window or doorway.  If you are satisfied with the style and color of your drapes but just want to update them a bit you have several options.

  • Sew a contrasting border to the hem and/or sides of the panels.  You can use a 4″ wide border around the whole panel for a crisp, geometric look or you can add a large panel to the hem (12″ & up depending on the size of your drapes) for a custom look.  Choose a solid that coordinates with your room or find a pattern such as a greek key pattern for even more interest.
  • Tab top draperies can be punched up a bit simply by adding buttons to the tabs.  These can be covered in a matching or contrasting fabric or use an uncovered button (metal, rhinestone, etc) to add some texture and shine.
  • It is easy to hot glue trim to the sides of drapery panels for an instant update.  Just be sure to use a glue that is designed for use on fabric.  Add braid, gimp, fringe or ribbon to give ordinary drapes a custom look.
  • Something as simple as updating your rod can make all the difference.  Don’t overlook the finials at the end of the rod as this is often the only part that is really seen.  Use your imagination;  in place of rods consider using a collection of  large  knobs for tab top drapes or a piece of wood cut from your property for drapes held in place with clip rings.

Blinds and Shades

If you have installed blinds or shades and your windows are looking a little bare, a valance or cornice board may be just what you need.

  • Adding a valance above your shades is the easiest fix of all.  They can be purchased off the rack or easily sewn by you or someone else.  They will hide the “works” of the shade while adding color and pattern to your windows.
  • A cornice is a box that fits over the top of the window frame and is made from wood or styrofoam then painted or covered with fabric.  Like a valance, they hide the “works” of the shade while providing interest to the window.
  • Stationary panels placed on either side of the window is a great way to soften the harshness of a bare window.  These draperies are not functional, they simply add color and pattern to the area.

Window treatments can be very expensive but adding dressmaker details to ordinary drapes or panels will save you money and give you that custom look at the same time.

Spring Fabrics

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Spring Fabrics

Spring fabrics are wonderful to work with. From classic linens to silk chiffons, the fabrics of spring are a delight to look at and to feel. Make a skirt suit or a pants suit out of a lovely neutral linen or a delightful fuchsia, kiwi, jade, aqua, persimmon, or pistachio linen.

Sew a woman’s blouse or lovely lightweight jacket out of a silk chiffon. Try eyelet for a change of pace. Today’s eyelets come in wide variety of designs and some delightful colors, including aqua, turquoise, baby blue, pink, lime, bright yellow, brown and black.

Eyelet makes sweet little girl’s dresses too. It is also great for curtains, bed ruffles, bedspreads, pillow cases and other home décor items. Hem a long rectangle of eyelet on all four sides and you have a pretty dresser scarf or table runner.