Used cleverly, fabric walls can add a mysterious element to your home décor. Fabric is a great way to discreetly divide a room space without building a wall; or buying a specific piece of furniture to visually achieve the illusion of two spaces within one. It is also a very clever decorating tool for small spaces.

Firstly, decide what you want to visually achieve. Do you want to still see through your fabric wall, have light filter through the fabric? If so, then you need to select a sheer fabric. Depending on the sheerness of the fabric will determine how much fullness, gathering or pleating you need. Or, do you want a solid fabric that is not transparent? Next, how are you going to attach the fabric? Top fixed to the ceiling; or if using the fabric on an internal glass wall or window it could be face fitted to the window frame.

What type of track do you want your fabric panels / curtains to hang from? S Fold or Ripple Fold track top fixed to the ceiling has a discreet barely there look – the eye is not drawn to the track, but rather to the fabric. Or maybe you prefer a bold metal eyelet heading along the top of the fabric? In some situations the track can be hidden altogether – think using the fabric as a “door” on a closet or cupboard. 

Now I am going to give you some ideas to get you thinking outside the solid décor square - start thinking how to use fabric differently and creatively!

Dividing a bedroom so the sleeping area (bed) is visually separated from study / sitting area. Think parents retreat or studio bedroom. Great solution to darken the sleeping area from the living area if one partner prefers to sit up and the other to sleep! I have seen this concept used in hotel rooms – makes for happy room sharing.

Use sheer fabric as a door in a kid’s bedroom to cover the closet. This is a neat trick in a small room as a solid door can be very heavy looking. And for girls, they just love opening the fabric panels to reveal the entire contents of their wardrobe rather than having sliding doors that partly cover the clothing or doors that stick out and take up too much space.

Hide all the TV and electronic equipment in a living area that doubles as the media room. A solid fabric is best, and can look stunning when closed and covering the media area. It creates an instant tidy and elegant sitting area!

Section your dining area from the living area. This creates two intimate spaces, or open the fabric panels and have one big space – gives you lots of options depending on the size and style of your gathering.

Create an instant private entry area from your front door. This is terrific trick to give your living area some privacy. I have seen this done many times, one of the most visually stunning ways to create mysteriousness to your home if a sheer fabric is used. Visitors can’t quite see into your home, but they are intrigued and want to!

Keep the warmth in winter confined to a small space. We have often used fabric as doors between rooms. This is a clever trick if you have a large space that is heated by a fireplace. During winter it keeps that space snug and cosy and adds drama if the right fabric is chosen. I have seen this idea used in homes that have long deep verandahs – enclose the draughty space in winter and in summer tie the fabric panels back and let the breeze through!

Are you thinking outside the solid square yet?

By Coleen Radford

Banding is a designer trick we use to add drama without detracting from the room. This designer detail crosses all décor genres, and looks equally at home in minimal and modern décor, Shabby Chic or Hampton’s beach style.

When your décor calls for a little something special, add banding to your curtains along the leading edges -- the vertical edges where curtains meet. This is an ideal place for a permanent pop of colour or change of texture.

Banding your curtains on the leading and return edges of curtain panels provides contrast and helps define the architecture of your windows. Using contrasting colours and fabrics when banding curtain panels is a great way to give your curtains a dramatic, two-toned effect.

Banding is also very effective when used horizontally – either along the lower edge or across the top. Bands can be solid, accented colours or patterns.

There’s no rule against mixing your fabrics. In fact, when you mix fabrics, you can add texture or sheen to an otherwise bland design. If the drapery in a young girl’s room, for example, is grey fabric, a hot-pink or white border may be just the thing to perk up the space. Or if the living room’s dark curtains feel a bit too weighty, lighten then with a cream band.

When choosing solid bands for patterned curtains or vice versa, pull a colour from the pattern.

For example, if your drapery has a vibrant orange and blue ikat print on a white background, use orange banding along the curtains’ inner edges for high impact or blue bands for a mellower touch. Mixing patterns can be a design no-no, but not when done correctly. As long as the prints vary -- polka dots against stripes, large flowers alongside tiny posies -- the look can be interesting, bold and aesthetically pleasing.

Your curtain bands can be any width. Choose the width by factors such as how the fabric hangs when the curtains are gathered or open.

Banding can be skilfully used to tie a room décor together. For example, use a banding that is the same colour as a piece of furniture – this will anchor the space. Or, have the banding in a pattern that ties back with scatter cushions.

Banding looks particularly stunning on Roman blinds – it is a good way to add drama and interest to an otherwise small window, or to make a very wide Roman blind look less bland if a plain colour with no pattern is the main fabric.

I love Roman blinds trimmed with banding along the lower edge. We use this trick in girl’s rooms - and then add a bit of bling such as coloured beading or pom poms. For young girls rooms a pretty two tone stripe such as pink and green with a polka dot band is gorgeous! For a teenager, try a black Roman trimmed with silver and then add clear drop beads along lower edge – the effect looks like a chandelier.

For a boy’s room, a navy Roman blind trimmed in white is smart and masculine. This look crosses many age groups and is not limited to child’s décor.

Happy Banding! By Coleen Radford

Once you have dressed your windows, have some fun with chairs! We can help you with this – we can source the fabric, and organise the upholstery for you. A statement armchair, chaise, or daybed can set the mood.

Often all it takes to pull a room together is one perfect piece, and a chair, Ottoman or bench seat is ideal for that purpose.

There should be a surprise element in every space and having a statement chair is a brilliant, useful and beautiful thing to include in any room.

If a room is classic but bordering on safe you can afford to add a little drama with pattern and colour or contrasting accents.

A classic Louis chair looks fantastic used this way.

Chairs that are going to get high use need to be upholstered in heavy duty fabric. If a chair in a bedroom is more for show than practical use you can afford to indulge in less resilient fabrics such as velvet or other drapery fabrics.

As with fashion, chairs are a great way to make a statement in a room. Try putting one or two interesting chairs in a room and see how they not only liven up the room, but define the mood. Here are a few ideas to show you how.

Go big with colour and form. If you are going to experiment with a bold shape for a chair, you may as well throw in big colour too. Contrast bold colour with crisp white for a modern, fresh feeling aesthetic.Try something whimsical and unexpected. A hot pink chair in neutral room of white and grey is a great attention grabber!

Use Animal print – but in moderation. Just a splash, you don’t want the whole zoo!

Wing chairs painted in a sassy colour with complementary fabric. It’s OK to paint furniture – makes traditional pieces look less stuffy.

A little black chair in a room always works. Black is classic and anchors a room; it looks good with everything and gives the eye a focal point.

Don’t forget the scatter cushions! A cushion looks fabulous in either contrast or complimentary fabrics and colours.

By Coleen Radford