Fun things to do with a few yards of fabric

I am a fabric junkie, and the longer I’m in interior design, the more my addiction to gorgeous textiles grows. As I design spaces for my home and those of friends and customers, I’m always blown away by the power a few yards of fabric has to take a room to new heights and to make it a truly unique expression of the homeowner’s personality.

Here are my five favorite ways to use fabric to transform your home’s style:

COVER A HEADBOARD

Upholstered headboards elevate the look of a gorgeous bedding ensemble and can take your room in so many different directions. If you are a DIY-er, get a few yards of fabric and make your own. If not, lots of different upholstered headboards provide a warm and wonderful backdrop for a great gaggle of pillows.

ADD SOME SPLASHY PILLOWS

Accent pillows are like artwork displayed on your furniture. They reflect your personality and evoke a range of emotions, like excitement or tranquility.

In my own home, I rely on pillows to take my interior decor from one season to the next. In the winter, you’ll find rich plaids on my ticking sofas. This summer I’ll make a statement with pillows in red and navy.

Pick out an interesting mix of fabrics, fire up the sewing machine and craft a few new pillows to lighten up your upholstered furniture or bedding for the season.

PERK UP PLACE SETTINGS WITH FUN NAPKINS

I love how real cloth napkins add to the design of a tablescape. So I have several sets of napkins that I always have clean, pressed and ready to pull out in a jiff to splash up my table, whether it’s just my husband and me for dinner or I’m entertaining a crowd.

All you’ll need is a bit of fabric to create a quick set of napkins for your spring table. If you are like me, and even looking at a sewing machine intimidates you, pick up a ready-made set for the season. There are so many wonderful colors and patterns to choose from.

DRESS YOUR TABLE WITH A RUNNER

Right before I hosted a ladies’ luncheon, I used playful pink runners to make a look. Since my table is kind of long, I decided to crisscross several runners across the table’s center. I love how it turned out.

Monograms make everything more special. So I added mine to the runners at the head of the table.

FRAME YOUR WINDOWS AND DOORS

Simple drapes hung in interior doorways add to the romance of a room. Is this something you could do in your own home, perhaps in the door to your dining room?

Take a look around your home and evaluate the look of your window design. Are there bare windows that are calling out for drapes? Are your existing window treatments stale and weathered? If so, all it takes is a few yards to beautifully finish the look of a room.

This column was adapted from Mary Carol Garrity’s blog at www.nellhills.com. She can be reached at marycarol@nellhills.com.