Renovation: An expert guide to enhancing your home with fabric

When it comes to renovating, soft furnishing projects are the icing on the cake. Our experts share their tips on trends, colours, drapery and texture

Material possession

While flooring, paint, lighting and accessories are popular home investments, the power of fabrics to perfectly finish an interior is sometimes underestimated. However, once you start researching fabrics – the many types and the history behind them, the wealth of texture, weight and design, and their sheer versatility – you’re likely to fall in love.

Many interior designers use fabric as their secret weapon because they know that nothing else can create the same effect. Fabrics bring texture and ‘depth’ to a room, adding an extra layer of interest and evoking a feeling of luxurious comfort. Textiles can be neutral and unobtrusive, allowing the focal point in a room to shine, or they can be the star of the show.

While it’s important to choose beautiful fabrics that create the aesthetic you’re after, it’s also vital to make choices that are practical and will suit your lifestyle. This guide is an introduction to decorating with fabrics and the many creative ways they can be used to bring your home to life.

Fabric trends

Pantone recently unveiled ‘Greenery’ as its 2017 Colour of the Year so expect to see palettes drawn from nature being widely used in drapery and soft furnishings.

Modern tapestry is back in fashion, both in upholstery fabrics and beautiful wall hangings. The intricate patterns and textures create visual interest and the rich colours echo this season’s trend for jewel tones.

The desire for traditional textiles remains strong, with ikat fabrics especially in vogue (these involve a technique of binding and dipdyeing yarn before weaving it, creating muted, hazy patterns with a tribal feel).

People crave human connection so it’s no surprise that we’re still seeing the influence of art and craft. Fabrics featuring painterly effects from watercolours and dreamy landscapes to bold brushstrokes stay on-trend.

Vibrantly coloured velvets are big for both drapery and upholstery and bring a luxe, elegant look to any interior.

As organic, muted palettes continue to dominate, the world has once again fallen in love with linen. A linen and polyester blend is also popular for curtains as people seek out more liveable fabrics.