Liven up the interior with colours
THERE is a lovely way to bring colour and art into your home, without breaking the budget. The trick is to use fancy fabrics in unusual ways.
First, go look at the fabric offcuts at your nearest textile shop. Look for one with a pattern you really like, like a jungle pattern, a batik or one with huge flowers. Buy a meter or a meter and a half of it, and then take it to the framing shop. Have it framed, just pull the fabric over the frame and hang it up as big dramatic art.
Second, give your lamps a makeover. This works best if you already have lamps with shades because all you have to do is to cut your fabric to size, making sure there’s an inch extra on the top and bottom. Then fold the fabric over the shade and use a glue gun on the inside of the shade to keep the fabric in place. Third, show an unexpected burst of colour. This comes from lining your drawers and the inside of your cupboard doors with fabric. One way to do this is to cut the fabric, making sure it’s overlapping every line by an inch. Make a border with a quick bit of hemming, or fold, iron flat and then use the glue gun to put in place.
Fourth, upgrade your family snapshots. If you have lots of lovely small photos but haven’t yet framed them, buy big frames. Cut the fabric to size and use a fabric mat to showcase the smaller picture. You can either create a matched set or go wild with contrast.
Fifth, make cushions. You didn’t think we’d miss that one, right? Seriously, make big and small cushions, round cushions and heart-shaped cushions. A sewing machine will do the job quickly but it takes just a needle, thread and less than an hour to make a plain old rectangular pillow.