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Fabulous Bedroom Fabrics to Spice Things Up
Bedroom decor should help not hinder sleep, but you can keep the restful vibe and inject some character, too, with fantastic fabrics
Jo Leevers
30 June 2014
Houzz contributor. I also write about interiors and houses for leading UK magazines and newspaper supplements. Recent work at www.joleevers.com
Houzz contributor. I also write about interiors and houses for leading UK magazines... More
The quickest way to give a bedroom a blast of colour and some fresh inspiration is with interesting textiles. Colourful or patterned bedding, upholstery or throws can take a bedroom from boring to beautiful quickly and easily. Yes, a bedroom needs to be a quiet space that helps promote sleep, but there is also scope for some surprises, too. Headboards, covers and cushions dressed in prints and patterns are all brilliant ways to style-up your scheme without affecting your sleep. Snooze, but don’t lose with these great ideas…
Go global
Appliqued, embroidered and woven fabrics from exotic countries can turn a bedroom into a warm, cocooning place. Wash vegetable dyed fabrics and cushions in cold water and a very mild detergent, if necessary, to avoid the colours running or fading.
Appliqued, embroidered and woven fabrics from exotic countries can turn a bedroom into a warm, cocooning place. Wash vegetable dyed fabrics and cushions in cold water and a very mild detergent, if necessary, to avoid the colours running or fading.
Pick striking cushions
A dark headboard of horizontal panels is made bright and beautiful with two eye-catching cushions, with stripes running in the opposite direction. Note how the grey paint wraps around, extending onto the ceiling and defining the bed area. This is a smart trick for making a small bedroom feel like it contains two areas in one.
Learn how to make a cushion for under £10
A dark headboard of horizontal panels is made bright and beautiful with two eye-catching cushions, with stripes running in the opposite direction. Note how the grey paint wraps around, extending onto the ceiling and defining the bed area. This is a smart trick for making a small bedroom feel like it contains two areas in one.
Learn how to make a cushion for under £10
Keep it cool for kids
Searching for a scheme for a child’s room that is playful, but not in stereotypical pink or blue? Graphic stripes are a great solution, keeping things lively, on trend and gender neutral. The stripes on this bedcover are repeated in the wall decor. Achieve the same effect on a wall with monochrome wallpaper or created painted stripes with masking tape and emulsion.
Searching for a scheme for a child’s room that is playful, but not in stereotypical pink or blue? Graphic stripes are a great solution, keeping things lively, on trend and gender neutral. The stripes on this bedcover are repeated in the wall decor. Achieve the same effect on a wall with monochrome wallpaper or created painted stripes with masking tape and emulsion.
Draw a line
This headboard adds an essential dash of colour with a yellow stripe, bordered by nutty brown. It immediately lifts the minky greys of this scheme, but still feels restful enough for a bedroom. Commission a bespoke headboard or add a strip to a plain existing one for a modern makeover.
This headboard adds an essential dash of colour with a yellow stripe, bordered by nutty brown. It immediately lifts the minky greys of this scheme, but still feels restful enough for a bedroom. Commission a bespoke headboard or add a strip to a plain existing one for a modern makeover.
Turn up the heat
What could be hotter than orange? Here an ottoman sets the tone and the shade is repeated on the cushions. This is a great way to ensure a small bedroom in a loft extension, where there is not sufficient space to add lots of other furniture or hang artworks, is still big on character.
What could be hotter than orange? Here an ottoman sets the tone and the shade is repeated on the cushions. This is a great way to ensure a small bedroom in a loft extension, where there is not sufficient space to add lots of other furniture or hang artworks, is still big on character.
Plump up the volume
A feminine scheme gets a blast of black, hot pink and tassels with just a couple of cushions. These plump numbers feel funky and fun. Embellishments like fringing and tassels are the kind of extras that add interest to a scheme. The patterns also pick up on the bed linen motifs, keeping the room coherent.
A feminine scheme gets a blast of black, hot pink and tassels with just a couple of cushions. These plump numbers feel funky and fun. Embellishments like fringing and tassels are the kind of extras that add interest to a scheme. The patterns also pick up on the bed linen motifs, keeping the room coherent.
Wake up to yellow
It’s bright, it works brilliantly with grey and it adds graphic pattern without feeling overbearing. Yellow is the sunshine shade for bedrooms and here it feels very sophisticated used in conjunction with a bold print. Notice, too, how the diamond pattern of the bedcover links with the headboard button detailing.
See more yellow and grey schemes
It’s bright, it works brilliantly with grey and it adds graphic pattern without feeling overbearing. Yellow is the sunshine shade for bedrooms and here it feels very sophisticated used in conjunction with a bold print. Notice, too, how the diamond pattern of the bedcover links with the headboard button detailing.
See more yellow and grey schemes
Get it covered
The rich plum shade on this headboard lifts an otherwise neutral scheme, adding an adventurous note. Reupholstering a headboard can be a straightforward job and not all headboards are shaped as elaborately as this one. You might even change fabrics for summer and winter.
The rich plum shade on this headboard lifts an otherwise neutral scheme, adding an adventurous note. Reupholstering a headboard can be a straightforward job and not all headboards are shaped as elaborately as this one. You might even change fabrics for summer and winter.
Stay serene with green
OK, so a glass headboard isn’t the cosiest idea, but the emerald shade, echoed in the cushions, is good enough to dive into. The rest of the scheme stays pale and calm, letting the rich jewel shade take centre stage. Replicate this idea with a soft, unframed fabric for an instant, bright (and comfortable) headboard.
OK, so a glass headboard isn’t the cosiest idea, but the emerald shade, echoed in the cushions, is good enough to dive into. The rest of the scheme stays pale and calm, letting the rich jewel shade take centre stage. Replicate this idea with a soft, unframed fabric for an instant, bright (and comfortable) headboard.
Layer up the textures
Creating an impact with fabric does not have to mean incorporating bright colours. Luxurious texture is a serious bedroom statement and here, layers of silk and touch-me material make this bedroom a sumptuous zone. Sleepy, but very sensuous.
Share your favourite fabric styles with us in the Comments.
Creating an impact with fabric does not have to mean incorporating bright colours. Luxurious texture is a serious bedroom statement and here, layers of silk and touch-me material make this bedroom a sumptuous zone. Sleepy, but very sensuous.
Share your favourite fabric styles with us in the Comments.
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