Choosing Inspiration Fabric

Decorating? Do you want to know the secret to getting the look you want? You know the look. Coordinated but not too matchy. Combination of textures. leather, and wood. Incredible accessories and window treatments. Amazing paint. It’s not buying the most expensive furniture. It’s not knowing how to accessorize. It’s not paying thousands for decorating advice. The way to get the look you want begins by choosing an inspiration fabric. This fabric will make a statement and focus your decorating.  

Inspiration fabric

Finding your inspiration fabric will be the starting point for choosing the other fabrics, so of course, it makes sense to start with one pattern that you can’t get out of your head. Love at first – and second and third – sight! Chances are this pattern is going to say something about your personality and the colors will make you feel happy and comfortable. The inspiration fabric may be used on just one or two decorator pillows or an accent chair, but the inspiration fabric will tie everything together.

This will be your most colorful item. Most likely it will be a fabric but it could also be a colorful piece of art, a colorful rug, or even wallpaper. This pattern will give you all the inspiration you need to mix and match a great color pallet. Colors in your inspiration fabric will include the natural colors of wood and leather plus organic colors for coordinating fabrics, paint, and accent pieces.

Here’s an example of beautiful fabric with all the necessary colors to coordinate wood, leather, flooring, leather and fabric furniture.  

Workhorse fabric

We wisely call this inspiration fabric a workhorse fabric because it will truly take all the work out of making decisions. Your choices will be confirmed by the colors found in the workhorse fabric. A workhorse is a person or machine that dependably performs hard work over a long period of time. Your workhorse fabric will do the same. You will be happy with your color scheme and choices over a long period of time when you work from an inspirational fabric. Not only will you be happier but you will make fewer mistakes when choosing additional fabrics, paint, rugs, and accessories.

Be a little daring

I don’t really believe in decorating rules. In my mind, the most interesting homes are the ones that reflect the owner’s unique personality and experiences. These houses are not cookie cutter knockoffs. When you walk in the door you will get a glimpse into the owner’s world.  

So don’t always play it safe – be a little daring – especially when it comes to choosing an inspiration fabric. It may be brighter and bolder than you would normally choose. But, remember, this fabric may be used on just a pillow or two. But, it will tie all of your other fabrics, leather, wood, and paint together. Although this is your “main” fabric it will not be dominant but will tie everything else together.

Purchase a sample online or buy a half yard of your fabric. Take this fabric to each room in your house. How does it look? Do you like it in the morning, afternoon, and evening? How does it look with your trim and floors? You will not use every color in your inspiration fabric in every room but the inspiration colors will tie all the rooms together. We’ve all wandered through a model home with it’s carefully crafted theme. If you look closely you will find the inspiration fabric that sets the tone and color scheme for the entire home.  

Color, pattern, and scale

Now to find your complimentary fabrics. How many?  Well, that’s up to you! Make a list of where color will go … sofa, ottoman, chair, barstools, walls, flooring, fireplace, pillows, rugs, bedding, and window treatments. Vary the patterns choosing organic (nature/flowers) and geometrical (stripes, dots, designs). Vary the size of prints too. If you have a large flower inspiration fabric consider pairing with a stripe, plaid, plain, or small floral design. Consider too where the fabric will be used so you choose the correct fabrics. If you found your fabric in a design book chances are some of your coordinating fabrics will be displayed with your inspiration fabric. 

Most of the time your inspiration will be an amazing fabric. But perhaps you have a piece of art, wallpaper, or rug that speaks to your heart and displays all the colors you love. That too could be your inspiration. 

Once you have your inspiration fabric take it slowly. It’s all about creating a look and balance throughout your home. Create a mood board full of ideas, colors, and fabric swatches. Don’t start work until you have a clear picture of what you want your overall home to look like. Instead of purchasing and gathering everything together at once, consider purchasing one piece at a time.

The designer in me

As a residential design consultant, I approach each job as a partnership between myself and my client. My job is to interpret my client’s personal style while introducing them to potential ideas and inspiration so that their home will reflect their vision, interests, and passions. The best way and only way to capture this is through an inspiration fabric. Once the inspiration fabric is chosen all the rest just falls together.  

Create a mood board

If you are updating and have existing furniture or if you’re starting fresh you MUST create a mood board and carry fabric samples with you at all times. You never know when you’ll see something that might be perfect and you’ll know for sure if you have a piece of your inspiration fabric handy.  

So now YOU know! The way to get the look you want begins by choosing an inspiration fabric. This fabric will make a personal statement and focus your decorating.  

Here are a few more examples: