Advice for picking upholstery and window treatments for the winter season

Carol O’Callaghan goes in search of new and exciting fabrics for seasonal upholstery and window treatments.

FABRIC has the ability to soften an interior look and to transform a space like nothing else. If you’re considering revamping a window treatment or even reupholstering a favourite chair or sofa, new fabric can bring welcome colour and pattern into a room and give it visual lift.

Think strong colours and organic patterns if you want to get an idea of what’s in vogue for 2016, especially florals and geometrics which are getting bigger and bolder, with lots of sheen from the metallic of the moment, bronze.

Rich silks and velvets are eternal favourites woven into curtains in contrasting thread colours. Satin thread patterns are featuring on cotton fabric making a light-catching sheen on the surface, and cotton embossing tones down shinier glazed cotton backgrounds and richer silks and satins for an altogether luscious look.

Some new ideas in patterning are also emerging, with trees and feathers set against perennially popular greys and the new teals and navy — that’s according to interior designer Suzanne Walsh, who advises customers at Ken Jackson Interiors on fabrics and upholstery.

“We’re seeing soft muted upholstery in grey but with bright accents in cushions and footstools,” she says. “In fact anything that goes with grey, like raspberry and orange.”

But with such a bewildering choice of fabrics, textures, colour, pattern, and applications available in both upholstery and drapery, how do we make choices that have longevity and reflect our tastes and lifestyle while avoiding costly mistakes?

When it comes to making hard choices, Suzanne says we need to blend aspiration with practicality and the size of our wallet.

“People come in with a collage of ideas or a picture they’ve seen in a magazine,” she explains, “but they’ll have a practical check list too. It’s important to consider things like kids and pets, which mean you’ll need fabrics that are washable and stain- resistant.

“Someone might want a sofa in a pop art colour, but I try to guide them. The colour may look fabulous in a small fabric sample but on a big sofa it will dominate a room and you’ll have to live with it for years.”

But this doesn’t mean you have to forego your dream colour or pattern.

“Some people will ask to match a sofa fabric to a wall colour or a cushion, which they may want to change in a year or two,” Suzanne says.

“My advice is try to get the more expensive items right, then have fun with accents, using accessories like cushions or a feature wall to add in your colour and pattern”

This also means you can have your expensive silk while balancing it with practicality.

“Go for an affordable fabric for your sofa,” Suzanne advises, “and then have something luxurious in your cushions or footstool.”

Resistance to wear and tear is paramount, especially in homes with children and pets, and there is the prospect of upholstery and drapery receiving a hammering from the rigours of family life. “Get your sofa in something durable to withstand life in a busy house of parents and kids,” Suzanne says.

“Things like dog hair, and even denim jeans affect the fabric.”

Curtains, meanwhile are evolving as windows get bigger and appear in different shapes and sizes.

“Some of these are floor-to-ceiling,” says Suzanne, “and tracks and poles are needed that can take the weight.”

This is leading to a development in lightweight and double-width curtains that don’t need to be lined but, again, Suzanne adds a word of caution about planning.

“We’re advising people who are building to consider what curtains and tracks they want before the house is completed, so the curtains won’t block views.”

Bear in mind too that different rooms need different approaches, depending on their function.

“Bedrooms should be calming and relaxing, so save your funky ideas for downstairs,” Suzanne advises. “In the sitting room you can have fun with accents once you have a good core shell.”

Suzanne’s top tips for planning a new drapery or upholstery project: n Plan now for your entire look, even if you’re not buying everything all at once.

Avoid over-matching, be individual, anddon’t be afraid to put your personal stamp on the look.

* Opt for comfort, with easy cleaning and durability.

* Invest in good quality for longevity, particularly in bigger furniture pieces.

* Accessorise well — it’s the final touches that pull the look together.

www.kenjacksoninteriors.com