Hot Trend for 2014 - Use of Floral Fabrics!

I love checking out the new (and not-so-new) trends identified by various designers and decorating magazines. I read in House Beautiful link to site that florals are making a comeback in 2014. This is good news to me since I love floral fabrics and think they look particularly great on upholstered pieces - often taking a pedestrian piece from nice and serviceable to WOW!

There is a lot of advice available on-line and elsewhere about how to integrate fabrics into a decor - here are just a sample.

Decorating with floral fabrics is a great way to add life, color and excitement to a room, and the more you can use the better. But there are a few rules you need to keep in mind.

•                When decorating with floral fabrics it's important to use different sizes of patterns. A good rule of thumb is to use at least one large pattern, one medium pattern and one small.

•                Repetition of pattern is always a good idea in decorating but don't overdo it.

•                Don't be afraid to be bold. Floral patterns are at their best when they're strong. Big patterns and strong colors look great so don't be afraid to use them.

•                If you're using a lot of different floral patterns they need to connect in some way. The best way to do it is with color. That's not to say they need to all be the same colors, just the same colorways (meaning the colors compliment each other and work together).

•                Use a variety of different types of fabric with different textures. For instance, mix silks, cottons, canvases, etc. link

Floral upholstery looks great against the one-color background. Floral patterns can also be combined with other less busy patterns like stripes. Grouping several throw pillows in various patterns together will add detail and depth to the room decor. Try several fabric samples together before deciding which ones will work - link.

The consensus seems to be that there are wonderful fabrics (and wallpapers) available and that they can add freshness and interesting texture to any space. I certainly agree!

For some time, I've been collecting images of various fabrics (on fine upholstered furniture of course) on my pinterest board and here is just a sample of that collection:

Check out these items and more on my pinterest board - link

I am always torn when refurbishing fine upholstered pieces about whether to use florals (or other definite graphical patterns) or to stick to the more neutral fabric choices. My concerns are about whether my vision is "sellable" and whether potential buyers can actually envision incorporating the patterns into existing or planned decors. My experience has been that the neutral pieces do sell better but not always. I went back to my last several year collections and found some fine examples of pieces that did sell well and are now enjoying their colorful and interesting lives in some lucky person's home.

I love each and every one of these - one of my all-time favorite is the "watercolor" fabric on the French style chaise that just left me for its new home in NYC!

I hope you enjoy this discussion of florals - I will now need to be bolder about using more of them in 2014!