Use Textile Furnishings for Interior Decoration

Textile furnishings is the chief component of interior decoration of your home that is also called soft furnishings or home furnishings. Interior decoration with textile furnishings is all about textile, fabrics, color etc. To furnish a home, every type of fabric can be used that is available in vast range of colors, designs, patterns & style. You think of anything you will find it on fabric. In so much variety you really need to scratch your brain cells & work creatively.

To work on the textile part for home decoration, you must first of all decide the color & fabric that you need for different rooms. Think what you like & dislike in terms of color & style. Say your liking can be towards bright color or you can have taste towards all natural & earthy colors. Also involve your family in this. Take suggestions from kids to decorate their room.

You can start with one room, finish it and then pick the next one. In this way your work will be more organized and will give the desired results of interior decoration. Like, if you are thinking to furnish your bedroom then you can consider textile furnishings as floor throws, bed sheets, pillows, bed spreads, carpets, curtains for windows, bed comforters, mattress covers etc. You will find every color of rainbow here. Even the price vary a lot with brands and styles.

Now each room has its specific requirements. So check out for options of textile furnishings. Also along with the color & fabric, check for the style you wanna go for. It can vary from traditional, casual to modern. You will find numerous books, online websites that can make your journey even more smoother.

What is required in textile furnishings
Textile furnishings for interior decoration is not only meant for ornamentation but also for strength & safety. So you should always check the fabric that you are going to use. Now the use of fabric is entirely your choice but make sure to use right kind at right place. For example

• Shower curtain fabric must resist water and should have anti mild property
• Curtains in any room must have anti fade tendency
• Bedding fabric must be soft, comfortable, wrinkle free, pest resistant
• Fabric that you are going to use in kitchen must be flame resistant
• Bath mats, carpets or mat for any other purpose and floor item should be anti slippery

So basically it is the purpose and place where you are going to use the fabric will decide its quality. To buy any textile or home furnishing fabric for home decor better to check for which room and purpose you are going to use it. This will help you in finding the most suitable fabric for home decor.

Achieve Style by Using Textile Furnishings For Interior Home Decoration
You can use different combinations and fabrics to create a style for your home decoration. If you have elegant furniture and marvelous flooring then you must need a home furnishings that match the entire decor.

• For curtain you can use satin if you like free flows. You can also use corduroy if your taste is more towards thick fabric. Corduroy fabric comes in various damask styles that look wonderful. In market you will also find organza curtain that can be used with thick fabric or you can go for the ready made cotton curtains to change the whole look.
• You can use natural bed sheets and bedspreads and on that use varied colored pillows and comforters. In this way you can change the entire look of your bedroom
• For drawing & dining room furnishings you can use table mats, table runners, dining cushion covers that are in harmony.
• Carpets are the great way to enhance the look of any room where they are used. Small rugs can be placed near to bed, and a full carpet in the living or drawing room.
• Bathroom is place where you can also experiment with the textile furnishings. Use colorful shower curtains, matching bath rugs, bath mats & hand towels. You can really give it a personal touch and make bathroom a personal retreat.

In this way you can make use of all the available textile furnishings for your interior decoration. If required you can also take the assistance of interior designer.

How to Select Bed Sheets

Home is where comfort is! All you need to do for getting ultimate relaxation is to make your bedroom soothing so that you can get a good night's sleep and be refreshed for a busy day ahead. Not only the beautiful and comfortable furniture but your selection of bed and bedding furnishings too contribute in getting that perfect ambiance for your bedroom. Bed sheet is one of the most important furnishings for this purpose and proper care should always be taken while buying them.

You must consider sufficiently on many points when selecting a bed sheet. While a bed sheet must compliment the size of the bed and mattress, enough provision should be kept for the additional features of the mattress like inbuilt pillows on the mattress. The fabric of a bed sheet is also an important consideration. Cotton and linen bedsheets for hot climates and flannel bedsheets for cooler climates are the best deals. Silk bed sheets are there for luxurious feel. Not all fabrics are quality fabrics. You should always read the label for information about the thread counts of the fabric which should be between 175 and 250.

Know more about bed and bedding furnishings

Home Decor and Fabrics

We all want our homes to look unique. As such, all of us put unimaginable efforts to make it look like heaven. Home furnishings play a major role among all the other interior decor items that we use to embellish our homes.

Fabrics are, in fact, used by interior decorators as a useful accessory that hides any flaw of the house including architectural defects. Apart from this major purpose, home furnishing fabrics are used for providing privacy, insulation from heat and cold as also from noise. The amazing fact about fabrics, when used for home decor, is that they can be reused and recycled very easily. They can be changed without much investment too.

Although fabrics serve many purposes, they have to be chosen carefully as what one kind of fabric can provide, the other can not. Some fabrics absorb heat and light while others do not. Some are naturally resistant to fire and dust whereas some others are given special finishes such as moth resistance and anti bacterial properties. This goes to prove that there is a wide range of fabrics with different properties that can be used as per the requirement of various home furnishings. For example, upholstery fabrics are strong, durable, have resistance to seam slippage and shape retention capability. Similarly, kitchen linen fabrics are stain and flame resistant and curtain fabrics are light resistant.

Not only fabrics provide functionality but they can also assist in providing different interior decorating styles based on the fabrics selected. For example, chenille fabric and printed flocked fabric, when used with a creamy white background color, can give a trendy look to any room where as corduroy fabric when used in curtains and cushions can give a contemporary stylish look to the same room. Jacquard and brocade fabric can be used for traditional appearance of any home while knit fabric can give traditional as well as contemporary look depending upon the colors, forms, and textures of the chosen fabric.

Table Linen for Memorable Wedding

Planning and organizing a memorable wedding party requires a good amount of attention. Table decoration is an integral part of any wedding ceremony. As such, a thoughtful selection of table linen is a must for such an important occasion. However, there are so many fabrics available these days that everyone seems to be puzzled about how to find wedding table linens. I've made an attempt to categorize some of the fabrics that can lend a special feel to your special moment.

The popular fabric choice for wedding table linen is the formal one made of damask, linen, or lace, in neutral colors like white or ivory - plain, monogrammed or embroidered. You can always deter from this formal choice and decide the look you want for your wedding table linen.

Pintuck fabric – They can be defined as narrow, sewn rows of fabric. Pintuck fabrics have interesting diamond or square patterns on them. They'll give a little bulge to the table without looking odd. However, choose your glass crockery with wider bases because the tucking on the fabric might make it difficult to balance things on it.


Bichon fabric - This fabric has a "crushed" or "wrinkly" texture, and thus, sometimes, it is referred to as crushed linens. These fabrics are a little shiny and are made of more delicate fabrics, therefore costs more than some other luxury linens.

Dupioni- It is also called Shatung Silk. Dupioni has an interesting stubbled texture with a slight sheen. Its unique double weave lets the two colors shine through at the same time. It is crisp to touch and doesn't wrinkle badly. In fact, many bridal gowns and bridesmaids dresses are also made of this royal fabric.

Lamour – They are shiny linen, very soft to touch. Lamour is best when looking for a little shine in your event.


Bengaline – It is a poplin-like fabric having a crosswise corded effect. Therefore, it adds texture to the table design. It also has a shiny surface which makes it perfect for special occasions.

Organza or Chiffon Fabrics: If you want a softer effect, use sheer fabrics like organza or chiffon. Sometimes fitted linen is used on tables. If you want to have an overlay on the top of such regular poly cotton or damask table linen, then also, sheer fabrics are the best choice.
When you've selected the fabric of your choice, just follow some table decorating ideas and make your wedding a memorable event for yourself and your guests.

Comfort, Luxury or Eco- Friendly- What's Your Choice for Bath Towels

All of us have used cotton bath towels for a good portion of our lives. However, in this age of specialization, bath towels come in different materials and in a variety of sizes, patterns and colors. You have great options to choose from bath towels that are either comfortable, luxurious or eco-friendly. Some of them even have all the qualities!

Cotton Bath Towels
The natural cotton has a very good texture. It feels good against skin, and is very absorbent that makes it perfect for bath towels. Polyester is sometimes blended with cotton to prevent shrinkage and damage from wear & tear. However, such towels have lower quality than 100% cotton towels. Terry cotton is made by a weaving process that loops the fibers on both sides of the fabric. In the other variety- velour- these loops are cropped to give a smoother texture. However, velour has a tendency to bead water on the fiber which takes longer to dry. Velour towels are appropriate more for decorative purposes while terry cotton towels are for functional use.

Turkish Cotton Towels: They are thick, soft, and sturdy, and absorb water very well. More they are used, the more softer they get. However, using fabric softener when washing terry cloth towels affects their absorbency. Laundering the towels once or twice is enough to bring back their natural absorbent quality.

Egyptian Cotton Towels: Egyptian cotton is considered to be the finest cotton due to extra long fibers that make it soft and durable towel. However, they are a bit expensive than the terrycloth towels but give the real spa experience.
Organic Cotton Towels: Organic cotton bath towels, although costlier, are usually thicker and more plush. They contain around 700 grams of cotton per sq meter. The regular towels have only 200 to 400 grams of cotton per sq meter. They are environmental-friendly too. Organic Egyptian cotton bath towels are the most luxurious towels. They are extremely fluffy & absorbent, and generally larger than "regular" bath towels.
Bamboo Bath Towels
If you are more conscious towards environment, use bamboo towels. They are softer and dry quickly. Sometimes, they are blended with cotton. The best luxury bamboo bath towels have a nice blend of 65% bamboo & 35% cotton. Bamboo towels provide the best of both worlds- superior softness & absorption of bamboo and durability of cotton!


Microfiber Fabrics Towels
Microfiber Fabric is a synthetic fabric but have extraordinary qualities of absorption and cleaning. Towels made from it are thin, dry quickly, very lightweight and can absorb five times their weight in water. They are specially made for active sports purposes, so you can imagine how comfortable they would be even for daily usage!

Now when you know about all the available bath towels, Choose high quality towels. If you are going for eco-friendly towels, you can always recycle old bath towels!

Popular Handmade Carpets

Carpets and rugs have come to occupy a coveted place in our lives and homes. Carpets are handmade as well as machine made. Handmade carpets are more beautiful and sophisticated than the other ones. These carpets are given various designs and patterns by weavers through great skill and workmanship. It usually takes several months to complete a carpet of exceptional quality and value.

Two types of handmade carpets are particularly popular worldwide. These are the Persian carpets and the Oriental carpets. Persian carpets generally have two parts- the field or the central part and the borders. Geometrical, floral as well as medallion designs are used extensively in these carpets. They are hand knotted carpets which are tied with a single looping knot. The finest carpets may contain more than 50 knots per square cm. An average Persian carpet too has about 30 knots per sq. cm. Apart from the number of knots, the quality of a Persian carpet also depends on the knot density. The higher the knot density, more fine and expensive the carpet will be.

Carpets made in the Asian countries such as Turkey, India, Tibet, Nepal, Pakistan, China etc. are known as Oriental carpets. These are also hand knotted carpets. The most popular designs found in the oriental carpets include the Persian designs, the Turkoman allover designs, geometric and plain tribal designs. They are mostly made from natural fibers, especially wool. Strands of wool yarn are looped around the warp threads and knotted thereafter. The number of knots range from 20 to 600 per sq inch and can go upto 1,000 in the finest oriental carpets.

Handmade carpets, when categorized by origin, are known as Persian or Oriental Carpets. However, when studying carpets by weaves, they can be categorized into hand knotted, hand tufted, hand woven, braided and felted carpets. All of them can lend a great personality to our homes.

How to Care for Textile Furnishings

Fabrics intended to be used for home furnishings are quite expensive and as such they can not be replaced frequently. Select furnishing fabrics according to their intended usage. For example, when buying for sofa in the family room, where it will have maximum usage, fabric should be durable and stain resistant such as nylon, olefin, polyester or rayon. Cotton, too, is durable but is not so much stain resistant. However, the soft feel of cotton and linen provides comfort and they can be used as upholstery in the interior rooms where they'll not be used so often. Here are some other tips for caring and cleaning your upholstery.

Read the Labels: Always read labels to know the manufacturer's care instruction so that you may properly clean the fabrics without damaging them. Usually, all precautions needed for textile care is provided through symbols indicating whether a fabric can be washed, bleached, ironed, dry-cleaned or tumble-dried. Follow the instructions for longer life of your upholstery.

Clean & Care for Home Furnishings: Regular cleaning & caring is essential for all home furnishings.

• Vacuum blinds and curtains, including linings, once a week to avoid building up of dirt on them. Use an upholstery attachment for this. When cleaning delicate fabrics, stretch muslin over the nozzle. Get them professionally cleaned every 2-3 years.

• Never use a vacuum cleaner to clean feather or down cushions as it will damage the fillings. Don't use soap or detergents on fixed covers as they may cause colors to bleed.

  

• Except when labeled as washable, always dry clean the loose covers. Cotton or linen covers can be hand-washed but don't rub the fabric. Squeeze it gently, and rinse extremely well. Avoid drying in direct sunshine or tumble drying, instead dry flat. Iron covers lengthwise, on a very low heat, while they are still damp.

• Keep leather upholstery away from sun, if not possible, protect with curtains and blinds. If scratched, rub it over with a wet cloth to make the scratches less visible. To wipe away spills, moisten the entire surface evenly & lightly and allow drying naturally. Don't apply direct heat.

• Steam clean the trimmings, including tassles and fringed trimmings, on soft furnishings. Keep it gentle. Use soft artist's brushes to dust rosettes and ruched braids.

• When dry cleaning, always clean the whole set to avoid uneven color change.

• Turn the cushion covers regularly for evenly spread color fading. Also change their places as some of the seats are more used than others. This'll ensure even wear & tear. Stashing some cotton terrycloth towels under seat cushions can efficiently deal with unexpected spills.

• Don't pull or cut any loose threads. Using a needle or pin, gently push the thread back through to the underside of the fabric.

Spot Cleaning: Use fabric protectors that help in keeping spills from being absorbed into the fibers right away. Anyway, its not enough. Blot any spills immediately with a clean towel. Never rub, only blot gently. Sometimes this is enough to get rid of the stain completely, especially if the fabric has been pre-treated with a fabric protector. If using a fabric cleaner, always test in an inconspicuous area before using. Follow manufacturer's instructions regarding water based or solvent based cleaner. Try to use a mild cleaner. Apply with a soft brush in a circular motion to work into the fibers, then vacuum when dry.

Tips on Caring for Carpets and Rugs

Carpets and rugs not only act as floor coverings but they lend beauty to our homes. Over time, they get dirty and are subjected to premature wear and tear due to many reasons. However, with proper care and maintenance, many more years can be added to the life of these rugs and carpets.
Do regular vacuuming: Clean the carpets and rugs regularly and vacuum more often- at least once a week, more frequently in heavy traffic areas. It prevents buildup of gritty debris that can cut up carpet fibers. Use moderate suction and a covered nozzle. Vacuum in the direction of the pile. For older and more fragile rugs, a small hand-held vacuum cleaner is enough. Avoid vulnerable areas like fringes. Regular carpet cleaning without dangerous chemicals is also advisable for their longer life.


Use rug pad or carpet underlay: A good underlay or underpadding gives protection and prolongs the life of a carpet or rug by allowing them to lie flat and evenly. Underlays must be 1/8 to 1/4" (3 to 6 mm) thick and should be large enough to extend to the edge of the carpet. Avoid underlays having self-adhesives or the ones made of foam, synthetic rubber, vinyl, jute or recycled felt. Check them periodically. If damaged or degraded, replace them.

Reduce Traffic: The best way for this is to avoid walking on them which is almost impossible. So, try to limit the amount of traffic by placing rugs towards one side of the room instead of putting them in front of doorways. Turn over or replace carpets periodically, say in a year or two, so that the damage is evenly distributed. Although carpet protectors, made of plastic strips or heavy woven canvas can protect a carpet from heavy wear, they can be a tripping hazard.

Avoid Indentations: Shoes or heavy furniture can cause permanent indentations in a carpet. Use furniture glides or cups under the legs of heavy furniture. If possible, reposition furniture periodically. Alternatively, move the furniture now and then and dab an ice cube on the spot until the fibers bounce back. Then dry with fan or hair dryer. Remove outdoor shoes before walking on a valued carpet. Stiletto heels are a complete 'no' as they can pierce holes through the carpet. To remove temporary indentations, work the carpet back in place with fingers or with the edge of spoon, dampen the area in question a little, and heat the carpet with a hair dryer.

Handle and Store Carpets Properly: Never fold a carpet. Always roll them up. Don't dump them under the bed, or into an attic or basement. Make the rug or carpet clean and dry before being rolled for storage. Place it face down on the floor. Cover the back with acid-free tissue or pre-washed cotton muslin and then roll from the top of the carpet, in the direction of the pile, onto a wide diameter tube. Cover this carpet tube with Mylar (polyethylene) plastic sheeting or pre-washed, unbleached muslin and then tie lightly in several places with wide cotton ribbons. Always store the carpet off the floor, hung on bracket supports that should touch only the ends of the tube.

Remove Stains Immediately: If a liquid has spilled over it, blot it with tissue paper or soft cloth. Never rub the area. Once the liquid is absorbed, if a special cleaning solution is to be used, first test it on an inconspicuous part of the carpet. If the solution proves to be safe to use, try to use the minimum amount possible. Always work from outside of the stain toward the center to prevent any spreading. Ensure drying up the area with a hair dryer or fan when you are finished.

Mattress for a Good Night's Sleep- How They are Made

A good quality mattress is very essential, not only for sound sleep but also to be fit. When a mattress is made with utmost care, it is neither too hard nor too soft. It has the right mix of comfort and flexibility to support our spinal curve. A mattress can be said to be a quality product only when it keeps our back in a natural position thus avoiding any kind of health hazard. Mattress manufacturers have to be very vigilant while making mattresses. Let's see how it is made?

The most prevalent mattresses, today, are basically of two types- innerspring and boxspring. The main components for innerspring mattresses are wires that are used to make springs and a semi-rigid netting or wire mesh called insulator. Apart from insulator, there are cushioning layers that can be made of any material such as natural fiber, polyurethane foam, or polyester. Then there are flanges made of fabric, and the hogs rings of metal. Top, bottom, and side panels of a mattress is made of a durable fabric cover quilted over a backing of foam or fiber. The binding tape that holds the outer mattress cover together is made of heavy-duty, fibrous, synthetic material.

The insulator and the cushioning layers are affixed to the innerspring unit- a series of wire coils. The insulator is fitted directly onto the innerspring and prevents the next layer i.e. the cushioning, from molding to the coils. The cushioning layers can differ in number from mattress to mattress, ranging from 2 to 8 layers and from 1/4 inch to 2 inches in thickness. The fabric flanges are the connecting panels that are attached to the quilted mattress cover with large, round staples called hogsrings. The top, bottom, and side panels of the mattress are stitched together with border tape.

Some manufacturers also make foundation mattresses or boxsprings that lie directly beneath the mattress, resting on the frame of the bed. Some of them have spiked coil configuration where springs or torsion bars are used for giving support. In others, springs are not used and they are made of wooden frame only. Boxsprings having spiked coil design are most commonly available. The boxspring can be upholstered. Even if no upholstery is used then also it always gets a fabric covering.

If we follow certain mattress guidelines, then we'll surely get our due sleep comfort.

How to Select Window Treatments

Windows are indispensable parts of a house. If selected thoughtfully, they add character to any room. Before buying Window Treatments, one has to consider at least four aspects- Privacy, Light Control, Heat & Sound Insulation, and Style.

Cellular Fabric Shades: Made of honeycomb fabric, cellular shades give privacy, sound & heat insulation as well as light filtration. Single-cell shades are good for small and medium-size windows and double-cell shades for larger ones. Darker colors cut sun glare more efficiently than lighter ones and fade-proof colors block nearly 100% UV rays.

Roller Shades: For privacy and light control, roller shades made of vinyl or fabric are a good option. Fabric used for making these shades include both light filtering and room darkening materials. They come in standard version or with a reverse roll where the fabric hides the roll of the shade, or with a cassette headrail system. You can customize them with a variety of trims, hems, and decorative pulls.

Blinds: Mainly for heat insulation and protection from sunlight, Blinds come in horizontal and vertical versions. They provide nearly private environment as there is a small possibility of seeing through the slats at certain angles. Horizontal blinds also called Venetian blinds, are made from metal, vinyl, aluminum, real wood, or faux wood in a range of slat sizes that overlap each other when closed. You can have decorative tapes to add color to the blind. Vertical blinds are often made of fabric and can open quickly from the side or be split in the middle. Most verticals have decorative valance that hides all the hardware on top. Wood blinds are great for light control and keep rooms warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Drapes and Curtains: The timeless window solutions made of fabric can be used for any purpose just by choosing right type of fabric. Light or dark color will let in or block light and sunrays. A lining can be used for added privacy and longevity of these curtains. Drapes and Curtains are, in fact, great for window insulation. Medium-colored draperies with white-plastic backings can reduce heat by as much as 33%.

All of the above window treatments can well be used for rendering style to your rooms. Just select the patterns according to the mood you want for the room- casual, romantic or formal. A good amount of fabric flowing from floor-to-ceiling gives a formal look. Swags made of sheer fabric draped across wide window rings lend contemporary elegance and a simple frame covered in a colorful cotton fabric can be great for casual look. You can even take expert opinion for right selection of window treatments.

Home Furnishings: Present Day Trends

Home Textiles have always been important for providing comfort, protection and decoration of home interiors. Fashions keep on changing but the styles and fabrics used for home furnishings rotate in a cyclic manner. As a result of significant developments, consumers have a wide variety of choice to be made from among fiber combinations, fabrics, designs, textures and colors. There are conventional fabrics and patterns as well as modern performance fabrics that are antimicrobial, stain and fire resistant as well as fragrance encapsulating and environmental friendly. So, what are the present trends regarding interior furnishings. Come, let's explore!

Eco-friendly furnishings: People these days are becoming more and more environmental conscious having preference for naturally occurring options such as soy-based cushions or upholstery made of recycled polyester. Cotton, jute, bamboo fiber, and other such natural fabrics are extensively used for various furnishings such as bed linen, table linen, carpets and rugs.

Vintage home furnishings: One of the styles making way into people's home is that of antiquity. Not only people are preferring antique furnitures but also opting for vintage and royal fabrics like cashmere bed throw or silk comforter and duvets.

Embellished furnishings: Decoration is associated with beauty and whatever is beautiful, is liked by people. Traditional embellishments such as sequins and fur along with contemporary over- scale prints, graphic designs, all are in vogue.

Functional Home Furnishings: It's not like that people are only concerned about the beauty aspect of the home furnishings. They pay equal attention to functional aspects too. Now all home dwellers, most of them health conscious, want such performance fabrics for home furnishings that have antimicrobial and hypoallergenic properties, and that can regulate temperature as well. Durable and easy to clean fabrics are the choice of the present day.

That was a little effort to find about the fabrics that are mostly preferred by people at large for home furnishing purpose. There are other interior decor trends too, like color, wall furnishings, flooring, lighting etc. that need equal amount of attention so that homes may become truly welcoming!

Decorate Your Home for Christmas

Holiday season is on and everyone is thinking of making the festive season a grand one! Lights, Christmas tree, gifts, cards- a brainstorm is going on in all the minds- how to make them all unique and memorable? These are of course, the most important aspects of a grand Christmas celebration but one more thing needs your concern and attention and that is 'Your Home'! A well decorated home lends a grand ambiance to your surroundings and enhances the joy of celebrations. Home Furnishing the most basic aspects of decorating home, without which all the other decorations loose meaning. So, lets explore, how we can use home furnishings in imaginative ways!

Curtains: Just imagine that you have decorated your Christmas tree fabulously and placed it in a corner of your room decorated with all sorts of lights and other decorative pieces and the background has a beautiful embroidered curtain having wonderful lace on fringes! Doesn't that inspire you to invest some time and money for the curtains for your windows and doors? You can choose from various decorative curtains – beaded curtains, lace curtains, embroidered curtains, printed curtains or valence curtains. If you are going for a simple one then tie ribbon bows on curtains. And yes, don't forget the cafe curtains of bathroom and kitchen. Make them in lace, sheer or lightweight fabric with one hung at the top of the window and the other positioned halfway down the window!

Table Linen: Whether dining with family or friends, one needs a well decorated Christmas table for the right mood for Christmas celebrations! Use an impressive tablecloth along with equally interesting table runner, place mats and napkins. You may, as well, use tablecloth with holiday theme! Don't forget to decorate the chairs with matching chair covers, chair mats and chair pads! If you are ready to put more efforts, decorate the chairs further by tyeing ribbons and bells!

Bed Linen: While decorating the home for guests, don't forget to give a gift to yourself by decorating your bedroom in style! Set aside some money for a full bedroom set of your favorite color consisting of bed covering, bed throws, blanket, duvet with duvet cover and pillows in the most luxurious fabric of your dreams! A bedroom carpet or a couple of throw rugs will add spark to your room! After all, you'll need a relaxing sleep after all that hectic Christmas celebration! For kid's room you can go for bedroom set specially designed for your child including bed sheet set, bed comforter, throw blankets, window curtains etc. in all pinks or blues! Pillows in shape of butterfly or Santa's bell will also make your children happy!

Cushions: A pretty, plump cushion or a throw casually laid across a sofa or chair can really brighten up a room. Several cushions to match or contrast with your walls will bring great ambiance to the room. You can even make decorative cushions in trendy shapes like those of a triangle, heart, star or a bell! And go for stylish cushion covers decorated with laces, beads, sequins or ribbons in bright colors to bring the Christmas mood right in your room!

Bathroom Furnishings: Your bathroom, or at least the guest bathroom, is the room that all your guests will see. So don't neglect it and get some pretty bath towels and shower curtains for it. Tie the bath towels with raffia or pretty ribbon and place them on decorated bathroom racks. Among other things, decorative bath mats will give both, security and beauty to this so essential part of your home!

Those were only some of the ways to use home furnishings for decorating your home. You can let your imagination do rounds and find more innovative ways of decoration!

Decorative Curtains- Special Window Treatments

Are you bored of the same regular types of curtains? Then we'll talk about some special window treatments that can give an aesthetic feel to your home, the Decorative Curtains!

Beaded Curtains: Beaded curtains can be used in a variety of ways, a curtain made entirely of colorful beads having strands from the top of the window right down to the floor, lends remarkable beauty to the room. A beaded curtain as a room divider defines your choicest of areas without completely closing them off from other areas. They can also close off a closet area if you have lesser space to adjust doors. Beads in contrasting colors, made of acrylic, bamboo, fabric, PVC and what not, reflect light in beautiful tones. If you don't want an entirely beaded curtain then beads can be sewn in random patterns across the fabric or can make an elegant edging. For added beauty, you may even dress up furniture with throw pillows accented with the same beaded edging as the drapes!

Embroidered Curtains: For giving an exotic charm and charisma to your home, use embroidered curtains whose elegantly shaded threads will brighten up the whole surrounding. The most suitable curtain materials for them include cotton, organdy, tissue, hand loom fabrics, and polyester. If going for hand embroidered curtain then just be careful that patterns of embroidery reveal the precision and creativity of skilled craftsmen.

Lace Curtains: If you have always longed for a romantic look for your interiors then go for the simple, traditional, and beautiful lace curtains. Although they are available in many colors these days but the white lace curtains have an extra appeal in them. They can be hung alone in rooms where privacy or controlling of lights are not a consideration and alternatively can be used over simple window shades or blinds.

Valence Curtains: Frill fabrics, that are exclusive feature of valance curtains, are also good option for giving a different look to your home. The short piece of fabric or the valence that decorates the top fourth of the window, has pleats in a variety of style. These pleated headings can be decorated with braid, ribbons, tassels and trimmings and your beautiful customized valence curtain is ready.

Cafe Curtains: Although mostly used in kitchen and bathroom, they can as well be used in any other room. A little imagination and they'll become stunning! For a layered look, matching cafe curtains can be made with one hung at the top of the window and the other positioned halfway down the window. They can be made lined or unlined in lace, sheer or lightweight fabric to give that beautiful look of your dreams!

If you don't want to spend much time or efforts at the moment, then simply go for printed curtains or draped curtains. Make them or buy them. Available in various prints and designs, these curtains can easily match the different types of walls and decor. If you don't even want to invest in curtains right now then just decorate your existing curtains with ribbons, buttons, shells or any other thing that can give that new look to your curtains! So, enjoy looking at the great pieces of artwork on your windows and doors!

Kitchen Linen- for Joyful and Safe Cooking

In one of my previous posts, I had introduced you to the amazing world of textile where not only dresses are sewn but also a varied range of items are made with the simple and all pervasive- textile fabrics! Can you name one very important portion of your house, which is, of course not wholly dependent on fabrics but where the application of textile products are as essential as in any other part of the house? I guess, you will get it right! After all you have read the title before you started reading the article- yes of course, it is kitchen Linen- one of the most desirable home furnishings.

Tips for buying Kitchen Linens

The market is flooded with various types of aprons, kitchen gloves & mittens, kitchen towels, pot holders, and everything loved by your kitchen. Here are certain tips for your ultimate kitchen friends- the kitchen linens!

Apron: Go for the standard barbecue apron, not very short or long, just mid length, to help keep spills off from your clothes. One that ties at neck and waist will be great- neither pushing off nor holding you from free movement. Remember to check the pockets- center-stitched bottom compartment pouches are good for keeping tools and recipes handy and for easy reach. Washable and durable Linen or cotton material is desirable and if made of flame resistant fabric, nothing compares it.

Pot holder: Round or square with traditional or modern designs, these fabric pads for handling hot cooking utensils must have plenty of insulation for resisting heat and should be moisture resistant. Just check the average size of your kitchen utensils and go for pot holders of complimentary sizes. Very large or very small will not fulfill any purpose. Give preference to cotton, linen and fire resistant fabric.

Kitchen Towels: Keep handy kitchen towels of different sizes within easy reach for drying dishes and just-washed hands. Ensure that they are made of easily washable & dried, highly absorbent, and durable fabric material such as cotton, linen, terrycloth, or microfiber.

Cheese Cloth: Handy cheese cloths for multipurpose kitchen uses such as basting, stuffing poultry, canning, straining, wrapping cottage cheese, wine making, or hanging curd are great if made of high quality woven cotton or linen. Both, fine and coarse cheese cloth are desirable- fine one to drain soften cheese, yogurt, & butter and coarse one for draining curd, lining cheese shaping molds & cheese press.

Kitchen Glove & Mitten: Mittens made of linen or cotton should be thick and insulated enough so as to resist heat properly. However, too much thickness sometimes hinders easy operation so extremity should be avoided. Again, flame resistant material is ideal.

Hope you have a joyful and safe cooking everyday and enjoy the delicious home made dishes with family and friends!