Charming Decorating Options

Good, sturdy, industrial-type materials have always attracted interior designers. They're inexpensive and great looking.

Ticking
Mattress ticking is a practical fabric that has multiple uses. It's always in style for upholstery, as slipcovers, for use as curtains and shades. Recently I used it for Roman shades that are easy to make. When pulled up, the folds create a striped valance effect. Ticking material is inexpensive. If you wash the fabric and use it wrong side out, it will be softer in both feel and appearance. The navy blue looks like gray, which is sometimes preferable.

Muslin
Muslin is another of my favorite fabrics. unbleached muslin is ecru or a yellow-beige. Bleached muslin is a soft white. When washed and unironed it is slightly crinkled and wonderful for quilt projects. Substitute this for any white fabric and your project, whether a quilt or curtains will have character. A big bonus with muslin is that it's not only inexpensive, sometimes as low as $2 or $3 dollars a yard, but can be found on bolts from 36 to 90 in.

One of its characteristics is that natural light filters through it while it lends privacy over windows. If you use a down comforter on your bed, this material is perfect for a light duvet cover. Stretch it over artist's canvas to use as a room divider, folding screen.

Parachute Nylon
Parachute material is sold by the yard, just like other fabrics. It is often used by photographers to filter light or as a backdrop for portrait photos. This material is wide and billowy. It's excellent for tall windows. Bring it up one side of the window, swag it over a curtain pole at the top so the material drapes in a graceful curve, hooks over the pole and hangs down the opposite side. No cutting, hemming, or sewing and totally carefree. For privacy add paper, accordion shades. It's an all white treatment that is soft, crisp and easy.

Brown Paper
Kraft paper, used for wrapping packages can be used as wall covering. The neutral color goes with everything. It's smart-looking, inexpensive, heavy-duty and easy to use. It can be applied with rubber cement or wallpaper paste. Once in place and dry, you can coat it with glossy polyurethane for a slick finish. Be sure to read all labels so that your adhesive and finish are compatible.

Drop Cloths
Painters' drop cloths are made of heavy, inexpensive fabric. They are most commonly found in natural color, but also come in rose, gray and pale blue. Use them for canvas slipcovers on folding bridge chairs, cushions and pillows. Add decorative braids and trims for color. Spatter paint a drop cloth for an interesting table cover.

Where To Find It
Ticking and muslin (sometimes called ecology cloth) can be found wherever fabric is sold. Parachute fabric is sometimes offered through photographic catalogs. Drop cloths are found in paint and hardware stores and home centers. Other industrial materials are found in mail order catalogs. Be creative when looking through catalogs. Materials meant for offices can be adapted for home use with surprisingly good-looking results.

Copyright Leslie Linsley, author
Reprinted with permission, HouseNet, Inc

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