Browse Home Decorating 2008+ Newer > Home Decorating
Browse Archives > Home Decorating
Mixin' is In!
August 17 , 2004 by Sherribeth JamesonSo you want to create a new look for your décor but want to do it in an unconventional way? And maybe you’re not sure of how to pull this off in a well coordinated fashion. Guess what? Mixin’ is in! Just as we mix and match our outfits we are now taking the same approach with our sofas, chairs, and ottomans. The bug has caught on and the old sofa that was delivered in one color is no longer the status quo. We are becoming more adventurous in our designs and loving it! 
Start your efforts by selecting some colors, fabrics, and a theme to work with. The sample shows reds and golds. The colors, materials, and theme should closely relate to your existing room. Proceed cautiously. You may fall off the edge of design into the Sanford and Son abyss of clutter if your selections don’t feel like they relate to the rest of the room.
Spend some time looking at several fabric samples and notice how they feel in your hands. A big part of your satisfaction with the end product is how it feels (especially if you’ll be lounging in the piece at the end of a busy day).
The next thing to do is coordinate the fabrics like you do an outfit. Perhaps you’ve had to pull a three piece outfit together before. What did you do? You picked out the pieces and made sure all three looked good together. You probably also had to do some experimenting. For instance you picked 3 shirt colors before getting the right one that worked well with the rest of the outfit.
You’ll then want to identify where the fabric pieces will go on your sofa and accompanying furniture. Don’t be afraid. Just approach this part of the design like you did when you were a child putting a tissue collage together. You took the cut out pieces and gleefully glued them onto the surface (right?). If the collage thing wasn’t fun for you feel free to contact a Personal Interiors design professional. The attached picture shows 3 types of fabrics and fringe on the sofa. The ottoman has 2 types of fabric and fringe. All the colors and styles relate to each other and the rest of the room. The combinations are limitless! Have fun collaging your sofa!
Sherribeth Jameson is a Design Consultant with Personal Interiors, www.Personal-Interiors.com.
She can be reached at 480.503.3906, or by email: jamesonaz@qwest.net
