When it comes to designing and decorating your interior spaces, there are so many aspects to consider before picking up a paint brush or hanging a piece of art that it can feel overwhelming. The main thing to keep in mind during the planning phase of your project is how you are going to use the space, which will help you decide what type of furniture you need, how to arrange your space, even the paint finishes.
When it comes to the exciting part of selecting colors, fabrics, and accessories, start by collecting images of places, furniture, rooms, accessories, patterns, or anything that you respond to. As you start to build your collection, you will notice a pattern emerging, whether it’s a color story or design style that will help you make decisions.
I decided to work with Plastics Make it Possible® to showcase all of the great innovations made possible by plastics that have brought about a new era in functional and stylish home spaces.
An area of interior design where we have seen a lot of fun, new trends using plastics is in window treatments. Window treatments play a big part in completing the look of any room and can even be a simple way of updating a tired décor without doing a complete makeover. There are a lot of cool, new, beautiful window treatments made with plastics on the market now, some of which are even made from recycled plastics!
There are different approaches to dressing up your windows. I have some clients who insist on having dressy valances in every room and some who prefer the simpler clean look of a roman shade in a beautiful fabric. Whichever way you go, you need to consider your desired level of privacy, the amount of light you want, and how you want to take in the view outside.
For a bedroom, I always like to use a black-out fabric lining. These are generally made from polyester or other plastic fibers. This way, regardless of the time of day, you can actually get some rest. Black-out fabric really does make a difference.
In terms of style, personally, I love to feature a simple fabric shade with drapery panels on either side. This works for almost every kind of room and window, and it allows you the opportunity to select a great mix of fabrics and a beautiful curtain rod. This type of window treatment works for every style because you can add trimmings for a more dressy feel or mix in textures and patterns that evoke a more modern sensibility. Have fun with your fabrics because they can really bring your room to life.
One thing window treatments almost never seem to get credit for is helping your home become more energy efficient. If you have drafty windows, you can use heavy window treatments to help create a stopping point for air leaks. In addition, the shade or drapes can help to block out UV rays that heat up a room and run up your cooling costs. Honeycomb shades are as functional as they are beautiful. They can add an insulating layer to your windows because air gets trapped in the pockets of the honeycombs to help cut air loss.
Hunter Douglas has always made really beautiful window treatments, and they recently added a new material to their Applause line of honeycombs shades. The Applause Vintage fabric line not only offers modern design, it also has a modern sensibility. It is constructed of 40% recycled polyester fibers, which are made of recycled PET bottles and industrial textile waste.
This is a first in my book where you have a beautiful and functional item for interior décor that is made with recycled plastics. When you are trying to live a green lifestyle and close the recycling loop, it can be difficult to find items for the interior décor that fit the bill. This new recycled vintage fabric line is definitely a home run.
From chic window treatments to modern furniture and funky accessories, plastics set the trend in interior design by giving us flexible yet fashionable options for our homes. Some products can be made with recycled plastics or offer other environmental benefits such as increased energy efficiency.
However you choose to dress up your windows, remember to use your décor style at home for the biggest source of inspiration — and don’t be afraid to have a lot of fun with fabric.
