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Although you might think of fabric as a great decorating resource for making throw pillows and window treatments, there are actually many other ways to use it in your home. Besides the obvious uses, it can also be the inspiration behind artwork, floral decorations or even wall treatments. In fact, it's so versatile that once you start decorating with fabric, you'll probably come up with endless uses for it. To add unique pizzazz to your home decor, try creative ideas decorating with fabric.
Fabric as Art
Some fabrics have such pretty patterns and are so colorful that they almost beg to be turned into artwork. Decorative panels designed to be made into quilts and other craft projects can work especially well for this purpose. Or, choose a fabric with large floral designs or a decorative print that will coordinate nicely with the rest of your decor. Then choose a frame, add a mat, place the fabric in the frame and display on your wall. You can also use other decorative accents such as fabric paint, sequins or ribbon to accessorize the fabric design before you frame it. If your work of art takes on a three dimensional aspect, display it in a shadow box frame instead of a standard picture frame so that you won't crush your design.
Fabric Flower Arrangements
Fabric can also be used to create beautiful floral arrangements. In its simplest form, you can cut strips of colorful fabric, gather them into large fluffy flowers using wire, and simply add florist's wire stems. Create several and display in a decorative vase for an eye-catching and eclectic arrangement. Or, cut flower petals from fabric, gluing thin wire around the outside edges of the petal shapes on the backside of the fabric. Once the glue has dried, bend the petals into a realistic shape. Then wire several petals together using florist's wire and add a stem. You can even make fabric leaves by repeating the process with green fabric. Make several flowers and arrange in a decorative vase.
Fabric "Wallpaper"
If you love the designer look of wallpaper but don't want to permanently alter your walls, fabric could be the perfect solution. Using fabric and liquid starch, you can simulate the look of wallpaper but still remove it easily when it's time to redecorate. To use this technique, simply purchase enough lightweight fabric to cover the wall, plus a bit extra to allow for possible shrinkage. If the fabric is patterned, you'll need extra so that you will be able to match the designs between strips. Then, pour liquid starch into a clean paint tray. Apply the liquid starch to the wall using a paint roller or sponge. Smooth a strip of fabric onto the starch-covered area, leaving a couple of inches of extra fabric at the ceiling and floor edges of the wall and around windows and doors. Repeat with more strips of fabric, matching the pattern as you go. When dry, trim the excess fabric. When it's time to change the look of the room, you can simply dampen the wall with water, remove the fabric, and wash the wall. You can even wash the fabric and use it for other crafting purposes.
Jessica Ackerman is a freelance writer and works for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com. She shares her wealth of knowledge on southwestern wall sculptures and landscape art decor.
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