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Curtains : Curtains are usually made of lighter weight fabric and are meant to be decorative to showcase a window. Traditionally, windows are treated to three types of curtains:
- A sash curtain (to filter light)
- A draw curtain (to block out light)
- An over drapery (which was purely decorative and is now just called a drapery)
Curtains help in achieving the aim of privacy. Whether it is living room, bedroom, kitchen or bathroom curtains and draperies give a bold and elegant look to the room. The curtains are available in bright and graceful colours and rich materials such as silk, velvet and satin or voile; cotton and lace curtains are also available in market. Readymade cotton curtains are made with various woven designs ranging from woven stripes, checks, dobby, and extra yarn figuring patterns to use of novelty yarns in weaving. The curtains are important aspect in the decoration of any room. Several colours, styles, and pattern are available in curtains (Fig 16.15). The curtains should have the aspect of mixing well with the decor of the room.
Draperies: Draperies are made of heavier fabric, lined, pleated and hung on a traverse rod so that they can be pulled to open and closed with a string. Draperies are the fabrics which hang over curtain. They serve both functional and decorative purpose. They give elegant look to a room. Draperies come in various styles (Fig.16.16). Usually these are made of heavy fabrics. Motifs and designs are usually floral which can be natural or stylized or both. They can be printed or woven.
Selecting design for curtain and draperies: They are intrinsic parts of home furnishings for building up character and mood of each room whether it is a room in a home, office, theatre, hotel or restaurant.
- They should be used to emphasize and beautify structural opening with which they are associated.
- Delicate rooms require fabrics such as silk, raw-silk, chiffon, satin, velvet, taffeta or embroidered silk.
- The colour on the draperies may be exactly the colour of the walls in the room where they are considered as part of the architectures background or may be white, cream or any grayed tints, sometimes contrasting colours are also used.
Cushions and cushion covers
- A cushion (derived from Old French coisson, coussin; from Latin culcita, a quilt) is a soft bag of some ornamental material, stuffed with wool, hair, feathers, polyester staple fiber, or non-woven material.
- Used for sitting or kneeling upon, or to soften the hardness or angularity of a chair or couch.
- Cushion covers are used to cover and protect the cushions and add beauty to the chairs, sofas and divans. Generally made in the colours that match the ambiance or the colours or the furnishing.
- Available in all the regular fabrics such as cotton, linen, satin and also velvet. For rich decorative effects, delicate fabric such as silks is preferred.
- Cushion covers come in a wide variety of designs ranging from traditional to conventional, depending on the shapes and sizes of the cushions.
- Embellished with the help of prints, tie and dye, painting, embroidery and patch work. (Fig16.17) Plain cushions can be enhanced with decorative braids or patterned piping, tassels, mirror, sequins and fringes
Carpets
- Carpet is a thick heavy fabric used to cover floor and serves both decorative and functional purpose. Akbar laid the foundation of carpet weaving tradition in India, in 1580 AD. Mughals not only used the Persian technique of carpet weaving, but were also influenced by traditional designs and motifs from Persia. Mughal carpets were as intricate as their miniatures and often depicted court life, animals and floral decorations. These were brightly coloured and the hand knotted
- The contemporary carpet weaving tradition in India has been influenced by the carpet tradition of the Mughals.
- The present day craft of carpet weaving can be divided into two main groups: woollen and non-woollen carpets. Bhadohi- Mirzapur belt in Uttar Pradesh is the leading woollen carpet-producing centre in the country. woollen carpets.The finest wool carpets in India come from Kashmir.
- Carpets are generally made from wool and silk. However floorings like mats and durries are made up of a variety of material, ranging from wool, cotton, jute, coir, bamboo and grass. Wool look-alike acrylic carpets are also popular nowadays due to their low cost (Fig. 16.18 b).
- Rugs are used for adorning smaller spaces and adding a touch of warmth. Chain stitch rugs like gabba and namdas are famous for their bold floral designs.
- A plain carpet is a desirable background for any style. A patterned floor covering draws attention to floor.
Popular colours in carpets: pale grey-green, off white, grey, tan brown, rust, olive green, grayed yellow, grayed rose and grayed blue. These colours are good background colours. Carpets of pure brilliant colours like vermilion, red, ultramarine, blue or emerald green may give dramatic effect but may be tiring also. Light tones are pleasing, which make rooms seem spacious and cheerful. Carpets must conform to the style of furnishing in the room
Common motifs suitable for carpets: ethnic, abstract, natural, landscape, geometrical, floral, sceneries and mythological themes, cartoon motifs for kid’s room. (Fig.16.18 b,c).
Techniques of producing carpets
- Weaving
- Felting and non woven
- Hand knotting
- Tufting
Furniture upholstery: These are heavy and thick fabric used over furniture. They fulfill decorative as well as functional purpose. Upholstered fabrics come in various colours and shades and these are selected according to the colour of the room. Stylized, geometric and abstract designs when used alone or in combination, give an elegant look to the fabric and furniture (Fig 16.19).
Door mats: A doormat is a flat usually rectangular object placed immediately outside or inside the entrance to a house or other building. Varieties of designs are developed for door mats which help in enriching the beauty of room (Fig.16.20).
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