COLOURED FABRIC IN INTERIOR ARHCITECTURE Thomas Njenga, B02/0876/2012

FABRICS FROM NATURAL FIBERS Natural fiber is usually made of natural supplements and often expensive to be purchased. However, as its name suggests natural fabric is more durable, soft, luxurious and resilient. Some of the common used natural fiber used to make fabric is linen, cotton, silk, hemp, jute, wool, horsehair, cashmere, mohair, camelhair.

Thomas Njenga, B02/0876/ Silk fabric Strongest natural fabric in the world. It is animal fiber which is obtained from cocoon of the silkworm moth. Known for its softness, luster, beauty and luxurious look. Higher grade fabric providing comfort in all types of weather. It provides a rich element to any room when you use it for window coverings, pillows, exotic bed coverings or even as an upholstery covering. It has a soft lustre to it and the fibers themselves are actually prism like, which is why the material shines it reflects light at various angles. However silk is that it is not very durable. It is prone to wrinkling and it will stain very easily. I would avoid using silk in high traffic areas such as family room.

Thomas Njenga, B02/0876/ LINEN FABRIC Linen is a natural fiber derived from the plant flax. It provides tough yarn which appears slight glossy and smooth. The fabric made from linen fiber which is moth resistant and hardwearing. It can be easily washable and strong when wet.

Thomas Njenga, B02/0876/ WOOL  Wool is another natural fiber fleeced from sheep and further processed through various refinements.  Wool comes in natural colours but it can be dyed in various other colours. It is considered good insulator and is generally used in cold areas.  Wool is versatile and can be blended with synthetics to derive an improved fabric  Mostly used on rugs, seat drapings, pillow covers, curtains etc.

Thomas Njenga, B02/0876/ COTTON Cotton is a natural fiber that is found in a lot of different blends and fabrics. It is comfortable and breathable, which makes it an excellent fabric to work with. It also has the wonderful traits of being resistant to fading and other signs of wear and tear. However it tends to stain and become soiled very easily. Hence if you choose to use cotton in your home, you should use a cotton blend instead of pure cotton. Best used in pillow covers, bedcovers, seat covers etc

Thomas Njenga, B02/0876/ Leather It is a natural fabric that is produced by tanning various hides, usually from cows. Leather adds a rich element to homes and many people love it but this is not the easiest fabric to have in your home. It requires a lot of work and its color fades if it is placed in direct sunlight. It also gets scratched and stained easily. However, it does make a statement wherever you use it and can be an excellent choice for many rooms. Best used on leather seats, decorative wall panels in bedrooms, pouffes etc.

Thomas Njenga, B02/0876/2012 Artificial fibers are obtained from different processes such as synthesis of polymers or alteration of natural fibers. This type of fiber is usually made from natural sources like wood pulp and fiber obtained from other plants. The market of artificial fibers has widened due to the modern techniques of combining plant and other sources to make this fiber Some of the popular artificial fibers are classified as acetate, rayon, triacetate and modified rayon. FABRICS FROM ARTIFICIAL FIBERS

6. RAYON Also known to many designers as “art silk,” rayon Semi-synthetic fabric that is a great alternative to silk. It has a bright shiny texture to it and is a great choice for many homes that are looking for something that is more durable than silk is. It is produced from processed wood pulp and valued for its characteristics like hardness, strength and high absorbency. However it loses its strength when wet and shrinks. It is more prone to burning and can rapidly catch fire. Rayon is widely used because it is economical and has wonderful properties of draping. It is also used as substitute of natural fiber which is expensive over artificial fiber. The one major drawback of rayon is that it will wrinkle so it is better to use it on a surface that won’t have a lot of people lounging on it.

Thomas Njenga, B02/0876/ ACETATE  Acetate is obtained from wood.  It has low absorbency and strength.  This fiber is moth resistant and widely used for draping facility.  After rayon, acetate is a common substitute of various natural fibers as it is versatile and inexpensive.  It is further used in making of satins and other fibers.  Mostly used on furniture, curtains, drapings etc

Thomas Njenga, B02/0876/2012

8. OLEFIN This material is comfortable and functional. It is a very common material that is used in furniture since the fabric is durable, holds color and stain resistant. This is the perfect fabric for those high traffic areas and for small fabric areas ie living room. Olefin is combined with other materials to create beauty and function. It is very comfortable and is commonly used for furniture.

Thomas Njenga, B02/0876/2012 Sofa seats made using Olefin fabric

Thomas Njenga, B02/0876/ POLYESTER Used in drapes and bed sheets Polyester is usually blended with a variety of other fabrics. It can be used in a number of ways and is found in a number of textures. It is a good choice for sitting areas since polyester is resistant to wrinkling.

Thomas Njenga, B02/0876/ ACRYLIC This is a synthetic fabric that was created as an alternative to wool and it has begun seeing use as an alternative to cashmere. The fabric is surprisingly soft and comfortable and its durability makes it an excellent choice for home decor. Generally, acrylic fabrics hold color extremely well and resists shrinkage, which is excellent when you have to clean some of your fabrics. Acrylic fabric also resists stains and wear and tear. It is also resistant to wrinkles.

Thomas Njenga, B02/0876/2012

11. Nylon Nylon is a resilient fabric that has a silky texture to it. It is usually resistant to stains and it holds color extremely well. Although it is a strong fabric it tends to only be used in blends and not on its own

Thomas Njenga, B02/0876/ VELVET Velvet is a right choice for those who prefer luxury home decor. It is luxurious, comfortable,. Velvet is a kind of smooth woven tufted fabric with short dense pile, which can be either synthetic or natural. It is good and suitable for furniture, pillow covers, and even wallpaper However it is difficult to clean because of its density.

These simple rules will help you learn what to combine and what combinations to avoid  Find a great fabric. Find a great fabric that you love and build your design around it! Whether it is plaid, floral, striped or solid, make it the foundation fabric for your room.  No more than three. Unless the patterns are muted and subtle, try not to use more than three patterns in a room. Otherwise, the effect will be one of confusion rather than balance.  Vary the style and size. Vary the style and size of the patterns. Instead of choosing three florals, try a floral, plaid and stripe. Or maybe add checks or a geometric pattern. If you have a large plaid, choose a medium scale stripe and a small scale floral.  Use a common color. Unite the patterns with a common color. If your foundation fabric is red, all of the patterns should have the same red somewhere in the pattern.  Small scale - small room. Use small scale patterns in a smaller room. In larger rooms, where they are seen at a distance, small patterns tend to be read as texture or a solid.

Thomas Njenga, B02/0876/2012  Medium scale for both rooms. Medium scale patterns retain their pattern at a distance, yet in a smaller space, they don’t overpower.  Large scale for large furniture. Large scale patterns can overpower a small space, but can add vibrancy to a larger room. They will appear bolder when covering large furniture, but look fragmented on smaller pieces.  Adding width or height. Choose horizontal or vertical stripes to add width or height to a furniture piece or the room. Varying your fabric choices between pattern size, pattern style and color scheme is the key to a harmonious design. Remember - choose a base fabric and then build on that foundation. You will love the result!