For instance, use complimentary colors and patterns and even textures to add more variety to your work. If you have a pillow, use one fabric on one side and different one on the reverse. When you want to change things up a little bit, flip the pillow. Use a border on your drapes but use two different colors, one on the inside and one on the outside. Then flip the outside/inside to suit your mood. Even a dust ruffle can be reversible so let your effort work double duty.
However, when you use this technique, make sure that the fabric you use for each side has the same care instructions. Mixing dry clean only with hand wash can mess up your item. And try to use the same approximate weight of fabric for both sides. If it is too different, it can interfere with the way an item hangs.
Don't be afraid to use a mix of color in your choices either. Try to include 3 different colors in your room. You can add some additional variety by changing the intensity of those colors in more pieces and adding more than one pattern. If you have a single color pattern on a common neutral background you can also use that background color in another fabric which has a very different colored pattern plus an additional accent color. The point is to use complementary colors in varying combinations to achieve an interesting and vibrant effect.
Example: Aqua with chocolate brown, coral, tan, cream used in one room. The brown and lighter tones ground the pallet. The Aqua adds a soothing neutral. The Coral interjects a bit of drama in the mix.
- First rule - have fun.
- Second rule - try new things.
- Third rule - ask a third party for another opinion.
