Finding fabric in unexpected places

Many times when I find myself in need of fabric for a project, my brain goes in so many directions it's hard to make a final commitment.  I think I really drove my husband to the edge this time, trying to find the "perfect" fabrics for our sun room.  Being torn between wanting it to be bright, colorful, and cheerful and yet somehow in keeping with the rest of the house made it a bit of a challenge. 

I wanted nothing more than to choose a beautiful Sandi Henderson collection or perhaps coordinate some Amy Butler prints.  But they just weren't going to work with the formal damask and brocade in the living room next door.  It would have been just too much of a disparity.

So I knew, at the very least, I was going to need home decor fabrics.  As you well know, though, these come at quite a price.  Decor fabrics can run $20/yard, just on the low end!

So I wavered...and hemmed...and hawed.  And then, in one of those brilliant moments of clarity that often come to me in the shower, I found the answer.

Table linens.  Seriously.  Table linens can be a perfect source for large amounts of fabric without the large price tag.  The fabric used for table linens is often detailed in such a way that would cost much more if you were purchasing it by the yard.  And I had the perfect style in mind.

Months ago I bought pretty cloth napkins from Target.  I even sort of used them as inspiration when I chose a paint color for the room.  And...as luck would have it...they had the exact same colors in them as the rug we chose. 

So off to Target I went.  I was thrilled to find a tablecloth in the print I loved so much, as well as place mats and napkins in coordinating colors and styles!  Perfect!  Decision made! Yeah!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, the olive birds and stripes are actually kitchen towels that I bought about a year ago at Pier 1 and never used, but I thought they'd find their way into this room somehow.

So lesson to be learned?  Look in unexpected places for fabrics when you are decorating.  Table linens, even sheets, can be higher quality (by that I mean the weight you want for decor) and you get a lot of fabric for the price!

Comments

[Marci Debetaz]

I am so jealous of those olive birds...they are great. I also forget about tablecloths, bedsheets, and I never even thought about kitchen towels...so inventive!

[Fabric Flair]

LOL, I forgot I had the birds. They also go with my kitchen, but with a toddler running around they never quite stayed where I put them...so I put them away. Did I mention they were on clearance at the time? :-)