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Here are some tips from our fabric wholesaler charles parsons interiors on how to complement your curtains with accent colours!

Accent colours are a staple in any interior designer's arsenal. They work a treat when it comes to creating a cohesive look, because this single line of colour placed strategically around the room brings harmony and unison to the space. Because of this, picking a single accent colour and introducing it in creative ways around a room can really help the decor shine.

Of course, with so much importance placed on an accent hue, and with such a kaleidoscopic range of colours to choose from, it can be difficult to narrow down to just one single accent. This is where your designer curtains can come to the rescue.

Why designer curtains are ideal accents

Curtains are a block of colour in any room, especially when they are drawn closed. Even better, because curtains are based near the perimeter of a room along the windows, they become a default background to the room's furniture and decorative objects. Due to these reasons, curtains are a great inspiration for your accent colour.

Here are two sophisticated and stylish ways to bring out the colour of your curtains with accent items dotted around the room.

1) Place accent colours using the 60-30-10 rule

This rule is a favourite within colour theory and interior design education. In a nutshell, it involves 60 per cent of a dominant colour, 30 per cent of a secondary colour and 10 per cent of an accent colour. Your walls would count as the dominant tone, while furniture upholstery and carpets the secondary. Accent hues should only cover 10 per cent of the room for ideal balance.

Once you have picked your curtain fabric, keep a lookout for the curtain's primary colour in decorative objects such as vases and candle stands while you are browsing homeware stores. Don't overdo the accent so it stays within the 10 per cent rule. Place them on coffee tables as vases, as cushions against the sofa or as the frame for your family photographs hung on the walls.

An orange curtain is used as the accent colour inspiration for the rest of the room. 

2) Introduce the accent through a contrasting trim along the curtain

Elle Decor recommends turning your curtain design itself into an ode to accent colours by adding a contrasting trim to neutral-toned textiles. For instance, designer Steven Gambrel created beige curtains with a cobalt blue trim inspired by a naval uniform for his Manhattan townhouse's living room.

You can custom design your own curtain pattern using Charles Parsons' extensive range of commercial textiles. In this way, you can pre-plan your accent colour by adding it as a trim.

Charles Parsons Interiors is one of the largest and most diverse fabric wholesalers in Australia and New Zealand. For more information on their collections and more tips on how to select your fabrics head to www.charlesparsonsinteriors.com.au

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Here are some tips from our fabric wholesaler Charles Parsons Interiors on how best to mix and match patterns:

Don't shy away from prints and patterns. While it may seem less of a risk to stick to a neutral colour scheme or monochromatic palette, prints and patterns have the power to completely transform and elevate a space into a chic interior. It's simply a matter of carefully and tastefully curating the patterns so they work seamlessly together in a complementary manner.

It can understandably be tricky to master mixing and matching patterns from the get go – many interior designers hone these very skills over a career, while others have an instinctive, natural aptitude for pairing prints. No matter which end of the spectrum you fall on, there are universal tips and tricks to succeed in this styling process. Here are a few of these, backed by industry professionals.

Tip 1: Rely on a cohesive colour palette

"To find the balance between matchy-matchy and clashing, it's all about choosing an overarching colour palette," suggests interior stylist Justina Blakeney in an interview with Architectural Digest.

As the author and owner of the popular Bohemian-inspired blog, The Jungalow, Blakeney relies on the use of a single colour to tie the patterns together. This doesn't mean you have to pick the exact same hue, but rather varying light and dark tones of the same base colour will also work harmoniously together with the diverse patterns.

Try this tip by matching the swirling pattern upholstery fabric of Maze Turquoise on your cushions or armchairs, paired with Brussels Lagoon for your curtains to combine both in the same overarching blue scheme.

Tip 2: Choose a classic pattern across multiple surfaces

Classic patterns, such as stripes, polka dots or the on-trend chevron, are timeless and have been used decade after decade in interior design.

The perk of these tried-and-tested patterns is that you are likely to find them in a wide range of surfaces, not just commercial textiles. Artworks for your walls, ceramic vases, candle stands, rugs, throws and even lamp shades can be found with striped, dotted or chevron patterns adorning them.

This means you can layer the patterns throughout the room, choosing the same print but in different thicknesses or fading aesthetics. In the picture shown below, the chevron print is brought out through a modern, abstracted artwork for the wall as well as a crisp upholstery fabric on the cushions. The triangular forms are echoed by the statement pendant light fixture and the delicate, brass and copper wire basket displayed on the shelves. Sheer curtain drapery basks the room in light, showcasing the chevron pattern in all its glory.

Tip 3: Use scale to your advantage

Interior Design Pro suggests playing with the scale of patterns, experimenting with big and bold patterns beside small and delicate prints. Although there is no strict rule of thumb, most professionals will recommend not going beyond three to four different patterns when dabbling in scale as any more could become jarring and overwhelming.

Give this tip a whirl by choosing the bigger scale flowers on Poppy Fuchsia designer upholstery fabric with the tinier, more delicate floral imagery of Litzy Mauve solid drapery fabric.

Tip 4: Balance with neutrals strategically

It helps to soften prints and patterns with solid neutrals. In an interview with House Beautiful, designer Ashley Whittaker shared her top advice on how to strategically use solid neutrals to your advantage.

"I always tell clients not to be scared of pattern," said Ms Whittaker. "They'll look at six-by-six-inch swatches tightly clustered on a table and say, 'ooh, wow… that seems like a lot.' Of course I interspersed them with solids and neutrals."

For interspersing your prints, stock up on versatile neutrals such as creme, beige, brown, grey, white or black commercial textiles.

Tip 5: Choose prints or patterns that match the style of your home design

Is your interior decor more contemporary, sleek and modern or antique, vintage and rustic-chic? Patterns and prints will also fall into these two spectrums of style, with some more futuristic and mod while others nodding to the past with ornate, intricate line work.

The trick to succeeding with a modern scheme is to prioritise block colours and solid upholstery fabric, in keeping with the minimalism vibe, but to introduce one standout feature print. The image shared below does exactly that – the sofa, rug, cushions and furniture are all in single colours in block materials with not a single pattern anywhere in sight. Instead, one feature wallpaper with bold yellow and white prints ties into the rest of the decor by staying in the same overarching colour scheme but easily stands out from the rest of the room thanks to the pattern.

On the other hand, a bohemian vintage look will clutter and clash as many different earthy, organic prints such as leaves and plants with bold, vibrant colours – both looks have their own value and impact, so choose your own preference.

Charles Parsons Interiors is one of the largest and most diverse fabric wholesalers in Australia and New Zealand. For more information on their collections and more tips on how to select your fabrics head to www.charlesparsonsinteriors.com.au

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