Cute, fun textiles that won't break the bank
March 25, 2015 5:03 AM Subscribe
As springtime arrives, I would like to spruce up my house with some cute, inexpensive textiles. Can you help?
I'm looking to do some modest home decor/sprucing up, and I think some fun textiles would be just the thing. I'm looking for things like curtains, pillows, area rugs, that kind of thing. Except I don't want to spend a million dollars on it. So where do you go to get your fun-but-not-too-pricey textiles?
Details that might help:
* I can sew, so raw textiles are definitely a thing I could use/do and if that comes with recommendations for patterns or books about sewing your own curtains/pillowcases/etc I am all ears.
* I do live near an IKEA.
* I like funky, interesting patterns - like stuff from Marimekko. I am trying to avoid the nice-but-bland kind of stuff from Pottery Barn.
I'm looking to do some modest home decor/sprucing up, and I think some fun textiles would be just the thing. I'm looking for things like curtains, pillows, area rugs, that kind of thing. Except I don't want to spend a million dollars on it. So where do you go to get your fun-but-not-too-pricey textiles?
Details that might help:
* I can sew, so raw textiles are definitely a thing I could use/do and if that comes with recommendations for patterns or books about sewing your own curtains/pillowcases/etc I am all ears.
* I do live near an IKEA.
* I like funky, interesting patterns - like stuff from Marimekko. I am trying to avoid the nice-but-bland kind of stuff from Pottery Barn.
So, any reason for not hitting up that IKEA? Their textiles are fun and affordable for sure. That's where I would go first.
posted by Too-Ticky at 5:10 AM on March 25, 2015
posted by Too-Ticky at 5:10 AM on March 25, 2015
Hit the clearance racks for sheets and clothes with interesting patterns. Anything can be made into a throw pillow, without a pattern, even a sweater.
Curtains are stupid easy to make. I love making them out of sheets or simple cotton fabric because they look cute, they are inexpensive, and I can wash them easily.
posted by myselfasme at 5:11 AM on March 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Curtains are stupid easy to make. I love making them out of sheets or simple cotton fabric because they look cute, they are inexpensive, and I can wash them easily.
posted by myselfasme at 5:11 AM on March 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: If you like Marimekko and you can sew, definitely look at eBay for yardage.
Curtains and pillowcases are easy enough that I just google up tutorials for them. Like this. I've done tab-top curtains and cafe curtains, which are just hemmed panels that you attach to little clippy curtain rings you can get at IKEA.
posted by clavicle at 5:14 AM on March 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Curtains and pillowcases are easy enough that I just google up tutorials for them. Like this. I've done tab-top curtains and cafe curtains, which are just hemmed panels that you attach to little clippy curtain rings you can get at IKEA.
posted by clavicle at 5:14 AM on March 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Spoonflower? They might be a bit pricey for things like bedspread yardage, but if you're doing a few accents like throw pillows or small curtain accents (like a stripe of something super adorable amid a solid color) they could work.
posted by librarianamy at 5:22 AM on March 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by librarianamy at 5:22 AM on March 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Cost Plus World Market.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:27 AM on March 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:27 AM on March 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Hey you're in luck! Emily Henderson, designer and lover of funky and interesting just posted an exhaustive round up of fabric sources on her blog yesterday.
http://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/best-online-fabric-stores/
posted by teamnap at 5:51 AM on March 25, 2015 [7 favorites]
http://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/best-online-fabric-stores/
posted by teamnap at 5:51 AM on March 25, 2015 [7 favorites]
I am always amazed at the cheap prices at Home Goods on really cool, unique items. Definitely worth a visit if you live by one.
posted by Falwless at 6:38 AM on March 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Falwless at 6:38 AM on March 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Girl Charlee is an online fabric retailer with a lot of cute, bold, fun prints. There are a million and one free tutorials online for pillows and curtains. Pinterest is the best place to search for these. Here's a board with a bunch of DIY rug tutorials
posted by FirstMateKate at 7:26 AM on March 25, 2015
posted by FirstMateKate at 7:26 AM on March 25, 2015
I really love the selection at Tonic Living. The prices are in the moderate range, but they have good markdowns now and then, too.
posted by missmobtown at 8:26 AM on March 25, 2015
posted by missmobtown at 8:26 AM on March 25, 2015
Premier Prints is a good resource. They have printed designs on cotton twill-type fabric (heavy enough to use on pillows, draperies, light upholstery). Very good prices and fun designs. http://www.premierprintsinc.com
posted by jraz at 9:38 AM on March 25, 2015
posted by jraz at 9:38 AM on March 25, 2015
Best answer: Your profile says you are in Boston. If that is still true, try the clearance fabric stores of Cambridge:
Sewfisticated Discount Fabrics (locations in Cambridge, Dorchester, and Framingham)
Sew Low Discount Fabrics (Cambridge location only; few blocks from the Cambridge Sewfisticated; link is to Yelp because their website isn't loading for me)
They are both clearance places, so what they have in stock at any given time can vary quite a bit. However, the prices are terrific and sometimes you find unexpected deals (Amy Butler upholstery fabric at $4/yard!).
Fabric Place Basement out in Natick has a better (or more balanced, at least) selection but the prices are not as crazy-good as the first two places.
Otherwise: thrift stores, Home Goods, Marshalls, TJMaxx. Also online fabric clearance stores -- Fabric.com isn't bad price-wise.
posted by pie ninja at 9:57 AM on March 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Sewfisticated Discount Fabrics (locations in Cambridge, Dorchester, and Framingham)
Sew Low Discount Fabrics (Cambridge location only; few blocks from the Cambridge Sewfisticated; link is to Yelp because their website isn't loading for me)
They are both clearance places, so what they have in stock at any given time can vary quite a bit. However, the prices are terrific and sometimes you find unexpected deals (Amy Butler upholstery fabric at $4/yard!).
Fabric Place Basement out in Natick has a better (or more balanced, at least) selection but the prices are not as crazy-good as the first two places.
Otherwise: thrift stores, Home Goods, Marshalls, TJMaxx. Also online fabric clearance stores -- Fabric.com isn't bad price-wise.
posted by pie ninja at 9:57 AM on March 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
there are lots of used and vintage saris available in thrift stores and online - they are so many amazing colours and patterns, and each has so much fabric you can do a lot with just one or two. I have beautiful floor-to-ceiling red drapes in my living room that are made from a sari my mom bought for a couple bucks at a junk shop.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 10:57 AM on March 25, 2015
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 10:57 AM on March 25, 2015
You can get a big chunk of nice fabric for cheap by buying fabric shower curtains at TJMaxx, Ross, Home Goods etc. - use it for throw pillows or chair covers.
posted by celtalitha at 12:38 PM on March 25, 2015
posted by celtalitha at 12:38 PM on March 25, 2015
Seconding Tonic Living, IKEA and Emily Henderson's fabric guide. If you like Marimekko, the Crate and Barrel Outlet in my neck of the woods (suburban Chicago) has a big selection of Marimekko fabrics that they sell by the yard.
posted by sarajane at 1:25 PM on March 25, 2015
posted by sarajane at 1:25 PM on March 25, 2015
Best answer: I actually really like H&M Home. I got a cute stockinette stitch-print rug there for $25 earlier this year, and it's actually pretty nice quality. It doesn't seem to be available anymore, but they have all sorts of other cute stuff.
posted by topoisomerase at 5:22 PM on March 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by topoisomerase at 5:22 PM on March 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: If you're close enough to one of the Crate and Barrel Outlets you can often find real Marimekko fabric for relatively inexpensively.
posted by that girl at 6:58 AM on March 26, 2015
posted by that girl at 6:58 AM on March 26, 2015
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