| ON DECORATING |
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OUTDOOR FABRICS ADD A WOW FACTOR
Considering a patio makeover as winter wanes? Calico now offers 140+ indoor-outdoor fabrics online — plus hundreds more in our stores — and they're all 25% off in February!
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QUICK MAKEOVER SEMINARS
Looking for ways to update your home without spending a fortune? Calico invites you to our upcoming Quick Home Makeovers seminar, designed to inspire the decorating genius in you! Come hear tips from the experts and walk away with tricks that are as delightful to the eye as they are easy on the purse.
See Local Schedule & Reserve Your Space |
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| QUICK HOME MAKEOVERS — ON A BUDGET! When the news is black and the winter is bleak, our surroundings become more important. Even small projects can have a big impact on the overall look of a room — and adding fresh touches to your décor will lift your spirits. Here are lots of little decorating ideas to change a room without breaking the bank: FABRIC COLLECTORS
Fabriholics, shop your closets! You may already own a Calico Corners fabric to start your project. Our workrooms work with any Calico Corners fabric still in good condition. Sometimes the wheel of color has turned and your vintage fabric looks au courant again! Shop clearance fabrics for window treatment or sofa upholstery fabric where the most yardage is required. And don't forget that discounted trims can add bling to a "plain vanilla" project. |  |
REARRANGE
Move your furniture around — you're not living in a museum! Try different placements and move furniture and accessories from one room to another. |
 | PILLOWS
Pick a new accent color and change your pillows, tableskirts or throws. Invest in inexpensive accessories and use that color to make a statement. Make pillows reversible. Use one side for spring/summer and the other for fall/winter. Select welting or trims that work with both. Re-stuff pillow covers with plump feather/down inserts. Size up two inches for a plumper look (for example, use a 20-inch insert in an 18-inch cover). |
SLIPCOVERS & REUPHOLSTERY
Slipcover a chair or sofa. If your furniture is in good condition, slipcover the back or seat cushions in a coordinating fabric. |
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 | Add nailheads to upholstered furniture — they're especially handsome with plaids and solid textures (chenilles, velvets, faux suedes). Add braid or ribbon to the skirt of a sofa, chair or ottoman. This can be applied with a glue gun. Add bullion fringe around the base of an ottoman or footstool for quick-change artistry. |
TABLES AND SKIRTS
Have reversible tableskirts made for two looks or different seasons. Purchase an inexpensive particleboard table and cover with a glamorous tableskirt. You're the only one who will know your secret. Tables are available at Calico. |
 | Skirted tables don't have to be round! Rectangular and square tables can also be skirted — and adding details, such as tabs to accent the pleats, adds a custom touch. (see photo at left) Skirt a round table and have a glass mirror cut to fit the top. The mirror will add light and shimmer to a dark corner. Add a fabric table topper to disguise scuffed furniture. Place the topper at an interesting angle for more impact. |
| WINDOW TREATMENTS
Add a swag or bustle swag to stationary drapery panels. Or add a triangular scarf swag, knotted and attached to the pole at each side. Make flat panel draperies, cuff draperies and rod pocket draperies out of two fabrics used back-to-back for a reversible spring-summer/fall-winter look. Install one stationary drapery panel on the side of a window to add color and softness at half the price. Add sheers beneath existing drapery panels to soften the light and prevent furnishings from fading. Add trimmings to existing drapery. Some braids, ball fringes or tassel trims can be applied with a glue gun if you're not a whiz with a needle and thread. |  |
| Update drapery hardware — it can make the whole room look better! Add decorative holdbacks or tassel tiebacks to existing drapery panels. Upgrade tired mini-blinds with new choices in woven woods that add texture and warmth to your room. |  |
DECORATIVE ACCENTS
Add a textured throw to the end of your bed or fold it over the arm of your sofa. Make it reversible for multiple looks. This is a great way to add pattern and a fresh accent color to a room. |
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 | Paint is the accent that provides the most bang for the buck. Use color to make a statement — perhaps not on every wall. It's best to select wall paint using a fabric you love as inspiration. Add an upholstered folding screen and matching pillow to a room that needs punch. Screens are great for filling empty corners or hiding clutter or exercise equipment. |
| Re-hang your art — even museums move paintings. You'll see your art with a new perspective when it's in a new location. Cover a bulletin board with pretty fabric and diagonal bands of trim to bring color to your wall. Or buy a great used frame and paint it; then have a bulletin board cut to fit, cover with fabric and set in the frame. This will warm your home office and make it less corporate looking. Line the back of glass cabinets in a fabric that POPS! It will showcase glass and china and add unexpected color. |
| Add "sculpture" to a room with shapely occasional tables — they're a handy place for a drink or the remote. Or replace your tired coffee table with a tufted fabric ottoman that is utilitarian and beautiful. Cover an old wastebasket with decorative fabric. Use a spray adhesive to secure the fabric to the container — then add gimp or braid trim with a glue gun to hide the edges. Hang key tassels on lamp switches, armoires, dressers or desks for a decorator look. |  |
BEDDING
Make reversible bedding or combine a light coverlet for summer with a duvet for colder months. Place the item not in use at the bottom of your bed for added color and occasional extra warmth. |
REMOVE
Take out clutter — it won't cost a thing and can make a major difference to the look of your home. Donate unwanted furnishings and accessories to adult children, friends or thrift shops, or sell on auction sites to start your next redecorating fund! |
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OUTDOOR FABRICS ADD A WOW FACTOR
Considering a patio makeover as winter wanes? Calico now offers 140+ indoor-outdoor fabrics online — plus hundreds more in our stores — and they're all 25% off in February! Sunbrella acrylic fabrics can't be beat for longevity in the sun, and their resistance to stains is revolutionary. So if your family room needs a makeover that will stand up to muddy paws and pb&j, or you're tired of looking at sun-bleached cushions, now is the time to consider these great fabrics. |
| u Learn Why Indoor-Outdoor Fabrics are a Great Investment |
| u Shop Outdoor Fabrics Online |
| u View Joe Ruggiero Video on Sunbrella Fabrics |
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