Layering is the secret to creating a well designed living space. Small touches like the pillows and throw blanket you set on your couch or the curtains you hang on your windows can have a big impact on the look and feel of the room. By layering different fabrics, textures, colors, and patterns, you can create a lot of visual appeal in your home. Here are a few ideas for how you can use layers to style your home.

Accent Pieces

Every interior design needs a few great accent pieces. Without them, rooms tend to look dull and boring. Use brightly colored throw pillows to add color and spark to your sofa. Make your windows a focal point by layering bold colored window treatments and curtains, such as Polar Shades, PolarTech Royal Flush window shades in Burgundy, Mulberry, or Pesto. Find the perfect rug to break up large sections of flooring for comfort and visual appeal.

When incorporating accent pieces, think of them like jewelry. The perfect necklace or bracelet can add a lot to an outfit, but if you pile on a lot of jewelry, it can quickly become too much. When you have too many accent pieces in a room, it can feel disjointed and disharmonious. Instead of allowing the individual pieces to shine, the appearance can be overwhelming to the viewer.

High Contrast vs Low Contrast

Another thing to consider, when layering, is the amount of contrast between the individual pieces. The bigger difference in the items' color and tone, the higher the level of contrast. Two versions of the same color in a slightly different tone would have low contrast. Two different colors from the same color palette, like a light blue and seafoam green, would have low to medium contrast. Two drastically different colors would have high contrast – like black and white.

High and low contrast both work well for layering, depending on what effect you want. High contrast is good for making something stand out as a focal point, like using PolarTech Iceberg window shades in Onyx in a room with light walls. Low contrast is good if you want an open, calming feel. If you are looking for low contrast window treatments, use PolarTech Natural window shades in Maui or PolarTech Sunset in Beachsand in a room with beige or cream walls.

Mixing Patterns

For a long time, mixing patterns while layering was generally not recommended. It can be hard to get it “right” when mixing patterns, but when you find the perfect combination – it really makes a statement. Don’t be afraid to try mixing patterns when layering in your home. When mixing patterns, choose one print to be the dominant one. Find a coordinating print in a neutral or in the same color family. Picking prints of different sizes can help them mesh better together.

When looking for thousands of fabric options for window shades in your home, turn to Polar Shades. They manufacture all their shades from their 21,000 sq ft facility in Nevada. For more ideas about how you can layer your window treatments schedule your free in-home consultation with Polar Shades at 702-260-6110.