Decorative trims for pillows, upholstered furniture...

Decorative trims for pillows, upholstered furniture and fabric

throws are a quick and simple way to add a big dose of style. Just

the way pearls are the perfect addition to a little black dress,

trims give just the right amount panache to your furnishings.

The types of trim available give even the best decision maker

reason to pause. With names like passementerie, bullion, tassels,

gimp, galloons, rosettes and cords, you may want to skip the details

entirely. Don’t. These small but mighty extras are the icing on the

cake in home decoration.

Trims are made from silk, brocade, jute, beads, medallions and

chenille. A little goes a long way; and adding a few dressmaker

details puts the final touch on a beautiful room.

Let’s start with something simple: cords. The most common cords

look like a twisted rope with a small (usually 1/2 inch) flange for

securing to the pillow.

If you’re inclined to pull out your sewing machine and tackle the

job yourself, you can find interesting trims at all decorative fabric

stores. The hardest part of the job is deciding which trim best suits

your purposes.

For a subtle adornment, add a tone-on-tone trim. If you want to

add a bigger splash, choose a contrasting color.

Fringe comes in a wide array of styles. Brush or moss fringes are

short and full. They can be used as pillow or upholstery edging.

Tassel fringe brings extra glamour and formality to pillows or as an

edging for draperies and table skirts.

Fringe can be very short, like brush fringes, or very long, like

bullion. Bullion fringe is 6-to 8-inches long and is made of thick

twisted cords attached to a braided edge. This fringe is often used

on the skirt of a sofa or chair. It can be added to a decorative

throw for extra “oomph.”

Delicate fringes can be feathery or have dangling beads. Unusual

materials can be used to edge a lampshade or sconce cover.

Rosettes are round, flower-like tufts. This decoration is usually

added to the end of a bolster pillow or the corners of curtains and

pillows.

Gimp is a narrow, flat braid that was used regularly (in the ‘30s,

‘40s and ‘50s) on upholstered pieces to hide tacks or staples. Not

many retailers use gimp for their mass-produced pieces anymore, but

finer furniture or custom orders still use the simple braid. It is as

decorative as it is useful.

Border trims are sewn directly onto the fabric to create a frame

for a pillow or can be applied in a pattern. Borders can be thin or

wide (up to 6 inches). Traditional borders usually have elaborate

patterns and are used to add color, pattern and texture to valances,

pillows, ottomans and draperies.

Trim can be added to existing curtains to update the style or add

more color to the room. Bullion can be added to a sofa skirt to hide

scuffs and scratches. Braid hand-sewn on a pillow gives it an instant

face-lift. Tasse trim applied to a table skirt will dress up a room.

Using passementerie (detailed trims) has many ... fringe benefits.

The only limit is your imagination.

* KAREN WIGHT is a Newport Beach resident. Her column runs

Sundays.