Lampshade by Samuel & Sons
When searching for home decor, the priority is often larger items like vases, framed artwork, mirrors, lamps, rugs, etc. But you’re probably overlooking one detail: trim.
Trim can be used to customize lampshades, throw pillows, and, of course, drapery. It can be used as borders, appliqués, fringes, tassels, and more. There are so many ways to use trim in your home that add an extra touch of beauty, creativity, and elegance.
At Brave Maggie Designs, we partner with interior designers and homeowners to bring craftsmanship to every project. Beyond custom window treatments, our expert team crafts custom lampshades, throw pillows, and other soft furnishings using high-quality fabrics and supports your project from design to installation.
Today, we’re sharing some creative ways you can make use of trim to add color, texture, and interest to your home decor.
Lampshade by Samuel & Sons
Unique Lampshade Decorations with Trim
Got an old lampshade that could use some sprucing up? Trim is the perfect way to give it new life. It can be used for a subtle makeover or a bold new look. For example, you can take a plain lampshade and add a braided border around the circumference for a minimal look. Transform another with a skirt fringe. Or, cover the entire base with fringe to create a unique statement piece in your living room. Use studs on a square lampshade for a touch of grunge in your interior design style.
Before you begin, consider your personal taste, existing decor, and lampshade style when selecting trim. Common lampshade styles are: drum (including shallow and tapered), oval, bell, horn, square, tapered square, rectangle, and empire. Larger lampshades are a great opportunity to create a statement piece in a room with subtle window treatments and decor. A vintage lampshade can be modernized with edge accents while preserving its original charm. If it’s too overwhelming to decide on your own, feel free to contact our Brave Maggie Designs team to help guide you through your project.
Now let’s dive into some ideas for using trim on lampshades.
Lampshade by Samuel & Sons
Beaded fringes on a tapered or empire-shaped lampshade.
Beaded fringes on your lampshade elevate your decor. Use alternating colors, ombre, or even multicolored beads if they suit your interior. They can even be made of glass or gems to suit a luxury interior. Pair them with a braided trim and appliqués on the base to really elevate a simple lampshade.
A classic green velvet wrapped around an oval lampshade.
Create an elegant lampshade for your interior using a high-quality velvet to wrap around the shade. You can use the same velvet used in your drapery or soft furnishings for a cohesive design.
Lampshade by Samuel & Sons
A border with embroidered florals along the edges of a lampshade.
Thick borders work great on wave or pleated lampshades. They contribute the illusion of a dynamic element to a static room. Using florals brings freshness to a room with limited natural light or smaller windows. Add a matching trim around the top of the lamp to complete the design.
A border with appliqués and layered tassels on a simple oval lampshade.
To make a plain lampshade an interesting piece, add a border with appliqués around the bottom of your lampshade and layer two rows of tassels around the top of the drum. Use complementary colors to the base to avoid creating visual chaos.
Lampshade by Samuel & Sons
Combine a braid, fringes, and/or tassels as an edge accent.
You can layer multiple elements on one lampshade to take it from basic to designer. The trick is to use a similar color palette to the existing lampshade and make sure it doesn’t clash with the lamp body. The tassels should be the largest element, with the braided border and fringes having a supporting role.
Custom Throw Pillows: Brave Maggie Designs, Designer: Kathy Simpson
Trim Accents on Throw Pillows
Another great way to use trim is to add it as decorative accents on throw pillows. They help add texture, interest, and color in a room at a smaller scale. Trim details on throw pillows work on all pillows, including standard square pillows, lumbar pillows, bolster pillows, and body pillows.
Here at Brave Maggie Designs, we have a special love for custom throw pillows. We believe that custom details help complete a room’s design. At our Franklin showroom, we even installed a pillow bar to help clients create the throw pillows of their dreams.
In this section, we’ll explore some ideas to inspire your next throw pillow customization.
Scallops and pompoms on living room throw pillows.
Pompoms are cute details for throw pillows in a tween’s room but also for adults with a love for fun, whimsical decor. They can be small and delicate, medium and bold, or showstopping large.
For a unique throw pillow, add scalloped trim horizontally across the pillow and combine with oversized pompoms in the corners for a bold throw pillow design.
Fringe, fringe, and more fringe on square pillows.
A quick way to transform a simple white square pillow is to add fringe details. You can add them around the edges, across the pillow, or both. You can even take it a step further and layer the fringes across the entire pillow. Depending on the application, fringe details can suit maximalist, Victorian, and even eclectic interior design styles.
Custom Throw Pillows: Brave Maggie Designs, Designer: Andria Fromm Interiors
Geometric patterns on lumbar pillows.
Using a color or pattern that is present in your window treatments, plan out and sew a geometric pattern that covers the entire pillow. These can be squares, rectangles, waves, circles, hexagons, or whatever your creativity leads you to.
Mitered edges on decorative pillows.
For a minimal interior design style, using trim can be as refined as mitered edges. This simple change adds elegant detail without introducing patterns and textures that may feel out of place.
Custom Throw Pillows: Brave Maggie Designs, Designer: Kathy Simpson
Brush fringe on bolster pillows.
Bolster pillows are often layered with other pillows that feature bright colors, interesting texture, or bold patterns. Because of this, they often benefit from subtle trim details like brush fringe on each end of the pillow.
Fan edges with a border trim on a square pillow.
Take your pillow from plain to designer with a border along the center, vertically or horizontally, and pair it with fan edges along the length of the border.
Creative Applications for Drapery
You might be familiar with trim on drapery’s leading or bottom edges, but trim details can be applied in more ways. For example, fringe details can be added to the bottom of your drapery for contemporary, art deco or maximalist interior design styles. Tassels can be paired with a classic border trim for layered detail. Tassel tiebacks can be used to add texture to drapery.
As we’ve seen so far, there are infinite possibilities for adding trim to your decor. Let’s continue with more ideas for trim applications for drapery.
Double tassel tieback with beads.
Use a beaded double tassel tieback for large windows in spacious rooms. You can take this a step further and add tassel details to the bottom edge of the drapery.
Custom Window Treatments: Brave Maggie Designs, Designer: EH Interiors
Leading edge trim on cafe curtains.
Spruce up a classic refined fabric with a geometric patterned trim on the drapery’s leading edge.
Custom Window Treatments: Brave Maggie Designs, Designer: EH Interiors
Botanical prints for an organic modern interior.
For an organic modern interior design style, botanical and nature-themed trim are a great option to extend the style to a room’s drapery, especially on cotton and linen material. For more nature-themed trim options, stop by our Franklin showroom!
Split panel applications on drapery.
The trim of your choice can split the bottom third of the drapery and allow you to combine different fabrics such as cotton on the top and sheer linen on the bottom.
Custom Window Treatments: Brave Maggie Designs
Matching fabric tiebacks.
You can use the same fabric from your drapery to create fabric tiebacks to hold your drapery in place. This adds another element of cohesion and works well in rooms with layered drapery or in rooms with a particularly beautiful view.
Large pompom double-edge applications.
For larger windows with a greater capacity for boldness, try adding oversized pompoms along the inner and outer edges of your drapery.
Professional Trim Applications & Soft Furnishings in Nashville
Elevating your decor is made simple with the use of trim. You don’t have to overhaul your entire interior to freshen up your decor. Using trim is a small detail that carries big impact in a room.
Here at Brave Maggie Designs, we facilitate the design process and guide you to the best options for your project ideas, from trim details to large window coverings. Custom window treatments made with high-quality materials are our specialty. We offer our partnership to interior designers and homeowners with an appreciation for high-quality design and craftsmanship.
Our team crafts custom drapery, soft furnishings, and wallpaper for homes in Nashville, Franklin, and Brentwood. Our commitment to excellence ensures that each piece reflects your vision. Schedule your consultation today and let's start bringing your project’s vision to life.