How many of your know what an Ikat Fabric is? Ikat fabrics found their way back into the fashion and interiors trend now for a couple years, but did you know that they have been around for centuries? Ikat in Indonesian means to “tie” or “bind.” Ikat actually refers to the process in which the fabric is made and the fabric itself. A dye resistant method is used on the warp/weft before the threads can be woven into the Ikat pattern or design.

Patterns can vary from country to country and can often be a symbol of status, wealth, power, and prestige. The beautiful patterns are now being found in the United States and can complement your French-influenced design.

Ikat fabrics are constantly being found in the home interior’s market. Many ikat fabric patterns we are seeing have one single color with a neutral beige or white background. This is because each strand is arranged into bundles, tied and dyed separately before being attached to the loom and woven into a pattern.

Since this can take a great deal of skill if multiple colors are used, my professional assumption would be that it costs less to have a fabric with only one dye color. Both the manufacturer and consumer can win on price this way while getting the same look! Ikat fabrics can be found on many accent pillows; this might be where you may see more than one color since less fabric is used. But we are also seeing these fabrics on full upholstered sofas and chairs; this is a great way to make an impact in your room!

With such a busy fabric on a large piece of furniture, try and keep the rest of the room simple. If you must have accent pillows, keep them a solid color and try adding a decorative trim around the edges for flair. I suggest picking the Ikat fabric for either the sofa or the chairs, when used on both, it can often be a little bit too much. A solid or monochromatic rug can be simple yet effective against the busy pattern.

For artwork I would recommend using mirrors, clocks, or simple pictures without a lot of detail. Finally for accessories, try using a clear glass bowl with some pops of colors through marbles, coffee beans, accessory balls, or dried flowers. Pair this with big coffee table books and a couple picture frames and you should be all set!