Lace Up!

Unique uses for decorating your home with lace are few and far between, especially if you're trying to avoid a Grandma-feeling. Lace dollies may be just as popular in nursing homes during visiting hours, but that doesn't mean there isn't a place for them in your Hampton home.

Simple dollies are the most popular form of lace throughout home décor. Coffee tables, end tables and bedside tables alike can't go wrong with a little lace on top. However there is much more potential hidden inside this frilly fabric.

Bringing a throwback from yesterday into the 21st century is never easy, especially when it comes to decorating your home. For an original twist on the traditional uses of lace, try bringing it into the bathroom. An old curtain can easily be used as an elaborate and decorative shower curtain. To contemporize your lace, drape a solid, brightly colored liner underneath, making the design of the lace really standout. The detail of the lace and pop of the color can make any bathroom seem effortlessly elegant without seeming too old-fashioned.

Using lace in your kitchen might be the best place to keep out the early 20th century feel. Since kitchens are often based off a light color, the natural whites of lace can match easily. Kitchen tables may not seem the most appropriate place for lace, but when dyed to coordinate with the kitchen, lace can make for a great tablecloth. Whether you decide to dye the lace or leave it natural, lace can work in formal or everyday table settings. Casual settings can benefit from the simple spice of dyed lace at the table. The unorthodox coloring of lace can set a kid-friendly, yet classy tone for the table - making a spill here or there acceptable. White lace is an elegant addition to any formal place setting whether as a tablecloth or placemat.

Curtains are a great way to use lace in the kitchen because of the soft color and decorative tone that will glow with as the sun seeps through the windowpanes. Again, matching a solid color from your kitchen-scheme and layering it behind the lace can make the detail of lace really pop. If the white lace really doesn't mix well with the other décor in the kitchen, try dying the pieces of lace to a color that is better suited for your kitchen. This will give the same effects as the white lace but with a less outdated impression. Try reversing the entire initial project and drape white curtains behind the newly dyed lace to embellish the detail and still suit the atmosphere of the room.

In the kitchen particularly, the short curtains would be a better choice as to not overwhelm the room with the frill of the lace - a perfect accent for the window above the sink. Draping lace in the kitchen and throughout the home can be difficult if you are contemporizing the delicate design. Try using the lace as the valance and drape an appropriate color below. This will give the subtle touch of lace without overpowering the entire room's décor. French door curtains are a perfect opportunity for lace to creep into your home. Lace will allow for light to still climb through the door's panels while still allowing for an appropriate essence of privacy and elegance. Although the lace is a traditional way of treating French doors, it has transcended the interior design time - making the rest of the lace world green with envy.

In living room areas, a more Victorian or classic scheme can be achieved by simply leaving the lace white. Contemporary lace can be dyed according to what you feel would complement or contrast the hues of your existing color scheme. Whether you choose to decorate the area with dollies or pillows, lace isn't unfamiliar with these settings.

Other ways to delicately design with lace around your home are the small detailed pieces. Lace trimmed linens are always a graceful addition to any home; towels and sheets with subtle lace edges can add a simple and soft touch to almost any bedroom or bathroom. Decorative lace pillows are essential for shabby chic decorating and small details like lace pincushions don't go unnoticed.

Lace is making a comeback but in hip, non-Grandma ways, so don't be afraid to lace-up your interior design with a little frill.

- Brittany Allen

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