Why Etsy is Designers' Secret Source for Cheap Block-Print Fabric
We love a good block print. From table linens and lampshades to upholstery and window treatments, there are few things that aren't improved by a sweet hand-stamped motif. (We've even been known to wear them every now and then.) The best part? You can buy entire bolts at incredibly wallet-friendly prices through Etsy.
"Indian block prints from Etsy are my shopping addiction!" declares designer Lilse McKenna. "It’s such a great budget-cutter if you know you need a print somewhere but don’t have a budget for a really fancy fabric."
Case in point: When decorating a client's seaside pied à terre, McKenna knew she wanted to cover the bathroom walls in a hand-blocked print, but was hesitant about using anything too expensive. "Bathroom wallpaper usually ends up having to be replaced, so I thought it would be silly to spend a ton of money on it," she says. Instead, she dove into her stash of Etsy block prints. "I had 200 yards of a fabric that I'd bought for like $200, and just had it acrylic-backed so I could use it as a wallcovering," she explains. Even with the treatment, it ended up being far less of a splurge than a bathroom's worth of high-end wallpaper. An added bonus: "We were able to use the money we saved on an amazing custom sofa," says McKenna.
Shopping for block prints on Etsy comes with a few caveats, though. The colors can sometimes look different than they do on-screen, warns McKenna, and occasional printing defects should be expected, so always buy a few more yards than you think you'll need, just to be safe.
But with prices that can be as low as just a few dollars per yard, it's still a steal, even if you have to budget in some extra product. Better yet, order a "sample" first: "What I usually do if I see one I like is order a couple of yards for $10 or so, and then if it looks good in person, I'll order $100 worth and keep it in inventory," McKenna says.
Read on for some of our favorites!
Shop Etsy Sources for Block-Print Fabric
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