Appliques are cut-out designs that are available in many different styles in fabric or in wall paper. You can use them alone or create your own design around them. Appliques can be used on clothing, home furnishings and walls.

Store-bought appliques designed for use on clothing are usually made from polyester or rayon satin thread. Some appliques have metallic thread and/or sequins or beads. There are several great ways to use appliques on clothing for men, women or children. One way is to personalize belongings such as a backpack or a shirt with an applique that reflects a personal interest such as an animal motif for an animal lover or a musical instrument applique for a musician.

Another way to use appliques creatively on clothing is to cover a permanent stain. This technique can save a garment that would otherwise have to be discarded or recycled. Appliques can be especially cute on children's outfits and there are many types of children's appliques such as teddy bears, flowers, sports logos and much more. Coordinate the applique to suit the style and color scheme of the outfit.

Either store-bought or hand or machine sewn appliques can also dress up household items such as throw pillows and towels. Motifs can be cut from patterned fabric, hemmed and then sewn onto home furnishings. For example, individual fish can be cut out of fish patterned cloth and once the edges are hemmed to prevent fraying, the appliques can be added to a bathroom hand towel. Ribbon or braid trim may also work well with appliques on a towel.

Wallpaper appliques often look and work like giant stickers. Many of them are peel and stick. You can often reposition them if you don't like where you first place them on the wall. Wallpaper appliques can be especially fun for a child's room and can be used for a mural look on a wall. Just paint the wall an accent color or two first and then maybe paint on some added details around the appliques. Many different children's wallpaper appliques are available such as animals, trucks, flowers, sports and licensed characters.