How to choose fabric for curtains

Curtains give a room character and colour, energy and light with important functionalities.

When beautifying windows, there are a few things to consider, from choosing the fabric with the right design, pattern, colours, look and feel, the type of coverage, functionality, heavy weight or light weight, lining etc.

Fabric is one of the key elements in choosing curtains.

Besides the design, needs like privacy, insulation, light blocking, and maintenance need to be taken into consideration to ensure the best choice has been made.

An important factor when choosing the fabric is the colour and pattern.

Colour is the one thing you need to have in mind for your colour scheme when decorating the room to fit with the walls, furnishings and floor.

The colour and pattern is what we notice first when we enter a room and see curtains.

There are numerous types of fabrics for beautifying windows, from natural fibers like cotton and linen for a casual feel, to velvet for a sumptuous room and silk or faux silk for a luxurious ambiance.

For keeping the cold out, thicker fabrics like velvet, suede, tweed and tapestry keep the room warmer.

The weight of the fabric can prevent unwanted sunlight. In addition, lining and interlining are key in keeping heat inside and reduce the amount of heat needed to warm the home, which can reduce energy costs.

Cotton made curtains, are flexible in their use and light in weight: 100% cotton or a cotton mix with a lined option for a better drape. Alternatively, unlined for a more personalised character which can be changed as often as you please.

Choose a tighter weave for privacy and less sunlight otherwise enjoy its fresh style.

Linen made curtains, give a relaxed feel and offer a shabby chic style with warmth, by allowing the sunlight through the sheerness of the fabric.

The weight varies and you can choose from heavy weight linen to light weight depending on whether it is natural or linen mix fibers.

Velvet made curtains, offer a luxurious appearance due to its heavy weight fabric. Composition can be natural or synthetic fibers, both choices are great for decorating living areas.

Silk made curtains, add a glamorous and romantic look to any room due to the light weight fabric. One of the factors to consider is that silk has a high maintenance and it is recommended to be used in dry ambiance, else in moist areas it can rot.

Wool made curtains, create a warm and welcoming feeling. Wool can insulate and soundproof and always pleases the eye with a classic and distinguished look.

Polyester made curtains or faux silk, are very often used due to its durability and easy maintenance. Synthetic fibers are more resilient when considering the effects of sunlight and temperature changes.