Home Decor

Your Complete Guide to Selecting the Best Curtain Fabrics

Curtains may be the last thing on your mind while decorating your house but their importance should definitely not be ignored. Curtains can make or break your interior décor game and can change the whole look of the room. So choosing your curtains wisely is as important as all other major things in your decor.

Invest your time in doing vast research on the types of curtains and the types of fabrics that would suit you the most. Because when it comes to curtain buying, the rule “one size fits all” doesn’t apply.  Also, buying curtains is an expensive task as they might take up a chunk of your interior décor budget. Always opt for something which you will not regret buying later because replacing them too soon is a choice you won’t be left with. 

Choosing a curtain fabric can be quite puzzlesome for some of us. You don’t want to sound all clueless while you are out to get curtain fabric for your home. You must have a thorough understanding of the curtain fabrics available in your area, as well as the styles for which they are ideal. And remember to keep in mind the manageability and durability part of your pick as well. Always ask yourself if you will be able to get them washed or dry cleaned easily. You must go through the care details of fabric before investing in one.

If you are on a quest for finding the right curtain fabric for your home, then you need to know that they come in the following three major categories:-

● Light-weight fabric

● Standard-weight fabric and

● Heavy-weight fabrics

To make the right selection, you need to be explicit about the room you are getting the curtains made for. A bedroom, for instance, would require more privacy than the living room, so a more heavily weighted cloth would be appropriate here. While keeping the practicality of the fabric in mind, always remember the fact that your curtains add an accent to your room and should therefore aesthetically mesh well with the room’s décor. And since you are already on to revamping the decor, here are 10 interior styles that are going trendy in the upcoming year.

Are you confused even more after reading all this? Well, don’t be, because we have you covered with an extensive guide on how to choose the right curtain fabrics. And we promise you that by the end of this article you will become a pro in this department. Well, what are you waiting for? A bonanza awaits you!

1. Polyester

The most commonly used fabric for drapery and curtains is polyester. It is your best bet if you have a small budget but still adore silk curtains. Super affordable and super easy to maintain, this fabric is preferred in masses. If you have a good budget for curtains, we would suggest that you go for good-quality polyester as the cheaper one tends to have a certain shine that looks a little tacky. What more could you want if you’re putting up curtains in your child’s room? They’re stain-resistant and easy to wash.

Polyester also comes in various blends. Polyester viscose, for instance, is the best possible choice of fabric for your curtains in any room. Also available in a vast variety of prints and colors, you will surely find something that blends in well with your design. 

Tip: Polyester curtains should not be used in the kitchen since they are highly flammable.

Recommended Article- How To Choose Perfect Curtains For Living Room?

2. Velvet

Want to give your room an expensive and elegant look? Velvet should be your jam for curtains. Velvet is a rich material often used in master bedrooms and formal dining rooms. Velvet has a gorgeous drape which makes it a favorite fabric for curtains. If you have a big budget set aside for curtains, go for this type. Just remember that these are one of the heaviest curtains you will come across, and they will block much of the sunlight in the room. 

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Velvet curtains are good for bedrooms because of their thickness as they provide excellent privacy and dark out. They also prevent cold drafts from the windows in winters. To make your pick, the market offers pure cotton velvet, mohair, and other blends. However, the most expensive and lush velvet is the one made from silk threads. It has long been associated with royalty because of its opulence. 

Care Tip: A dry clean is always preferred for this type of curtain fabric. Avoid ironing it at all costs. Clean the curtains gently with a vacuum cleaner because it absorbs dust quickly.

3. Silk

Think silk! Think romance, sophistication, and elegance. Although silk seems like a delicate fabric option for curtains, it is stronger than your average standard-weight material. They are also very good at regulating indoor temperatures. What else could you ask for? A delicate-looking material that has a surprisingly durable last. Choose heavy-weight silk for more privacy and lighter-weight ones for a breezy, sheer look. 

Taffeta is a silk blend that is increasingly becoming a popular choice for curtains by interior designers. Used for sheer curtains in formal rooms, organza is luxurious pure silk. It is both expensive and very delicate. Raw silk curtains can also be a good option as they have a very good drape. It lacks sheen and can be used in casual styles. 

Care Tip: Silk curtains definitely require dry cleaning and are very prone to sun damage. So it is suggested to keep them secured from direct sunlight.

4. Rayon

Rayon, which is somewhat similar to silk, can provide the impression of pure and natural threads. Or, to put it another way, rayon is a less expensive equivalent of silk or linen. This fabric is super affordable and very practical for use as curtains. Rayon is an organic fiber that has very unique properties and is said to be derived from wood. It is another material that is great for filtering harsh sunlight effects and providing semi-privacy. The ability of this fabric to imitate other materials makes it note-worthy.

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It gives you an amazing end result when blended with other materials. When coupled with linen or cotton, rayon minimizes wrinkles, making it a popular choice due to its ability to create something truly unique and exquisite.

Care Tip: Rayon should only be dry cleaned or hand-washed gently as washing in a machine tends to damage the fiber. You must use mild detergents with no harsh chemicals (like bleach) in them. Always use cold water to avoid the fabric shrinking. Again, don’t use heat to dry it. Keep the iron in a mild-warm setting to make it wrinkle-free after washing.

5. Lace

Undeniably glamorous, lace curtains give your room an ornamental touch without being too flashy. It tends to have a more traditional look rather than a modern one. So if you are a classic loving person, then lace curtains are your thing. They are good for almost all rooms of the house. They can give a very versatile look as they have a very good fall for drapery and can be sewn into various styles. But remember that lace curtains are a privacy buster. If you want a modern twist to this time-honored fabric, then lace can be best used in various blinds and shades styles for the windows. However, since lace is very delicate, it will not offer much durability. This fabric offers sheerness which makes the room feel very bright, airy, and soft. And if, every morning, you love having little doses of light in your bedroom, here are 8 stunning tips to light it up in style. 

Care Tip: Requires hand-wash. Machine wash in a gentle setting is also acceptable. Air drying is highly recommended as this material has polyester blends that cannot take the heat of the iron. Usually softer colors are available in lace so harsh detergents will damage the colors and the fiber.  

6. Voile

If you want a perfect sheer screen for your windows, then voile is for you. Voile is a fabric that is lightweight and acts as a perfect screen. It is a lot like chiffon, but it’s not as pure as chiffon; instead, it’s an ideal blend of cotton, linen, and polyester. This makes the fabric durable and very strong. Color options are also vast in this fabric. 

Thin, breezy, and drapes wonderfully, this is a modern choice for interior designers. This fabric lets in sunlight in a way that makes the room bright and somehow dims the harsh rays. This material is translucent and provides amazing daytime privacy. Voile curtains can also be used as an inside layer to heavy-weight curtains. Usually a go-to fabric for blind screens, voile is a very cheap option for curtains. Voile fabric is perfect for curtains all year round.

Combine voile curtains with these modern style decor ideas and you’ll get an amazing result.

Care Tip: Machine wash works fine for voile but high temperatures tend to shrink the fabric especially cotton voile. A drawback of this material is that it is easily stainable. Air drying is the best solution when it comes to drying them after washing.

7. Linen /Cotton

Pure linen fibers are one hundred percent organic with no blend and are derived from flax plants. Linen threads are normally a little hard in texture but they tend to soften with time. The material is very airy because of its hollow property. That is why it is preferred and is suitable for all seasons. Amazingly, it keeps the house warm in winters and airy in the summers.

The linen is extremely durable because of being organic in nature. It has a perfect fall which makes it an ideal choice for drapery and curtains. It holds its shape well and at the same time has just the perfect amount of tension because of its weight. But as compared to cotton, this fabric will cost you more. And since it is all-natural, it requires more care.

Linen curtains give a very modern as well as a contemporary look to your room. The best part about this material is that the harsh sunlight doesn’t affect it much. So you can rule out the fear of faded curtains. 

Also organic, cotton curtains are a cheaper version of linen. Good to use, if you are short on budget. They will also blend well with the modern look of the room. The lighter colors will draw more light in as compared to dark colors. But will fade away in direct sunlight. The downside of cotton is that this material is subject to shrinkage and mold.

Care Tip: A dry clean is recommended for the durability of linen curtains and should be air-dried. If you immediately hang them, it will help you to eliminate creasing. 

Recommended Article- A Complete Guide To Different Types of Curtains

8. Jacquard 

You must be familiar with Jacquard as it is a very commonly used fabric in upholstery, curtains, and drapery. Jacquard is a heavy weighted and textured fabric that is perfectly suitable for home furnishings. This fabric brings a look of luxury and elegance to your room. Strong fabric with great stretch capability, jacquard is not just created from one fabric. It is actually woven from different materials. The one woven from silk and cotton is a very expensive buy usually available at high-end stores. There is also a weave of cotton and linen blend which is less expensive but very durable. Cotton jacquard is rich in colors and doesn’t wrinkle much.

You can buy it here

Another name that you might be familiar with, and is often confused with Jacquard, is brocade. This type is somewhat similar to jacquard but one can tell them apart by looking at the backside of the fabric as brocade has an unfinished and rough look at the reversible side.

Care Tip: A sturdy fabric, jacquard is good to go for a machine wash. However a dry clean is always preferred. Extensive or aggressive cleaning agents can damage its weave. It needs a shady and well-ventilated area for drying up. Sun or dryer heat can also damage the weave of this fabric.

Every fabric has different traits. Curtains add so much to the aesthetics of your room while performing what it’s mainly supposed to do: give privacy. Before going for one, weigh out its pros and cons and then make your pick wisely. 

Happy hunting! 

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