fabrics for interior decoration

Mysterious velvets, exotic silk, natural cotton and crisp linen give a beautiful look to the rooms they adorn.

There are a lot of different fabrics for any taste and needs. All you have to do is to choose the suitable fabric for the specific project. Here are the types of fabrics you can use for your home decoration.

Cotton: the most useful, not expensive textile for interior decoration (curtains, furniture, coverings). It's easy to sew; it holds dye and shape well.

Chenille: the ‘poor man's velvet' was made of silk or wool in the past, but now it is made of cotton. It is used in upholstery, coverings, and tablecloths.

Gingham: a type of thin cotton fabric from India mostly in red, blue and green color with equal width stripes forming check pattern. It can be used in many applications such as for country kitchen curtains and tablecloths, covers, trims and shades.

Madras: originally the term described a red and black check cotton fabric from Madras, India. Today the term is used for inexpensive fabrics from cotton and other type fibers. Its colors are not as stable as they are from vegetable dyes. Its uses are soft draperies, tablecloths, but not upholstery.

Canvas: an entire cotton fabric which fits most styles at a good price. It is perfect for slipcovers, upholstery, cushions.

Burlap: it is made of jute, it has strength and durability. It has a coarse look and feel and it is used for draperies.

Denim: the term comes from the French ‘de Nimes', meaning the city where first this fabric was used for overalls. Denim was traditionally colored blue with indigo dye for blue ‘jeans'. It is a rugged textile, very durable in plenty of colors besides blue, black, white, and green. It is very useful in living and children rooms' decoration.

Linen: a natural fabric with rumpled look which is its allure. It is easy to sew and is suitable for curtains and blinds.

Silk: it was discovered by the Chinese. It is a sophisticated and luxury fabric with superb texture and luster. It is great for draping, sheets and pillows. It makes rooms to look spectacular.

Velvet: although it may look formal and sensitive for upholstery, it gives a touch of elegance where it is used.

Damask: it is produced from silk, wool, linen, cotton, or synthetic fibers, with patterns formed by weaving. It is most commonly found in table linens or bedding purposes.

Brocade: it is similar to damask fabrics but heavier in ornament with woven surface resembling embroidery. A good choice for upholstery of old timber furniture and formal drapery swags.

Brocatelle:  it is a Jacquard double cloth from linen and silk fibres with a smooth raised figure of warp-effect, usually in a satin weave construction, on a filling effect background. It is used for draperies, furniture, coverings and general decorating purposes.

Tartan: it is particularly associated with Scotland. It is a fabric with stripes of colored yarn both in the warp and weft. Apart from wool which is the traditional yarn, there are fabrics from cotton or silk. It is used for upholstery, blankets (woolen fabric), drapery, blinds, shades (cotton or silk fabric).

Wool: it is one of the most versatile fibres, sturdy and durable, naturally flame-retardant. Wool and wool blends offer good resistance to pilling, fading, wrinkling. It is blended with synthetic fibres for easier cleaning. It has a wide range of uses from thick and coarse carpets to extremely fine curtains or light upholstery.

Tapestry: hand or machine woven fabric. Its warp threads from linen or cotton and the weft threads usually from wool or cotton, including sometimes silk, gold, and silver, create a colorful image or a scene. For traditional use in wall hangings, upholstery and cushions, while machine made tapestries are good for curtains and upholstery as well.

Synthetic fabrics: as substitution of rare and expensive materials such as:

• Alcantara: a composite, non- woven, versatile Japanese material. It is composed of polyester and polyurethane, that's why Alcantara has increased durability and stain resistance. It is perfect for covers of sitting surfaces.
• Textured satin Naples: this fabric is from polyester. It is a beautiful and sophisticated satin with a slight texture and sheen.  It is proper for creation of draperies, swags, valances, pillows and for upholstery projects.
• Rayon: a very soft fabric with a lot of drape, easy to sew.
• Suede: it is a soft like butter fabric, in an array of colors. It is perfect for upholstery, duvet covers, and pillows.
• Taffeta: it is a crisp, smooth woven fabric made from silk or synthetic fibers.

Eco friendly fabrics: the fabrics of the future. These are fibers from plants which have been grown with minimum use of chemicals and pesticides in soil and dyed with low-impact dies. The following are considered to be eco friendly fibers: jute, hemp, calico (muslin), Hessian cloth, organic cotton, recycled polyester, bamboo fiber, ramie, organic wool, linen, milk silk, soy silk, nettle fiber.

About the Author

I am an architect.with my husband I own and operate a construction company. I am professor of material technology in the Department of Interior Design in the College of Fine Arts AKTO- Art and Design in Thessaloniki, Greece.