This is a question that interior designers have been pondering for many years. They all want to know which fabric is right for curtains. The answer depends on a number of factors, including sun exposure, location, designers, required privacy and humidity. However, there are some easy-to-follow guidelines when you are evaluating textiles.
Traditional Silk
Silk has been used traditionally for curtains used in workrooms for hundreds of years. There are characteristic variances between dupione, raw silk, silk blends and taffeta. However, there is one simple rule of thumb to keep in mind. Any curtains that are made out of silk have to be protected from exposure to ultraviolent light.
Ultraviolent light causes a reaction between atmospheric oxygen and water to create hydrogen peroxide. Since it is a bleaching agent, it will break down the dyes that give the fabric its color. This is known as photo degradation. The structure of the fabric will become weak as well and eventually disintegrate.
North facing windows most often provide ambient light. Thus, this is the best place to use your silk curtains.
Wool Warmth
Most often thought of as a textile for cold climates due to its association with winter apparel and its weight, wool curtains are easiest to install and manufacture. Wool is harvested from sheep and available in a variety of finishes. Raw wool has a corkscrew profile, which provides it with robust tensile strength and makes it easy to spin into a durable fiber.
However, professionals in the design community understand that wool curtains are less susceptible to wrinkles. Wool fibers contain somewhere between twenty and thirty percent water, which is the reason for the resilience to wrinkling.
Soft Linen and Cotton
Cotton is derived from the cotton plan and linen comes from flax fiber. However, both are alike when it comes to fabric for curtains. These natural fibers are finished commercially in a way that creates a strong weave. This lessens the threat of shrinkage. Dyes are saturated deeply because dyes take more evenly. You can use an iron on high with steam to remove most wrinkles from this material.
Choosing curtains of the best fabric seem like quite a daunting task. However, if you already know where you are going to hang the curtains, you are off to a good start. Once you determine your main concerns, such as wrinkling, fading or shrinking, you will be able to choose the right fabric for your curtains. For more information visit at You can also connect them on Facebook for more updates.
