What fabrics will be the best choice for you to consider for your home? Window treatments, furniture, accent pieces, decorative pillows, and bedding ensembles are all places that decorative fabrics can be beautifully and creatively used. With the multitude of man-made and natural fibers available, it pays to do a little homework.
Natural Fibers
Cotton has always been the first choice of designers and homeowners alike. Cotton dyes well, and has unlimited styling potential. It tends to have a “soft hand,” and doesn’t pill or fuzz. It’s an extremely durable fabric, and can be blended with other fibers in a textile. Cotton can be made into beautiful, full-bodied fabrics and has long been the favorite of upholsterers. A custom drapery made from 100% cotton fabric will be crisp or flowing, depending upon the type of fabric weave.
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Wool Fibers
Known for being springy, resilient, soft, and kinky, wood fibers are extremely durable. After bleaching, wool may be easily dyed and the fiber will retain its color depth for a very long period of time. It's also a very expensive fiber, and for this reason you will rarely see it in decorative fabrics. Wool tends to be used more for upholstery, area rugs, and carpeting rather than draperies.
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Silks
Known for its natural luster, silk is undeniably one of the most beautiful decorative fibers of all. here are many grades of silk, and many times silk is blended with other fibers during the manufacturing process. Strong light may tend to discolor silk and might even disintegrate the fiber. Today’s manufacturers have woven many fabulous designs into silk fabrics – including the popular embroidered silks.
Polyester Blends
Man-made fibers, are used quite often in decorative textiles because of their strength. Another great characteristic of this strong fiber is its ability to stand up under strong sunlight. Textiles manufactured of polyester blends are also abrasion-resistant, have a soft, warm “hand” and dye extremely well. They may be used for both drapery and upholstery fabric. Probably the most often used textile is a blended combination of polyester and cotton. The best characteristics of both fibers are incorporated to produce an extremely versatile and nicely-priced fabric.
Naturally, there are many other fibers used in decorative textiles, but these are the most common. As you become more familiar with the many characteristics of fibers found in decorative textiles, choosing the right fabric for your needs becomes clear. And of course, taking advantage of a knowledgable professional decorator can offer - like those at Decorating Den Interiors – will insure you make the right choice each and every time!
