Curtain Fabric – Popular Materials Used For Curtains

Today many people are now choosing to make their own curtains or at least select curtain fabric and then have them tailored by a professional. The reasons behind this are complex but one of the major benefits is certainly that by selecting your own fabric you have the opportunity to create an individual window dressing that nobody else will have in their home. What follows are five popular materials used in the production of curtain fabrics.

Silk has to be one of the most luxuriant fabrics used in the manufacturing of curtains. Often woven into different patterns and styles it can be perfect for creating dressier, formal windows. It can be used either in full length panel curtains, roman shades or even balloon shades. A definite disadvantage of silk has to be the price, unless you can find a cheap dealer, it is likely that it will be expensive. Another disadvantage is that if the curtains are unlined, silk has the tendency to rot in direct sunlight.

Cotton is a much cheaper option and is an extremely versatile fabric. Cotton can also be weaved in different ways to achieve different effects, such as satin weave of plain weave. Cotton’s versatility means that it can be used for plainer, simple looks as well as classy, sophisticated styles. Cotton is easy to clean although unless the curtains are lined can hang awkwardly.

Linen has become one of the more popular types of curtain fabric in recent years. Linen can be woven into both light and heavy weaves meaning that a range of styles are available when using this material. In terms of price linen is relatively affordable in comparison to silk and wool. One downside would be the tendency of linen to wrinkle quite easily in humid environments and the fact that to clean linen curtains, dry cleaning services should be used.

Wool has the obvious benefit that it insulates excellently. When woven into heavy fabrics it also hangs effortlessly providing an elegant look. Wool is easily dyed and in terms of cost varies immensely depending upon which type of wool it is. For example some sheep’s wool is relatively cheap whereas wool from alpacas or llamas can work out rather expensive. Unfortunately wool is moisture absorbent and like linen is not the best option for humid rooms.

Synthetics such as nylon or polyester should be considered due to the fact that they are extremely stable and easily cleaned. However the cheap, plastic feel puts many homeowners off. For curtain linings however, synthetics can be considered an excellent choice.