When choosing drapery fabric, you are limited only by your imagination! No matter what your décor style, you’ll have a myriad of options to choose from. Here’s what you need to know when considering different drapery fabrics.
Fabric type: Linen
Best for:
The crisp, classic look of linen is best for simple curtains or drapery panels. Linen is heavy enough to hang elegantly (or puddle on the floor) and has a natural, textured look, so there’s no need to fuss with it. Select linen in a neutral, washed-out hue: it’s not ideal for bright or dramatic colours.
Linen is also a solid choice for Roman shades.
Privacy/light-blocking:
Minimal to moderate. Layer window treatments for enhanced privacy or light blocking.
Fabric type: Silk
Best for:
Silk adds instant luxe with its sumptuous weight and depth of hue. Silk is unrivalled for its ability to hold any colour, from neutrals to intense, rich dyes. Silk drapery should be lined to protect it from sun damage and deterioration; as a result, it is best for pleated curtains, long panels that end in a puddle, as well as swags and valances, but not shades.
Privacy/light-blocking:
Moderate, depending on blackout liner or insulation of backing fabric.
Fabric type: Velvet
Best for:
Velvet’s relatively heavy weight and thickness enhances its insulating properties, making it a smart floor-length or puddling-length drapery panel fabric for drafty windows and patio doors. Available in an array of rich colours, choose a velvet suited to your décor as it can come in either a matte finish or soft luster.
Privacy/light-blocking:
High; add a liner to velvet drapery to maximize its light-blocking and insulation capabilities.
Fabric type: Sheers
Best for:
Layering. Lightweight sheers tend to have a billowing rather than draping or pooling effect, lending a more romantic/casual look to a room. Sheers make playful drapery panels, so feel free to experiment with colour, shimmer, and weave.
Some semi-sheer fabrics can be made into shades for streamlined light diffusion.
Privacy/light-blocking:
Minimal: Layer with other window treatments like blinds or shades, plus an additional panels and/or valance, for privacy and/or light blocking, or to provide more visual weight.
Fabric type: Couture fabrics
Best for:
Couture fabrics showcase look-at-me style with designer cache. Because they are the most costly window treatment fabric, designers on a budget will use them as a high-impact accent fabric in the form of a valance or swag, although depending on fabric type, there’s no reason not to use them in greater quantities if this falls within your budget!
