With so many types of decorating fabrics available, how do you choose? Learn about different fabrics and their best uses.
- Cotton holds patterns well, comes in many finishes, and make up nicely for draperies, furniture covers, and accessories like pillows and table linens.
- Velvets are formal and come in many colors. Though they feel luxurious and elegant, they are very durable. A chair or sofa upholstered in a cotton velvet will last through generations if properly cared for.
- Nylon and polyester fabrics can be woven to resemble natural fibers. They can also be fashioned into interesting sheers for draperies. In fact, with modern finishing techniques, synthetic fibers can be made to look and feel like almost anything, including leather, suede, snake, and straw.
- Denim gives a casual look and is durable for children’s rooms and family rooms. Though most often thought of as blue, denim can be dyed to many colors including black and red.
- Silk is fragile but has a wonderful sheen and is available in a wide range of textures, from velvet to smooth, nubby to soft. It's best used on pillows or draperies.
- Linen looks beautiful when it's just been pressed but will get wrinkled immediately. You have to love the wrinkled look or decide to not even touch it. It's best for drapery panels that will not move--unless you don't mind the wrinkles.
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