Why Curtain Fabric Makes Such a Difference

When choosing new curtains in your home, you may make the mistake of only looking at the colour and pattern of the material, without considering the actual fabric of a curtain panel itself. However, different fabric options will affect the look of those curtains, which then affects the overall look of a room as well. To ensure that you choose the best curtain fabric for every room of your home, note a few tips to consider, and some important factors to remember about curtain fabric.

Purpose of curtains

If you were to be asked the purpose of curtains you need for a room, you might get a bit confused, as homeowners often assume that curtains are simply meant to block a neighbour's view into a home's windows. This isn't the only purpose of curtains, however, as you might want curtains to block sound, and make a room seem warmer and cosier. If so, you want curtains made of a very thick fabric, including velvet, wool, or densely woven cotton.

If you need maximum sunlight blockage but don't want curtains to trap heat, you'll want to avoid velvet and wool, and stick with densely woven cotton, or lightweight silk curtains with a special type of light-blocking fabric sewn to their backside. Consider why you want curtains in a room before shopping, so you can decide the best fabric for those panels.

Movement

When you think of curtains being installed in a particular room, do you imagine those panels swaying in every breeze? If so, you want a lightweight nylon panel. On the other hand, do you want curtains to hang straight, without ever moving, so you can drape them as you wish without having them come out of place? Heavy velvet drapes won't move, even if the room's windows are open. This is also important to consider if you choose curtains with a strong pattern that you always want visible; lightweight fabric that moves in every breeze will interrupt that pattern, but heavier wool curtains will stay in place. Consider the movement you want, or don't want, from curtains when choosing their fabric.

Texture

The texture of curtain panels can affect their appearance and style, just like the texture of clothing. Lightweight silk panels can seem very soft and feminine, whereas a waffle weave cotton panel adds depth that helps to offset flat timber floors. Heavy cotton and wool can also seem out of place in a summer home, whereas thin nylon may do little to warm up a home in an area with long, cold winters.