Your Guide to Selecting Window Curtain Fabrics

Curtains provide useful functionality to your home. For instance, they add colour, texture, and dimension to a room. Insulation and privacy are also other essential elements you get from window curtains. However, the secret lies in finding the correct type of curtain. Various aspects come into play when selecting window curtains. One of these aspects is the curtain fabric. Your choice of curtain fabric will depend on a variety of factors, and here's how you get the most ideal.

Lighting

Curtains have a great impact on lighting in your home, so you need to consider that when choosing fabric. The location of the window will help you find the correct fabric as regards lighting. That is, for a common area such as your living room, you will want a curtain that will allow more natural light into that living space. For this reason, lightweight fabrics, such as synthetic, cotton and linen, would work well. Silk can also be an option, but the fabric tends to rot when exposed to sunlight. If you must choose silk, make sure you line and interline the curtains.

Remember that if the living space receives plenty of sunlight, such as when you have large windows, choose curtains in natural hues. Bright-coloured curtains have a tendency to fade faster when exposed to sunlight.

Sometimes, you may find the need to limit the amount of natural light entering a room. For instance, limiting the lighting in your bedroom will help enhance privacy. In such a case, opt for heavier fabrics. Tightly-woven fabrics are often the ideal choice. These fabrics are usually opaque to limit the amount of light the room receives. Examples of these tightly-woven fabrics include wool-blend fabrics, velveteen or corduroy.

Style

Curtains help create a given tone or atmosphere to a room. If you want to create a formal décor in a room, curtains with heavier fabric are often a better choice. This is because to have the formal atmosphere, you need draperies and heavier fabrics tend to have a higher draping capacity. This means they hold folds and pleats better than their lightweight counterparts. Heavy fabrics don't only help create a formal atmosphere. If you have draughty windows, they can help reduce the draughts.

For a more casual tone, lighter curtains with gathered or shirred tops would do the trick. Sheer synthetics and broadcloths are some of the fabrics you should consider using. You can choose to enhance your lightweight curtains using fabric trims or embroidery.

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