Luxury fabrics have always been sought by renowned interior designers, especially regarding textile-based interior design projects. So we can easily conclude that an interior space isn’t fully complete until fabrics and other interesting forms of textiles get into the picture.
After all, they are the ones that form the basis of any interior décor. Before making an interior design theme with a specific textile material, a designer has to understand the characteristics of each and every fabric, but also the relationship to all the other fabrics in the room.
That’s why it’s so important to understand the part that each and every luxury fabric plays in the whole picture, whether we’re talking about velvet fabrics, brocade, wool, leather, and even chintz. It’s also essential to know how to use every fabric.
For example, you might use sheer materials to make intricate curtains, but you can’t use them for upholstery works. On the same note, you shouldn’t pick heavy tapestry material when it comes to drapes or table linen, as its weight will eventually bring down the rails and other fittings. Instead, use these materials for furniture and wall hangings. Let’s see what else is there to know about luxurious fabrics:
Cotton Textiles
Cotton is an extremely durable fabric, that’s oftentimes used for various home décor items. It’s quite strong when it comes to resisting pilling, and has a certain abrasion resistance quality that’s highly desirable for both soft furnishings, but also upholstered furniture.
If you’re passionate about interior design and you want a fabric that’s both natural and organic, then cotton is the choice for you. The type of cotton fabrics that are used for interiors might vary from the soft fine types to the stronger heavy weighted cotton cloth. Here are some of the best examples:
- Terry cloth – is one of the softest cotton textiles that can be used for rugs, cushions, and even chair covers.
- Linen – is entirely made from flax, and is among the strongest and most durable natural fibers available. It can be also used for both sheers and heavier fabrics, depending on the decor and your budget.
- Voile – is generally made of pure cotton, it’s super soft, sheer, and lightweight. Voile is preferred in projects that have soft furnishings, but also window treatments. Voile is also used for light furniture and table linen.
- Chintz – is a medium-weight cotton fabric with a lot of charm. It usually has large prints, and a certain glazed or unglazed finish. This bright, beautiful, and attention-grabbing fabric is back in style. Interior designers usually prefer using chintz for drapery, upholstery, wall coverings, and even furniture accessories, like throw pillow covers. It can be used anywhere in the house.
Velvet Fabrics
Luxury velvet fabrics are completely made from silk. It’s rare and it usually costs a lot of money. Less expensive velvet can be made from cotton, mohair, and even wool, but they don’t have the usual appeal of silk velvet. Velvet is known as rich and luxurious, and it can be used for most fabric-based furnishings, such as upholstery, drapery, pillow covers, and even accent chair seats.
Silk velvet
Silk velvet is by far the most expensive type of velvet fabric. So given the fact that it’s SO expensive and very hard to find, much of the fabric sold these days, which might erroneously be referred to as “silk velvet” is nothing but a blend between rayon and silk. Silk velvet is a wildly popular choice of interior designers, and it’s also suitable for upholstery, luxury drapes, and sumptuous bed and cushion covers.
Cotton velvet
Cotton velvet is the ideal choice for both apparel and upholstery. It is extremely durable, which makes it a great choice for most types of textile-based furnishings you might want in your home. Sumptuous bed coverings, wall coverings, upholstery, draperies, and even cushions are made from this wonderful fabric.
Cut velvet
Cut velvet and crushed velvet are also amazing for any item that might need one. Cut velvet has designs woven into the fabric, which makes it a very popular choice. The patterns can include all sorts of floral designs, but also geometric shapes with the pattern trimmed down from uncut loops of the pile. The other plain areas usually come as sheer portions.
Crushed velvet
Crushed velvet fabric is made through a production process, where it’s twisted while still wet, with the purpose of getting that crinkled look. Crushed velvet has a certain shimmer, a soft and silky texture that’s outstandingly charming. It works great for drapes, and any other forms of furniture upholstery.
Luxurious Wool
Wool fabric is super strong, resilient, and durable. It’s a great material for interior furnishings, and it’s also one of the strongest natural fibers. Even if wool blends are way more popular, thanks to their anti-pilling and anti-wrinkling features, wool (whether it’s pure or blended with other synthetic fibers) is highly appreciated when it comes to interior design works.
The fabric is so versatile, that it can be used for anything: area rugs, carpets, drapes, and maybe even curtains, upholstery, and cushions. Pure wool is wonderful, luxurious, and incredibly expensive.
Damask Materials
Originally, damask is a monochromatic fabric made from pure silk. However, it might include up to two or more colors. Also, pure and un-blended damask fabric might have various kinds of weaves, whether it’s twill, satin, or even sateen with various textures and grades of sheen.
Its special design is totally unique, as the light is playing off its vertical warp and horizontal weft fibers. Damask fabrics are sought especially for most household furniture and furnishings that need the use of textiles.
Elegant Linen
Linen can be easily used for your bedroom, your windows, accent pillows, and even slipcovers. For draperies, nothing compares with linen. It has this crisp pleat with a beautiful “drape” or flow to it that you otherwise wouldn’t get with cotton or polyester. Plus, when it comes to bedding, linen is absolutely divine. It softens with each and every washing, and it lasts more than cotton sheeting.
Leather
Leather has the most outstanding patina! From a big-scale sofa to an accent chair in the corner, you can easily find leather in all home design styles. It’s very durable, and it softens as time goes by. It might scratch, but that’s also part of its beauty.
However, be very careful with low-budget leather, as there’s surely a big difference in quality. Make sure you avoid anything labeled as “split” hide leather, or even emblazoned with “genuine leather”, especially if they have a price that screams “it’s too good to be true”. These are the types of leather that you will find on the market:
- full-grain leather – as the name shows, this type of leather is made out of full-grain of hide, and it’s by far the most durable type of leather.
- top-grain leather – this type of leather is usually made from the top layers of the hide. Since it’s the outer layer of the hide, it comes with a desirable grade that’s durable.
- split grain/ value-priced leather – this type of leather is usually made from the bottom layers of the hide that have been coated. If you ever encounter a leather sofa with its layers peeled off, it was probably a split-grain.
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