Most popular fabrics to use in interior designs

If you’re a lover of interior design, you’re not the only. Most likely, you’re constantly looking to make changes to your home, endlessly falling in love with different products and fabrics, and spending big money on house improvements. You probably prefer one thing or another; yet, knowledge is power, so acknowledging some of the most popular fabrics in home décor might help you make sound decisions next time you look for upholstery, bed sheets and so on.

Silk is a go-to for curtain and upholstery curtains, Jacquard fabrics are a popular, versatile choice and abound in the home décor industry, and cotton is bought because it’s sturdy and looks OK for the small price.

Enough with talking, and let’s get to facts! Here you have the most popular fabrics for interior designs, explained.

Cotton

Cotton is a versatile and breathable fabric usually used for bedding, slipcovers, upholstery and windows. Since the ’80s, it’s been “the fabric of our lives”, earning that moniker thanks to its utility. Its weaves are highly popular in home décor designs and accept dye well.

It’s widely used for clothes, too, because it’s water absorbent and easy to wash and iron. The downside to cotton is that you can’t remove stains quickly, and while it’s so used, it also gets dirty easily.  Have your cotton fabric washed professionally and buy professional products to remove some stains at home.

It’s best to pay attention to the percentage of cotton in your products, especially if your skin is sensitive. Not everything with “cotton” on the label delivers 100% of this fabric’s advantages. Also, there are more differences to it, like there are distinctions between the organic cotton and cotton blends.

Cotton blend fabric. This one’s good for upholstery and high-traffic areas, as it’s highly durable. It delivers versatility and consists of cotton woven with either natural linen fibres or synthetic fabrics like polyester or rayon.

Organic cotton fabric. This is cotton made resistant to bugs using genetically modified seeds, and it’s created from natural sources, removing the need for the use of harmful chemicals like pesticides.

Jacquard

Increasingly more people look for ways to integrate jacquard fabrics into their interior design, not only their wardrobe. This fabric is widely used in the mattress and bedding industries because it provides complex design, striking colours, wrinkle resistance and durability. It’s woven on a specific loom that performs a complex technique to allow for the arrangement of warp and weft yarns and the fabrication of the wanted effect.

There are many ways to introduce it in your house, but you should first analyse your needs and expectations from the objects surrounding you. For example, if you’re artsy and constantly on the lookout to improve the design of your house, the intricate design of the jacquard might please you. For persons who dislike ironing and for obvious reasons, some of the most popular fabrics to use are jacquard fabrics. And if you have children who like to play and throw things around, these fabrics can remove the stress of constant cleaning spilt juice and food because it’s easy to wash.

You can choose from many designs, including stripes, geometric patterns, ornamental, chevrons and florals. These will add a touch of elegance to any room, and you can use them in conjunction with other fabrics such as wool, linen, silk and cotton to create wonderful designer pieces that last a lifetime, considering you take care of them properly.

Silk

Silk fabric is frequently associated with luxury due to its lustrous finish and soft, smooth feel. This fabric has fantastic longevity – it originated in China around 400 BC and was a cloth traded and worn by the aristocracy as it spread worldwide. While silk is undoubtedly more widely available today, it retains its status as a lavish fabric.

Silk, like linen and cotton – its natural fabric counterparts – comes in various forms and weaves, which determines much of its durability. It’s a long-lasting, luxurious and soft fabric that you can use for throw pillows, beddings and accents. Raw, massive silk can take a lot of wear, so numerous fine Oriental rugs use this fabric or a silk-wool blend.

Ideally, don’t buy silk curtains and don’t expose this textile to the sun because it can damage the material, cause holes in the fabric and discoloration. However, please pay attention that it isn’t a one-size-fits-all fabric. It’s known for smoothness, but some textiles, like silk taffeta, are more rigid and crunchier in texture.

Polyester

Polyester may be familiar to crafters as a material that acts as batting in homemade quilts or as a fabric used to fill pillows. Its general properties are stain-resistance and durability, meaning it blends well throughout spaces where cotton can be used, like slipcovers and upholstery.

If you’re a crafting enthusiast, you’re most likely familiar with this textile. However, when used for interior design, polyester is rarely used on its own, with cotton/polyester blends being more popular choices. It’s also a preferred choice for families with kids or pets because it gives adults the peace of mind of knowing that their polyester products will pass the test of time.

It’s an incredibly versatile fabric, but there’s one area where you shouldn’t use it: bedding. Here, cotton, jacquard and silk do better jobs. Poly-linen blends are great options for curtain applications where linen would wrinkle too easily.

Whether you want an elevated look, colour, wrinkle resistance or strength, there are fabric options for you.

Extra tips

Understanding the characteristics of the weave you’re working with and how different textiles hold up to wear is the first step in designing a space that will last.

More fabrics are interior design-friendly, but the ones above are the most popular.

  • Acrylic fabric is water- and stain-resistant and durable. Yet, acrylic is a good option for outdoor living spaces.
  • Wool fabric is warm, highly durable and easy to spot-clean. It works well for high-traffic areas, bedding layers and carpeting.
  • Linen fabric is breathable and lightweight, and it’s best to choose it for low-traffic areas, drapery and pillow covers.