Fabrics

​

As any decorator will tell you, draperies make a room — but only when chosen correctly. When it comes to window treatments, it's a matter of color and fabric, length and lining.

​

Fabric is an essential part of choosing drapes, since the material will dictate how well your curtains function and hold up over time. If they're too heavy, they may not fold crisply when drawn; too light and they may not fall well.

 

When it comes to material, linen, silk, faux silk and velvet are the best choices to use for window treatments since they tend to hang the best. Faux silk tends to be the most durable and in a particularly sunny room, faux silk doesn't deteriorate as quickly as real silk.

 

Some fabrics can help keep out the cold. Many hotels use suede, velvet, tapestry or tweed since their weight helps block light and keep heat in. Still, nearly any fabric can be interlined with bump, a thick, insulating felt material. And interlining — a piece of fabric slipped between the lining and the face fabric — can also help prolong the life of the curtains.