Key Facts About The 10 Most Popular Home Decorating Fabric Fibers

Questions often arise about home decorating fabric, in particular the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Use the guidelines below to help you make the right decisions when choosing decorating fabric for your upholstery and window treatments.

Home Decorating Fabric - Natural Fibers

Cotton

• Advantages: cool, soft, takes color well, versatile, withstands abrasions and high heat
• Disadvantages: wrinkles easily, shrinks or stretches unless treated, will mildew or rot
• Care: Machine washable
• Example home decorating fabrics: gingham, chintz, broadcloth

• Advantages: elastic and resilient, dirt resistant, flame resistant, tear resistant, easily shaped, strong, drapes well
• Disadvantages: watch out for moths, will shrink unless properly treated
• Care: Must be dry cleaned
• Example fabrics: broadcloth

Silk

• Advantages: luxurious and sensuous, very strong fiber, takes color well, retains shape, drapes well, resists mildew, decent wrinkle recovery

• Disadvantages: shows water spots unless treated, weakened by the sun, may yellow or fade if ironed with high heat, susceptible to moths and insects
• Care: Must be dry cleaned, unless hand washable is indicated
• Example fabrics: brocade , matelasse, poult de siue, silk broadcloth

• Advantages: elegant and refined, good durability, takes a pressing well, does not fade easily, resists moths
• Disadvantages: poor elasticity, will wrinkle , shrinks and stretches unless treated, yellows with age, will crack if stored for long periods
• Care: Must be dry cleaned, unless hand washable is indicated
• Example fabrics: damask, butcher's linen

Home Decorating Fabric - Man-Made Fibers

Nylon

• Advantages: very strong, light weight, very good resiliency, dries quickly, dirt and stain resistant
• Disadvantages: melts at high temperatures, may yellow or gray over time, fades if exposed to the sun for long periods
• Care: Machine washable

• Advantages: strong and resists creasing
• Disadvantages: melts at moderate to high heat
• Care: Machine washable

• Advantages: very cotton-like, strong, does not melt or burn at high temperatures, drapes well
• Disadvantages: not a very strong fiber, wrinkles easily, may stretch when wet, may shrink when washed, will deteriorate with prolonged exposure to sunlight, can be damaged by mildew
• Care: Must be dry cleaned, unless hand washable is indicated

• Advantages: very soft and luxurious, light weight, fairly strong fiber, dries quickly
• Disadvantages: does not dye well
• Care: Hand-washable, unless otherwise is indicated

• Advantages: strong and durable, wrinkle resistant, mildew resistant
• Disadvantages: will shrink, doesn't dye well
• Care: Machine washable

• Advantages: good resiliency, looks like silk, resists shrinking, resists moisture, resists wrinkling, drapes well
• Disadvantages: not a very strong fiber, will melt if exposed to alcohol, nail polish, and super glue, perfumes
• Care: Must be dry cleaned, unless hand washable is indicated

If your home could use a little spicing up, then don't miss an issue of DecoDreams, our FREE e-zine. You'll find lots of tips to help busy weekend decorators like yourself. Click here.

And if you would like to explore some excellent books on creating something beautiful with home decorating fabric, please check out the recommended resource links listed below.

Learn how to use home decorating fabric in window treatments- Books

Put your home decorating fabric to work…Complete Book of Window Treatments & Curtains: Traditional & - Don't worry about unfamiliar vocabulary here because Parks not only explains home decorating fabric and other decorating jargon but also provides ideas, guidelines, and instructions for covering windows in dozens of different styles--swags, roller shades, lambrequins and cornices, and goblet or pencil-pleated draperies, for instance. Non-sewers will appreciate the attention paid to planning and answers to questions about function, characteristics, room styles, and other aspects.

Window Treatments Made Simple - Dressing your windows is an expensive decorating decision. Make the right decision, and you’re on cloud nine. But make the wrong one, and you’ll be kicking yourself every time you look at your windows, for the next 5 to10 years. Now you have a resource that will help you avoid costly mistakes and show you how to easily select window treatments that match your decorating style, personality and window type. Learn how to select the home decorating fabrics that are right for your family's lifestyle.

Click here for more great ideas to help you with your home decorating!

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