Home decor fabric is made up of fibers which are either natural or synthetic.
These fibers each have by nature their own characteristics.
- Cotton is one of the most important natural fiber sources originating from Egypt.
Cotton is very strong, even stronger than wool and reflects heat better than wool or silk.
It has a soft hand, dyes well and does not pull or become frizzy. Cotton blends well with other fibers when woven together. Cotton/poly, or cotton/rayon as an example could be a blend in the fabric content.
It is one of the most durable and is ideal for upholstery, draperies and slipcovers.
- Linen is one of the oldest known textiles. It is stable, reflects heat and holds color longer than cotton.
It can be combined with other fibers during the weaving process. Linen can be used for table linens, draperies, slipcovers, and upholstery. It tends to wrinkle a lot, so it is successfully used in a cottage or “shabby chic” interior.
- Wool comes from the fleece of sheep. It is extremely durable can be dyed, retaining a depth of color.
Wool has good resistance to abrasion, a pleasing soft hand and can be blended with other fibers.
- Silk is undeniably the most beautiful of all home decor fabric. The fiber has a natural luster and is very strong. Only nylon is stronger than silk.
Silk has a natural affinity to dye but can deteriorate from bleach and cleaning acids, and strong light can discolor and disintegrate it. That’s why you always need to line your silk draperies.
- Jute resembles linen, and used for burlap bags, twine, furniture webbing, and the binding on rugs. Jute is also woven into some upholstery fabric.
- Ramie is a substitute for linen, and is strong and durable.
- Rayon emulates silk or linen depending on the way the fiber is spun. It is considered the “poor man's” silk.
It is often blended with more expensive fibers and is reasonably durable, although subject to mildew.
Rayon has a soft hand and drapes well. It can be used for draperies, slipcovers and upholstery.
- Polyester is a strong fiber which can stand up under strong sunlight, is easy to clean and is durable.
Voile "like" draperies are often made from polyester.
