Luxury fabrics are always required by many interior designers for textile-based interior design projects. This is to say that an interior space can never be complete without the use of fabrics and other forms of textiles as they are materials that form the basis of interior décor.
But before you can create an interior design theme with any kind of textile material, a designer must understand the characteristics of each fabric and its relationship to other fabrics in the room.
From velvet fabrics to brocade, wool leather, and chintz, it is important to understand the part that luxury fabrics play in the overall look, finish and feel, of any interior space. But it is also important to know the use of each fabric. For instance, you can use sheer materials to make curtains, but you won’t use them for upholstery works.
Likewise, you won’t use heavy tapestry material for drapes or table linen. Its weight will, in time, bring down the rails and other fittings. Instead, such materials are best used for furniture and wall hangings.
Popular Luxury Fabrics for Interior Design Works
Cotton Textiles
Cotton is a durable fabric that can be used for most home décor items. It resists pilling and has an abrasion-resistance quality that’s desirable for both soft furnishings and upholstered furniture. If you are an interior designer and need fabrics that are natural and organic, cotton is a wonderful choice. The type of cotton fabrics used for interiors varies from the soft fine types to the sturdier heavy weighted cotton cloth. Here are some examples:
- Terry cloth is one of the softest cotton textiles and can be used for rugs, cushions, and chair covers.
- Linen, which is made from flax is one of the strongest and most durable natural fibres available. It can be used for both sheers and heavier fabrics to suit any décor and price point
- Voile, usually made of pure cotton, is soft, sheer, and lightweight. It is mostly used for soft furnishings and window treatments. Voile is also used for light furniture and table linen.
- Chintz is a medium-weight cotton fabric with large prints and a glazed or unglazed finish. This bright, attention-grabbing fabric is back in vogue and used for drapery, upholstery, wall coverings, and furniture accessories like lampshades and throw pillow covers. Chintz can be used practically anywhere in a home.
Velvet Fabrics
Luxury velvet fabrics are made entirely from silk. It is rare and usually very expensive. Less expensive velvet is made from cotton, mohair, or wool but these usually come without the typical lustre of silk velvet. Characteristically rich and luxurious, velvet can be used for most fabric-based furnishings including upholstery, drapery, pillow covers, and accent chairs seats and backs.
- Silk velvet is the most expensive type of velvet fabric. But because it is high-priced and not easily available, much of the fabric sold today, which many erroneously refer to as “silk velvet”, is actually a blend of rayon and silk. it is a popular choice of interior designers and is suitable for upholstery, luxury drapes, sumptuous bedcovers, and cushion covers.
- Cotton velvet is ideal for both apparel and upholstery. Its durability makes it ideal for most types of textile-based home furnishings. Sumptuous bed coverings, wall coverings, upholstery, draperies, and cushions can also be made from cotton velvet.
- Cut velvet and crushed velvet are also great for most home décor items that require the use of fabric. Cut velvet has designs woven into the fabric. The patterns which include floral designs and geometric shapes have the pattern trimmed down from uncut loops of its pile. The other plain areas come as sheer portions.
- Crushed velvet fabric is made through a production process where it is twisted while wet to give a crinkled look. Crushed velvet has a unique shimmer with a soft and silky texture and is great for drapes and all forms of furniture upholstery.
Luxurious Wool
Wool fabric is sturdy, resilient, and a durable luxury fabric and is a great material for interior furnishings. It is one of the strongest natural fibres. Although wool blends are more popular because of their anti-pilling and anti-wrinkling properties, wool, whether pure or blended with synthetic fibres, is great for interior design works. The fabric can be used for area rugs, carpets, drapes and curtains, upholstery, and cushions. Pure wool is beautiful, luxurious and quite pricey.
- Cashmere wool is a luxury fabric that can be used for bed and sofa throws, luxurious blankets, tassels for window treatments, and modern and mid-century upholstery pieces.
- Lightweight wool is loosely but firmly woven and hangs very beautifully as drapes. Examples include Batiste and crepe, types of lightweight worsted wool. It’s the best type of wool to use for window treatments.
- Alpaca wool, derived from Alpaca sheep, a member of the camel family is soft luxurious, textured, and hypoallergenic. They can be used for pillow covers, throw rugs, and chair throws.
Damask Materials
Traditionally, damask is a monochromatic fabric produced from pure silk but today, it includes up to two, or more colours. The pure and un-blended damask fabric has different kinds of weaves – twill, satin, and sateen with different textures and grades of sheen. Its design is unique in the way light plays off its vertical warp and horizontal weft fibres. Damask fabrics can be used for most household furniture and furnishing that require the use of textiles.
- Double damask, a fabric loved by interior designers is a high-quality reversible fabric. This means that its design and pattern appear on both sides of the fabric. Although it appears like all damask fabrics are reversible, the single-face type is less lustrous on its reverse side. It is the inverse of the front. Used for drapery, table linen, and furnishings fabric.