Curtain fabrics - types, description, choice

Several centuries ago curtains called curtains, decorating doorways and niches in royal suites. They also had practical significance - they provided sound insulation and concealed details of the palace life from extraneous eyes.

Nowadays, this method of decoration is used very rarely. The concept of "curtain" now stands for curtains for windows, mostly of dense fabric.

Curtain fabrics - what is it?

Consider the types of fashionable curtain fabrics. Like a few years ago, the veil is popular. This smooth fabric with a linen weave is obtained from silk, polyester, woolen or cotton yarn. Can be printed, dyed or bleached. There is a veil with luxurious embroidery of golden or silver threads.

Most often for decorating take a monophonic veil, but in some cases - for example, in a children's room - a veil with a pattern (animals, funny characters) is suitable. To obtain a pattern, chemical etching or tissue printing is used.

Organza

Another popular fabric of the portier family is organza. It is thin and transparent, while it is rather stiff. Formed earlier from silk or viscose, now it is made mostly of polyester. The main advantages - strength, nesminaemost, lightfastness.

Organza can be matte or shiny, with or without drawing. The pattern is obtained by etching, embroidery or printing. There were new items - organza "rainbow" and organza "chameleon". The first has vertical stripes of different shades, creating a beautiful iridescent effect.

Organza "chameleon" changes the shade depending on the angle, under which the light falls. This is the so-called "shantan" effect, it is achieved by interlacing the warp threads and a duck of different colors.

Jacquard

The curtain fabric of a more dense texture is called a jacquard. It is two-and one-layer, with small or large patterns. Jacquard can be as dense, or very light. The most difficult versions of the jacquard resemble a tapestry cloth.

Jacquard is considered the most beautiful and versatile fabric for curtains. Because of its interlacing, it looks like a two-layer, which allows you to create on its surface beautiful drawings like tapestry. Jacquard curtains with shimmering shiny and matte areas of the same color scale look truly luxurious and make the room light and elegant.

Jacquard is perfect for curtains with lambrequins, for sewing Roman, English and French curtains. In addition, pillows, bedspreads and tablecloths are made from it. Sometimes with the help of this fabric it is possible to create an ensemble in the same style for the entire interior of the living room.

Soft Jacquard - a kind of the latter with a coating of fine pile spraying. Soft jacquard looks slightly different for the same quality. Elements with a spray create a muted matte pattern. This is an option for those who do not like sharp color transitions.

Taffeta

Many designers like to work with a taffeta - a thin smooth fabric with shiny overflows, which the motherland of which is considered Persia. From the countries of the East, various materials, including drapery fabrics, have long been transported to Europe. Turkey these days is one of the main suppliers of such fabrics to Russia. Now the taffeta is made from natural materials - cotton, silk, and synthetic - polyester or acetone. Special treatment on this fabric can also achieve the effect of "chameleon".

Taft is made from twisted yarns, which is the secret of its shiny surface. But when choosing it for curtains, it should be borne in mind that the taffeta falls somewhat stiff folds. This effect is best suited for minimalist and hi-tech interiors. Taft-reaper has the appearance of "crumpled" material due to special treatment. Fine small wrinkles are not destroyed by washing.

And yet?

There are other curtain fabrics. Chenille is a material with a pile surface. For a couple of centuries it has been an excellent choice for decorating the living room. In its composition - cotton, acrylic, viscose, polyester. Magnificent curtains made of chenille amaze imagination.

There is a drape fabric for curtains called shanzelize. It is two-sided and quite dense. The front side of it has a matte shine with a fine "rain", on the other hand the fabric is smooth with overflows. You can use any of the parties, which is an advantage if you are not sure about the choice of the invoice.

The combination of different textures in one fabric gives an amazing effect. Shanzelize is a soft fabric that can create voluminous creases and beautiful draperies. Due to its varied texture it is suitable for almost any room - a cabinet, a children's room, even a kitchen - in the form of short curtains.

Other curtain fabrics are so called backing fabrics. They are impregnated with a special composition, so they are fireproof and do not let sunlight pass. Curtains made of such fabrics can darken the room even in bright sunlight. Especially relevant, this darkening happens for rooms with expensive furniture, afraid of sunlight. Refractory tissue of the back-up reduces the risk of fire.

There is a back-up cotton with a matte surface, a jacquard back-up - a luxurious material with an iridescent pattern, or a glossy back-up with a smooth shiny surface.

How to choose a fabric for curtains

When choosing curtain fabrics, consider which room they are bought. Kitchen and children require practical materials of calm colors, simple in care. In the living room, the most luxurious and expensive fabrics are appropriate, which will make an indelible impression on the guests.

The color of the curtains must necessarily fit the overall design of the room. If the wallpaper on the walls with a bright pattern, curtains better let them be monophonic, including tulle. If the picture is present, it should be combined with a pattern on the wallpaper.

In the case of monochrome walls, when designing windows with curtains, you can allow any of the most daring drawings that will perfectly revitalize the interior.