When it comes to decorating or re-decorating a room in your house, the first thing you usually think of is furniture. That's normal, because it's the furniture that usually attracts the most attention, largely contributing to the final result.
But you should also bear in mind that other aspects, like fabrics and textiles, are no minor issue, because a good choice of detailing ensures that your home will turn into a magazine-perfect example of great interior decoration.
Velonia Collection from Visual Textures Fashion&Fantasy by Aquaclean.
What you have to do is take into consideration the characteristics of the space you are working on, because textiles can enhance the surroundings and disguise any possible shortcomings, so you should be careful about choosing your colours and textures.
You should also pay special attention to the kind of fabric you are going to use and what it is intended for. For example, you don't get the same effect when you choose cotton as opposed to silk, as their tensile strength and feel vary greatly, as do the final results: from pure elegance to a fresh and natural touch, or maybe even a rustic look.
Spirit Collection from Visual Textures Fashion & Fantasy by Aquaclean.
So to make the right choice, you should really talk to professionals first, because it is important that you get the right information on the technical characteristics of each fabric, and how to maintain and clean them for long-lasting use.
In this first article on the keys for choosing decoration fabrics for your home, we will briefly explain some of the basic characteristic of each type of fabric by name. And in a second article, we'll give you some valuable tips on choosing your fabrics properly, so you can become a real master in decoration fabrics.
BROCADE
Brocade is a fabric that is now made from synthetic fibres. It is very resistant and glowing, as it generally has very colourful patterns and even elegant relief work. It is often used to upholster sofas and chairs due to its strength, although it can also be seen in other home fabrics like cushions and even curtains.
If you're looking for a more neutral atmosphere, you can use this fabric to give your room a touch of personality and joy without going overboard. It's just a question of combining things well.
Curiously enough, in olden times brocade was a very popular fabric because it was made using threads of precious metal, like gold and silver.
CHENILLE
Chenille is the name given to either the yarn or the fabric made from this yarn, which has a soft, fuzzy or frizzy feel to it, giving it a characteristic velvety appearance. This type of fabric is very cosy and pleasant to touch wherever it is used.
As in the above fabrics, it is commonly used to upholster sofas or armchairs, but also to make bedcovers, throws or cushions.
CRETONNE
In the past, the cretonne was a heavy type of woven fabric with hemp and linen, but nowadays the word is applied to a strong, printed cotton cloth of classical English inspiration. It is a very resistant fabric so it's ideal for both upholstering and for use as bed throws and even as duvets.
DAMASK
Damask is a woven cotton or silk fabric, similar to brocade, but much thinner and lighter because it contains no relief work. It has a very special brightness, which is obtained by mixing at the most just two colours. Like the other fabrics mentioned above, it is commonly used as sofa and armchair upholstery, but can also be used for curtains, cushions and pillows.
CORDUROY
Corduroy is a fabric with "cords" and channels and resembles velvet. This fabric is made from cotton, so it is a highly resistant fabric that is ideal for use in upholstery.
CHINTZ
Finally, we have chintz, a fabric made from cotton or satin with a glazed finish and mostly with bright, floral designs. It is a fabric that is traditionally associated with flower and leaf motifs, so it is frequently used in both upholstery and curtains.
So now you have reviewed the basic concepts of different types of fabrics you can find on the market for use in decorating your home. In our next article, we'll give you a few more tips on choosing and combining these fabrics properly, so you can achieve the perfect atmosphere in your home.
