Types of Interior Design and Decorating Soft Furnishing Fabrics and Textiles

Damask – Distinguished by their weave, may be produced from silk, cotton, linen, wool or man made fibres. A classical damask is a monochrome figured textile, the shiny surface of the satin weave ground contrasts with the lustreless sateen weave figure. Original designs – pomegranates and stylised florals. Woven on looms with a jacquard attachment. Uses: Doesn’t drape well, suitable for formal swags, tablecloths and upholstery, heavyweight, can be overwhelming in a contemporary surrounding. Was used as a wall covering.

Gingham –A utilitarian cotton imported from India. It has equal width stripes in two colours going in both directions of the weave which creates a third colour when the two meet and a check pattern is formed. Red, blue and green are the most popular colours. Uses; Country kitchen curtains and tablecloths, slip covers for chairs, loose covers for chairs, trims for blinds, shades and cushions. As it is a thin fabric it requires lining and interlining for curtains.

Madras – Was a term used to describe a red and black check cotton fabric originating from Madras, India. It now is used freely to cover a wide range of lightweight plain and sateen woven cottons, inexpensive in price that are imported from India. As the term is thrown about, the cloth can sometimes contain other fibres mixed with the cotton. They come in a vast colour range made from vegetable dyes which are prone to fading and loose their colour when washed. It is thin and is often irregular in its pattern, creating pattern match difficulties. Uses: Soft draperies, tablecloths, cushions, general decoration. Not upholstery.

Silk – Discovered by the Chinese. Figured Silk – often called diasper is woven in a monochrome or in two colours of silk, a type of lampas. Typical patterns were – griffins, lions, birds all in geometric designs and borders. Renaissance – movement & asymmetry birds and animals running, plant motifs and scrolls and the ever-popular pomegranate. 19th Century plain silks – more accessible, not patterned but woven to provide surface texture and sheen. Using silk – It provides a lot of character when it is lit, as it has superb texture and lustre, it is a luxury fabric. Always line and interline at windows as the UV light damages the fabric easily. Great for draping as it falls well, looks good on small chairs and accessories.

Tapestry – Traditionally hand woven material with a ribbed surface created as the design is woven. They usually depicted an image or a scene. Contemporary tapestry is machine made using different colours in the warp and weft. The look is very similar to embroidery. Uses – Traditional – wall hangings, upholstery, cushions, Contemporary machine made – lighter weight, curtains (reduce fullness) table covers, upholstery.

Tartan – Originating as a woolen apparel textile, now used frequently for furnishing. It is a plain weave twill fabric, with the stripes of coloured yarn introduced in the warp and weft. The finished product has checks and stripes, and these variations of colour and designs differentiated between the different Scottish clans. Wool is the traditional yarn used, but they can be seen woven from cotton or silk. Uses – wool – upholstery, blankets, drapery, cushions, formal swags, Contemporary – upholstery, drapery, blinds, shades, throws, cushions.