How to choose . . . fabric

Fabric is one of the key building blocks of interior décor and an easy way of injecting a stylish seasonal update. Textiles feature in everything from wall hangings to window treatments and banquettes to bedheads, with numerous inexpensive options in between, including cushions and throws.

For an individual interior, textile artist Liz Nilsson, of Dublin-based textile print collective Printblock, recommends learning the skill of fabric printing by joining a textile printing class and printing your own cushions.

Colour

Adding warmth, colour and interest to rooms, textiles also absorb echoes, says Danielle Dooris of Divine Design. Function is important, stresses Sharon Ryle of Ryle + Company. “A washable cotton would be best suited to informal kitchen seat pads whereas you may prefer to have a more luxurious upholstered velvet or patterned weave dining chair.” Woven fabrics can catch shoe buckles, Dooris warns. Ponder too the possibility of your prized pooch rubbing up against that chi-chi white sofa, says Ryle.

Fabrics should be dye fast and fade resistant if exposed to direct sunlight, Dooris advises. “Sun can cause pure silk to disintegrate so it shouldn’t be hung on south-facing windows.” She recommends treating upholstery fabrics with a stain resistant spray, especially light coloured ones or those in high traffic areas.

Maintenance

Maintenance and durability are key, Ryle says. “All fabrics have a care code and most indicate a Martindale ‘rub test’ – an abrasive test carried out by textile manufacturers to measure the durability or wear of a fabric. The higher the rub count, the more durable the fabric. For upholstery, the stronger the better.”

Dooris advises that all curtain fabrics be lined with a pre-shrunk sateen lining. “This increases longevity and helps with the drape. Any very light curtain fabric benefits from interlining which is also good on draughty windows,” she says. Fabric for upholstered headboards needs to be fire-treated or used with a barrier cloth and standards checked.

No rules

Tricia Guild of Designers Guild believes there are no rules when it comes to choosing fabrics. “I suggest being true to your own innate reaction to colour, pattern and texture. If you love a design then why not bring it into your home?”

Helen Leigh-Jones, designer at DFS, which will have a sofa style-lab at this year’s Ideal Homes Exhibition in October, concurs. “Some of the more enjoyable moments come when you break the rules, like putting a bright and bold modern fabric on a traditional sofa shape,” she says. She also takes fashion fabrics and works with suppliers to develop bespoke upholstery fabrics for domestic use. “It’s important to be aware of what you can and want to live with on a daily basis.”

According to Designers Guild, this season texture is key and it can contribute to a room in the same way that colour and pattern can make an impact. “Just think of the difference between a shimmering velvet, lustrous silk and the flat, matt texture of wool. Combining and contrasting different textures can give a unique edge, as well as highlighting the interesting and inherent qualities of the various textiles.”

Interior designer Trisha McKenna says darker and bolder colours are saturating the fabric scene, from navy blue to dark teal, monochrome to actual black. “Green is also huge, from softer hues to deeper tones.” For those averse to colour, patterned and textured fabrics can create a calm interior, McKenna suggests.

Children’s rooms

New parents can be seduced by cuteness overload in children’s textiles but as children grow, their tastes quickly change, Ryle says. She advises focusing on longevity for larger pieces and having fun with smaller items such as storage seat cushions and throws, using fabrics such as the Osborne and Little Zagazoo range with illustrations by Quentin Blake. Whatever the room, it’s worth taking time to view samples in the space or seeking the advice of an interior designer as quality fabric can involve a big spend.

Curtains

“Made-to-measure curtains are always the one thing for which people don’t budget. They’re as expensive as carpet, a fireplace or any other big-ticket item. That said, well tailored curtains can last for years and add to the ambience and luxury of a room,” says Dooris.

Where budgets are tight, high-end readymade curtains fit the bill and have improved vastly, being lined and better sewn. However, Dooris warns of eyelets screeching across poles, overlap failure, unmatched fabric, and lack of attention to detail. “However, readymades can be a good option where you have a standard patio door or a window where you don’t mind the curtains finishing half way between the sill and the floor.”

Where readymades come with heading tape, Dooris’s complaint is scarcity of rings to support the amount of hooks needed. “When you’ve purchased extra rings and pulled in and hooked your curtains, the pencil pleats can slip and move as you pull them. Readymades are an instant problem-solver but aren’t trouble-free.”

Curtain fabrics are usually natural and include linen, cotton and silk. Some are man-made or include a mixture of man-made and natural fibres, Dooris says. “Qualities to look out for include natural drape; crease or crush factor; and colourfastness. Handmade tailored curtains incorporate various headings, most commonly French pleats, incorporating three pleats and a gap, with dual pleats, goblet pleats and the ‘wave’ contemporary heading and rail other options,” says Dooris.

Blinds

Roman blinds fold up into a series of fabric folds and are usually lined with sateen or blackout lining and can be interlined for a softer feel, says Dooris. “Most fabrics are suitable but woven ones have too much movement. Similarly checks are rarely square and if made up can look off-kilter. Vertical stripes make up well.”

Laminated roller blinds are made from fabric with stiff backing attached. “Most fabrics are suitable. Cotton is best; silk, polyester and embroidered fabric can’t be laminated. It’s a nice idea to reverse roll the blind. The roller is behind the blind and so the blind pulls over the roller enabling the top to be hidden behind the front of the fabric,” says Dooris.

Trends Ikats, floral and stripes

This season sees a mix of patterns, from ikats and florals to stripes and geometric designs, says Tricia Guild. “The result is a more graphic look. Colours range from bright hot accents of fuchsia pink and rich emerald to indigo and cobalt blue, as well as softer shades of heather,” she says.

“Grey is a key neutral, providing balance to brighter shades, as well as being combined with white and black for a more masculine edge.”

Sharon Ryle sees 1950s references, with orange and russet tones emerging.

Ethnic prints are on trend, says Trisha McKenna. Laurent Billiet of La Maison Chic reports a switch from synthetics to natural fabrics. “Linen and linen/silk mixes, as well as organic cottons are on-trend. Bamboo, hemp and even wood pulp are on the up.”