12 best curtain fabrics

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Curtains in the interior of the house play an important role in creating a unique interior. That is why, when choosing a suitable design for a window space, several nuances should be observed, which will be discussed in our rating of the best fabrics for curtains.

How to choose fabric for curtains

When choosing a suitable material for curtains, most consumers come to a dead end, not knowing exactly what is best to choose in a given situation. Here are some useful tips to help you make a good purchase:

1. Practicality. When choosing the right fabric, you must take into account the type of care recommended for certain materials.
2. Durability. Curtains for rooms with constant use should not wear out quickly. Curtains shading a room should not change their properties when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.
3. Density. If drapery is planned, you should not give preference to loose fabrics.
4. Absorbent capacity. For some domestic areas (like kitchens), it is better to choose fabrics that do not absorb moisture and odors.
5. Decorative features. When choosing a fabric for curtains, we recommend that you take into account its texture and color – they should be in perfect harmony with the interior of the room. The ideal option would be when a fabric is used for curtains that has already been used in the design of the room.

We take into account the purpose of the room

Perhaps, at first glance, it might seem that choosing the right curtains for a room is a matter of minutes. But, as practice shows, this process can turn into a real test. After all, it is important to choose not only a fabric that is suitable in terms of color, but also a product that will have an idea of ​​what fabrics and in what rooms will be appropriate.

Living room

In most homes, the living room is the focal point, so you should be very careful when choosing the right curtain fabric. For modest living rooms with low ceilings, light natural materials with a small synthetic impregnation (silk, linen, viscose) are perfect. For a spacious room, you can safely choose a heavier fabric (jacquard or brocade), which will add luxury and nobility to the interior.

Bedroom

The choice of a suitable fabric for curtains in the bedroom entirely depends on your needs and the style of the room. It can be light translucent textiles of natural origin or laconic dense natural textiles with the addition of synthetic 'notes' (for example, jacquard with small silk inserts or threads).

Children

Special requirements are imposed on the materials used in finishing curtains for children's rooms. The product should not only be natural, but also practical due to the constant possibility of contamination with children's pens. For a children's room, curtains made of cotton, linen, wool with small artificial impurities are optimal. The texture of the products should be smooth. Such materials will be functional, durable, practical (after all, they are not afraid of bruising).

Kitchen

Since the kitchen is a rather specific room, it is better to select fabrics used for finishing curtains in it that are extremely practical (mostly artificial). Roman blinds or light curtains made of synthetic fabric (for example, polyester) perfectly combine functionality with a stylish appearance – a non-mark that is easily cleaned of dust and dirt, and at the same time sufficiently protects from the sun's rays.

Rating of the best curtain fabrics

Nomination	a place	Name of product	RATING
The best natural fabrics	1	Silk	4.9
	2	Atlas	4.8
	3	Cotton	4.7
	4	Wool	4.7
	5	Linen	4.6
The best artificial fabrics	1	Viscose	4.9
	2	Polyester	4.8
	3	Acrylic	4.7
	4	Nylon	4.6
Best blended fabrics	1	Blackout	4.9
	2	Taffeta	4.8
	3	Jacquard	4.8

The best natural fabrics

Silk

Rating: 4.9

Silk, like all materials presented in the natural category, compares favorably with synthetics in terms of aesthetics. By the way, it is silk curtains that are considered the most luxurious among the possible 'natural' options and not only because of their price: silk is an incredibly thin material, almost weightless and at the same time possessing incredible strength. Silk curtains are an elegant addition to any interior, impressive in their unique colors. Due to certain characteristics, silk is suitable for use only in bedrooms / living rooms with windows facing north.

Advantages

• high strength;
• hypoallergenic;
• presentable appearance;
• does not lint.

disadvantages

• fading in the sun;
• wrinkles;
• only hand wash suitable;
• absorbs odors quickly.

Atlas

Rating: 4.8

Perfectly flat, glass-smooth fabric with moderate density has an elegant look and is famous for ancient history. The material is not cheap and, to make it more affordable, other natural materials (cotton, viscose) or synthetics are added to it.

Advantages

• durability;
• resistance to wear;
• high strength;
• hypoallergenic;
• does not accumulate static electricity.

disadvantages

• stretches over time (with synthetic additives);
• the fabric is heavy.

Cotton

Rating: 4.7

An inexpensive, practical and durable material that is most often used to create curtains for living quarters. In everyday life, several types of material are used:

1. chintz – the most budgetary option for cotton, often decorated with a bright pattern;
2. satin – an elastic fabric with a moderate satin sheen, perfectly retains its color, easily draped;
3. mercerized options – a special treatment gives the fabric a spectacular shine, a unique texture, and immunity to the sun.

Advantages

• durability;
• unpretentious care;
• hypoallergenic;
• strength;
• does not accumulate static electricity.

disadvantages

• color fading from the sun (inexpensive options);
• slight shrinkage after washing.

Wool

Rating: 4.7

Woolen fabric can be either quite dense, with a fluffy texture, or surprisingly thin, smooth to the touch. Wool is a unique material with a special fine structure and a pile of the same length.

Curtains made of wool actively absorb moisture, so you should be very careful when choosing such products for a particular room in the house.

Advantages

• does not wrinkle;
• weak soiling;
• pleasant to the touch texture;
• excellent heat capacity;
• elasticity.

disadvantages

• the need for delicate wash;
• the likelihood of moths appearing in the folds of the fabric;
• absorbs unpleasant odors (it is necessary to constantly ventilate the fabric).

Linen

Rating: 4.6

Slightly rough to the touch, incredibly durable material with a unique structure. Ideal for rustic and eco styles. The fabric is distinguished by its high price, which is more than compensated by the mass of advantages. Linen, despite its dense structure, depending on the features of the finish, can be used to create both dense heavy curtains and light openwork tulle. This is a great option for a nursery or a spacious, bright bedroom.

Advantages

• resistance to wear;
• weak soiling;
• hypoallergenic;
• does not fade in the sun;
• the ability to pass air;
• high strength.

disadvantages

• wrinkles strongly (and is difficult to iron);
• 'shrinks' after washing.

The best artificial fabrics

Viscose

Rating: 4.9

A synthetic material made from natural cellulose, and often passed off by unscrupulous sellers for natural fabrics (le, cotton, wool) due to its similarity with them. It is difficult to imagine how a high-quality soft material can be created from wood and, nevertheless, it is real.

Viscose textiles are incredibly in demand, which is explained by a number of properties of this material, pleasant to the touch, having an attractive appearance and safe for the human body.

Advantages

• aesthetic appearance;
• does not generate static electricity;
• easily draped;
• ease of care;
• the ability to pass air.

disadvantages

• fade in the sun (not all products);
• loses strength when wet.

Polyester

Rating: 4.8

Polyester has incredible fiber strength. This he owes to the rapidly developing textile industry in the 30s of the 20th century, looking for new practical materials.

The properties of polyester fibers are so unique and varied that it is used not only in the manufacture of curtains and clothing, but also for the creation of toys and even winter clothing insulation.

Surely many have heard of polyester, but under different names. Manufacturers often use the following on labels: lavsan, dacron, diolen, etc. In an extremely pure form, the material is used extremely rarely – a mixture of synthetics and natural fibers is almost always added to it. It is undesirable to use polyester to decorate the windows of a bedroom and a children's room; for the rest of the premises, it is ideal.

Advantages

• resistance to wear;
• strength;
• resistance to pollution;
• immunity to sunlight;
• ease of care.

disadvantages

• sometimes causes allergies;
• poor air permeability;
• rapid build-up of static electricity.

Acrylic

Rating: 4.7

One of the few synthetic materials that can compete with natural ones. Despite the completely artificial origin, acrylic is absolutely safe for the human body, has a presentable appearance and will fit into almost any interior.

Advantages

• hypoallergenic;
• durability;
• aesthetic appearance;
• ease of care.

disadvantages

• poor air permeability;
• build-up of static electricity;
• change in structure under the influence of sunlight (becomes hard).

Nylon

Rating: 4.6

One of the most sought after fabrics in the world. Created by complex polymerization of raw fibers, the finished material is incredibly thin, durable and soft to the touch. By the way, pure nylon does not stretch, so lycra is added to it. Externally and to the touch, nylon curtains are very reminiscent of silk: the same delicate smooth texture. Fully synthetic, the material is incredibly valuable for its versatility.

Advantages

• high strength (according to this indicator, silk, for example, is 2 times inferior to nylon);
• resistance to wear;
• unpretentiousness to care (the fabric can be washed even in cold water);
• lightness (nylon is lighter than silk).

disadvantages

• low air permeability;
• rapid build-up of static electricity;
• causes allergies.

Best blended fabrics

Blackout

Rating: 4.9

This multi-layer polyester fabric with excellent opacity, despite its high price, has already gained popularity. Blackout is a great way to protect a room from the heat and bright sunlight. The uniqueness of the material lies in the fact that its front side, due to the multilayerness of the finished product, can have any texture: satin, soft matte, covered with a print, perfectly smooth as silk.

Blackout is presented in 2 varieties: a 3-layer fabric woven from three threads (the inner one is black – it traps light, the rest are colored, decorative), or a 2-layer fabric with spraying, where the outer layer is decorative.

Advantages

• excellent thermal insulation;
• immunity to sun exposure;
• the possibility of drapery;
• durability;
• resistance to pollution;
• does not wrinkle.

disadvantages

• not.

Taffeta

Rating: 4.8

Tough, dense and incredibly elegant, taffeta is a natural-synthetic 'blend' of cotton, viscose, silk, polyester and acetate. The material surprises with a variety of textures, colors and shapes and is successfully used to create luxurious non-trivial curtain models.

Despite its density, taffeta looks very light, so it will organically fit even into a small space. The material can be used to create spectacular curtains, curtains and lambrequins. Since the fabric is not afraid of the sun's rays, we recommend using it safely for decorating windows in sunny rooms.

Advantages

• attractive appearance;
• resistance to wear;
• ability to keep in shape;
• durability.

disadvantages

• wrinkles strongly;
• sits down when washing;

Jacquard

Rating: 4.8

The material can be both natural and synthetic, therefore it is equally attributed to both. Made from silk, linen, cotton and synthetic or blended fibers. The surface of the fabric is covered with a relief (often large) pattern formed by a dense interweaving of many threads. Interestingly, the ornament of the material is equally aesthetically pleasing both from the front and the wrong side.

Thanks to the varied composition, you can choose the best jacquard option for almost any interior. The most expensive (the price reaches 6000-7000 thousand rubles per m2) is silk jacquard: it is more often used in an elite interior.

Advantages

• durability;
• practicality (the material does not fade in the sun, it is weakly abraded);
• universality of application;
• luxurious appearance;
• easily draped material;
• hypoallergenic.

disadvantages

• it is easy to leave puffs on the fabric.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.