Fabrics For Window Treatments

The fabrics used for windows contribute to the character of the room. The new era of textile technology has produced creative fabrics for window treatments. Of all new fabrics, manmade such as nylon, acrylic, rayon, polyester, plastic and fiber glass are the most popular for their qualities such as availability, variety, color fastness, durability and easy to wash and maintain. Fabrics made from manmade fibers are being improved all the time. While purchasing furnishing fabrics, it is important to consider the fabric durability, resistance to sunlight and soil, possible insect damage, suitability, total cost, problems of construction, shape, stability, maintenance and ease of laundering and cleaning. Finishes affect the appearance and performance. Excess starch and sizing are undesirable. They are removed after the first wash or cleaning and the fabric loses its shine and strength.

Chemical treatments are available for the fabrics that make them permanently crisp, crease resistant, moisture and stain repellant, resistant to yarn slippage, washable, shrinkage controlled, non-in-flammable, fade resistant, and wash and war. A customer can look for these qualities. The stiff and cumbersome draperies of the past are out, whereas the trend is for fabrics that are soft and supple, so that they fall in graceful folds. Even in the formal treatments for the traditional rooms, lighting and grace are required. This is available in the fabrics of today that also resist sun and soiling and do away with the need for lining though in some cases it is still desirable. To create a private living and dining room in the evenings when the lights are bright, it is advisable to consider a tightly woven opaque fabric. Tightly woven draw fabrics are also a good choice for a bed room to keep out the morning sun.