A guide to choosing curtain fabric

Bespoke curtains are Bloom & Co’s bread and butter. Our love of fabrics and their application started many years ago when Bloom’s director Terri Shannon worked for one of Australia’s top fabric houses. After then establishing her own interior design and decoration studio back in 2001, word quickly spread that Bloom was one of Melbourne’s interior industry go-to’s for custom window furnishings. 

Today, our team of decorators and window furnishing specialists provide a premium end-to-end window treatment service; from in-depth fabric consultations, and at-home window measures, to the local manufacturing and installation of your custom curtain and blinds.

Sheer linen curtains by Bloom & Co, in our Melbourne Road project

Our interior experts all agree that when it comes to styling the windows in your home, choosing the best curtain fabric your space, is one of the most important interior decorating decisions. 

Here are our top tips to help you select the right one. 

Sheer linen curtains by Bloom & Co, in the home of Simone Haag. Photographed by Armelle Habib

LINEN

While we try hard not to have a favourite curtain fabric we’ll let you in on a secret, it's linen. The way it hangs, its textural qualities, durability and the fact it's a natural plant-based material, are all reasons why our love for linen is so strong.

Linen curtains are timeless they look at home in both classic and contemporary spaces. It's why they are so popular amongst designers, decorators and homeowners all over the world. 

Linen curtains by Bloom & Co for Hecker Guthrie. Photographed by Shannon McGrath

Now, when it comes to selecting the right linen for your curtains, there’s a whole range of options depending on how you use the space and the requirements of the window treatment. A loose weave, sheer linen will act as a soft means of privacy, while allowing the breeze to float through. While a thicker, closely woven linen will do more to block light and temperature. 

 

Two toned linen curtains by Bloom & Co, in our Melbourne Rd project.

At Bloom & Co we have a core selection of linen fabric go-to’s, that we know just complete any space. Get in touch with us to find out more.

Pros: natural fibre, drapes beautifully, suits classic and contemporary spaces, timeless aesthetic
Cons: more expensive than polyester, can crease easily

  

Silk curtains by Bloom & Co, in our Parkside Avenue project. Photographed by Armelle Habib 

SILK

For when your home can handle the luxe factor, go silk. Known for their elegant and billowy look, silk curtains are a great option if you're looking to add a sense of grandeur and visual interest to a room.

Despite their seemingly delicate feel, silk is an ideal fabric for curtains as its durable and easily moulded. When manufacturing silk curtains for our clients we often use at least two lining fabrics behind the silk to create the fullness and unique floor puff that we so very much love. 

Pros: natural fibre, full of shape, classic and elegant aesthetic
Cons: can be expensive, colour can fade in harsh sunlight, usually requires a lining

Velvet curtains by Bloom & Co for Hecker Guthrie. Photographed by Shannon McGrath

VELVET

Cue the drama; velvet curtains are inherently theatrical, making them perfect for spaces in the home that can handle their heavy and luxurious qualities.

The thickness of velvet offers great temperature insulation and light blocking, making them ideal for cinema rooms, studies and grand bedrooms.

If your home is just calling for lustrous, show-stopping drapes, then perhaps velvet curtains are the ones for you.

Pros: thickness blocks out light, luxurious qualities, classic aesthetic
Cons: heavy fabric that requires the appropriate curtain hanging hardware, can be expensive 

Poly blend curtains by Bloom & Co for Hecker Guthrie. Photographed by Shannon McGrath

POLYESTER OR SYNTHETIC BLEND

Got your eye on a certain look, but you want it for less? Synthetic fabrics are the way to go. Not only are they more affordable, but they can also be far more durable. Fabrics like polyester will often last a lot longer, as they won’t fade or deteriorate over time like some natural fibres. 

As technologies have advanced significantly over the years, there is a wide variety of linen-look fabrics. We often specify polyester fabrics for our clients who still want the unique look of linen but at a cheaper price. 

Pros: more affordable, durable, can look like the real thing, easier to clean
Cons: not as sustainable, might not drape as well

Block-out curtains by Bloom & Co, in our Rossmoyne Street project. Photographed by Armelle Habib 

SHEER VS BLOCK OUT

A good question to start with is, what do I want these curtains to do? This will vary from room to room. In a bedroom, it's almost certain that you’ll want your curtains to a) block out the sunlight and b) give you privacy. This is when a block-out lining is a must.

For spaces where privacy isn't so much of a factor and you want that light to keep streaming in, then sheer curtains would be the perfect window solution. 

Light filtering linen curtains by Bloom & Co. Photographed by Lisa Cohen

If choosing the right fabric for your curtains seems a bit overwhelming, then have no fear, this is why we’re here. By booking a complimentary consultation*, a Bloom & Co decorator will be able to assist with the specification of the right fabric and window furnishings application.

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