Textile in Interior Design
Aesthetically and functionally, textiles hold a large part in our interior design spaces and are a very significant part of our lives as well. To be successful in selecting the right materials for a project, a designer must have technical knowledge of the materials as well as needs to be creative.
Textile design can enhance an interior space with the right use of colors and materials. The key is to be aware of the end product and the technical aspects of the materials.
Fabrics are used in the bedspread, pillows, curtains, furniture’s, cushions, rugs, carpets, dining table covers, etc. There are many selections to choose from, and it may be difficult at times to figure out the best./
There are few questions on which your choices need to be based on:
- What is the space used for?
- The light used in the area?
- Do you have pets at home?
- Do you have children?
- Will it be a high traffic area?
There are various natural and synthetic fabrics available, and both have their pros and cons in the interiors. Most interiors have a blend of both.
1. Cotton is the most popular choice. It is durable, versatile, breathable and affordable material hence commonly used from furniture upholstery to sheets. It does stains easily due to which they use cotton blends.
2. Silk is another notably used material, which is luxurious and expensive. It gives a grand feeling and mostly used for throws, cushion covers, bedsheets, etc. One needs to be careful if the material hits the sunlight as they tend to fade over time. Silk is also prone to stains so need to be careful.
3. Linen is a fresh and airy fabric, perfect for roman blinds and panel curtains. Linen has lately been a very popular natural material that works best in modern and contemporary spaces. Its hard and raw nature makes it difficult to maintain.
4. Wool is also the most reliable and most durable fabric. Wool upholstery and carpets last for a long time. Easy care, biodegradability, fire resistance and has health properties.
5. Rayon is an alternative to silk in addition to having great texture. The material is used for cushions covers and curtains mostly at places where they would not be subjected to more stress. In areas of high humidity also it shrinks.
6. Nylon is the most versatile fabric that has many uses. Being synthetic, things like resistance to wear and tear as well fading are taken into account during manufacture. Nylon can also hold color well. However, due to the robust nature, it is used in blends and not in its pure form.
7. Polyester is another blended fabric material not in pure form. It is wrinkle free, resists fading. Difficult to clean and not as durable as nylon and wool.
8. Leather is another luxurious material in its purest form. The leather is used for sofas and chairs. It requires a lot of attention since it is natural. Leather tends to be ruined by water as well as on being placed in direct sunlight. Leather can also be scratched and torn easily.
9. Velvet it is either natural or synthetic fiber. It has a luxurious texture and sumptuous appearance it was earlier for wall hangings. However today it is used on cushions, home decor items.
Choosing a combination mix of fabrics and patterns
There is a delicate balance one can notice when you mix fabrics and patterns. The key is to incorporate no more than three patterns or textures. Some tips:
- Firstly, find a base fabric color for your design. Build your color scheme around that fabric.
- Choose colors that are opposite in the color wheel. E.g., Dark navy blue and mustard color would look great.
- If the rooms are small, avoid large patterns and prints, they will make the room look congested and smaller.
- Vary sizes of your pattern, like if you have large prints, you can go for smaller stripes or patterns.
- Use bold prints on a smaller size and less expensive items like throw, blankets, and accent pillows. Making a change is easy and affordable for these.
- One needs to use horizontal stripes in fabric to create a narrow room feel wider and vertical stripe fabrics to make a low ceiling look higher.
Another consideration is the price of the fabric; hence expensive materials can be used on rare occasions and lesser ones for the regular use. Whenever we wish for a make-over, by replacing the textiles in interiors, we can quickly change the appearance of the room. Suitable textile materials make all the difference – they bring out the elegance and sophistication.
