Curtains
Look at drape, weight, opacity, width, pattern repeat and how the fabric hangs. Consider lining and interlining as part of the finished treatment rather than judging the face fabric alone.
Fabric Guide
Fabric Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Fabric
Choosing fabric is about more than colour and pattern. The intended use, fibre content, construction, width, pattern repeat, performance and care requirements all affect whether a fabric is right for your project.
This guide explains the main details to compare before ordering fabric for curtains, blinds, cushions, upholstery and other interior applications.
In this guide
Start With What You Are Making
A beautiful fabric is not automatically suitable for every job. Start with the finished item, then narrow the choice using the manufacturer's recommended usage and technical information.
Roman blinds
A fabric needs to form clean folds and work with the size of the blind. Large motifs and stripes also need careful positioning, particularly where several blinds are being made for the same room.
Upholstery
Check that the exact fabric is recommended for upholstery and look at the relevant durability information. The demands on a decorative occasional chair can be very different from a sofa used every day.
Cushions & accessories
These can allow more freedom, but care, handle, pattern scale and whether the item will receive regular wear still matter.
TM Interiors tip: use the stated product usage as the first filter. Fibre content can help explain how a fabric may behave, but the finished construction and manufacturer's specification are more useful than judging suitability from fibre name alone.
Natural, Regenerated & Synthetic Fibres
Interior fabrics may be made from one fibre or a blend of several. Blending is common because it allows a mill to balance appearance, handle, durability, stability and care characteristics.
Linen
Made from flax, linen is valued for its natural texture and relaxed appearance. It can crease and move as part of its character. Suitability for curtains or upholstery depends on the particular cloth, weave and specification.
Cotton
Cotton appears in everything from light decorative prints to substantial upholstery cloths. The weave, weight and finish are critical, so two 100% cotton fabrics can perform very differently.
Wool
Wool can provide warmth, resilience and a distinctive handle. It is used in many interior textiles, including upholstery and some curtain fabrics, often either pure or blended with other fibres.
Silk
Silk is prized for lustre and depth of colour but generally calls for more careful handling and protection from strong light. Always follow the individual supplier's use and care guidance.
Viscose / Rayon
Viscose is produced from cellulose and is often used to add softness, sheen and fluidity. It is common in blends and in velvets, but its behaviour varies with construction and finish.
Polyester
Polyester is widely used on its own and in blends. Depending on the fabric construction, it can contribute strength, stability, easy care or a particular texture.
Acrylic & nylon
These fibres are often selected for particular performance characteristics or blended with other fibres. Check the finished fabric's usage and care information rather than relying on the fibre name alone.
Why blends matter
A linen-viscose, cotton-polyester or other blend may behave quite differently from either component on its own. The percentages are useful information, but the finished cloth should still be assessed as a whole.
Look Beyond Composition: Performance & Suitability
Composition is only one line of a fabric specification. For a practical buying decision, compare the information that relates to how the finished fabric will actually be used.
UsageCurtains, blinds, cushions, upholstery, headboards or other stated applications.
DurabilityFor upholstery, look for the relevant abrasion or durability information supplied for that fabric.
CareCleaning, washing, ironing and specialist-care instructions can affect whether a fabric suits the room and lifestyle.
DirectionPile, nap, stripes, motifs and railroaded or non-railroaded construction can affect cutting and quantity.
For commercial, hospitality or other regulated projects, additional performance or fire-test requirements may apply. Check the project specification and the manufacturer's current technical documentation rather than assuming a domestic-use fabric is suitable.
Fabric Width, Pattern Repeat & Direction
Width and repeat directly affect the amount of fabric needed. Never calculate quantity from a generic 'standard width' if the exact product information is available.
Fabric width
← selvedgeusable widthselvedge →
The listed width tells you how much cloth is available across the roll. Furnishing fabrics vary, and wide-width or room-high fabrics can be substantially wider than conventional cloth.
Vertical pattern repeat
repeat point↕ vertical repeatrepeat point
The repeat is the distance before a design starts again. Large repeats and designs that need centring or matching can increase the length required.
Also check whether the fabric has a horizontal repeat, a half-drop or other match, a clear top and bottom, a pile or nap, or a stated railroaded/non-railroaded direction. These details can change the cutting plan.
For upholstery quantities, see our How Much Upholstery Fabric Do I Need? guide.
How to Read a Fabric Product Specification
A well-populated product page gives you much more than a colour photograph. These are the fields worth checking before you order.
Brand, design & collectionIdentifies exactly which range and design the fabric belongs to.
Product code & colourThe most reliable way to distinguish closely related designs and colourways.
CompositionThe fibre percentages used in the finished fabric.
WidthThe width of the fabric as supplied; check whether the figure is total or usable width where stated.
Vertical & horizontal repeatImportant for estimating, matching motifs and planning cuts.
Pattern directionUseful for determining whether a design is railroaded, directional or needs a particular orientation.
WeightCan help describe the cloth but should not be used alone to judge suitability.
Martindale / abrasion informationWhere supplied, this helps assess the intended level of upholstery use alongside the manufacturer's stated usage.
Recommended usageOne of the most important fields: curtains, blinds, upholstery, cushions, headboards and so on.
Care informationCleaning and maintenance instructions for the finished cloth.
Fire / performance informationOnly rely on current test information stated for the exact fabric and intended application.
Country of origin & other notesMay include finishing, environmental, batch or construction information depending on the supplier.
Do not rely on the product name alone. When comparing a sample with an order, use the design, colour and product code together. Similar names or colour descriptions can exist across different collections and qualities.
Order a Sample Before Committing
A screen is useful for narrowing your choice, but a physical sample lets you judge colour, texture, scale and handle in the room where the fabric will actually be used.
Check colour in the room
View the sample in daylight and artificial light and against the existing flooring, paint, wallpaper and furniture.
Check pattern scale
A small sample may show only part of a large design. Use the stated repeat and available room imagery to understand the full scale.
Feel the fabric
Handle, texture, thickness and drape are difficult to judge accurately from photography alone.
Keep the reference
Keep the sample and note the product code and colourway so you can compare the delivered fabric with what you approved.
Before You Order Fabric
- Confirm the exact design, colourway and product code.
- Check the recommended usage for the intended project.
- Confirm the fabric width, pattern repeat, match and direction.
- Have the maker, curtain workroom or upholsterer confirm the required quantity where appropriate.
- Allow for pattern matching and placement using the exact selected fabric rather than a generic percentage.
- Check current stock, lead time and whether the quantity can be supplied from the same production batch where this is relevant.
- Review the care and any project-specific performance requirements before committing.
Check the Fabric Before It Is Cut
Once fabric arrives, inspect it before it goes into production. This is a practical quality-control step for both trade and private projects.
- Check the design, colour and product code against the order and approved sample.
- Confirm the delivered quantity and width.
- Check the repeat and direction where they are important to the cutting plan.
- Inspect the cloth for visible faults, marks or unexpected shade variation.
- Where multiple pieces or rolls are supplied, check that they work together before cutting begins.
- If anything appears incorrect, stop and resolve it with the supplier before the fabric is cut or made up.
Manufacturer tolerances and claims procedures vary by supplier and product. Use the current supplier terms for the exact order rather than relying on a single general tolerance figure.
Fabric Buying FAQs
What is the best fabric for curtains?
There is no single best fibre. Start with fabrics specifically recommended for curtains, then compare the weight, drape, width, pattern repeat, care requirements and the look you want. Lining and interlining can also change the finished result.
Is natural fabric better than synthetic fabric?
Not automatically. Natural, regenerated and synthetic fibres each offer different characteristics, and many high-quality furnishing fabrics are blends. The finished fabric's construction and specification are more useful than assuming one fibre category is always superior.
What does Martindale mean on upholstery fabric?
Martindale is an abrasion-test result commonly supplied for upholstery fabrics. Use it together with the manufacturer's recommended usage and any project requirements rather than treating the number as the only measure of suitability.
Does fabric width affect how much I need?
Yes. Width changes how pattern pieces or curtain widths can be planned across the cloth. Always calculate from the actual width of the selected fabric, especially with wide-width or room-high fabrics.
Should I order a fabric sample first?
For most decorative projects, yes. A sample lets you check colour, texture, scale and handle in the actual room, which a screen cannot reproduce perfectly.
How much upholstery fabric do I need?
The answer depends on the furniture dimensions, construction, fabric width and pattern matching. Use our upholstery fabric quantity guide for rough starting estimates, then have the upholsterer confirm the final amount.
Related Fabric Guides
Still comparing fabrics?
Use the Fabric Guides & Advice hub to move between pattern, upholstery, curtain and ordering guides as you narrow your choice.
