Curtains are one of the most transformative elements in any room. They frame your windows, control light, add texture, and set the entire tone of a space. But with so many fabric options available, from whisper-light sheers to heavy silk velvets - choosing the right curtain fabric can feel overwhelming.
This guide covers everything you need to know: fabric types, weight, lining, light control, and how to match your fabric choice to the room. By the end, you'll know exactly what to look for, and what to avoid.
Use our curtain calculator to work out how much fabric you'll need once you've chosen your material.
The Most Important Question: What Do You Need Your Curtains to Do?
Before you think about colour or pattern, answer these four questions:
1. How much light do you want to control? Full blackout for a bedroom? Soft filtering for a living room? This determines weight and lining more than anything else.
2. How formal is the room? A grand dining room calls for different fabric than a relaxed kitchen or casual snug.
3. How high are your ceilings? Floor-to-ceiling curtains in a room with high ceilings need a fabric with excellent drape, lightweight fabrics can look flat and lifeless in large drops.
4. What's your priority - beauty or practicality? Some of the most beautiful curtain fabrics, raw silk, fine linen, require more care than performance fabrics like Trevira or velvet.
Curtain Fabric Types: A Complete Guide
Silk and Silk Velvet
Silk is the most luxurious curtain fabric in the world. Its natural lustre catches light beautifully, and it drapes with an elegance that no synthetic can replicate. Silk velvet takes this further, adding depth, richness and a tactile quality that makes a room feel truly extraordinary.
Best for: Formal sitting rooms, dining rooms, master bedrooms, grand hotel-style interiors Light control: Good, naturally filters and softens lightĀ
Drape: Exceptional, falls in long, fluid columnsĀ
Things to know: Pure silk can fade in direct sunlight over time. Line your silk curtains and avoid hanging them in south-facing windows without UV protection. Dry clean only. Studio 198 recommendation: Explore our Kohro silk fabrics and Brochier collections for exceptional silk curtain options.
Velvet (Cotton and Synthetic)
Velvet is one of the most popular choices for luxury curtains and for good reason. It has outstanding light-blocking properties, exceptional drape, and a richness that instantly elevates a room. Cotton velvet has a softer, more natural feel; synthetic velvets offer greater durability and are often more resistant to crushing.
Best for: Bedrooms, living rooms, libraries, cinema rooms, any space where warmth and drama are desired
Light control: Excellent, heavy velvet provides near-blackout without liningĀ
Drape: Outstanding, hangs beautifully in wide, generous folds
Things to know: Velvet can be prone to crushing, always hang and store carefully. Opt for a fabric with a good Martindale count for high-use areas.Ā
Studio 198 recommendation: Browse our Sahco and Pollack collections for exceptional curtain velvets.
Linen and Linen Blends
Linen brings a relaxed, natural elegance to any window. It filters light beautifully, creating a warm, diffused glow, and its slight texture adds depth without formality. Linen blends, linen mixed with cotton, silk, or synthetic fibres, offer improved drape and reduced creasing.
Best for: Living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, relaxed country or coastal interiors
Light control: Moderate, filters and softens without blocking
Drape: Good, can be slightly stiff when unlined; blends drape better than pure linen Things to know: Pure linen creases easily. Choose a linen blend for curtains that need to look pristine, or embrace the relaxed, lived-in quality of pure linen.
Studio 198 recommendation: Explore our Westbury Textiles and Fox Linton collections for beautiful linen curtain fabrics.
Jacquard
Jacquard fabrics are woven with an intricate pattern built directly into the fabric structure, not printed on top. This gives them a sculptural quality, with the pattern visible on both sides. They are heavier than plain weaves, which makes them excellent for curtains that need substance and presence.
Best for: Formal living rooms, dining rooms, period properties, traditional or maximalist interiors
Light control: Good to very good depending on weight
Drape: Excellent, the weight of a good jacquard creates beautiful, structured folds
Things to know: Large jacquard pattern repeats require careful planning, factor the repeat into your fabric order. Use our curtain calculator to account for this.
Studio 198 recommendation: Browse our Ralph Lauren and Zoffany jacquard collections.
Sheers and Voiles
Sheers and voiles filter light while maintaining privacy and preserving your view. They work beautifully layered behind heavier curtains, giving you the flexibility to control light and privacy throughout the day. Fine sheers catch and diffuse sunlight in a way that feels almost magical in a well-designed room.
Best for: Living rooms, dining rooms, any room where natural light is precious
Light control: Minimal designed to filter rather than blockĀ
Drape: Exceptional, sheers fall in long, elegant columns
Things to know: Sheers are usually hung at double or triple fullness for the best effect. Machine washable options are available for practicality.
Studio 198 recommendation: Browse our sheer curtain fabric collection for fine voiles and sheers.
Performance and Contract Fabrics (Trevira, BouclƩ, Technical Weaves)
For commercial projects, hospitality interiors, or any space that requires flame-retardant certification, performance fabrics are the professional choice. Trevira CS is the gold standard, inherently flame-retardant, beautifully tactile, and available in a wide range of weights and textures. BouclƩ and technical weaves offer a luxury aesthetic with the durability ratings that demanding environments require.
Best for: Hotels, restaurants, offices, commercial spaces, high-traffic residential areas Light control: Varies by weight
Drape: Excellent, performance fabrics are engineered for consistent drape
Things to know: Always check the fire rating certification for commercial projects. Most of our performance fabrics come with the relevant documentation.
Studio 198 recommendation: Explore our Kvadrat and Maharam collections for contract-grade curtain fabrics.
Understanding Curtain Lining: Why It Matters More Than You Think
The lining you choose has an enormous impact on how your curtains look, perform, and last. Never treat lining as an afterthought.
Unlined
A relaxed, informal look. Allows maximum light through. Best for sheers and casual spaces. Not recommended for expensive fabrics, lining protects the face fabric from sun damage and dust.
Standard Lining
A plain cotton or polyester lining that improves drape, adds a little light control, and protects the face fabric. The minimum recommended for most curtain applications.
Blackout Lining
A three-pass coated lining that blocks virtually all light. Essential for bedrooms, media rooms, or any space where light control is critical. Adds significant weight, which improves drape on lighter fabrics.
Interlining
A soft, wadded layer sandwiched between the face fabric and the lining. Interlining dramatically improves drape, even lightweight fabrics fall beautifully when interlined. It also adds insulation, reduces sound, and gives curtains a sumptuous, hotel-quality fullness. Highly recommended for any luxury curtain project.
For the finest finish on a curtain, always interline. The difference in how the curtain hangs is immediately visible and makes even a moderately priced fabric look exceptional.
Matching Fabric to Room: A Quick Reference Guide
| Room | Recommended fabric | Lining |
|---|---|---|
| Master bedroom | Silk velvet, jacquard, heavy linen | Blackout + interlining |
| Living room | Velvet, jacquard, linen blend, silk | Interlined standard lining |
| Dining room | Silk, jacquard, velvet | Interlined standard lining |
| Kitchen | Linen, cotton blend | Standard or unlined |
| Home office | Performance fabric, linen blend | Standard lining |
| Media / cinema room | Heavy velvet | Blackout + interlining |
| Hotel / commercial | Trevira, Kvadrat, Maharam | FR-rated blackout or standard |
How Much Fabric Do You Need?
The amount of fabric needed depends on your window width, drop, heading style, and pattern repeat. As a general rule, curtains should be made to at least 1.5x the width of the track or pole, 2x to 2.5x fullness for a luxurious gathered effect.
Use our free curtain calculator to get an accurate fabric estimate for your project, including pattern repeat allowances.
Explore Our Curtain Fabric Collections
At Studio 198 we stock an exceptional range of designer curtain fabrics from the world's most prestigious design houses, from silk velvets and fine jacquards to performance fabrics for the most demanding commercial projects. Worldwide delivery available on all orders.
š Browse all curtain fabrics š Shop Ralph Lauren fabrics š Shop Kohro silk fabrics š Shop Sahco fabrics š Shop Pollack fabrics š Use our free curtain calculator š Contact our team for expert advice