If you’re trying to put together a beautiful living room or bedroom, then the right set of curtains is an essential purchase. One of the hardest parts of choosing curtains, after picking the color and pattern, is picking the right fabric.

Do you want something light, bright, and airy, or something thicker and heavier? How will you take care of those curtains? What room will they be in, and how important are insulation and light blocking? These are all things that you should consider before you make your purchase.

What are curtains made of?

Curtains can be made of many different materials – including wool, linen, cotton, silk, nylon, and polyester. Synthetic fabrics – such as nylon and polyester – tend to be the most affordable, while natural fabrics are significantly more expensive.

What to look for in your curtains

When you’re choosing curtains, you need to think about the weight, texture, and light filtering properties of the fabric, as well as how durable it is and how easy it is to clean.

There are two things that will have a significant impact on those factors – the thread count and weave. Fabrics with a lower thread count tend to be less durable and more likely to deteriorate when exposed to the sun.

Poly cotton curtain fabrics with a higher thread count are more durable but may need to be dry-cleaned. Silks are luxurious looking but are quite likely to fade and decay in direct sunlight. Fabrics with a thick weave will work to block out sunlight.