“The Secret Life of Curtains: What 25 Years in Soft Furnishings Has Taught Us”

Curtains, Blinds and the Curious Personality of Fabric

Why experience matters more than ever

After more than 25 years designing and making bespoke curtains and blinds, we’ve learned something that surprises many people:

Fabric has a personality of its own.

Unlike hard materials, textiles are constantly reacting to their environment. They move, relax, respond to humidity, react to light, and occasionally behave in ways that no one expects.

Over the years we’ve seen fading, stretching, shrinking, bobbling, puckering, discolouration, lining issues and patterns behaving in very surprising ways. None of these things are unusual when working with fabric — they’re simply part of its nature.

The key is understanding these behaviours before a fabric is chosen, so that the final result matches your expectations.

And occasionally, those expectations can be… entertaining.

When Patterns Play Tricks on the Eye

Fabric patterns can look very different once they’re hanging at a window.

A design that looks elegant on a small sample can take on an entirely new character when it’s repeated across several metres of curtain.

We once made a beautiful pair of curtains featuring a graceful crane motif. The client studied them thoughtfully for a moment and then said:

"I’m sorry… but all I can see are pineapples."

Once she said it, we couldn’t unsee it either.

Another client had chosen a bold abstract design she loved in the showroom. When the curtains were installed she paused, tilted her head and said quietly:

"Do you think… they look a bit like bats?"

They did. A whole colony of abstract bats across the window.

This is why pattern scale and placement matter so much, especially with curtains and Roman blinds where pleats can distort or hide parts of the design.

Sometimes we carefully plan so a motif sits beautifully across a curtain. Other times we help a client realise that a fabric they love might work better on upholstery or cushions rather than a window.

The Great Linen Shrinking… and Growing… Incident

Natural fabrics are wonderful, but they do have their quirks.

Linen in particular is loved for its relaxed, slightly rumpled character. But linen also responds to humidity, temperature and steam.

We once installed a pair of linen curtains that the client loved — except for the natural creases.

“Could we just steam them a little more?” she asked.

Of course we could.

The steaming worked beautifully.

Unfortunately the linen shrank by about 3cm overnight.

Fabric can tighten temporarily when steamed, particularly natural fibres. The good news? By the end of the year, as the fabric relaxed naturally in the room, the curtains had quietly grown back again.

Fabric is patient like that.

When Light Changes Everything

Light is one of the biggest surprises for many clients.

A curtain can look perfect in the workroom, perfect in the room during the evening… and completely different once bright sunshine pours through the window.

We once made a set of beautiful cream curtains that looked soft and elegant in

normal light.

The first sunny morning arrived and the client called us.

"They’re yellow."

They weren’t yellow in the fabric itself — but sunlight passing through the lining created a warm glow that changed the perception of the colour completely.

This is why lining choices are so important, and why we always discuss how much light you want to see through your curtains during the day.

Some people love that glowing, filtered light.

Others prefer the colour and pattern to stay crisp and defined.

Tailored or Relaxed? Curtains Have Style Too

Curtains can behave very differently depending on how you want them to look.

Some clients want perfectly tailored pleats, standing smartly to attention like soldiers on parade.

Others prefer something softer and more relaxed.

And then there is the question of how curtains meet the floor, which often sparks lively debate:

• Should they puddle luxuriously on the floor?

• Should they just touch it?

• Should they sit half a centimetre above for a crisp look?

• Or should they “break” slightly, like a gentleman’s trousers resting on his shoes?

There is no right answer — only personal preference.

But different fabrics behave very differently in each situation, which is why these decisions are best made before the fabric is chosen.

Natural Fibres vs Man-Made Fibres

Another common discussion in our workroom is the difference between natural and synthetic fibres.

Natural fabrics like linen, cotton and silk have a wonderful character. They drape beautifully and bring warmth and softness to a room.

But they also come with natural behaviours:

• linen creases

• cotton can relax over time

• silk is delicate and can fade in sunlight

Man-made fibres tend to be more stable and resistant to creasing, but they

sometimes behave differently when hanging.

For example, we occasionally see synthetic fabrics where the folds don’t settle quite as naturally, or where the corners of curtains splay slightly outward instead of falling softly.

Neither is better or worse — they simply have different personalities.

Velvet: The Workhorse of Grand Houses

If there is one fabric that consistently performs beautifully, it’s velvet.

Velvet has incredible depth of colour, wonderful drape and excellent durability. It absorbs light beautifully and creates a luxurious richness that few fabrics can match.

There’s a reason velvet has been used in historic houses and grand interiors for centuries — it is surprisingly hardworking.

It looks glamorous, but it’s also remarkably practical.

Silk: Beautiful but Short-Lived

Silk is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful fabrics you can choose.

However, it’s also one of the most delicate.

Silk curtains often require interlining to protect them, and even then strong sunlight can gradually weaken the fibres and fade the colour.

Silk can still be a stunning choice, particularly in more sheltered rooms — but it’s important to understand that it may not last as long as other fabrics.

When Fabric Width Matters More Than You Think

One of the more technical aspects of curtain making involves fabric width and printing direction.

Many modern fabrics are produced as wide-width fabrics, which can be wonderful for large windows.

However, depending on how the pattern is printed, some wide fabrics cannot be used for certain curtain styles because the design runs in the wrong direction.

We’ve even been asked by other designers to advise whether a fabric will work for their project — because once a fabric is cut the wrong way, there’s no turning back.

It’s one of those details most people never think about, but it can make all the difference to the final result.

Curtains Are an Investment

Beautiful bespoke curtains and blinds are often a significant investment, and understandably clients want them to be perfect.

Our job is not simply to measure and sew.

It’s to help guide clients through the decisions that affect how fabric will behave in their home — from light levels and room temperature to pattern scale and lining choices.

The more we understand your preferences, the better we can help you make choices you’ll be happy with for years to come.

A Simple Checklist Before Choosing Curtains or Blinds

Before falling in love with a fabric sample, it can help to ask yourself a few questions:

Style

• Do you prefer tailored or relaxed curtains?

• Should they puddle, break slightly, or sit just above the floor?

Light

• Do you want daylight glowing softly through the fabric?

• Or should the pattern remain strong and defined?

Sleep

• Do you need total blackout in bedrooms?

Fabric behaviour

• Do you love the character of natural fibres?

• Or would you prefer something more stable and crease-resistant?

Pattern

• Is the pattern large or small?

• Will it work well with pleats or blinds?

Longevity

• Is the room very sunny?

• Would a more durable fabric be advisable?

The Benefit of Experience

Fabric will always have its own personality.

Sometimes it behaves perfectly. Occasionally it surprises us. And every now and then… it turns cranes into pineapples or abstract patterns into bats.

But with over 25 years of experience in soft furnishings, we’ve seen most of these surprises before.

Our role is to help you understand the possibilities, the limitations and the little quirks of fabric, so that the curtains or blinds you choose are not only beautiful — but exactly right for your home.

Because when the right fabric is chosen with the right advice, it transforms a room in the most wonderful way.

Stunning Zoffany Kanoko Fabric