How To Choose Curtain Lining and Interlining
You’ve browsed the shelves and shortlisted samples to choose the perfect show fabric for your new curtains or blinds, but there’s one more thing to consider…
…how about the lining? The unsung hero behind the show fabric, curtain lining makes curtains and blinds hang better and last longer, and also protects against sun damage.
What kind of lining shall I choose?
Our skilled makers always recommend lining your curtains. You’ll get a more polished finish, whichever curtain header you choose, plus the right lining will complement the show fabric, improve the feel and weight of the curtains, and prolong the life of the fabric.
You can of course be adventurous with curtain linings and use a contrasting or complementary colour or design to create a feature of your curtain linings; our makers have made some lovely and unique curtains for our customers using stripes, spots or flowery fabric for the lining, and you’ll find our makers are always happy to create whatever you desire (in soft furnishings, at least!). But first let’s take a look at the standard curtain lining and interlining options:
Solprufe Cotton Lining
Our go-to lining for all of our makers, and in the shop, is our 100% cotton sateen Solprufe lining. This is a smooth, strong, sun-resistant cotton fabric which we stock in three popular shades – white cotton curtain lining, for the palest or white curtains; a traditional cream cotton lining, which can work really well with fabrics in the yellow/brown/green colour range, and a cooler stone curtain lining colour, which looks great with all sorts of colours, and brings a more contemporary feel to your furnishings than a traditional cream lining.
Polycotton Lining
If you’re on a budget, another option is a polycotton lining fabric, which is available in ivory. Because this is not a sun-resistant fabric we do not recommend this as an option if sun damage is a risk; for instance for a south-facing window or an exposed location. If you are bothered by heat, or by excess light, then read on! As well as the options we’ve already discussed, we also offer a couple of more specialised linings to make your living or sleeping space much more comfortable.
Blackout curtain lining
Our customers are often surprised to find that blackout lining isn’t black; our soft drape blackout lining is an ivory polycotton fabric with a clever blackout coating on one side. The fabric is ivory on both sides; we prefer the coated side placed towards the show fabric with the soft-touch side visible as the lining. Our customers find that using a blackout lining can be a lifesaver for children’s bedrooms; it’s also fab for people who are troubled by street lights shining into their room at night. You’ll find that a little light will still get through the stitch line on roman blinds lined with a blackout fabric, but this will be minimal. For roman blinds we further recommend that they are hung outside of the recess for the best blackout effect.
Thermal curtain lining
A final option is thermal curtain lining; this is a soft-drape polycotton ivory fabric with a light and soft finish. This fabric is coated with an effective thermal layer that reduces heat loss from windows to keep your room warmer. Usefully, it can also help reduce unwanted heat coming into the house, helping to regulate the temperature in rooms exposed to direct sunlight. Because of the coating, thermal lining will also dim light levels more effectively than a standard cotton lining.
Silver Lining - Energy Reflective Technology
A modern energy saving option is the new NASA developed silver curtain lining which has the properties that can render your home warmer or cooler depending how you use it. The lining has a plain ivory colour on one side and a silver metallic finish on the other. Used with the ivory as a face and silver sandwiched between the lining face and the curtain fabric (thereby silver facing into the room but not visible), this saves energy by reflecting heat back into the room. Coversely, used the other way around, where the silver face is visble through the windows and so on the reverse of the curtain it offers reflective properties to keep a room cool. (You can also create a loose lining and turn the lining around for different seasons.)
This lining has been shown to reduce energy bills by over25% saving an average UK householder up to £313 per year.
What about interlining?
Once you’ve decided on your lining, you can also choose to add an Interlining, also known as ‘bump’. The interlining is sandwiched between the show fabric and the lining, so you won’t see it but you’ll know it is there; the extra layer gives your curtains or roman blinds a fuller, more luxurious look and feel. The extra layer will also give your curtains greatly improved thermal insulation. Think about adding interlining, whether you’re looking for a door curtain for a draughty front door, or for luxuriously full curtains for your boudoir!
Cotton interlinings
Cotton interlining is our premium interlining. This a 100% cotton material, and so is a good fit for cotton show fabrics and linings. We sell this interlining in two weights; a lightweight cotton interlining which will give your curtains a little more weight and body and also provide some thermal insulation, and a heavyweight cotton interlining, which will give a noticeably fuller weight and finish to your curtains and roman blinds, and will really help to insulate draughty old doors and windows.
Synthetic interlinings
Finally, there’s the option of synthetic polyester interlining. This is a very good budget option for interlining your curtains with less of an outlay. Again, we stock two weights; lightweight synthetic interlining , for adding a little more fullness without too much weight, and heavyweight, for when you really want to stop those draughts, or really want to make a statement with your drapes.
Do you need more help?
If you can pop in, you’ll find our shop staff are always ready to talk you through all the options. Whether you’re making your own curtains or having our skilled local makers stitch them for you, we’re happy to help. We pride ourselves on our personal service to our lovely customers, helping you make exactly the right choice, so that you’re happy with your curtains for years to come.