The beauty of custom made drapes and shades is that you can choose exactly what you want. This applies not only to the fabric and trimmings used, but also to the type of lining you go for.
It’s worth taking a little time to consider the merits of the three main types:
Cotton Sateen Lining – This is the most popular lining choice for modern houses or where double glazing has eliminated droughts in older houses. Lined only curtains will have crisper, sharper pleats as can be seen in the picture to the left.
Lining:
- Helps to preserve the life of the main fabric, since it lessens the amount of light passing through.
- Gives drapes and shades a smart appearance from the outside of the property.
- Is a more affordable option compared to interlining.
- Adds less bulk and weight than interlining, making it a better choice for very small windows, very heavy drapes or where the space at the sides of the windows is limited.
Interlining:
Interlining is an additional layer of soft, blanket-like fabric which is hand stitched between the main fabric and the lining. We choose to hand stitch this into place because this gives the best possible drape, as the three different layers are able to move against each other better than if they were machine stitched together. There are several weights and fibre types to choose from and it’s important to ensure that an appropriate interlining is used.
Interlining:
- Adds luxurious bulk and a soft feel to your soft furnishings and improves the fabric’s natural drape as can be seen in the picture above (right).
- Reduces droughts from your windows, adding comfort to your home and saving money on your heating bills.
- Protects your soft furnishings from the damaging effects of sunlight, thus prolonging their life.
- Limits untidy creases that sometimes form in natural fabrics such as cotton, linen and silk.
Blackout Lining:
Similar in appearance to cotton sateen lining, this lining has been given a number of surface treatments so that no light can pass through and also helps to retain heat in the room. The drape, texture and weight of blackout lining has improved dramatically in recent years. The picture on the left shows a blackout lined Roman blind and lambrequin pelmet installed in a childs bedroom to help stop her waking early in the summer months.
Blackout lining:
- Completely stops light from passing through the main fabric, thus preserving it’s life.
- Is an ideal choice for baby’s and children’s rooms, helping them to sleep during daylight hours in the summer.
- Is a lower priced alternative to interlining for draughty windows and can save you money on heating bills.
