Lighten up with Linen Curtains

Do you happen to like linen? Many of us do. It’s one of the lightest, most comfortable fabrics to wear (even if it does tend to crush very easily). But can you imagine having linen in your home in the form of household textiles?

Consider, for instance, how stunning a pair of custom made curtains or Roman blinds from light linen would look. Or, you could fashion a linen fabric into cushions, a bed spread, even a table cloth and matching napkins. This delightful fabric is so versatile that really, you’ll find it suits most textile purposes around the home.

Three fabric designers who uses plenty of linen and linen/cotton combinations in their impressive fabric collections are Ian Mankin, Emily Burningham, Ada and Ina, Cabbages & Roses and Kate Forman. Linen is sustainable and environmentally-friendly. Another design house which favours linen in their popular collections is Clarke & Clarke Fabric. The company’s Coastal Linens, Clarisse, Lino Sheers and Tatton Linens collections are particularly well thought of in interior design circles.

How is Linen Produced?

Linen is actually manufactured from the flax plant. First the seed is planted then around three months later it flowers and is ready to harvest. The flax is then left in water to rot before being taken out and dried. The next stage is to beat it with a wooden mallet to separate the fibres in the plant. It’s then beaten again to remove any last pieces of wooden stem from the fibres before being spun into yarn and the yarn woven into linen.

Benefits of Linen in the Home

It may feel very soft and come across as a rather ‘subtle’ fabric but in fact linen is incredibly durable, making it an excellent household textiles fabric. As a result it’s often used for cushions, throws and bedspreads as well as Roman blinds and ready made curtains. It’s also a particular favourite of interior designers for custom made curtains since it hangs so well.

Those with sensitive skin will particularly appreciate the benefits of organic linen which is produced without using any pesticides. In this sense then it won’t irritate the skin or cause breathing difficulties for those who are highly susceptible. Even dyed organic linen is coloured using natural dyes.

A good idea, when buying linen, is to invest in quite a bit more of the material than you actually need for your particular project. This is because we find that many clients grow so fond of their linen curtains or blinds that they want co-ordinating cushions or seat covers too and it’s easier to buy extra and lay some fabric aside rather than have to go chasing the original fabric you bought years earlier.

Our Linen Custom Made Curtains Service

Here at Curtains Made Simple in Oxfordshire we can design made to measure curtains and Roman blinds in linen to your exact specifications once you supply us with the necessary measurements. We’ll also custom make linen cushions, beanbags, throws, bed spreads and other items for around the home. We aim to have items completed within four weeks of the order being placed.