If you’re into timeless design elements, consider a fabric like silk. Silk’s origins can be traced back nearly 3 millennia to China, making it one of the oldest fibers known to man. Legend has it, Empress His-Ling Shi discovered the shimmering threads after a silkworm cocoon fell, and unraveled, in her cup of tea. The texture and beauty of silk are in a class all its own. It’s natural, elegant and surprisingly versatile, making it a worthy contender for your home.
Benefits of Silk
Some characteristics of silk that make it such a desirable fabric include:
- Its strength and resilience. Silk is considered the strongest natural fiber because of its high tensile strength. It is also resilient to crushing and wrinkling.
- Its resistance to mold, mildew, moths, and mites. All of these things can be extremely damaging to furnishings.
- Its refined texture, which is smooth, not slippery like many synthetic fabrics.
- Its gentleness on skin. The antimicrobial properties of silk make it a great fabric for anyone suffering from skin issues like eczema. Its tight weave helps decrease moisture loss of the skin, which makes it more tolerated fabric by people with sensitive skin.
- Its lightweight insulation. Silk will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter, which will provide you with a wonderful night’s sleep.
- Its variety of colors. Silk is easy to dye and retains its color extremely well.
As with everything, however, there are some drawbacks to consider. Silk is sensitive to sunlight, doesn’t tolerate high abrasion, often requires high-maintenance cleaning, and carries price tag pricetag than other fabrics. Don’t let that scare you away though because the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. With some careful thought about how and where it will be used, you can enjoy the beauty of silk in your home.
How to Decorate With Silk Fabric
Here are some ideas on how you can decorate with silk fabric in your home:
- On furniture. Silk isn’t a heavy-use fabric but it’s perfect for pieces like dining room chair cushions or accent chairs or benches that receive light use. If nothing like that works for you, opt for some silk accent pillows.
- On walls. Upholstered walls are becoming increasingly popular these days and when it comes to fabric choices, silk is a great one. If you happen to prefer wallpaper over fabric, silk wallpaper can be purchased. Either choice will work well in both traditional and contemporary spaces.
- On windows. Window treatments made of silk are simply stunning. Your windows will be sure to impress with some quality silk drapery.
Be sure to browse our beautiful silk selections to find something perfect for your home.
When you are looking for a fabric store near you in Sugar Land, stop by our Interior Fabrics locations in Houston, TX for great deals on discount designer fabrics. You will find something for every home interior project from gorgeous drapery fabrics to lightweight cotton fabrics and luxurious Dupioni silk fabrics.
