Textiles in Interiors

Window Treatment

a decorative covering (such as a curtain, shade, or valance) for a window or part of a window

Dummy Panels

called Dummy Panels if they cannot be drawn

Soft window treatments

curtains, drapes, shades

Hard window treatments

blinds, window shutters

Curtains

made of lightweight fabrics, easily taken down or put up, usually drop to just below a window sill, generally are shirred (gathered onto a rod) or have headings attached to solid-wood rods, round or oval metal rods, or café rods, opened and closed by gently pulling the fabric

Drapes

made of heavier fabric and more formal, usually longer (ceiling to floor), in many cases, these must be steam or dry cleaned because of their weight and special fabric, often operated by a drawstring on one side of a window

Portières

Draperies that hang at a doorway rather than at a window

Shades

made of soft fabric, in the form of a full panel that is hanging from a pole, need to be pulled up in order to let the light in, can either roll up around the pole or just bunch up

Pleated Shades

a type of shade

Cellular Shades

a type of shade

Blinds

go up and down on a cord aided by some sort of lifting mechanism, consist of separate elements, called slats or louvers, that could be simply tilted up and down (Venetian blinds), or left and right (vertical blinds)

Window Shutters

louvered or solid panel, hinged panels, often louvered, fixed inside or outside a window that can be closed for security or privacy or to keep out light

Curtain Rod

pole where the curtains are hung

Bracket (Curtain Rod Hooks)

installed directly onto a wall above a window or within the head of a box window to carry the weight of your curtain

Finial

end stopper of the curtain rod that enhances the decorative feature of the curtain hardware

Traverse Rod

with mechanism inside the rod that allows for minimal effort when drawing the curtains

S-Type Rod

S-Fold drapery characterized by undulations in the fabric are achieved through the spacing of the carriers and the tape

Holdback

installed directly onto the wall and is often made of iron, wood or plastic

Tieback

a piece of material that is attached to a curtain to keep it open

Cornice

box-like structure built as part of the ceiling moldings, or above the window, most often made of wood, conceals hardware such as rods and brackets

Pelmets

constructed out of wood and has a box-like structure, upholstered to match the interior or drapes, can take on a variety of shapes; from flat-bottomed to arched

VALANCE

made predominantly out of fabric that spans the width of the window; can be minimalist or elaborately styled; can have fringes, tassels, pompoms and even be tiered or pleated.

SWAG/JABOT

strips of fabric for the top of the window; have even less structure; longer and wider strip of fabric that drapes across the top of the window; can be woven loosely around a rod, or it can drape from one tieback to another; in some cases, it can also feature a 'tail' that hangs along the side of the window and even to the floor; Jabots - tapered fabric.

Eyelet / Grommet

top piece of the curtain that attaches to the curtain track or rod; affects how the overall look of your finished curtains will appear; influence the type of rod or track you can use.

Rod Pocket

top piece of the curtain that attaches to the curtain track or rod; affects how the overall look of your finished curtains will appear; influence the type of rod or track you can use.

Tie Top

top piece of the curtain that attaches to the curtain track or rod; affects how the overall look of your finished curtains will appear; influence the type of rod or track you can use.

Rings

top piece of the curtain that attaches to the curtain track or rod; affects how the overall look of your finished curtains will appear; influence the type of rod or track you can use.

TabTop

top piece of the curtain that attaches to the curtain track or rod; affects how the overall look of your finished curtains will appear; influence the type of rod or track you can use.

Reverse Back Tab Top

top piece of the curtain that attaches to the curtain track or rod; affects how the overall look of your finished curtains will appear; influence the type of rod or track you can use.

Double Pinch Pleats

folds of cloth sewn or taped into place to create fullness.

Goblet Pleats

folds of cloth sewn or taped into place to create fullness.

Pencil Pleats

folds of cloth sewn or taped into place to create fullness.

Box Pleats

folds of cloth sewn or taped into place to create fullness.

Triple Pinch Pleats

folds of cloth sewn or taped into place to create fullness.

SHORT HEM LENGTHS

window treatment the same as the window height, or hangs midway the window (cafe curtains).

LONG HEM LENGTHS

ceiling or cover to flooring.

BLACKOUT

protective layer that protects the fabric and furniture from UV light; best choice for a light-sensitive sleeper.

INSULATION

reduce noise and act as a thermal regulator apart from adding fullness and giving drapes a luxurious look.

FIRE RETARDANT

synthetic fibers, plastic-based fibers will often melt due to the heat instead of igniting.

INNERSPRING

has a coil-based support system and few other layers; offer some support, but lack in pressure relief; sleeping surface is bouncier and has limited motion isolation; lower price point.

FOAM

does not have coils or spring; provide above-average contouring to the body, pressure relief, and motion isolation, making them a good fit for side sleepers and couples; most well-known is the memory foam mattress.

HYBRID

have two central elements: an innerspring support core and a substantial foam comfort system; comfort layers can include foam or latex, and sometimes will even include a shorter layer of coils (called micro-coils); provide a blend of bounce and contouring with low heat retention.

LATEX

all of the layers of a mattress are made with latex rubber (aka all-latex or true-latex mattress); offer top-notch bounce and durability with moderate contouring; top pick among eco-conscious shoppers especially when made with natural and organic latex.

AIRBED

built with an air chamber as their support core; a pump is built into the mattress to add or remove air with the push of a button; can be set to a different firmness level.

Mattress Topper

adds an extra layer of comfort.

Mattress & Pillow Protector

help your bedding and pillow stay fresher and cleaner for longer, while reducing wear-and-tear; made of water-resistant fabric that still allow considerable airflow and breathability; protects the mattress from accidental spills, bacteria and some allergens; most mattress protectors cover your mattress like a fitted sheet; usually made of polyester, cotton, organic cotton, vinyl, or polyurethane materials.

SHEETS/BED SHEETS

the sheeting layer that you will come in contact with the most

FITTED SHEETS

with the elastic around the edges

TOP/FLAT SHEETS

oversized flat sheet (bigger than mattress size) that lies between the sleeper and the duvet, comforter, or blanket

PILLOWS

add color, volume, dimension, style and of course, comfort

SLEEPING PILLOWS

Standard 20" x 26", Queen pillow 20" x 30", King pillow 20" x 36"

DECORATIVE PILLOWS

Euro pillow 25" x 25", Deco/throw pillow 20" x 20", 18" x 18", Boudoir pillow 12" x 16", Neckroll/bolster pillow 6.5" x 13"

PILLOWCASES/PILLOW COVERS

protect pillows from dust, dirt, stains and facial oils, add a comfortable and attractive touch

HOUSEWIFE/ENVELOPE PILLOWCASE

with an opening on one side with an inside flap at the open end used to tuck in the pillow

OXFORD/MOCK OXFORD PILLOWCASE

with a thick border or flap along all of the edges, also used as sham pillows

BAG PILLOWCASE

a simple opening on one side with no inner flap, typically used in hotels and other lodgings

THREAD COUNT

number of threads woven into a square inch of fabric (higher thread count means a more durable fabric); preferred thread count for sheets are between 200-800

COTTON

made from natural cotton, more comfortable feel; can be made from synthetic cotton, and more durable and inexpensive

MICROFIBER

made from tightly woven synthetic fibers, which make a soft and durable fabric; breathable, cool, soft and wicks moisture away from your skin

SATEEN

made from tightly woven cotton, polyester, or silk; tend to be very durable, and leave a luxurious feel on the skin

PERCALE SHEETS

made from cotton and natural fibers, but is woven in a unique way that gives the sheets a beautiful shine and durability

BAMBOO RAYON

made from a unique material of chemically treated bamboo; can regulate temperature, making them perfect for any time of the year

FLANNEL

type of fabric crafted from loosely woven fibers; often made with cotton, but can also be made from wool, fiber blends, or synthetic fibers like polyester

DUVET

a type of bedding which is a soft flat bag filled with down, feathers, wool, or a synthetic alternative; protected with a removable cover, the duvet cover

COMFORTER

a thick, quilted, fluffy blanket that is used to keep you warm; usually filled with synthetic fiber filler which is quilted or stitched to secure the filling

QUILTS

functions as another sheet to keep the user warm, and as decorative cover for the bed; usually sold with matching pillow shams