THE FABULOUS WORLD OF FABRICS

Fabrics play a pivotal role in interior design, serving as the foundation for both upholstery and curtains. Whether you are looking to update your living room sofa or revamp your window treatments, it is important to choose the right fabric for the job so you get the most out of your investment.

The importance of sustainability is greatly influencing the world of interior design, with eco-friendly options being increasingly popular choices. Fabrics made from organic fibres such as hemp, linen and organic cotton have crept into new collections, reducing the environmental impact while offering durability and breathability – and ensuring a comfortable and long-lasting upholstery and curtain choice.

Texture is an excellent way to add depth and aesthetic appeal to a living space, creating a cosy and warm overall look. Chunky weaves, bouclé and nubby fabrics offer a tactile experience that gives an extra touch of visual allure to furniture and window treatments.

In today’s fast-paced world, practicality is key. Performance fabrics have emerged as a go-to option for upholstery and curtains, offering a range of benefits such as stain resistance, durability and easy maintenance – particularly important in a home with children, pets or high-traffic areas, for example.

The resurgence of bold patterns and prints in the form of abstract geometrics and oversized floral motifs can inject personality and make an eye-catching statement in a room. New collections have successfully managed to pull off these looks in contemporary styles that avoid looking dated and create a real wow-factor, ideal for minimalist-style spaces.

For curtains, sheer and lightweight fabrics continue to be a popular choice as they allow natural light to filter through, creating an ethereal and airy ambiance in a room. Fabrics such as voile, chiffon and sheer linen offer privacy while still maintaining a sense of openness. Sheer curtains also lend themselves well to layering, allowing you to combine different fabrics and textures to achieve a personalised and versatile window treatment. Take a look at these ideas…

Right Zinc’s new Kiesler jacquard velvet, shown here in their Tobacco colour palette, is just one of many stunning fabrics from the Salvador collection. The range offers a casual, easy living look with a luxuriously contemporary edge, taking its inspiration from the great surrealist artists of the early 20th century, with many of the designs being named after titans of the surrealist movement. Zinc is available from Arte del Lusso in C/Lagasca San Pedro de Alcántara (www.artedellusso.es), Alison Bethell-Collins Interior Design in Avda. del Mediterráneo in San Pedro de Alcántara (www.alisonbethellcollins.com), Ambience Home Design in Centro Comercial La Poveda in Marbella (www.ambiencehomedesign.com) and UDesign in Pol. Ind. San Pedro de Alcántara (www.udesign.es)

Left Inspired by organic forms, a popular trend in the fifties was for artists to fuse architecture, design and sculpture, creating the Good Design movement. The Nelson collection by Casamance, shown here in their Djinn version, is a nod to famous mid-century designer George Nelson. Casamance is available from Alison Bethell-Collins Interior Design in Avda. del Mediterráneo, San Pedro de Alcántara (www.alisonbethellcollins.com), Mad About Furniture in Avda. La Unión in Estepona (www.madaboutfurniture.com), Cortidea on the Mijas Road and in Urb. Marbella Real (www.cortidea.es), UDesign in Pol. Ind. San Pedro de Alcántara (www.udesign.es), Arte del Lusso in San Pedro de Alcántara (www.artedellusso.es) and Ambience Home Design in C.C. La Poveda in Marbella (www.ambiencehomedesign.com)

Below Packing a punch with red while combining textures can bring a room to life. The Lapis sofa by Amura Lab is upholstered with various fabrics by Rubelli from their Velvety, Liverpool and Terry collections. The cushions are covered in Rubelli’s Euclide, Eureka, Archimede and Martinique fabrics. Rubelli is available through Alison Bethell-Collins Interior Design in Avda. del Mediterráneo, San Pedro de Alcántara (www.alisonbethellcollins.com), and Cortidea on the Mijas Road and in Urb. Marbella Real (www.cortidea.es)

Right The Sperky Terracotta velvet linen fabric by Aldeco is made from 70 per cent viscose mixed with cotton, linen and polyester, making it ideal for upholstery use. It has a natural linen piping and a bold swirling design to draw the eye. Aldeco is available from UDesign in Pol. Ind. San Pedro de Alcántara (www.udesign.es), Alison Bethell Collins Interior Design in Avda. del Mediterráneo, San Pedro de Alcántara (www.alisonbethellcollins.com) and Arte del Lusso in C/ Lagasca in San Pedro de Alcántara (www.artedellusso.es)