7 Tips for Selecting Beautiful Sustainable Fabrics

We are inundated with information about the environment, about saving the planet, about what to do and what not to do.  How does one sort through all the conflicting advice? 

Here are 7 simple tips to help you select fabrics for your home that are beautiful and sustainable.

1. Determine your expectation for how long the fabric should last, based on your lifestyle and how many years you will live in your home.

2. Save the current, hot looks and colours for items that can easily be changed, like the accessories, the paint, or the wallpaper on the feature wall.  Select styles and colours that have enduring appeal for the big ticket items.  No one wants the inconvenience of a sofa out of fashion in 6 months regardless of the initial cost.

(For tips 3-7, click on 'Read more'.)

3. Many fabric suppliers offer abrasion (rub) counts on their upholstery fabrics.  Look for 30,000, even 50,000 or higher if you need a rugged upholstery fabric. A 15,000 double rub count may not be enough for the active family room, even though the label says “heavy duty” for residential use.

4. Rub count is only one metric for durability.  Look for a tightly woven construction or a non-woven.  If loops or loose yarns are present, then the cat’s claws, your engagement ring, the children’s blue jean grommets may abraid the fabric causing pilling, an unsightly condition that causes the fabric to look dowdy even when it is not technically worn out.

5. For draperies, go for those beautiful classic fabrics and do not hesitate to use silk.  There are many ways to enhance the beauty and longevity of this natural fabric.

6. An Interlining layer between the silk and the lining, not only makes the drapery much more luxurious in appearance and feel, it protects the silk from sun rot and fading.

7. Rotate your drapery panels just as you would rotate your beautiful oriental rug to prevent uneven fading.  A symmetrical design, even if elaborate makes this possible, elegant and practical.

The Coolest Shade of Green is the sustainable choice!  Dayle has presented seminars on sustainable fabric selection, achieving top ratings on her evaluations.  Book your seminar by contacting the office at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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