In the world of custom window treatments, what’s hidden often matters most. While face fabrics command attention, it’s the strategic choice of lining that transforms ordinary drapery into something extraordinary.
At Parkway Window Works, we understand how these essential layers enhance both beauty and function. From how the fabric flows to how light filters through your space, choosing the right lining choice can elevate your drapery from simply beautiful to truly exceptional.
Understanding Custom Drapery Lining Options
Understanding the layers of a custom drapery is key to appreciating its quality and function. The face fabric is what you see from the room – your chosen decorative material that sets the style. Behind that, the lining is a separate layer of fabric that protects the face fabric from sun damage and provides light control. Think of it as the workhorse that helps your draperies maintain their beauty over time. Interlining, which sits between the face fabric and lining, is a soft, flannel-like layer that adds body and insulation. This hidden hero is what gives high-end draperies their luxurious fullness and professional drape. Together, these three layers work in harmony to create window treatments that not only look beautiful, but also provide insulation and light control.
Choosing the Perfect Drapery Lining Color
In the selection of drapery lining, color plays a pivotal role that extends far beyond the interior space. While white linings offer crisp uniformity and maximum light reflection, ivory alternatives provide a softer, warmer aesthetic that often complements traditional architecture. The choice between these classic options affects not just how light filters through your fabric, but also your home’s exterior harmony—an often overlooked consideration for street-facing windows.
Lining Opacity
Choosing the right drapery lining depends on how the room will be used. Light-filtering linings soften natural light while maintaining a bright atmosphere, ideal for living spaces where you want both gentle illumination and privacy. Light-control linings offer more flexibility, allowing rooms to shift from bright to dark as needed – perfect for multi-purpose spaces like family rooms or home offices. For spaces requiring darkness, like bedrooms and media rooms, blackout linings are essential. However, achieving true blackout conditions often requires layering treatments to eliminate light gaps around the edges of windows – typically combining side panels with blackout shades or blinds.
Interlining for Custom Drapes
Between the face fabric and lining of custom drapery lies a transformative layer known as interlining—a specialized fabric that adds substance, structure, and sophistication to custom window treatments. This plush layer, often made of flannel or bump cloth, creates the coveted, full-bodied drape that distinguishes high-end window treatments. Beyond its aesthetic contribution, interlining acts as a natural insulator, helping regulate room temperature while reducing energy costs.
Custom window treatments are complicated, but you don’t have to be the expert in all things linings and interlinings. Working with an experienced drapery workroom like Parkway Window Works means all the details are handled for you, and you have peace of mind your client will love their new window treatments that are beautiful and function to meet their needs. Parkway Window Works brings decades of expertise to guide you through these crucial decisions, ensuring your custom drapery achieves the perfect balance of beauty and functionality. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and discover how our attention to detail—even in the unseen elements—can transform your space into something extraordinary.
