Plain fabrics

Plain fabrics that bring a room to rest

Plain fabrics are the quiet force behind a considered interior. Where a pattern draws the eye, solid fabrics make space: they let a beautiful sofa, a run of windows or a handmade cushion speak for themselves. At Selected Wallpapers & Interiors we select them from international design houses, with the emphasis on rich colour depth and a finish you can still see and feel from a metre and a half away.

Where plain fabrics look their best

A solid fabric works in two ways. In a calm, neutral room a deep colour such as midnight blue, moss green or terracotta becomes the accent the eye settles on. In an interior that already carries plenty of pattern or colour, a soft earthy tone or off-white restores the balance. Across large surfaces, like floor-length curtains or a fully upholstered armchair, a plain weave gives a room presence without ever feeling busy. If you would rather keep the pattern on the wall, a solid fabric pairs beautifully with plain wallpaper or with an expressive textile wallpaper that picks up the same tone.

With plain fabrics, the texture makes the difference

Because no pattern distracts, everything about a solid fabric comes down to material and weave. Velvet catches the light and shifts in tone as you move around it, which makes it ideal for a sofa or a set of cushions. Linen has a looser, natural drape and suits curtains that are meant to fall softly. Cotton is versatile and wears well in daily use, while silk lends a room the extra sheen and refinement you notice most in the evening under lamplight. By working within one colour family across different textures, you build depth without using a single pattern.

Plain fabrics for curtains, furniture and cushions

Most of our solid fabrics suit both window dressing and upholstery, though the durability varies from one weave to the next. For curtains and sheers, choose a fabric with a lovely drape; for a sofa, dining chair or headboard, look mainly at the abrasion resistance and the weight. If you prefer a tone-on-tone scheme, browse our wider range of curtain fabrics or have a few luxury cushions made in the same cloth to finish the look. Every fabric is sold by the metre, so you order exactly the length your project calls for.

Requesting samples and getting advice

Colour and texture are best judged in your own room, in your own light. That is why you can request a sample of any fabric before ordering the metres, so you can lay the shade beside your floor, your wallpaper and your existing furniture. If you are torn between two colours, or unsure how many metres you need for your curtains, we are glad to think it through with you and work out the quantities. That way you choose a plain fabric you will be happy with for years. International shipping, duties & taxes included.