It isn't rocket science but deciding what kind of fabric your curtains should be made of can get pretty complicated. You have your budget to consider, there is the quality issue and then there is that uncertainty factor of whether all that browsing through millions of galleries will finally pay off! Well, it can't be helped, designing is a painful thing but when the job is done, you can be immensely satisfied.

The list below is by no means an encyclopaedia of information on curtain fabric but it should be all you need to help you decide. Besides, encyclopaedias are LONG.

Cotton:

Goes well with whatever your style is. Modern, classic or minimal, cotton can be woven in whatever method you like to give you the feel you were looking for. Cotton is an affordable curtain fabric and never goes out of fashion because it is handy. Maintenance is definitely easier and if you line your cotton curtains, they will be much easier to hang. A good choice for any room and any look.

Silk:

There's no need of any explanation or debate here. Silk beats every other fabric hands down when it comes to chic looks. You have to be careful about where you are putting up a silk curtain. Sunlight is silk's enemy. Silk curtains look great and give your room the classy appearance that NO other fabric can give but not without claiming its due price. No fabric that is woven can match silk in its beauty but you can totally forget about this option if you want to personalize your little boy's room. He will NOT be pleased.

Wool:

Wool is a great curtain fabric simply because there are so many different types of it and when you hang a woollen curtain, it looks as lovely as a canvas painting. If you live around a place where there is a lot of humidity, a woollen curtain is not the brightest of ideas because they absorb moisture. Wool is tough and accessories look great on it because of this reason. You should be able to find a woollen net curtain irrespective of your price range because there are cheap wools and there are expensive wools. They also look good on walls so consider all factors involved and invest on a woollen curtain if it suits you.

Linen:

Linen is Mr. Popular and not without reason. This fabric is cheap, efficient when it comes to maintenance and hanging and above everything else beautiful. You just have to take care to see that you don't wring them after washing and hard press them after you wash them as linen can get easily wrinkled. This isn't much to ask for as the fabric can retain its looks after a number of washings.

Synthetics:

Polyester dominates the industry because of its toughness and looks. The best thing about synthetic curtains is that they don't shrink or grow. They also do not absorb much moisture and no climatic condition is too harsh for a synthetic curtain.

Choosing a curtain fabric for your home also depends upon where you want the curtains to be. They should go well with your tablecloths and other tapestries.

Pointers to keep in mind while choosing a curtain fabric:

• The climatic conditions that you have
• Location of the curtains
• Practical purpose of the curtain (decoration or covers)
• Budget and quality balance
• Overall looks

Whatever your choice of fabric is, make sure you line them and maintain them appropriately. If you do a good job, your window sill will be everybody's favourite spot in the house!