Traditional English Fabrics

What is a traditional English fabric?

A traditional English fabric often uses checks, tartan, stripes, floral motifs or textured weaves in a balanced colour range. The fabrics are made to be combined and can be used on curtains, furniture, cushions and headboards. The effect can be rustic, tailored or botanical without the whole room having to be decorated historically. That makes it easier to create variety without the different patterns in a room starting to compete.

Which English fabrics are the most popular?

Appledore Check Fabric, Coach Road Tartan Fabric and Dudley Glen Plaid Fabric are obvious choices for checks and tartan. Annick Ticking Fabric and Burnham Stripe Fabric suit anyone looking for a stripe. Angelique Fabric, Anthos Fabric and Amytis Fabric give a more botanical, decorative expression for curtains or a single piece of furniture.

Where do English fabrics work best?

English fabrics are particularly well suited to the living room, bedroom, dining room and study. Curtains give large patterns room to unfold, while checks and tartan look handsome on armchairs, benches and cushions. A lighter voile suits windows where the light is to be filtered, and heavier weaves are better suited to furniture and weightier curtains. That makes it easier to create variety without the different patterns in a room starting to compete.

How do you choose an English curtain fabric?

Choose an English curtain fabric according to light, drape, repeat and how much of the pattern should show. A large motif needs enough fabric and a pleat that does not hide the repeat. Stripes emphasise height, while checks give structure. Consider how the pattern falls vertically at the window and consider whether lining is needed for light, drape or warmth. That makes it easier to create variety without the different patterns in a room starting to compete.

What is the English word for “tyg”?

In English, “tyg” is fabric or cloth, depending on the context. Interior textiles are usually described as upholstery fabric, curtain fabric or furnishing fabric. This page, however, is about fabrics with a traditional English character rather than about translation, and concentrates on materials for curtains, furniture and textile details from selected interiors brands. That makes it easier to create variety without the different patterns in a room starting to compete.

Can I get help choosing an English fabric?

Yes. Start with the visualisation on the product page once you are logged in, for a first impression of colour and scale. Then bring measurements, photographs and material samples to the showroom at Sturegatan 20 in Stockholm. There we can compare curtain fabrics, upholstery fabrics and supporting fabrics, and talk through pattern matching, lining and combinations. That makes it easier to create variety without the different patterns in a room starting to compete.

Checks and tartan create structure

Checked fabrics bring order to a room and work in both small and large doses. Appledore Check Fabric and Dunmore Check Fabric suit curtains, furniture and cushions depending on the scale. Coach Road Tartan Fabric and Dudley Glen Plaid Fabric have more crossing colours and become clearer focal points.

Compare further options under Ralph Lauren Home fabrics and Colefax & Fowler fabrics.

Stripes for curtains and furniture

Stripes can be neutral and decorative alike. Annick Ticking Fabric has an informal character, while Burnham Stripe Fabric and Chantilly Stripe Fabric feel more tailored. On curtains, stripes emphasise height and drape; on furniture they call for careful matching across seams and cushions.

For further materials and colourways, see Osborne & Little fabrics.

Floral motifs and botanical colour

English florals can be soft, graphic or richly detailed. Angelique Fabric and Anthos Fabric show two botanical directions, while Amytis Fabric has a more decorative character. Do let a fabric like this carry the curtain or a single piece of furniture, and keep the larger surfaces around it quieter.

See more botanical textiles under Sanderson fabrics and A Celebration of the National Trust.

The material decides drape and use

Linen gives a drier, more relaxed surface. Baptista Linen Fabric suits schemes where the character of the material should be clearly visible. Auberge Sheer Fabric filters light and can be used on its own or as a light inner layer. Denser weaves work better on furniture, or on curtains that need more weight.

Always check the technical information for the product. A beautiful curtain fabric is not automatically right for a sofa in daily use.

Mixing patterns with control

Combine a large floral with a smaller check or a narrow stripe, and let the patterns share at least one colour. Add plain linen, wool or velvet for moments of pause. Two or three clear textile ideas are enough in most rooms. Across the whole fabric range you will find supporting fabrics and other patterns.

Use the visualisation on the product page first. After that, the showroom at Sturegatan 20 can help you compare fabrics for the living room, bedroom and dining room. For made-to-measure curtains, headboards or furniture, see made-to-order.

Lining, piping and finishes

Details such as lining, piping and braid affect an English fabric more than you might first think. A contrasting piping can trace the shape of an armchair, while a tone-on-tone finish keeps the whole quieter. On curtains, a well-chosen lining gives a better drape and protects the colours in strong daylight.

Fringing and braid should be used where they support the line of the furniture or the curtain. A narrow trim can give a simple cushion precision, but several competing finishes quickly make the effect heavy. Let the material and the pattern decide how much extra detail is needed.

Scale between curtain and furniture

The same pattern reads differently on a long curtain and on a small chair. On the curtain the repeat is read across height and pleats, while the chair shows a concentrated detail of it. So plan which parts of the motif should show, and avoid using the same large repeat on every textile surface in the room.

Season and light

Fabric colours shift with the season and the aspect of the room. Wool and tartan can feel deep in winter light, while linen and voile bring lightness through the brighter months. A well-planned room need not change its entire textile scheme with the season, but loose cushions and throws can adjust temperature and colour balance.

The scheme around the textiles

English fabrics are at their best when they are allowed to play against wood, rugs, wallpapers and lighting. A tartan can bring warmth to a simple armchair, while a floral curtain can be balanced by a plain upholstery fabric. Think in layers: lead pattern, supporting textile and neutral materials. The room then reads as rich without feeling overloaded.

Where several patterns are used, the focal point should be clear. Let the curtain, the armchair or the headboard carry the main motif, and use smaller patterns on cushions or details. That gives every textile a job to do and keeps the rhythm of the room even when the colour range is generous.

Everyday practicality

Choose textiles that suit how the room is used and maintained. Removable cushion covers, the right lining and an upholstery fabric rated for wear mean that pattern and colour can be used generously without everyday life becoming unnecessarily careful. Good function is an important part of the strength of the English textile tradition.