Linen for bedding, curtains and table linen is chosen mainly by weight and finish, not by colour. Bedding wants a mid to heavier weight with a soft, washed finish; curtains want a heavier weight that hangs in straight folds; table linen wants a tighter, more durable weave that survives washing. Get those three right and the rest of the specification follows easily.
Bedding
- Weight. Mid to heavier linen feels more substantial and wears longer under washing; very light linen can feel thin on a bed.
- Finish. A washed or softened finish is the norm — it removes the initial stiffness and takes out some of the first-wash change.
- Colour. Natural, off-white and garment-washed tones are the core of the market; darker shades need more care in washing.
Curtains
- Weight and body. Curtains need enough weight to hang in straight vertical folds; heavier linen drapes better and blocks more light.
- Width matters most here. Curtain panels are wide and long, so a wider fabric means fewer joins and a cleaner drop. Confirm the actual usable width before you plan the panels.
- Linings. Many programmes line linen curtains, for blackout and for protection from sunlight.
Table linen
- Weave. A tighter weave wears better against repeated washing and ironing than a loose one.
- Weight. Heavier linen lies flatter on the table and needs less pressing.
- Colourfastness. Table linen is washed often, so colourfastness figures matter more here than in any other home-textile use.
One decision to make before you cut: pre-shrunk or natural
Linen shrinks, mostly on the first wash. A pre-shrunk finish takes most of that change out before the fabric reaches you, which matters for anything cut to a fixed size — a fitted sheet, a hemmed curtain, a cut-length table runner. Confirm the finish at the sampling stage, not after cutting.
Home textile at JT
Linen home textile is one of our four collections, supplied by the bolt to wholesalers and importers. Tell us the product — bedding, curtains or table linen — along with the weight, the width and the colour, and we will match it to a stock construction or develop one for your programme. See our linen home-textile collection.