Trends in sheers

Digitally printed sheer draperies can bring the outdoors in, infusing an interior with the ethereal romance of florals like Magnolia Grandiflora Sheer or Mizu Garden, a nod to the tropics with Palmery or Nightbird Symphony, or tie into the native foliage with Eucalypt or Atrium.

Alternatively, abstract designs such as Ronde or Highline invite soft washes of colour into spaces when unlined or appear in decorative shades when paired with a lining, adding interest and completing a cohesive interior scheme.  

Textiles showcasing imperfect, wabi-sabi qualities are increasingly luxurious in a time of technologically advanced, computer operated looms and flawless textiles. As the world around us continues to feel environmentally and politically unstable, people are seeking the comfort of the handmade through loosely woven sheers and fil coupé details.

Textured sheers are the perfect accompaniment to the warmly spiced neutrals and earthy green shades prominent in our colour trend forecast. Whether you prefer open constructions in polyester or natural linen, Kensho, O’Keeffe, and Tennessee Tussah will create depth and interest in contemporary or rustic schemes, and our love affair with tactility has moved beyond the bouclé of Totto to embrace the fil coupé details of Quadrata and Scandi.

Innovations in textile fibres and our continuing climate change have led to the development of indoor-outdoor sheers. Woven in solution dyed acrylic and replicating the natural aesthetic and softness of pure linen, outdoor sheer draperies are as well suited to your alfresco areas as they are to interior spaces with high UV exposure.

Woven in a soft palette of melange yarns, Sardinia and Salento are UV resilient, bleach cleanable, salt, mould, and stain resistant and woven continuously for seamless application.

Textile looms now allow draperies to be woven up to 350cm wide, reducing the need to join seams and creating ‘continuous draperies’ which take nothing away from the ambiance of a space and the vistas beyond the frame.

Wide-width sheers such as Enso, Uru, Natura Recycled, and Beauvoir are woven at 300cm wide, whilst James Dunlop’s innovative Panoramic collection of 350cm extra-wide sheers is woven in Turkey and expertly developed to take architectural homes or commercial spaces with panoramic vistas to the next level.

At a time of continued uncertainty worldwide, the desire to fill our interiors with optimistic colours remains strong. Bright yellows are making their way into our homes not only in rich velvets, but also through a softer, whimsical approach in sheers.

Beech, Laconia Air, and Gouache offer delicate shades of pink, yellow, and blue which bring the romance of sheers as well as a warm touch of colour. Darker sheers not only filter light but also give the illusion of disappearing at the window, thus appearing less obvious than lighter colourways; Kanso Stonewash, Kumo Recycled, and Cavalier in earthen shades from green tea to moss bring the calming sense of nature into a space.

The organic, open weave aesthetic of linen sheers produces an elegant look with a delicate handle; however, expectations need to be agile when working with natural fibres as there is a greater discrepancy in the fabric and they are often less hard wearing. When using linen sheers for sun filtering purposes, it is crucial to be aware that they will fade and break down over time due to the exposure to UV rays and the natural decomposition of organic matter.

The beauty of a polyester or polyester blend product is the ability to harness the look of a linen sheer whilst ensuring stability in the fibre and decreasing the speed of fading, as they are durable and colourfast. Linen-look sheers are a cost-effective alternative that looks equally as beautiful and is easier to care for in the long term, because the fibres have greater resistance to UV degradation.