When someone asks us which fabric to put on the curtains of a hotel, we do not start with colour. We start with the building: what applies for fire, how much sun the room gets and who will be cleaning it. Colour is easy to fix. The rest is not.
Fire comes first
Most hotels need fabric with certified fire performance, either because regulation requires it or because the insurer asks for it. For curtains you will often meet the standard EN 13773, but requirements change by country and by type of property. Ask your engineer before you look at samples, and ask for a certificate that covers the exact fabric and its final finish, not something "similar".
One detail is often missed: in some fabrics the property is built into the fibre, in others it comes from a surface treatment. The second kind can weaken after many washes. If the hotel will clean often, that should shape the choice.
Sun, weight, cleaning
On south-facing windows fabric fades. Ask how well the colour resists light and consider a lining that shields the main fabric. For full darkness you need a blackout fabric or lining.
Weight decides the drape. A heavy fabric falls in calm folds, a light one lets the light through, which is why guest rooms often carry two layers. Check how it is cleaned, too: a lovely fabric that needs special handling becomes a burden for the staff.
Ask for a sample and judge it inside the room. In the catalogue a colour looks different from how it looks beside the wall and the floor. We take care of measuring, sewing in our own workshop, and installation.
Frequently asked questions
Does every hotel fabric need a certificate?
Usually yes, but exactly what is required depends on the country, the type of property and its insurance. Ask your engineer or insurer first.
What fabric for south-facing rooms?
One with good colour fastness to light, ideally with a lining that keeps the sun off the main fabric.
