Wool is a natural fibre that has been used for centuries to make clothing, blankets, and other textiles. It is prized for its warmth, softness, and durability, lending itself well to cold weather during the winter months. In recent years, wool has made a comeback as a popular choice for eco-conscious consumers, both in fashion and home interiors. Explore some of the benefits of this superb fabric below.
What is Wool?
Wool is a natural fibre grown on sheep to form their fleece. The quality of wool varies depending on the breed of sheep, the climate in which the sheep are raised, and how the wool is processed. There are many different types of wool fabrics, each with its own unique properties. Some of the most common types of wool fabrics include tweed, flannel, cashmere, mohair and felt.
Boucle is also typically made from natural fibres like wool. The defining characteristic of boucle is its unique texture created by using yarns with different tensions, resulting in loops and knots that give the fabric a nubby, almost three-dimensional feel. This combination of texture and materiality gives boucle its distinct charm, adding warmth, tactility and visual interest to interior decor.
Wool is a versatile and sustainable fabric that can be used for a variety of purposes. If you are looking for a natural, durable, and comfortable fabric, wool is a great choice.
Benefits of Wool Fabrics
- Warmth: Wool is a natural insulator that helps to keep you warm in cold weather. This is because wool fibres have tiny air pockets that trap heat.
- Breathability: Wool is also breathable, meaning that it allows air to circulate and prevents you from getting too hot. Its fibres can absorb and release moisture, preventing overheating and also helping to keep cool on warmer days.
- Durability: Wool is a strong and durable fibre that can last for many years with proper care. It is also naturally resistant to wrinkles.
- Flame-resistant: Wool is naturally flame-resistant, making it a safe choice for home furnishings and upholstery.
- Biodegradable: Wool is a biodegradable fibre that will break down naturally after it is discarded.
- Softness and comfort: Wool can be incredibly soft and luxurious for added comfort.
- Odour resistance: Unlike synthetic fabrics, wool doesn’t trap bacteria or sweat, which means it resists unpleasant odours.
- Water resistance: Wool fibres have a natural waxy coating that repels water and stains. This makes it a good choice for home furnishings.
A Sustainable Choice
As wool is a natural fibre grown on sheep, it is considered a renewable source. Sheep can be shorn multiple times throughout their lives and wool production does not require the use of harmful chemicals. When it eventually does wear out, wool biodegrades naturally, returning nutrients to the soil. This is much better for the environment than synthetic fabrics, which often end up in landfills.
Fabric Collections
At The Home Of Interiors, we are pleased to offer a beautiful selection of 100% wool, wool mix and faux wool fabrics, suitable for use on a range of soft furnishings from curtains, blinds and cushions to upholstery applications. Discover beautiful designs from luxury fabric houses from Mulberry, Warwick and Jane Churchill to Thibaut and Prestigious Textiles.
100% Wool
If you’re looking for an authentic, 100% wool fabric, Mulberry Home offer a superb selection in their magnificent Wools IV collection. Tonal and tactile in nature, the fabrics offer a curated choice of checks and stripes across time honoured shades, synonymous with our Country charm trend. We particularly love Braemar, Ghillie and Bowmont.
The Festival collection by Mulberry Home also features some stunning wool checks including Bute and Mull. Please get in touch if you would like us to arrange for any samples to be sent out.
Wool Mix
Wool mix fabrics combine the advantages of wool with the strengths of other fibres, creating a hybrid material with even more desirable qualities. Blending wool with some synthetic fibres can help enhance durability, moisture management, wrinkle resistance and / or the fabric’s colour or pattern. Wool mix fabrics can also increase comfort and practicality whilst, depending on the blend’s composition, creating a more affordable and accessible option than pure wool.
If you’d prefer designs with a high percentage of wool content (70% +), Warwick’s plain Amatheon II fabric and Thibaut’s Ravello fabric are beautiful choices. We also love the Morris & Co. Emery Walker’s House Bird Tapestry Fabric for a classic design enriched with heritage and character. For a versatile stripe fabric with low wool content, you may wish to consider the Ian Mankin Bloodstone Stripe Fabric or the Riley fabric from the new Delaney collection by Jane Churchill. To browse the designs, pop into our shop in Brockenhurst and explore the pattern books.
Faux Wool
Faux wool fabrics can offer a versatile and ethical alternative to traditional wool, with compelling advantages in sustainability, practicality, and affordability. With advancements in technology and materials, faux wool is becoming increasingly sophisticated and comfortable, making it a viable choice for conscious consumers who value both ethics and performance.
For something tactile and luxurious resembling wool, you may wish to consider a beautiful plain boucle fabric made from alternative materials. Warwick’s Everest and Andes fabrics from the Boucle collection are beautiful choices, as is the new Kline fabric by Jane Churchill. The Fergus Fabric by Prestigious Textiles is also a great go to, made entirely from polyester.
Rugs
Wool rugs are also a fantastic addition to interior spaces. Those with a 100% wool composition are suitable for high footfall areas of the home, providing some resistance to dirt whist offering a luxurious feel underfoot. They will also retain their appearance for longer in comparison to synthetic rugs and are easy to maintain, requiring moderate vacuuming. If the purpose of the rug is more for decorative, rather than for functional purposes, you may wish to choose a wool mix or synthetic rug material.
When it comes to cost, wool rugs are an investment piece. As a removable, artistic element that can travel from home to home with you, a wool rug provides a durable option that combines aesthetic beauty and function for years to come. We are delighted to offer a wide selection of designs by Sanderson, Morris & Co., Harlequin and Scion, perfect for any room in the home. Shop our full rug range here. For help and advice in choosing the right rug for your requirements, please view our rug buying guide.
Overview
Overall, wool fabrics offer a unique combination of performance, sustainability, and comfort. They’re a great choice for anyone seeking home furnishings that are both stylish and functional.
If you would like any help, advice or fabric / rug samples sending out, please do get in touch. We also stock a range of fabric books in our showroom in Brockenhurst, should you wish to browse our collection. If you would like any help pulling a full room solution together, we do offer a bespoke design service and can provide fabric, design and paint colour advice to help you create a home you love. We can also make up your perfect window dressings with our bespoke, made to measure curtain and roman blind making service.
Email sales@thehomeofinteriors.co.uk or call us on 01590 615775.
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