Home textiles – find manufacturers and suppliers

More comfortable living with home textiles

The private living area only becomes comfortable and cosy when the entire interior design of a room has a calming effect on people. However, this cannot be achieved with furniture alone. A colourful variety is needed to give the room a relaxing atmosphere.

A lively variety that can actually only be achieved with fabrics and textiles. Fabrics and textiles, such as curtains, drapes, carpets, sofa cushions, are home textiles that can also be easily changed in shape and form. Home textiles, with matching colours, give a room pleasant characteristics which have a positive effect on the well-being of the person.

Differentiation between home textiles and household textiles

Home textiles embellish and decorate the home and radiate a touch of pleasant atmosphere. Home textiles are for example:

• duvet covers and pillow cases
• Blankets for bed and sofa
• Curtains
• Carpets
• Textiles for decorative purposes

Household textiles are material accessories that are part of the basic equipment of every household and home furnishings. Typical home textiles are:

• Table and bed linen
• Bedding
• Bed accessories
• Tea towels
• Towels
• Tablecloths

Conceptual differentiation of home textiles

The EU's combined nomenclature describes in its Chapter 63 what home textiles are. This includes material furnishing accessories for interior decoration and interior design. As a rule, home textiles are not subject to import authorisation. However, the exporting country must issue a document stating the type, material and origin. This document is also called a certificate of origin. However, there are exceptions to this rule which apply to some home textiles, such as blankets from Belarus with the commodity code 6301 30 10. These exceptions must be observed by the supplier, the wholesaler and all traders. Exceptions of this kind require an import permit in accordance with footnote 66 of the EU import list.

Home textiles and their materials

Home textiles consist of textile fibres, which are divided into two superordinate groups:

• vegetable and animal fibres
• Man-made fibres

Cotton as a vegetable fibre
Cotton has an old tradition and has been tried and tested many times. Because of its good properties, the natural fibre cotton is used for almost half of all textile goods. The seed hairs of the cotton plant thus also serve as raw material for the production of home textiles.

Advantages                                                                           

• Cotton is hard-wearing and robust. 
• Cotton has a high absorbency and strength.        
• Cotton is very skin-friendly.                                     

Disadvantages

• Cotton shrinks slightly after a few washes.
• Cotton dries slowly.
• Cotton fabrics tend to crease.

Linen
Linen is also a natural fibre from which high-quality home textiles are made. The raw material for linen is obtained from the flax plant. Linen has a higher tensile strength than cotton.

Advantages                                                                             

• Linen is hard-wearing and durable.                          
• Linen has a high absorbency.                                   
• Linen is insensitive to dirt and does not fluff.      

Disadvantages

• Linen has a low heat retention.
• Linen creases strongly.
• Linen has a low elongation.

Polyester as a chemical fibre
The synthetic fibre polyester is mainly obtained from crude oil. It is often processed in combination with other natural and man-made fibres, which also adds up the advantages of the individual fibres.

Advantages

• Polyester is crease-resistant, highly elastic and dimensionally stable.     
• Polyester dries quickly and stores heat well.        
• Polyester is hard-wearing, tear-resistant with high strength.      

Disadvantages

• Polyester absorbs little moisture. (smells).
• Polyester promotes heat accumulation.
• Polyester is not very sustainable and not environmentally friendly.

Conclusion

Home textiles tastefully and imaginatively combined, favour a relaxing atmosphere. Contrasts in matching colours have a beneficial effect on people.