Let It Come to Life

Linen can be used in just about every room in your home—as furniture fabric, upholstery, or as “linens” for the bedroom or dining room. For a beach bungalow, lightweight linen curtains look breezier when unlined. Heavier weight-lined and underlined linen drapery befit a more formal living space. Phillip Thomas, founder and principal of Phillip Thomas Inc. in New York City, often uses a heavy flannel as lining when he wants to give panels more structure.

Hildebrand loves to use linen for roman shades in window treatments. “Sometimes we select solid neutrals for a shade, and other times we mix it up with a patterned linen. In both scenarios, the soft organic feel of the fabric has a beautiful effect,” she says.

As upholstery for furniture, linen can be rendered in myriad ways. Sofas can be tightly upholstered or swathed in loose covers for a more casual and versatile look, McLaren says. Slipcovers are a smart choice for high traffic seating because they can be easily switched out and laundered. Linen also partners well with other fabrics. “Linen upholstery with leather piping is always a smart combination,” McLaren says.

In the bedroom, linen is perfect for headboards and bed bases. “It’s absorbent and breathable, which makes it naturally hypoallergenic, so it’s ideal to use in bedrooms and particularly for bedding,” McLaren says. She also uses embroidered antique linen sheets as throws for sofas and embroidered linen for window blinds. “Vintage linen sacks can be reused for upholstery and cushions and mixed with other fabrics for a totally unique look,” McLaren adds.

And instead of the often-used grasscloth wallpaper, try a linen option. “It really warms up spaces by softening walls that might otherwise feel stark with paint,” Clark says.

Consider the Fabrication

“Linen is available in a wide variety of textures and patterns that open up the opportunity for dynamic and creative interiors,” Thomas says. The beauty of it is it can be integrated into both formal structured furnishings as well as more relaxed, informal furnishings, he says.

Trick suggests using washed linens for slipcovered pieces wanting soft and imperfect textures. “Expect cushion covers to grow a bit over time; flip often and fluff feather inserts,” he says. He also loves linen velvets for upholstery, which he says can be formal or relaxed. “I love that they come from the mill already having a gorgeous patina that just gets better with age. Linen velvet ‘wears in’ and doesn’t wear out like cottons and synthetics. The more you live on it, the signs of use just add a layer of authenticity that you don’t get with some other velvets,” Trick says.

As a breathable fiber, it’s cool in the summer and warm in winter, McLaren says. For cooler months she suggests layering it with other materials such as wools, cashmeres, and faux fur for a cozier vibe. “In summer, floaty unlined white linen at open windows and loose linen couch covers in paler, more summery colors” are ideal, she says.

Miami-based designer Constanza Collarte of Collarte Interiors considers linen a go-to fabric because she’s able to use it year-round. “I tend to favor laundered or washed versions—in fact, the more wrinkled and casual looking, the better for that lived-in look,” she says. “It’s organic and adds a ton of texture to any room and it takes on color beautifully in more muted tones.”