Choosing a fabric pattern isn’t just about keeping up with trends, it’s also an important part of expressing your personality and style in your home.
And jacquard designs can be a brilliant way to do this.
The term indicates how the pattern is woven, not the specific pattern itself. Named after its French inventor, Joseph Marie Jacquard, the jacquard loom weaves almost any type of fabric, from luxurious silks to simple cottons.
It creates raised motifs in the material, making the patterns an integral part of the fabric itself, not decorative components added later.
Cosy: Casablanca jacquard bedding from M&S, from £69. Jacquard looms can weave almost any type of fabric, from luxurious silks to simple cottons
Jacquard fabrics are increasingly appearing in collections and come in a range of designs, from dramatic damask damasks to florals, stripes, chevrons and geometric patterns.
“This technique creates unique textured surfaces and luxurious connotations,” says Chloe Beharrell, a London-based graphic designer.
‘It can be used in a variety of interior styles, from elegant sofas and chairs and upholstered cushions to intricately patterned bedspreads and bedding.
“You can use jacquard fabrics to mix graphic patterns with textures — or just use texture.”
An important feature for busy households is that woven fabric does not wrinkle, making it ideal for a tidy chair or cushions.
From Africa
The M&S X Fired Earth collaboration includes bedding, cushions, throws and towels, where patterns are brought to life through washed cotton, faded jacquards and hand-worked embroidery.
Made from a pure cotton jacquard, the duvet covers and pillowcases from the Casablanca collection (from £69, marksandspencer.com) are inspired by the colors and designs of the Moroccan coastal city.
Karen Thomas, head of home design at M&S, says: ‘Jacquard woven fabrics are a great way to add texture and can be casual or luxe to suit any home style.
‘We used a modern, geometric pattern, inspired by archived Fired Earth tile designs, to create a relaxed, contemporary look.
“We’ve also incorporated a palette of muted, earthy tones on pure cotton for a casual aesthetic, while added details like wooden buttons take the design to the next level.”
Dunelm has a striking black and white zebra jacquard bedding range that will reinforce your commitment to the wild side (from £40, dunelm.com).
Striking geometric designs add texture to your living room. The Santa Rosa cushion, also from Dunelm, will do the trick in blue or red (£18, dunelm.com).
Bright and beautiful
Such age-old techniques are worth shouting about, so you might prefer to opt for the boldest colors you can find.
Flowers: Oliver Bonas plaids offer a quick solution for living rooms
Brighten up your dining room with mismatched colorful chairs in blue, orange, pink or green jacquard weave upholstery (now £298, anthropologie.com).
If you’re looking for a quick fix in your living room, try Oliver Bonas’s Cecilia Floral Red Jacquard Throw, inset right, which has been reduced from £39.50 to £27.50 (oliverbonas.com).
To brighten up a tired bathroom, check out the Dunelm Collection in collaboration with the Natural History Museum to find towels in peacock colors featuring floating sea corals (from £10, dunelm.com).
Dunelm has a great selection of jacquard cushions – try the Budapest Midnight Herbal Print which combines rich ocher and terracotta tones with bold navy hues (£20, dunelm).
Scandinavian look
If you prefer the Scandinavian white vibe, you can still use jacquard fabrics.
Designs in a new collection for French brand Les Composantes offers a fresh look with plain cushions featuring a subtle raised floral pattern in ecru (from £75, sezane.com).
You can also opt for white bedding with a delicate criss-cross pattern from John Lewis (from £12.80, johnlewis.com), or the Matelasse jacquard bedding with a woven leaf trace (from £70, next.co.uk).
Try the ivory Calantha jacquard curtain with a clean chevron print and fringe (from £98, anthropologie.com) to frame your windows.
In the garden
There is a demand for outdoor upholstery and jacquard fabrics can be used just as well in the garden.
The Liberty Garden collection offers a range of outdoor fabrics for cushions and light upholstery for inspiration.
The Chilean Palm in pewter, woven in Italy, adds a touch of metal to your design. The overlapping palm fronds create a lush jungle canopy (£182 per metre, libertylondon.com).
Developed from an archive silk jacquard, Liberty’s eye-catching Palazzo Westbrook in lacquer or aqua will brighten up your outdoor space (£112 per metre).
For High Street ready-made cushions, Habitat’s Streetwize design features a bold green and white print – and you get four for £40 (habitat.co.uk).