Why the Softest Rooms Are Often the Hardest to Specify

Interior design has moved away from flat, over-polished spaces. The best rooms now feel layered, tactile and lived-in: soft bouclés, brushed wools, slubby linens, chenilles, velvets, textured plains, woven stripes and warm natural palettes.

For designers, this is where fabric becomes more than a finishing touch. It sets the tone of the whole room.

But the more important a fabric becomes to the feeling of a space, the more painful it is when the practical side catches up with it.

A beautiful cloth might look perfect on the sample board. It might have the right depth, the right texture, the right hand. Then the question comes:

Will it meet the required fire standard?

That question is not glamorous, but in hospitality, contract, marine, healthcare, workplace and public interiors, it can decide whether a scheme moves forward smoothly or gets delayed at the point everyone assumed the fabric choice was already settled.

Performance is part of the design now

For years, “performance fabric” sounded like something practical but uninspiring. It suggested wipe-clean surfaces, stiff handles, limited colours and fabrics chosen because they worked, not because anyone loved them.

That has changed.

Today’s interiors ask more from textiles. A hotel banquette has to look warm and inviting, but it also has to withstand use. A restaurant chair has to support the palette of the room, but it also has to be suitable for the environment. A cruise, yacht or marine interior may need comfort and atmosphere while working to standards such as IMO.

Curtains, drapes and soft furnishings may need to meet standards such as BS 5867. Upholstery may need EN 1021 Part 1 and Part 2, or BS 5852 Crib 5, depending on where and how the furniture is being used.

This is why fabric specification has become more interesting, not less.

The best choices are no longer just “beautiful” or “compliant”. They need to be both.

What designers actually need to know about fire standards

For domestic upholstery, the conversation is usually cigarette and match. If the fabric is over 75% natural fibre, there may be a route using a Schedule 3 interliner, depending on the construction and final use. If it is more synthetic, it will usually need FR treatment.

For contract upholstery hotels, restaurants, offices, bars, care settings and public spaces the conversation usually moves up to Crib 5. That is where the fabric, filling and build-up need to work together. A fabric might look heavy, textured or “contract”, but that does not automatically mean it will meet the standard and automatically be compliant.

For European upholstery specifications, you may see EN 1021 Part 1 and Part 2. In simple terms, this is the cigarette and match route used to assess how upholstered furniture responds to common ignition sources.

For curtains and drapery in contract spaces, the key standard is usually BS 5867. Curtains are often a bigger risk than people realise because they hang vertically, can cover large areas and are often placed near lighting, heating or busy public environments.

For marine interiors cruise, yacht and offshore work the requirement may be IMO

FTP Code Part 8, particularly for upholstered furniture.

The important thing is this: FR is not one finish and one standard. A restaurant chair, a domestic sofa, a hotel curtain and a marine banquette are not asking the same question.

That is why the best time to talk about FR is before the fabric is committed, not after the client has already fallen in love with it.

Good FR treatment should protect the fabric, not fight it

The old assumption is that fire retardant treatment means making a fabric heavier, stiffer or less refined.

Sometimes a stronger route is genuinely needed. Some fibres, constructions and end uses require more work than others. But the best approach is not to automatically throw the heaviest possible treatment at every cloth.

Good FR treatment is more considered than that.

A delicate linen does not behave like a polyester velvet. A bouclé does not behave like a flat weave. A wool-rich cloth does not behave like acrylic, nylon or polypropylene. Open constructions, pile fabrics, textured weaves and coated materials all need to be looked at differently.

The aim should be simple: get the fabric to the correct standard while preserving as much of its original character as possible.

That means protecting the handle, the drape, the face, the colour, the softness and the reason the designer chose it in the first place.

Because in a design-led interior, killing the fabric is not a small compromise. It changes the room.

Where TEK fits in

At TEK, we treat fabrics for a wide range of fire standards, including upholstery, curtain, contract and marine requirements. But our approach is not to default to the heaviest possible finish.

We look at the fabric first: its composition, construction, end use and the standard it needs to meet. Then we recommend the most suitable route, with the aim of achieving compliance while preserving the softness, handle and appearance wherever possible.

For designers, specifiers, upholsterers and fabric houses, that means one simple thing:

You do not have to choose between a beautiful fabric and a compliant one.

If you are working with a fabric that needs FR treatment, send us the composition, intended end use and required standard. We can advise the most appropriate route before the project gets too far down the line.

Email: charlie@tekhygiene.com

Interior Design Trends 2026: Warmer Spaces, Richer Fabrics and More Personality

Interior design is moving into a more expressive era.

After years of cool greys, stripped-back minimalism and overly safe interiors, designers are leaning into warmth, texture, pattern and personality. The most exciting interiors now feel layered, tactile and collected. They are not trying to look perfect. They are trying to feel memorable.

Across luxury residential projects, boutique hotels, restaurants, members’ clubs and hospitality interiors, the focus is shifting towards atmosphere. A room no longer just needs to photograph well. It needs to feel inviting, comfortable and full of character.

At the centre of this shift is fabric.

Curtains, upholstery, wallcoverings, velvets, linens, bouclés, chenilles and decorative weaves are becoming more important than ever. Fabric is not just a finishing touch. In many schemes, it is the element that brings the whole interior to life.

Warm Colour Palettes Are Replacing Cold Minimalism

One of the clearest interior design trends is the move towards warmer, earthier colour palettes.

Chocolate, olive, rust, terracotta, caramel, ochre, clay and warm taupe are replacing the cooler neutrals that dominated for so long. These colours create a richer and more comfortable atmosphere, especially in restaurants, hotels and hospitality spaces where mood is everything.

The new neutral is not flat or cold. It is layered, soft and full of depth. Beige is still here, but it is being used in a much more sophisticated way, paired with natural woods, textured fabrics, aged metals, stone and warm lighting.

Texture Is the New Luxury

Texture has become one of the biggest signals of quality in modern interiors.

A simple room can feel incredibly high-end when the materials are right. Heavy linen, cotton velvet, wool blends, bouclé, chenille, jacquard, embroidery and woven wallcoverings all bring depth and softness to a space.

This is why fabric specification has become so important. Designers are no longer choosing fabrics purely by colour. They are thinking about handle, weight, drape, construction, durability and how the fabric will perform in the finished scheme.

A beautifully textured fabric can make a space feel warm, expensive and considered without needing to shout.

Pattern Is Back, But More Grown-Up

Pattern is returning in a confident but more refined way.

Instead of one feature cushion or a single patterned chair, designers are using pattern

more boldly across upholstery, curtains, walling, banquettes and decorative panels. Stripes, florals, embroideries, jacquards and statement weaves are helping interiors feel more individual and less formulaic.

This is especially powerful in hospitality interiors. A patterned banquette, dramatic curtain or upholstered wall can become part of the identity of a restaurant or hotel. It gives people something to remember.

The best patterned interiors still feel balanced. The key is layering pattern with texture, colour and good lighting so the room feels rich rather than chaotic.

Indoor and Outdoor Living Are Blending

The boundary between indoor and outdoor design continues to soften.

Garden rooms, terraces, conservatories, outdoor dining spaces and semi-outdoor hospitality areas are becoming more considered. These spaces are no longer treated as secondary. They are being designed with the same level of detail as the main interior.

This has increased demand for indoor and outdoor fabrics, performance upholstery, waterproof finishes, outdoor cushions and textiles that can cope with more demanding environments while still looking beautiful.

The challenge is that performance fabrics still need to feel luxurious. Designers want practical materials, but not at the expense of softness, colour or visual quality.

Heritage Details Are Being Reworked

Traditional interiors are also making a return, but in a fresher way.

Pleated curtains, skirted furniture, antique-inspired shapes, richer woods, decorative trims, stripes and classic upholstery details are being reworked for modern interiors. The result is not old-fashioned. It feels warmer, more comfortable and more personal.

This trend reflects a wider desire for interiors that feel permanent. Clients want spaces that look as though they have been built over time, not pulled from a single mood board.

The Best Interiors Feel Personal

Perhaps the biggest change is that interiors are becoming less generic.

People want spaces with identity. They want rooms that feel human, layered and full of atmosphere. This is true in private homes, but also in hospitality, where guests increasingly

remember how a space made them feel.

Fabric plays a huge role in this. The right upholstery, curtain or walling fabric can soften architecture, add warmth, improve acoustics and create a sense of intimacy.

In a world full of clean digital images, tactile interiors feel more important than ever.

A Practical Note on Fabric Compliance

As fabric becomes more central to interior design, the technical side matters too.

For UK commercial interiors, hospitality projects, restaurants, hotels, contract furniture, curtains, wallcoverings and upholstered seating, fabrics may need to meet specific fire retardant standards depending on their final end use.

Common requirements can include BS 5852 and Crib 5 for upholstery, EN 1021 cigarette and match testing, BS 5867 Part 2 Type B for curtains and drapery, EN 13773 for certain drapery applications, and EN 13501 for wallcoverings or surface applications.

This is where specialist FR finishing, flame retardant fabric treatment, Crib 5 treatment, curtain FR treatment, upholstery FR treatment, soil and stain protection, waterproof textile finishing and PFAS-free fabric protection can become an important part of the specification process.

Some fabrics are straightforward. Others, such as open weaves, acrylics, polypropylenes, velvets, silks, linens, bouclés, chenilles and embroidered fabrics, need more careful review to protect the appearance, handle and performance of the material.

If you are unsure what standard applies, whether a fabric can be treated, or which route is best for a UK commercial or hospitality project, at TEK were always happy to offer free advice before you commit to a specification.

Fire Retardant Treatments in 2026: Compliance Without Compromise

In today’s contract and hospitality market, fire compliance is no longer the only consideration when selecting a flame retardant treatment.

Designers and manufacturers are increasingly balancing:

• Fire performance for standards like (BS 5852/ BS 5867)

• Fabric handle and feel

• Environmental impact

• Longevity and durability

The conversation has shifted from simply “Does it pass?” to:

“How does it pass and what does that mean for the fabric?”

There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Solution

Not all upholstery fabrics behave the same way under fire testing.

A tight polyester blend performs very differently from an open weave linen.Acrylic-rich fabrics require a different treatment route compared to natural fibres such as cotton or viscose.

The most effective flame retardant treatment is always led by fibre composition and construction.

Some fabrics respond better to wet process flame retardant treatments or specialist backcoating that preserve softness while achieving standards like BS 5852 compliance.

Some flammable compositions can require multi finishes to pass difficult standards.

Making a fabric pass like BS 5852 Crib 5 is about accuracy, not excess. The treatment must be applied correctly and thoroughly, but controlled carefully so the fabric retains its intended handle and character.

Fire compliance should never be left to guesswork.

If you are working on a UK contract, hospitality or high-end residential project and need a composition-led approach to flame retardant treatment, seek specialist guidance early in the process.

It makes the difference between simply passing and passing properly.

if you have any questions about any standards or the best treatment routes please email info@tekhygiene.com

charlie@tekhygiene.com