Linens Design Ideas

The word linen has its origin from a generic word 'linium'. One of the world's oldest fabrics, linen is manufactured from the fibres of the flax plant, which is a completely natural resource. Linen as a textile has a history that goes back many thousands of years. Fragments of straw, seeds, fibres, yarn, and fabric some 8000 B.C.E. ago have been found in Swiss lake dwellings. Plutarch writes about the reason behind the use of the flax plant; having blue coloured flowers, in the making of the cloth by Egyptians, meant that "the universe itself is surrounded with the ethereal blue of the sky."

Linen is an excellent filter and it protects against chemically reactive mediums. It greatly reduces the gamma radiations almost to half, resulting in the protection of human beings against solar radiations. Linen is extremely hygroscopic, as it is capable to quickly absorb and give up moisture. Before giving 'wet' feeling, linen cloth can absorb as much as 20% of its dry weight.

It is medically proven that linen lessens bacteriological properties. As it is resistant to fungus and bacteria, it is found to be an effective barrier to some diseases. It is also effective in the treatment of allergies, and helps in inflammatory conditions and in the treatment of some neurological diseases. According to medical studies, it helps to get rid of several skin diseases, from bedsores and ordinary rashes to chronic eczema.

Linen possesses high air permeability and heat conductivity properties. Linen cloth does not accumulate static electricity. It conducts heat five times more than wool and nineteen times more than silk. In hot weather, it is found to reduce the skin temperature three degrees Celsius more than other fabrics. According to some studies, it effectively reduces the perspiration rate of a person 1.5 times more than cotton clothes, and twice more than viscose clothes. Meanwhile, in cold weather, linen works inversely and retains warmth perfectly.

In ancient Egypt, linen was used as currency. Due to the strength of linen, paper made of it is generally very strong; due to this reason the United States and many other countries use 25% linen in their currency.

Linen is composed of flax, thus possesses the quality of being resistant to rot. Mummies of Egyptian Pharaohs preserved to the present day are wrapped in the finest linen shrouds, found in Pyramids dating back to more than 5,000 B.C. Moreover, Egyptian priests wore linen, which symbolised purity and truth.

Another important fact associated with linen is that one of the most renowned manuscripts, 'The Linen Book' by ancient Etruscans, was written on linen in the 7th century B.C. Moreover, Liber Linteus is the only surviving book made from linen.

Linen fabric is one of the preferred conventional supports for oil paintings. In Europe it is the only fabric support available in art shops. Linen is preferred to cotton for its strength, which is 2 to 3 times more than cotton, durability and archival integrity. In ancient times, it was also used as canvas in painting.

Nothing changes the look of a bedroom, dining room, or even a bathroom faster than a fresh set of linens. These have become popular components of any home decorating project because they are fun and easy to mix and match to give the entire home a different look.

Today, there are lots of designs for linens that can be coordinated with other home decor. Many designers have created their own design lines that mix floral with geometrics and stripes, which is why a lot of homeowners nowadays are enticed to have one design for their bathroom, dining room, and bathroom.

How to Choose Quality Linens

With the many options available for linens today, finding high-quality linens can be a daunting task. However, there is one big factor that can help you when choosing quality linens: the thread count of the fabric.