From breezy curtains to cosy quilts, this week, You! dives into the many ways cotton gives our homes their personality…
interiors
In our homes, cotton resonates with comfort. It’s the sheet that smells of sunshine, the curtain that sways with the breeze, the quilt that makes winter easier. But it is also an integral part of our home interiors. October 7, World Cotton Day, reminds us that this fibre is more than summer lawns and crisp shirts. From the bed you collapse on after a long day to the curtain that softens a room, cotton is stitched into daily life. It’s practical, forgiving and fits as easily in an apartment as in a bungalow. It ages well, can be reused and is gentler on the planet than synthetics. Comfort, culture, and conscience, all in one fabric. From breezy curtains to cosy quilts, this week, You! dives into the many ways cotton gives our homes their personality…
Layers of comfort
Bedsheets are the first thing families buy when setting up a home. And nine times out of ten, they’re cotton. Why? Because polyester is like sleeping in cling wrap. Cotton, on the other hand, breathes with you, absorbs summer sweat and ages into the kind of softness no other fabric can mimic.
Beyond comfort, cotton sheets carry stories. Ajrak-inspired spreads, block prints from Thatta, or grandma’s patchwork quilts stitched from leftover shalwar kameez fabrics, these weren’t just sheets, they were archives of family history. Even in today’s age of Pinterest-perfect rooms, nothing beats the homely chaos of bright floral cotton sheets that make bedrooms feel lived in.
Curtain call
Cotton curtains deserve their own slow-motion movie scene. Thin mulmul panels billowing in the wind are as poetic as interiors get. Cotton curtains don’t just look good; they filter light gently, making afternoons glow instead of glare. And they’re endlessly versatile, off-whites for minimalists, tie-dyes for the bold, embroidered sheers for the ones who want their living room to double as an heirloom display.
Cushion the blow
Cushions are the show-offs of cotton interiors, always stealing attention without even trying. Soft, squishy, and impossible to resist, they bring colour and comfort in equal measure. A single kantha-stitched cover can breathe life into a plain sofa and a few block-printed ones tossed around can make a whole room look intentionally styled, even if everything else is beautifully chaotic. The best part? Cotton cushions and throws embrace wrinkles and fading like badges of honour. A little crumple makes them look inviting, not sloppy. In an era obsessed with ‘lived-in’ aesthetics, cotton has been doing it naturally for centuries.
Table talk
Nothing elevates a lavish food spread like a cotton tablecloth. Whether it’s a floral spread for chai sessions or crisp white runners for Eid dawats, cotton makes every table feel dressed without trying too hard. And when the inevitable qorma spill happens? Straight to the wash, no dry-cleaner needed. From embroidered runners to jamdani-style mats reinvented for modern dining, cotton brings understated sophistication.
Step into cotton
Wool rugs get the limelight but cotton rugs are the unsung heroes of everyday interiors. Hand-woven dhurries with bold stripes or ikat-inspired patterns anchor rooms beautifully without breaking the bank. They’re reversible (so you can flip them when guests are on their way), lightweight and machine-washable. Plus, recycled cotton rugs are popping up everywhere, old fabric scraps reborn as colourful floor art. Sustainable, affordable and forgiving of muddy shoes. That’s a win-win.
Cover me cosy
Winter nights in most homes are incomplete without the legendary cotton razai. Heavy enough to pin you to the bed, yet soft enough to cocoon you like a hug, it’s a winter essential. And no matter how many imported duvets line store shelves, there’s nothing like curling up under a locally stuffed quilt. Even lighter cotton quilts for summers are making a comeback, with hand-block patterns, patchwork charm and reversible designs. They look artisanal but still survive the brutal washing machine cycle.
Storage that stretches
Cotton isn’t confined to soft furnishings. Think cotton baskets, poufs and hammocks. Woven cotton baskets with bold patterns double up as laundry holders or plant homes. Cotton poufs are that extra seat you pull out for unexpected guests, comfy, washable and budget-friendly. Even hammocks, strung in courtyards or balconies, often rely on thick cotton ropes that hold up.
