Lesson 6: Fabric and textile descriptions

Okay, fabrics are where spaces go from “nice” to “I want to live here.” And here’s what I love: AI is really good at rendering textiles. The way it captures the drape of linen, the plushness of velvet, the nubby texture of boucle—it’s impressive.

But you have to know how to ask for it.

The Major Fabric Categories AI Knows:

Luxury Fabrics (for upholstery and drapery):

• Velvet – Rich, light-catching, dimensional pile
• Linen – Natural, slightly textured, casual elegance
• Silk – Lustrous, smooth, formal
• Leather – Can be smooth or distressed
• Mohair – Fuzzy, luxurious, vintage vibes
• Boucle – Nubby looped texture, very on-trend
• Chenille – Soft, plush, inviting
• Suede – Matte, soft, sophisticated

Casual/Everyday Fabrics:

• Cotton – Clean, crisp, versatile
• Canvas – Sturdy, utilitarian
• Denim – Casual, durable
• Twill – Subtle diagonal weave
• Muslin – Simple, natural

Textured/Statement Fabrics:

• Bouclé (yes, it gets its own mention because it’s everywhere right now)
• Corduroy – Ribbed texture, vintage appeal
• Tweed – Nubby, pattern-rich
• Jacquard – Woven patterns
• Damask – Formal patterns
• Brocade – Ornate, raised patterns

Natural Textiles:

• Jute – Rustic, woven
• Sisal – Similar to jute, natural fiber
• Seagrass – Coastal, organic
• Wool – Can be smooth or textured
• Linen-cotton blend – Best of both worlds

Why fabric descriptions matter:

“Sofa” – You’ll get something generic “Linen sofa” – Now it looks expensive and relaxed “Cream linen sofa with textured weave” – Now it looks like it belongs in a design magazine

AI uses fabric names to determine:

• Texture and how light hits the surface
• Formality level of the space
• Color saturation (silk reads shinier, linen reads matte)
• How the fabric drapes or sits

Texture descriptors that amplify your fabric choices:

• Textured – Adds dimension
• Smooth – Polished, refined
• Nubby – Interesting surface
• Plush – Inviting, luxurious
• Crisp – Clean, structured
• Soft – Touchable, cozy
• Woven – Visible texture
• Chunky – Bold texture (great for knits)
• Fine – Delicate, refined

Combining fabric + texture:

“Velvet sofa” → “Soft velvet sofa” (emphasizes that plush quality) “Linen curtains” → “Textured linen curtains” (makes them less flat) “Leather chair” → “Smooth leather chair” vs. “Distressed leather chair” (totally different looks)

Fabric patterns and weaves:

You can get specific about patterns:

• Herringbone pattern
• Twill weave
• Waffle weave
• Basketweave
• Ribbed texture
• Cable knit (for throws)
• Quilted

“Linen sofa” vs. “Herringbone linen sofa” – The second one has more visual interest and feels more considered.

Color + Fabric = Magic

The combo of these two is where things get really specific:

“Grey sofa” – Boring “Grey velvet sofa” – Getting better “Charcoal grey velvet sofa” – Now we’re talking “Deep charcoal grey velvet sofa with a subtle sheen” – Perfect, I can see it

More examples:

• “Cream boucle accent chair”
• “Rust-colored linen curtains”
• “Ivory silk drapes”
• “Camel leather sofa”
• “Navy blue velvet dining chairs”
• “Oatmeal linen bedding”

See how the color becomes more specific when paired with the right fabric? “Blue” is vague. “Navy blue velvet” is a design decision.

Fabric applications in different room elements:

For Upholstery:

• “Cream boucle sofa”
• “Charcoal linen sectional”
• “Cognac leather armchair”
• “Sage green velvet ottoman”
• “Natural linen dining chairs”

For Window Treatments:

• “Sheer white linen curtains”
• “Flowing silk drapes”
• “Heavy velvet curtains”
• “Natural linen roman shades”

For Bedding:

• “Textured linen bedding”
• “White cotton duvet”
• “Quilted coverlet”
• “Silk pillowcases”
• “Chunky knit throw”

For Rugs:

• “Jute area rug”
• “Wool flatweave rug”
• “Plush wool pile rug”
• “Sisal rug”
• “Persian wool rug”

Style-specific fabric combinations:

Scandinavian/Minimal: “Natural linen sofa, chunky knit throw, light grey wool rug”

Mid-Century Modern: “Cognac leather lounge chair, textured wool upholstery, simple linen curtains”

Bohemian: “Layered textiles, velvet pillows, macramé wall hanging, jute rug”

Coastal: “White linen slipcover sofa, natural jute rug, sheer cotton curtains”

Luxury/Traditional: “Silk velvet sofa, damask curtains, Persian wool rug”

Modern Farmhouse: “Linen upholstery, cotton throws, textured neutrals”

How to layer fabrics in your prompts:

This is advanced but so effective. Real rooms have multiple textile layers, and your prompts should too:

Basic: “Modern living room with grey sofa”

Layered: “Modern living room with charcoal linen sofa, cream boucle accent chair, chunky knit throw pillows, jute area rug”

See how the layering creates depth? Each fabric has a different texture, which is exactly what makes real spaces feel rich.

Fabric weight matters:

Sometimes specifying weight helps AI understand drape and presence:

• “Heavy linen curtains” – They’ll look more substantial
• “Light silk drapes” – They’ll look more flowing
• “Thick wool rug” – Adds depth
• “Sheer cotton” – Gives that airy feeling

Pattern on fabric (use carefully):

You can request patterns, but be specific:

• “Striped linen pillow”
• “Floral velvet chair”
• “Geometric pattern throw”
• “Ikat print cushions”
• “Suzani embroidered pillow”

But here’s my warning: Too many patterned fabric descriptions and your space gets busy. If you want patterns, mention one or two specifically and keep everything else solid.

Vintage and specialty fabric descriptors:

• “Faded” – Gives that worn-in, loved look
• “Vintage” – Adds character
• “Handwoven” – Artisanal quality
• “Block-printed” – Specific craft technique
• “Hand-dyed” – Unique, organic color variation
• “Belgian linen” – Particularly luxe association
• “Italian leather” – Quality cue

Mistakes I see with fabric descriptions:

❌ “Soft fabric” – What kind of soft? Velvet soft? Linen soft? ❌ “Nice texture” – Too vague ❌ “Expensive-looking sofa” – Say what makes it look expensive (the velvet, the leather, etc.) ❌ Too many fabrics competing: “Velvet sofa, silk curtains, brocade pillows, damask rug” – Unless you’re going maximalist, this is chaos

✅ “Velvet sofa” ✅ “Textured linen” ✅ “Smooth leather chair” ✅ “Layered neutral textiles”

The touch test:

When describing fabrics, I imagine: If someone walked into this room, what would they want to touch? That tactile quality should come through in your words.

“Plush velvet” makes you want to sink in “Crisp linen” sounds fresh and inviting “Buttery leather” sounds luxurious “Chunky knit” looks cozy

My go-to fabric formulas:

For modern elegance: Linen + leather + wool “Cream linen sofa, cognac leather chair, charcoal wool rug”

For cozy warmth: Boucle + velvet + knits “Ivory boucle chair, rust velvet pillows, chunky knit throw”

For casual sophistication: Linen + cotton + jute “Natural linen curtains, white cotton bedding, jute area rug”

For maximum luxury: Velvet + silk + fine wool “Navy velvet sofa, silk drapes, Persian wool rug”

Pro tip for pillows and throws:

These are your texture playground. Even if your main furniture is simple, you can add richness with: “White linen sofa with textured throw pillows in boucle, velvet, and linen”

That one line tells AI to add visual and tactile variety without overwhelming the space.

Real-world example from my work:

Client wanted a primary bedroom that felt like a boutique hotel—luxurious but not stuffy.

My fabric description in the prompt: “Ivory linen upholstered bed, layered bedding in soft white linen and cotton, velvet throw pillows in sage and cream, chunky knit throw at foot of bed, natural jute rug”

Result: The AI gave me this gorgeous, textured space where you could almost feel the fabrics. The linen looked relaxed, the velvet added richness, the knit gave it warmth, and the jute grounded it.

Without those specific fabric callouts? It would’ve looked flat and generic.

The exercise:

Find three interior photos you love. List every fabric you see. Not just “pillow”, what’s the pillow made of? Practice identifying linen vs. cotton vs. velvet just by looking. Once you train your eye, your prompts will transform.

Remember: In the physical world, we experience rooms through touch as much as sight. Your fabric descriptions are how you translate that tactile quality into AI-generated images. Don’t skip this part.

Next up, let’s talk about the hard stuff, literally. Time for metals and stone…