Acoustic Drapery Fabrics
Heavyweight wools, velvets, and Trevira CS weaves engineered for sound absorption — NRC 0.40–0.75 in correctly specified systems.
What is this fabric?
Acoustic drapery fabrics are heavyweight, dense, or velvet-piled cloths chosen for their absorption coefficient rather than their visual character. The studio specifies acoustic cloth in three categories: dense wool flannels and wool-blend weaves; mohair and silk velvets; and engineered Trevira CS acoustic weaves used in commercial hospitality.
The cloth alone does not produce acoustic performance. The full system — heavyweight face cloth, dedicated acoustic interlining, 2.5x to 3x fullness, ceiling-mounted track, and panel coverage of the entire wall rather than the opening — is what delivers the NRC rating.
Light control
Heavyweight wools and velvets are functionally opaque; many double as room-darkening or blackout layers.
Privacy
Fully opaque day and night.
Acoustics
The defining specification. NRC 0.40–0.75 depending on cloth weight, interlining, and install.
UV protection
High — heavyweight cloth blocks both visible light and UV when drawn.
Durability
15–25 years for wool flannels; 10–15 years for velvet on high-cycle openings.
Appearance
Rich, light-absorbing, and substantial. Reads as architectural cloth, not as ornament.
Motorization
Fully compatible — but specify motor capacity for the loaded panel weight, not the bare cloth weight.
Maintenance
Vacuum quarterly. Dry-clean every 4–6 years. Brush velvet pile in the direction of drape after cleaning.
- Home theaters and screening rooms
- Nurseries and children's bedrooms
- Restaurants and private clubs
- Open-plan great rooms with reverberant hard finishes
- Hospitality lobbies and meeting suites
- NRC 0.40–0.75 in correctly specified systems
- Doubles as visual and acoustic intervention with one specification
- Pairs naturally with motorization and scene control
- Available in residential-luxury and commercial-grade expressions
- Heavyweight cloth requires upgraded hardware and motor capacity
- Velvet and mohair show wear at the fold over time on high-cycle openings
- Specify the system, not the cloth — interlining and install carry equal weight
- Run panels wall-to-wall rather than opening-to-opening for measurable NRC
- Pair with acoustic ceiling treatment when the room requires below RT60 0.6 seconds
Questions homeowners ask about Acoustic
- Will acoustic drapery actually quiet a room?
- Yes, when specified as a system. A correctly built acoustic drapery program reduces RT60 reverberation time by 30–60% in residential great rooms and theaters.
- What is NRC?
- Noise Reduction Coefficient — a 0 to 1 scale of sound absorption averaged across speech frequencies. Standard drapery rates 0.10–0.20; acoustic drapery in a correctly specified system rates 0.40–0.75.
Talk with Olga about whether Acoustic is the right cloth for your room.
Cloth is a 20-year decision. Every consultation begins with the architecture and the orientation — we will tell you which cloth the room is asking for, even if it is not the one you came in expecting.
Duroque does not mail fabric samples. Selection and sourcing happen in a private design consultation — at our West Hollywood studio or on-site at your residence, hotel, restaurant, or yacht — where cloth is reviewed against the actual light, architecture, and program of the room.
Schedule a ConsultationImages shown are representative examples only. Fabric selections vary by project and are determined during private consultation. Duroque does not stock or imply availability of specific fabrics, colors, or SKUs. Recommendations are made based on your project requirements, performance needs, and design goals.