Dressing Natural Drapery - YX FAQ

Modified on Tue, 20 Jan at 2:57 PM

Why Dressing Natural Drapery Matters

Natural draperies—such as linen, cotton, or blends with natural fibers—have a beautiful, relaxed character that gives them depth and authenticity. Because these fibers are not rigid or pre-set, they benefit from being dressed out after installation. Dressing out allows the fabric to fall into soft, intentional folds, enhancing the overall look and ensuring the drapery appears full, balanced, and tailored rather than flat or uneven.

Without dressing, natural draperies may look compressed from packaging or installation, and pleats or folds may not fall evenly. Taking the time to dress them brings out their true beauty and helps achieve the polished, finished look they are designed for.

How to Successfully Dress Out Your Drapery

Start from the Top
Begin at the header or pleats. Using your hands, gently separate and define each pleat or fold so they are evenly spaced along the rod or track.
Train the Fabric
Working from top to bottom, softly guide the fabric into natural, vertical folds. Avoid pulling or forcing—natural fibers respond best to gentle shaping.
Tie and Set (Optional but Recommended)
For deeper or more structured folds, loosely tie the drapery with wide fabric ties or ribbon at two or three points down the length. Leave tied for 24–72 hours to help the folds “set.”
Use Gravity and Time
Natural fabrics relax with time. Allow the panels to hang fully and let gravity do the work—this can make a noticeable difference over several days.

Dressing out your drapery is a simple but important final step that elevates the look from installed to intentional. With a bit of patience and care, your natural draperies will settle beautifully and continue to soften and improve over time.

Below are 'Before' and 'After' dressing pictures of a Natural Drapery.

- This is YX factory code D16-05 with light filtering liner (also known as Prairie Sawgrass)

- The actual order is SO 718140, Line 15.

UNDRESSED - CLOSED NATURAL DRAPE

DRESSED - CLOSED NATURAL DRAPE

UNDRESSED - OPEN NATURAL DRAPE

DRESSED - OPEN NATURAL DRAPE