Benefits of Raw Canvas Fabric and What It Is Best Used For

The single word ‘canvas’ brings many different images to mind for different people. When you think of canvas, do you think of a blank slate ready for an artist’s paints? Do you think of a sturdy tent in the wilderness? Or do you think of a jacket, a sail or a uniform? Believe it or not, all of these things are made out of the same type of cloth weave canvas. The same material that holds classical masterpieces and keeps you dry when camping is perfect for your home as well. Use raw canvas fabric for everything from decorative pillows to sturdy towels that match your kitchen wallpaper.

Durable and Strong Fabric Material

Canvas isn’t a material in itself, but rather, it’s a way of weaving threads into cloth for maximum strength and durability. The technique is thought to have originated in India around 1500 BC. From there, canvas migrated to Ancient Greece and throughout the rest of Europe. Most canvas these days is made out of cotton, but durable, quality canvas can also be woven out of flax linen or hemp stalks.

The tight weave structure of canvas makes it tough enough to keep out rain and wind. At the same time, canvas’s softness made it popular as a fabric for clothing. Canvas can be treated with wax or oil to seal out water, but raw canvas refers to canvas in its natural, unsealed state.

Since the threads in a canvas weave sit closely together, it’s hard for stains to settle into this fabric even without a seal. It’s also possible to wash raw canvas in hot water to sterilize it without damage or pilling.

Great Uses for Raw Canvas Fabric

When designing a home, practicality should be the absolute top concern. Raw canvas is a versatile solution that performs multiple functions at once, like peel and stick wallpaper or reversible furniture covers. Here are a few smart ways that raw canvas fabric can improve your home.

Eco-Friendly Kitchen Towels

Paper towels are expensive and always seem to be running out. Single-use paper products also aren’t the most sustainable choice for the environment. Raw canvas makes for excellent kitchen towels because sticky or pungent liquids have trouble penetrating their durable weave. You can wash raw canvas kitchen towels in hot water many times before they start to show wear.

Outdoor Features

Raw canvas is the ideal fabric for outdoor chairs, upholstery and patio furniture covers. It’s the best weave you can choose for keeping out the elements.

The Ultimate Kids’ Space

Use raw canvas to make a magical, permanent blanket fort in a child’s room. Canvas is stain-resistant, inexpensive and not prone to tears, so it’s a perfect textile choice for a child’s room. Whether they prefer dinosaur murals on the walls or simple pink wallpaper, consider outfitting your child’s room in canvas to make regular cleanup easy.

Raw canvas is the ultimate practical and versatile fabric. Humanity has relied on this sturdy weave for thousands of years, so it’s sure to stand up to countless tasks in a busy home.

*This is a collaboration post