Overview
Interior materials guide for Vietnam's design and build teams
The Advice section of SEAMATER is an interior materials guide for Vietnam and Southeast Asia, written for design and build firms. It covers window treatments, home fabrics, curtain motors, wallcoverings and decor film, rugs, loose furniture and decorative lighting. Each page answers one technical question, such as how to measure, how to calculate quantities or which test standard to request, and is mapped to a project stage.
Key takeaways
- Interior finishes on a design and build project typically include window treatments, home fabrics, curtain motors, wallcoverings and film, rugs, loose furniture and decorative lighting.
- Curtain type and motors should be confirmed during design development, before the gypsum ceiling is closed, so ceiling pockets and power points are sized correctly.
- Curtain quantities are calculated from track width, drop and fullness, not window count; wallcovering quantities need an allowance for pattern repeat.
- Physical samples let teams check colour and texture under project lighting before specifying; swatches are ordered in a project, while catalogues and large samples are loaned.
- Fire performance requirements for interior materials depend on building type and should be confirmed with the project's fire consultant.
Project tools
- Curtain terminology glossary: fabric, wallcovering and rug terms in English and VietnameseCurtain terminology glossary in English and Vietnamese: window treatments, fabric, wallcoverings, rugs, lighting and procurement terms with short definitions.
- Interior material samples: ordering swatches and borrowing large samplesOrder interior material samples for projects: swatches in a Project with a refundable deposit, loaned catalogues and large samples, showroom pickup or delivery.
- Flame retardant curtain fabric standards for hotel and commercial projectsFlame retardant curtain fabric standards for hotels in Vietnam and SEA: QCVN 06, BS 5867, NFPA 701, EN 13773, Crib 5, and how to check a fire test certificate.
- How to write a BOQ for curtains, wallcoverings and rugsHow to write a BOQ for curtains and wallcoverings, plus rugs: line structures, units and waste factors that make supplier quotes comparable and cut variations.
- Choosing interior materials for a humid tropical climateChoosing interior materials for a humid tropical climate: curtains, wallcoverings, rugs, furniture and lighting that cope with humidity, UV and coastal salt.
- Interior procurement lead time planning for finishes and FF&EInterior procurement lead time planning for curtains, wallcoverings, rugs, furniture and lighting: drivers, approval milestones and site readiness for handover.
Window treatments
- How to choose window treatments by window type, room and project briefHow to choose window treatments by window type, room and project: floor-to-ceiling glass, sliding doors, casements, double-height villas, shophouses and hotels.
- Curtain heading types: pinch pleat, wave, eyelet and the hardware each needsCompare curtain heading types: pinch pleat, wave, eyelet, pencil pleat. Fullness, track or pole, blackout and stackback, so hardware matches the first time.
- How to measure for curtains on site: a survey method for design and build teamsHow to measure for curtains on site: when to survey, measuring ceiling pockets, track width and drop to finished floor, plus a survey sheet to prevent remakes.
- How to measure for roman blinds, roller and zebra blinds: inside or outside the recessHow to measure for roman blinds, roller and zebra blinds inside or outside the recess: three-point readings, reveal depth, overlap and control side.
- Curtain track vs pole, and ceiling pockets: specifying hardware correctlyCurtain track vs pole: choose by heading, size gypsum ceiling pockets for one or two layers, and plan blocking and motor power before the ceiling closes.
- Curtain installation checklist: site readiness, scope and handoverA curtain installation checklist for design and build teams: site readiness, trade sequence, what installers need and how to accept curtains before handover.
- Blackout curtain lining: choosing blackout, dimout and thermal liningsBlackout curtain lining explained for project teams: standard, dimout, coated and woven blackout, thermal linings, light-gap control and care in humid climates.
- How to calculate curtain fabric: fullness, widths, pattern repeat and railroadingHow to calculate curtain fabric for projects: fullness by heading, number of widths, cut drops, pattern repeat, railroaded wide fabric and worked examples.
Curtain motors
Home fabrics
Wallcoverings
- Types of wallpaper for commercial projects: properties, durability and where to use themTypes of wallpaper for commercial projects compared: non-woven, vinyl, Type II contract vinyl, textiles, grasscloth and decor film by durability and moisture.
- Wallpaper installation guide: wall preparation, hanging standards and acceptanceWallpaper installation guide for project teams: wall readiness, trade sequencing, hanging standards, acceptance checks and defects common in humid rooms.
- How to calculate wallpaper rolls: drops per roll, pattern repeat and wasteHow to calculate wallpaper rolls from drops, wall height and pattern repeat, with worked examples for 0.53 m and 1.06 m rolls, waste and spare rolls.
- Wallpaper mould in humid climates: causes, prevention and repairWallpaper mould in humid climates starts with wet walls, not bad paper. How to prevent mould, bubbling and lifting at spec, installation and handover stage.
Rugs
- Rug size guide: living room layouts, construction and materialsRug size guide for living room, dining and bedroom layouts, plus a comparison of rug constructions and fibres suited to hot, humid Southeast Asian projects.
- Rug care guide by material: handover notes for owners and operatorsRug care guide by material: wool, viscose, sisal and outdoor rugs. Stain removal steps, anti-slip underlay and storage advice for hot, humid climates.
- Hospitality rug specification: hotels, F&B and commercial projectsHospitality rug specification by zone: construction, fibre, pile density, fire testing, custom rug approval steps and cleaning regimes for hotels and F&B.
Loose furniture
- FF&E specification sheet: what a project-ready spec includesAn FF&E specification sheet covers dimensions, frame, finish, fabric code, Martindale, fabric yardage, packing and lead time so suppliers quote like for like.
- Outdoor furniture for tropical climates and coastal projects: materials that lastOutdoor furniture for tropical climates and coastal sites: teak, powder-coated aluminium, 304 vs 316 stainless, HDPE weave and outdoor fabric, plus care.
Decorative lighting
- Colour temperature and CRI guide for decorative lighting, with IP ratings and layeringA colour temperature and CRI guide for decorative lighting: lighting layers, 2700K–4000K, CRI 90+, lumens, dimming and IP ratings, plus the fields a spec needs.
- Chandelier size calculator: diameter and hanging height rules of thumbA chandelier size calculator in rules of thumb: room length + width in m x 8–10 = diameter in cm; dining pendants 75–90 cm above the table. Worked examples.
Who is this knowledge hub for?
The hub is written for the people who select, specify and buy interior finishes on design and build projects. It takes the view of the specifier and coordinator, not the homeowner.
- Design Directors and interior designers: material selection, reading technical data, sample approval.
- Project Directors and PMs: ceiling pockets, motor power points, site readiness and procurement lead times.
- Purchasing and QS: quantity take-off, BOQ preparation, quote comparison and cost control.
Curtains, wallcoverings and many other items need correct surveying, measuring and installation, on projects in Vietnam and overseas. The pages therefore focus on getting the specification right on paper, coordinating with other trades and accepting work against clear criteria, so that rework, variations and handover delays are reduced.
Which pages should you read at each project stage?
Each stage raises its own questions. The table maps pages to stages so decisions are made before the ceiling is closed or the fabric is cut.
| Stage | Questions to answer | Pages to read |
|---|---|---|
| Concept | Which window treatments, materials and palette; what suits a hot, humid climate | types of window treatments, materials for humid tropical climates, ordering and borrowing samples |
| Design development | Ceiling pocket size, track type, heading, motor power, rug and fixture sizes | curtain tracks and ceiling pockets, motorised curtains, curtain heading types, chandelier sizing |
| Specification and BOQ | Fabric, wallcovering and furniture specs; quantities | Martindale and fabric selection, types of wallcoverings, BOQ lines for curtains and wallcoverings, loose furniture spec sheets |
| Procurement | Lead times, ordering and borrowing samples, fire requirements | procurement lead times, swatch and sample loans, fire standards for fabrics |
| Installation and handover | Site readiness, acceptance criteria, care instructions for the client | curtain installation checklist, wallpaper installation standards, rug care by material |
The “questions to answer” column works as a checklist before each design review.
Window treatments and curtain motors: what needs deciding?
Window treatments depend on architectural decisions: the size of the gypsum ceiling pocket, the position of power points and the opening of aluminium sliding doors. Many site problems come from fixing the curtain type and hardware after the ceiling is finished.
- Choosing window treatments by window type, room and brief
- Curtain heading types and the hardware each needs
- Measuring for curtains on site
- Measuring for roman, roller and zebra blinds
- Curtain tracks, poles and ceiling pockets
- Blackout, dimout and thermal linings
- Calculating curtain fabric quantity
- Installation: site readiness and handover
Curtain motors
Motorised treatments must be confirmed before the ceiling is closed: power location, a pocket large enough for the motor head, the control method and any smart-home integration.
Which specifications matter when choosing interior fabric?
Interior fabric is selected for performance first: fibre content, weight, Martindale abrasion resistance, lightfastness and fire performance. A fabric that works as a curtain may not be durable enough for restaurant seating.
Wallcoverings and decor film: how do you avoid lifting and mould?
A good wallcovering result depends on three things: the right substrate (non-woven, vinyl, fabric-backed, natural fibre), enough rolls for the pattern repeat, and a dry wall before hanging. In northern Vietnam the damp nồm season raises the risk of lifted seams and mould behind vinyl.
How are rugs chosen by size, construction and material?
Rug size sets the room layout; construction (hand-knotted, hand-tufted, flatweave, machine-made) and fibre set durability and care. Hotel and F&B rugs add requirements for density, fire performance and cleaning.
What should loose furniture and lighting specs include?
Loose furniture
A clear FF&E spec sheet lists dimensions, frame material, upholstery fabric, finishes and packing requirements. Coastal projects also need materials that tolerate salt air and UV.
Decorative lighting
Decorative fixtures are specified by colour temperature (K), colour rendering (CRI), IP rating and scale relative to the space.
Which project tools support documentation and procurement?
The project tools give every team one vocabulary and one process: a bilingual glossary, BOQ line formats, lead-time planning, sample ordering and the fire standards commonly requested.
- Curtain, fabric, wallcovering and rug glossary (Vietnamese–English)
- Writing BOQ lines for curtains, wallcoverings and rugs
- Planning procurement lead times
- Swatch and sample loan: ordering in a project, borrowing large samples, showroom pickup
- Fire safety standards for fabrics and wallcoverings
- Choosing materials for a humid tropical climate
On SEAMATER, registered accounts can create a project, order samples inside it and see lead time and stock; verified trade accounts also see prices. Submitting a project creates the quote request for the items in it.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as interior finishing materials?
When should curtains be decided on a project?
Should designers order samples before finalising a specification?
Who is the Advice section written for?
How long do interior finishing materials take to procure?
Why use a shared Vietnamese–English glossary on projects?
Registered accounts see lead time and stock, verified trade accounts also see prices, and samples and quote requests are grouped by project.
Apply for a trade account