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Bored of the tired, old look of your house? Designing your new house? Either way, window treatments are very much on the horizon.

Window treatments have changed and evolved with time. From the rich drapes of the Victorian era to the minimalist looks afforded by simple blinds, the options are diverse enough to be confusing. So, the first step is to have some idea about what kind of window treatment you want in the room.

If you have decided to stick with window curtains, then, you need to keep a few things in your mind. The right curtains can add to the ambience of the room. It can breathe an air of beauty, restfulness or excitement to the room. However, if you make the wrong choice, it can spoil the entire feel of the room. So, getting yourself the right curtains needs some planning.

Designs:

Lace? Sheer? Velvet? Silk? Printed? Plain? You got it. Too many options. If you’re a novice who wants a stunning interior without having to spend through your nose for the services of an interior designers, the best way is to grab a few copies of a home-style magazine. Visit show homes and attend exhibitions. You will pick up some excellent color schemes and new ideas this way.

Room specific:

Window curtains have to be room specific. So, the curtains you use in the sitting room will be different from those in the children’s bedroom, which will certainly be different from those that you’ll be using in the kitchen. Window curtains have to reflect the atmosphere of the room. For example, dining rooms can carry off a dramatic look, while the children’s bedroom can make use of a vibrant and colorful look.

Color:

The color for the curtains must blend nicely with the color of the adjacent walls. Do not use a very dark color right next to a light colored wall as this may create a severe effect. Try to reduce the impact of a dark window curtain by using a lighter trim or alternating it with a sheer, light colored curtain. Small windows can do without large, overwhelming prints. Instead go for self prints or small prints.

Material:

In any room, the material on the windows must be in line with the material on the upholstery or furniture. Sheer materials are in vogue these days and they are a fine choice because they impart an airy look to the room. However, sheer curtains allow a lot of sunlight and afford little privacy. So you need to combine them with drapes. While selecting window curtains that are always exposed to sunlight, choose a material and color that does not fade over time. South facing rooms are particularly prone to this problem.

The above tips can help you select the right window curtains. If you find it difficult to imagine your window treatment, try to sketch it on paper. This will help you see whether the treatment is too heavy or just right. Again, a magazine or some pictures from the internet could be helpful.

Buying the curtain is only half the job. Make sure that you get it sewed properly. Only this can give your room the beautiful look that you want.

Decorative Draperies and Upholstery

It’s much easier to have fun with home design utilizing the decorative features of curtains than it used to be. This is simply because the role of the curtain has veered from being an actual functional tool to being merely decorative in nature.

There is a difference between drapes and curtains that passes over many peoples heads. Drapes are usually longer hanging almost to the floor from a rod called a traverse rod, and hangs from hooks that will let you open them by pulling on a cord. These are more formal than curtains which are usually shorter and opened and closed by pulling on the sides of them where the hooks will slide from where the curtain suspends from the rod. Sometimes they aren’t opened or closed at all, being tied back to the window frame, therefore they are usually paired with a window blind or some other type of sun blocking window coverings.

Likely the type of curtain that you’ll most often see is a panel curtain. This is the type of curtain that is hemmed at the top and bottom, and are hung by hooks or rings and simply hang in a natural fold, which gives the window very little of a formal look. This type of curtain is popular for dining rooms and/or bedrooms, and often paired up with blinds or shades.

A different type of curtain that is hung actually at the center of the window is called a Café Curtain. This type of curtain is one in which leaves the top of the window actually exposed, and covers from the center, or even three quarters up covered. The curtains are best for kitchens or dining areas that are not formal.

The tiered curtain has multiple panels which have usually a couple of panels covering the top of the two base panels. So, the bottom half of the windows are covered by the base panel, with the top half being covered by the outer panels, as well as overlapping the base panels.

You can get curtains in separate distinctive lengths as well. A sill length curtain can be hung from both the top or the halfway point of the window, with the bottom hem not touching the windowsill at all. Or you can hang below the sill curtains which are cut so that the bottom hangs right below the trim board that runs across the bottom of the window.

The other cut is the floor cut, which obviously means that the bottom hangs to the floor, or right above it.

Depending on the amount of light that you want to come into the room you can also get lined curtains that will have an extra lining of material that will help to block more light. There are even triple lined curtains that have three panels that are very dark. These also provide protection from other outside elements such as cold air and excessive heat in the summer months.

Curtains are a great way to accent your homes beauty, as well as decorate the brand new home. Have fun and enjoy the process.

Decorative Draperies and Upholstery