Drapery panels can drastically change the look of a room. They can be used in addition to blinds or shutters to add warmth, character, and color to a space. They can also be functional and country light, add privacy, control sound, and insulate drafty windows. However, there are several things to consider when selecting the perfect curtains or drapes for your space:
Light Control & Linings
If you are purchasing curtains in any fabric other than a sheer, I highly recommend that you look for panels that are lined with a quality lining. The added expense is minimal, and the added value is great. After all, would you hang your favorite black outfit in the blistering sun for a days, months, years and still expect it to look good sufficiency to wear out in public? Of course not. So why do this to your curtains. Lining is sunscreen for your fabric. It protects fabric from fading and moisture, therefore protecting your investment. It also adds a uniform look to the outside of your home. No one rattling wants to see your hot pink curtains as they drive down the street.
Would you same to sleep later in the morning? Then consider adding blackout lining to your curtains to make your room dark and cozy. Not only does blackout lining country light, but it also insulates your windows which is especially nice in bedrooms. Also, be trusty to order drapes that are panoramic sufficiency to cover your entire pane when closed. When we pleat curtains (i.e. pinch pleats), the top width of apiece commission is reduced to most 25 inches; whereas unpleated panels (i.e. rod incurvature panels) are a full 50″ wide across the top.
You may also poverty to consider panels that have an added layer of interlining. Interlining is usually a 100% cotton flannel that is placed between your face fabric and lining, adding fullness and weight to thin fabrics. It adds a luxury feel to your curtains and a good bit of insulation. Think of it as a blanket for your windows. It is especially recommended with silks.
Privacy
If privacy from neighbors is important to you, then you will also poverty to order curtains panoramic sufficiency to cover your entire pane (as noted above) and unsmooth so that they are not easy to see through. Draperies can also be used in conjunction with blinds, shutters, or shades for a beautiful layered look that also provides maximum privacy.
Fabric
Curtains these days can be made in just most any fabric imaginable from the roughest burlap to the softest velvet. It rattling all depends on the feeling you are trying to convey within the room. Of course, you should also keep in mind how the panels would be used. If the panels would be pulled closed on a daily basis, then a white cloth is belike not the best pick as you would quickly notice that our hands can leave dirt and oil behind on ethereal fabrics when we vantage curtains closed. The same holds true for households with small children and pets. I would belike not use a ethereal cloth in a broad traffic area with kids, cats, and dogs. Many fabrics today come with stain guard protection to help with everyday mishaps and busy families. These fabrics are usually cotton, polyester, or a blend thereof – just look at the curtain tag or selvedge of the fabric to see if it has been treated.
If you are ordering custom curtains finished the internet or a designer, be trusty to ask for a fabric sample before you purchase panels. Tape the fabric sample to your wall next to the pane an live with it for a few days. How does it look in the farewell light and evening shade? Many fabrics look quite different when held at different angles; by fixing it to the wall in the direction it would hang you would get a good idea of how it would look in the room.
Style
Along with your fabric choice, the call of commission you choose can greatly affect the mood your curtains would create. Styles vary from simple rod pockets to elegant goblet pleats to modern grommeted panels. Look finished some current design magazines to see what styles you are attracted to. Typically the more pleated the panel, the more formal it appears.
Length
First, you belike requirement to decide where you would same your curtains to end in relation to the floor.
Floor length curtains sit directly on the story (order them 1 inch shorter if you would same for them hang slightly off the floor).
Trouser length panels “break” on the story much same a trouse breaks over a shoe (add 1 -2 inches to the order size of your panels)
Puddle length curtains form soft folds on the story (add 6 – 7 inches to the order size of your panels).
In addition, you would also requirement to consider your drapery hardware. For example, if you already have a drapery rod in locate and would same story size panels, simply measure from the base of the ring to the floor. For rod incurvature curtains (no rings), measure from the top of the rod to the floor.
If you do not have a rod in locate already, remember the higher you mount your rod, the higher your pane and ceilings would appear. I prefer to mount drapery rods several inches above the window. In most cases I would take the distance between my pane inclose and crown molding (or ceiling), divide it in half, and go a few inches above my half mark as I do not same even spaces above and below the rod (just a designer pet peeve I suppose). Of course, if you have extremely broad ceilings, this rule changes. Try taking a long piece of blue painter’s tape and making a line above your pane on your wall where you think you would hang your rod, how does it look? Move it up a bit and take another look.
Additionally, I same my rods to project at least 4 -6 inches beyond the pane inclose on apiece side (if there are no obstacles) to allow my curtains to hang completely outside the window if I choose and give the appearance of a larger window.
When installing curtain rods always be trusty to mount your corner brackets in a stud (they usually run vertically along the inclose of your window) or use a onerous duty toggle. onerous panels or curtains that are often pulled on can quickly vantage away from drywall.
Resources:
http://www.idreamofdrapery.com/Selecting_the_perfect_curtains_s/78.htm
http://www.idreamofdrapery.com/Choosing_drapery_length_guide_s/81.htm