Choosing right curtains

31 Jan, 2016 - 00:01 0 Views
Choosing right curtains

The Sunday News

curtains

Yoliswa Dube

AS any decorator will tell you, curtains make a room — but only when chosen correctly.

When it comes to window treatments, it is a matter of colour and fabric, length and lining, and custom-made versus off-the-shelf. With so many decisions to make, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the whole process. Fabric is an essential part of choosing curtains, since the material will dictate how well your curtains function and hold up over time.

If they are too heavy, they may not fold crisply when drawn; too light and they may not fall well. Sunlight will fade fabrics over time. If the room gets a lot of light, it is smart to avoid bright colours, since they tend to fade faster. Go with neutral colours, since they are less likely to fade and more likely to blend into a room’s decor.

Linen, silk, faux silk and velvet are best choices to use for window treatments as they tend to hang the best. Some fabrics can help keep out the cold. Many hotels use suede, velvet, tapestry, or tweed because their weight helps block light and keep heat in. Still, nearly any fabric can be interlined with bump, a thick, insulating felt material.

Interlining — a piece of fabric slipped between the lining and the face fabric — can also help prolong the life of the curtains.

Before you take out the tape measure, decide how high above the window you would like the curtains to begin, keep in mind, hanging panels higher than the window will give a sense of height to the room. Begin measuring from the top of the window and add inches of height where the curtains will hang from to the floor. For a more traditional look, with the curtain slightly puddled on the floor, you will want to add another two or three inches to your length. For a modern, crisp look, have the panel fall flush with the floor.

When measuring the width of your window, be sure to add four to eight inches on both sides and double the total number to ensure curtain fullness.

If you plan to use the curtains to shut out the sun, those extra inches around the perimeter of your window frame will also help block out any creeping light.

Custom window treatments offer many benefits.You can customise the dimensions to your window size and create a tailored look, like a perfectly fitted suit.

Custom panels come in endless design options, from material to header style. With these options though, comes a considerable price difference from off-the-shelf curtain panels. Also, consider the mood of the room.

For a formal space, there’s heavy silk or velvet (a great insulator); both are dry-clean only. More practical (often washable) options include silky rayon blends and cotton satin. For a casual feel, there are billowy linen (generally dry-clean only) and crinkly crushed velvet. Cotton and cotton blends work with any type of decor and bring a crisp, neat feel, as does seasonless wool or wool blends.

You will need to decide if you want the curtains to blend with the decor or to pop.

For blending, pick curtains that are the same tone as the wall but a few shades darker, or choose a non-dominant subtle colour in the room — a soft shade from the rug, for example.

A bold colour will work like an exclamation point if you’re looking to add some wow to the room. Also keep in mind that in a space where the sun shines through unlined curtains, the colour will infuse the room.

If you have patterned furniture or bedding, or a very elaborate rug, stick with solid curtains. If you have solid-colour furniture or bedding, consider patterned curtains. For a subtle hint of style and energy, go for a small, neutral print, like dots or paisley, which reads like texture from afar. A large, graphic print in a colour that relates to the existing decor is daring but can be spectacular. Pick curtain hardware that enhances the style of your curtains by adding a dimension to the overall effect. Match the curtain rod to other fixtures or hardware in the room.

Select wrought iron for an old-world look, wood for a country or casual look and bamboo or chrome for a modern look.

Attach design elements such as decorative tiebacks, valances, shades or blinds as appropriate to the decor. — Sunday Life Writer/curtains.com

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