BEDDING — Inside the Home

Window Curtain

How to Select the Right Window Curtains

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.

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How do you wash valances...you know, the top window treatment/curtain thing?

There is no tag so im not sure. It has a shiney type finish on the front side if that matters. Thanks

Sounds like chintz is the material. That can be washed in the machine and tumble dry- but since you aren't sure I would...

Machine wash on the delicate cycle in cold water

Line or hang dry.

Here is an example- see how it's kind of shiny?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dark-Blue-Baloon-valance-Lustre-Chintz_W0QQitemZ4437999978QQcategoryZ20587QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

How to measure for curtains and window treatments

Tags: curtain, curtains, diy, home, window curtain hardware, window curtain ideas, window curtain rods, window curtains, window curtains and valances, windows

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 24th, 2009 at 6:06 pm and is filed under bedding. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.