When you mention curtains to some people, the first thing they think of his grandmas heavy old drapes and crusty net curtains which when pulled back would most likely leave a cloud of dust for you to choke on. Back then the choices were limited regardless of whether it was that style of fabric or the other options available for window furnishings.
Recently curtains have been making a resurgence into the window furnishings market. They are not so much the traditional blockout curtain with a sheer behind them, but being used more in a combination with the various other products that are available to transform a room and give the desired look and feel.
Sheer curtains can be used in a huge variety of ways giving a room that soft light airy feel of elegance combined with daytime privacy. Some combinations that can be considered are;
The range of sheer fabrics available today is huge. You can have plain, patterned, textured with a spectrum of colours, and if you really want, we can still get the lace curtains you may remember from years ago.
Creating a block out curtain is generally done in one of three ways;
The key to giving your new curtains a long life is protecting them from the harsh sun, and regular maintenance, e.g. giving them a light vacuum with an upholstery brush to remove any dust. Linings will protect your curtains from the sun, however, which one you choose will depend on the type of situation you are trying to create.
In a bedroom you may be trying to create is much darkness is possible, in which case you want a lining with a blockout backing on it. If it is a living area where the blockout is not as important you may consider an uncoated lining which will hang more softly. Other factors to think about are whether you are trying to create an insulation or sound barrier, in which case a heavy lining, or perhaps even a bumph lining could be used. There is also a large number of colours to choose from with your linings which will change the look from the outside of the window.
With blinds and shutters, when they’re installed look good and serve the purpose of covering your windows which are generally rectangular in shape. When it comes to curtains the creativity can run wild! They can dramatically enhance the whole look of your room, or, they can just blend with your existing colour scheme and soften the look of some of the hard lines which may have been created by other window furnishings and structures in the room.
Some of the things to consider, and this is certainly not an extensive list, include;