Curtains can make a room – but only when chosen correctly! When it comes to window treatments there are many decisions and factors to consider so we have pulled together some advice to help with narrowing down the options and selecting the right curtains for your home. In further posts we will explore each of these points in detail but, for now, here is a brief overview of some considerations.
Function
If we set aside style considerations for a brief moment; function comes first when selecting curtains. Do you want window treatments that provide privacy or insulation, do you need total darkness or sun protection; are your curtains simply decorative? Do you need to factor in a combination of these requirements? Answering these questions will indicate the types of treatment, fabrics and linings best suited to your windows.
Fabrics and Colour
Texture
You need to consider the mood and function of the room. There are heavily embroidered, velvet or silk-like fabrics that may create a more formal feel; billowy linen and cotton or cotton blends can work with many types of decor and can have subtle textures that add to the overall ‘feel’ of a room. Texture can be a subtle way of giving interest to the eye without dominating the interior scheme.
Colour
A decision needs to be made if you would like the curtains to blend with the decor or to be the feature of the room. Blending, involves picking curtains that are the same tone as the walls but a few shades darker or lighter, or a neutral subtle colour in the room (perhaps picked from a rug). A bold colour adds impact and becomes the feature of the space – a little bit like an exclamation point for the room!
Prints and Patterns
A good rule of thumb – if you have patterned furniture or carpets, stick with neutral curtains. If you have neutral furniture or bedding consider patterned curtains. A small and neutral pattern can look like texture from afar whereas a large and graphic print is daring but can look spectacular. A pattern can draw your eye away from the view beyond and into the room and layering multiple prints together can really show your personality and style.
Length of Curtains
Floor-length curtains are definitely the preferred option. Floor-length curtains are a classic and tailored look and they also have insulation advantages. Floor-length options include, just hitting the floor, breaking slightly at the floor (useful if you have a natural fibre fabrics that will move with the atmospheric conditions of the home and also forgiving if you have uneven floors!) and puddling on the floor (generally between 50-100mm – a luxurious and romantic look). We like to hang curtains above the window rather than on the architrave (it gives it the chance to breathe) and ceiling hung floor length curtains have an amazing ability to lift and open the feeling of a room.
Headings
The top of a curtain is called the heading. The heading helps define the overall look of the curtain. There are many different options of heading such as New York pleats, Inverted pleats, Set Waves, Bi-pleats and so on. The style of heading selected can also determine the behaviour of the fabric and the functionality of the curtain. The heading on a curtain also affects the way the curtain stacks back when opened – an Inverted pleat for example has a very tailored classic stacking position whereas a New York pleat is a softer look.
Hopefully you have found the above considerations useful. We love beautiful curtains and there is a wealth of knowledge across the Feather & Oak team so please don’t hesitate to talk with us if you want to talk through window furnishing options for your home. Also, don’t forget to look out for further posts on this topic if curtains are something you are considering for your home.
