Window treatments can play a major role in the atmosphere of a room. Differing styles of curtains can be used to create many different looks. Changing your curtains can be an easy and inexpensive way to update a room. Here are some of the things to consider when choosing curtains:
Colour: Curtains that are the same shade as your walls or close to the same shade will give the room a unified, open feel. This is useful for small rooms, since it will make them seem larger. Curtains in a contrasting colour will break up a room, which adds drama to large, formal rooms. Contrasting curtains can also be used to draw attention to the window, creating a focal point for your room. Light curtains will give an airy feel and allow more light to enter the room, while dark curtains will make a room look cozy.
Length: There are two basic acceptable lengths for curtains: either floor length, or ending at the level of the windowsill. A more recent trend is to have 'puddled' curtains, which are longer than the height of the room so that the ends collect in 'puddles' of fabric on the floor. This is a more difficult look to master than the basic ones. In deciding which to choose, consider the height of the bottom of the window, the style of the room, and whether there will be any furniture under the window. Floor length curtains look classy, and formal, but can look awkward if your windows begin high off the floor. Windowsill length curtains allow for furniture such as bookshelves to be placed under the window. One hard and fast rule is that whichever length you choose, you must use that same length for all the windows in your room. A combination of different styles will look tacky.
Fabric: The fabric you choose will influence the mood of the room. Fancy silks give a rich, formal appearance, sheer fabrics will give an airy feel, patterned cottons can give a country or casual look. Two key things to remember when choosing fabrics are how much light you would like to block out or let in, and how much privacy you would like your curtains to provide. Thicker fabrics obviously block more light and give more privacy than sheers. You can even find "blackout" fabrics which are designed to block out almost all light.
Hanging: Curtains should be hung either just above the window, or just below the ceiling. Floor length curtains hung from the latter height can make your whole room seem taller and more vertical. You can vary the width of your curtains for different effects as well. For example, hanging curtains that are much wider than the window and hung on a long rod can make a small window look larger. One option for small rooms is to choose curtains in styles that hang inside the window frame, as these take up less space. Again, it is important to remember that all widow treatments in a room be hung at the same height.
These tips should be helpful when thinking about how curtains will contribute to the decor of your room. Before heading to the stores, you can also check out home decorating books and magazines to help determine the look you want.
No comments:
Post a Comment