Monday, May 5, 2014
Curtains make a room -
but only when chosen correctly. When it comes to window treatments, color,
fabric, length and lining are the basic factors that affect the decoration
effect of your room.
Color
and Fabric
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’re too heavy, they may not fold crisply when drawn; too light and they may not fall well.
For
a formal space, heavy silk or velvet both are great choices. More practical
options include silky rayon blends and cotton sateen. For a casual feel,
billowy linen and crinkly crushed velvet are the first choice. Cotton and
cotton blends work with any type of decor and bring a crisp, neat feel, as does
the season less wool or wool blends.
Some
fabrics can help keep out the cold. Many hotels use suede, velvet, tapestry, or
tweed since their weight helps block light and keep heat in. Still, nearly any
fabric can be interlined with bump, a thick, insulating felt material. And
interlining—a piece of fabric slipped between the lining and the face
fabric—can also help prolong the life of the curtains.
Color
is basically chosen according to the background color of the room. You 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 color in the room (a soft shade from
the rug, say). A bold color will work like an exclamation point (if you’re
looking to add some wow). Also keep in mind that in a space where the sun
shines through unlined curtains, the color will infuse the room. Blue can be
eerie; pink, cheery.
However,
sunlight is also an important factor for curtain color choice since sunlight
will fade fabrics over time. If the room gets a lot of light, it's smart to
avoid bright colors, since they tend to fade faster. Still, if you like to
change out your rooms often, you can be less concerned with fading.
Length
and Lining
Before you take out the tape measure, decide how high above the window you'd like the curtains to begin. Floor-length is the way to go, unless there’s a radiator or a deep sill in the way. Measure from the floor to where you’ll hang the rod, then round up. You can always have the dry cleaner hem them a bit if needed.
Hanging
panels higher than the window will give a sense of height to the room.
Designers often hang curtains about six inches above the window frame, but for
a dramatic look, some go higher.
Measure
the height from the top of the window (plus the added 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'll 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. Then you won't
block a lot of window glass when the curtains are open, and they won't get in
the way.
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.
At
last, you can simply use 4Design Software for Curtain Design. With this
software, you can design your favorite curtain styles and see the intuitive
display effect in your room. Watch this video for more detail:
