Curtains to Reflect Your Personality
Curtains are one decorating items that beautify a home. It is not only used to dress up windows but doors as well. It can even be used as room dividers, patio curtain, shower curtains, wall panels and many more. There are also a wide variety of curtain styles to choose from and there will always be a curtain style to suit any home décor.
In your choice of a curtain design for your home, be sure to choose one that will complement and at the same time highlight the beauty of your home. Whether your home is a modern condo unit, a French style villa, a log cabin or a country home, make sure that the curtain of your choice will show your home to its best advantage.
Curtains are not only decorative, they are also very functional. They can be used as insulation against heat or cold and as a means to regulate the entry of light into the room. Curtains are also used to provide privacy to a room. So you have to decide what your reasons are for choosing curtains as window treatment for your home. This will determine the style and materials that you will use for your curtain.
Whatever your reasons are for choosing your curtain style, type and design, it is important that your choice should be a reflection of your personality just as your home décor reflects your own personal style. Your curtains should also be one that you and your family feels comfortable having around you day in and day out.
Bedroom curtains most specially should be a manifestation of your inner self. You bedroom is your inner sanctum, a place in the house where you can have total privacy and be your own personal haven. If you are the romantic type, choose sheer billowy curtains to adorn your bedroom windows. You can even hang bed curtains around your bed to intensify that romantic vibe. If you are the more conventional type, choose more traditional style curtains such as pleated curtains or even draperies.
How to Upgrade My Curtains?
Curtains are still the best window treatment. It comes in a wide selection of styles and designs in a whole range of fabrics to use. It also serves so many functions; from beautifying a room to providing privacy to protecting the room from the harsh elements to blocking the sun. There are so many ways to upgrade a curtain style to make it more unique and to customize the curtain.
Here are several ways to upgrade a curtains style:
• Create a custom-looking valance by folding a scarf panel over the curtain hardware
• Add a fringe to store bought curtain to give it a more elegant vibe
• Add an accent to curtains with the use of tassels
• Create a drape effect by setting up drapery tiebacks and folding a single drape panel over them. Tassels can also be added to the tiebacks for added attractiveness.
• For added visual height and color, sew a strip of contrasting design to the hem of a plain curtain.
• Affix some buttons on the hem of curtains or trim the edges of the curtains with lace.
• Add a patterned curtain to solid color curtains. Make sure that the patterns harmonize with the color and décor of the room and the solid color curtain.
• Provide some sparkle to your window curtains by sewing crystals and decorative beads along the side edges and hem of the curtain panels. Crystals and beads can also be added on the valance to give the curtain treatment a shinny and sparkly look.
• Add a wide block of colored fabric at the bottom of a plain standard linen curtain.
There are so many ways to upgrade your old and boring curtain to give it more life and beauty. You can create beautiful curtains with very little cost and effort and plenty of imagination.
Unique Ways to Hang Curtains
There are so many ways to hang curtains without the use of the traditional hardware. You can use some of the things that you already have at home for a unique and unusual way to hang your curtains.
Coat hooks in place of curtain rods
Instead of a curtain rod to hold your curtains, you can use metal or brass coat hooks. Attach these hooks above the windows and affix curtain rings on your curtain panel and hang the curtains on the hooks using the rings. You can even use fabric ties for the purpose.
Brass or glass door knobs
Another unique way to hang curtain panels is the use of brass or glass door knobs instead of curtain rods. You can look for old door knobs from thrift stores or antique shops and it does not matter if they are not matched. Attach these door knobs above your window or on a wooden base installed above the window and hang your curtains with fabric ties.
Spoons as an alternative to curtain rings
Don’t throw away your bent spoons; they will serve as unique and interesting curtain rings. If you do not have bent spoons but would want to try decorating your window, specially your kitchen windows with bent spoons for curtain rings, you can bend them with pliers and form S-shape hooks. Attach them to the curtain panel and hook them on your curtain rod.
Clothes wire
For a causal and unique way to hang curtains, you can use clothes wire instead of a curtain rod. This is suitable for curtains made of lightweight fabrics such as voile or chiffon or even lace. Attach eye screws on both sides of the window, slot through the clothes wire on the seam at the top of the curtain panel and tie the ends on the eye screws. Hide the eye screws and the ends of the clothes wire with ribbons or flowers.
Sash Curtains
A sash curtain is a window treatment that is normally used to cover the lower half of a window. Sash curtains have a strong resemblance to café curtains, except that café curtains have an upper portion mounted to the top of the window and a lower section that hangs on the lower window. Sash curtains let a person inside the room to observe the world outside while concealing the rest of the room from outside world.
A sash curtain is also a trouble-free window treatment to a French door or a narrow window. It is mounted both at the top and bottom of the window. The sash curtain normally covers the whole length of the window and is pulled together or “gathered” at the center with a sash or other kinds of tie creating an hourglass sash. The secret to a lovely sash curtain is to conceal the rod and highlight the “gather”. The rods to which a sash curtain is hanged is fitted flat on the inner molding of the door or window at the bottom and top, The ends of the sash, which should be longer and wider than the aperture, hide the rods and hold the curtain.
Sash curtains are a favored design for door window treatments, particularly if there are two narrow windows flanking the door. These narrow windows are called sidelights, and sash curtains look quite good on sidelights. This type of curtain is also preferred for front window treatment since the view of the “gathers” from the outside is quite appealing. Sash curtains can be made from any fabric, but the most common and favored are sheer fabrics such as voile, or batiste since sheer fabrics allows as much light as possible but at the same time provides some privacy. Sash curtains are hung on sash rods. This type of curtain rod is thinner than other kinds of curtain rods and is very decorative.
Novel and Unique Curtain Hardware
Curtain rods and finials are traditional hardware for curtains. Modern technology however, has come up with innovations that give this traditional hardware a new, unique and bright look to enliven an unexciting and lifeless window. This novel and unique curtain hardware also makes hanging curtain easy and uncomplicated.
Illuminating curtain rod
Blome International introduced “LED Let There be Light” curtain rod that has a built-in light that is lit from outside. It lights up curtains and draperies from above. The advantage of LED light is its longevity and that it does not heat up or emit heat. This illuminating curtain rod not only brightens up an uninspiring window it is also an eco friendly window treatment.
Ceiling mount curtain rod
This novel and unique curtain hardware of Pottery Barn that is mounted on the ceiling lets your window reach new heights. The eye of a curtain is drawn up to give the window an elongated look that is great for short windows. This window hardware gives hanging curtains a new meaning. In addition, the ceiling mounted curtain rod is also very attractively modern since they come in pewter and bronze finish.
Tension curtain rod
Cozy rooms in many homes are now given an automated expediency with the introduction of curtain hardware made of futuristic metals with clean lines. An example of this convenient and ultra-modern hardware is a tension curtain rod also called spring rods. This tension curtain rod allows you to hang shower curtains, wall curtains and window curtains without mounting a curtain rod on the walls. A spring rod is suitable for lightweight fabrics such as cotton or organza. A tension curtain rod is virtually invisible and holds up curtains almost unnoticed. You can even use it in your patio or porch since it is made of rust-proof steel. It is also offered in black, antique gold and pewter colors.
