Well done curtains can add warmth and elegance to the room. On the contrary, badly done window treatments will look cheap and out of style. Curtains are quite an expensive investment so you need to be sure to make the right decisions. It is not only important the fabric you choose, but also the positioning of the curtain rod, the length of the curtain and other small details that make the difference.
I often propose curtains to my clients for their interior design project, but now writing it all down I have to admit it is more complicated than it looks. A lot of small details will make that your curtains look amazing or look cheap.
fabrics via Remodelista - curtain rods Houles - interior via Parati
Did you know that it was only since the 16th century that they started to use curtains as we know them now? Before they would have decorative textile wallhanging, with the purpose of keeping the room warm. Across doorways they would keep the draft outside. In the 17th and 18th century they started to use rich textured fabrics from France and Italy. The curtain rod became only visible in the 19th century, very decorative with finals sculpted and gilded.
Versailles on the right via Pinterest
So how do you start? You will have already a good idea of the style of your interior, so you will know if you want more modern or more classical window treatments. In a modern interior we will see that the color of the curtains often blend in with the color of the wall. Classical curtains are much more decorative; plain colors, stripes, graphical or floral. Trimmings and tieback will even bring more details to be decided.
images via Pinterest
There are a lot of options to choose from: curtains, roman blinds, vertical blinds, roller blinds, shutters. It depends on the style you want but also the room can define the type of window treatment you need.
You know your style and type of window treatment you would like to have. Now you have to choose the perfect fabric. The choice of the fabric will define how your curtains fall. Heavy linen and velvet will block a lot of the light coming in, they will bring in a warm feeling. Velvet is fitting a modern as well as more classical interior. Silk is very elegant but you need to take care as it can be quite fragile. Cottons, plain or printed are a perfect choice for kid’s room and roman blinds as well as for a modern interiors. Light linen will bring a more natural and romantic look to your interior. A mixture with viscose will make your curtains fall smoothly on the floor.
curtains via The Shade Store - roman blind via Cottage Gardens - vertical blinds via Luxaflex - roller blind via Me Blinds
Having sheers is a personal choice. I never had them in my home and I’m only proposing them to my clients when they have neighbors who can look inside. Sheers will increase your privacy and they can filter the light in a soft and pleasant way for the eye. Bedroom and dressing are the rooms where sheers would be recommended. Those fabrics are produced in double width, so you won’t see any vertical seams. Often those fabrics come in polyester or a mixture: easy to maintain and they won’t wrinkle. Now you are afraid they will look cheap and shiny. No stress, there are amazing looking sheers that almost feel as a very fine cotton. You can have sheers in natural materials such very light linen but be aware stye will have a more lived in look.
on the left picture by Therese Sennerholt - on the right via Mr Woon
Roman blinds are the perfect choice for kitchen, bathroom, kid’s rooms and home office. They are very practical and have a clean look.
images via Pinterest
There are different types of roman blinds. Be careful when choosing the fabric, as for a more relaxed look such as swag, you need a soft fabric to obtain a nice result. There are two ways of installing the roman blinds: on top of the window or on the window frame. In case of installing the blind on top of the window then you have to be sure that you have enough space between the window and the ceiling, to be able to pull up the blind and open the window. You need approximate 25 cm.
images via Pinterest
You don’t want sheers but would like to have some privacy, in that case a layered window treatment with a blind is the perfect combination. You can play with colors, plain and printed fabric, different structures and you create a very beautiful window treatment . Also if you love prints, combine them. The only thing to take care of is that you stay with same color combinations. Stripes with flowers or stripes with graphical motives will look amazing.
How long should your curtains be? Long enough so it doesn’t look that the curtain got shorter after washing. How long exactly is a personal choice. Curtains that touch the floor give a tailored look, curtains that break or pool at the bottom give a more lived in feeling. You love those very long curtains, take care then that you go for a soft falling fabric. Classical curtains draped on the side with a tieback, need to be longer too, as once draped they will get shorter.
How much fabric do I need to order? Here you could use the advice of a specialist. You need the height, this is from ceiling or curtain rod till the floor. You have to add the seems, and decide how much it should fall on the floor. Now you need to calculate the total width you need. This depends on how rich you want to have your curtains when you close them. In general you can say about 2.2 times the window + 30 cm on each side of the window. 1,8 is the minimum and you should need 3 times the width is you want very rich and voluminous curtains. Now that you know the total width you divide it by the width of the fabric and this gives you the number of pieces you need to multiply with the length. No stress, where you will buy your fabric they will have a professional who will make the calculation for you. Specially when you have a printed fabric then you will have also some fabric that will get lost depending on the repeat of the print.
interior via Decoholic - scissors Anthropologie
Once you have the fabric chosen you can check for the lining. Do you need it? It will prolong the life of the curtains. Your curtains will look richer and they will keep more the light outside. When you have silk curtains than you really need a lining as the sun will destroy the fabric. In the bedroom you can opt for dim-out or black-out in case you don’t want the light to enter the room in the morning. Dim out will keep 80% of the light out, black out almost a 100%.
There are also options for interlining: this could give more volume to your silk curtains. Or you can have some noise reducing lining or thermal lining to keep the heat out in summer or the warmth inside during winter.
images via Pinterest
Where do you install the curtain rod? In general the curtain rod comes closer to the ceiling than to the window. It will visually bring more height to the room. In case your ceiling is very heigh than you should look for the perfect proportion. The rod should also be wider than the window. You install the curtains 20 to 30 cm outside of the window frame. In case your window is small, compared to the total length of the wall than you can even go wider than 30 cm and give the illusion your window is bigger. For curtains and sheers you need to buy a double curtain rod.
images via Pinterest
When your window is wide you will need a support in the middle for the rod. For a window that goes from wall to wall you might need more than one support in the middle. In this case take good care that you choose rings that can pass those supports when you close the curtains. You will find a lot of solutions in a specialist shop.
image on the left via Pinterest - wooden curtain rod Just Poles - curtain rod display Houles - modern curtain rail Pinterest
A track rod is often use in modern buildings, or as a cheaper solution than having a curtain rod. But those track rods are not very beautiful. In case you have a ceiling moulding then you could hide them behind those. Here you have to check with your constructor in time so he can prepare all installations. You have a bay window or rounded corners? Track rods come also in flexible version to make the the curves you need. There exist also track system build-in in a curtain rod, for a clean and modern look.
curtain track - cornice moulding Orac Decor
Next point to be discussed with the company who will manufacter your curtains is the pleats. Hand made pleats are very beautiful and bring an elegant touch to the room. Metal rings are more modern and very trendy for modern interiors are the wave solution. You see on the pictures that also those choices can influence the length of the curtain. Take care to work with a specialist to make your curtains, you buy an expensive fabric and than if not well executed and they will look cheap at the end.
different pleats via Pinterest
We don’t often see top treatments these days, unless in classical interiors. The perfect choice if you like a traditional classical style. Adding trimmings to the top treatment, also called valance, will add style. Draped or pleats, also depending on the fabric you choose for your curtains. In general the fabric for this top treatment is the same as the fabric of the curtains.
top treatment Pinterest - image on the right Laurel Home
A tieback is a must for classical interior, but not only. A modern tieback can add an elegant touch to your window treatment. There are options for every style and they exist in different materials or qualities.
The final look will be in the details. Plain fabrics can get a personal touch by adding some trimmings. The most simple trimming can make the difference. Add them in a contrast color, in harmony with the wallpaper, the paint or the upholstery fabric. And why not a touch of humor, life is serious enough that a small touch can have a playful impact on your interior.
living room via La Dolce Vita - final curtain rod Plume Objet Insolite - roman blind Pinterest - tie back Houles - trimming detail Holland and Sherry
When deciding on your window treatments
decide style and type of window treatment
choose the fabric and lining
track rod or curtain rod
decide the length you want
ask professional advice for quantity you need and manufacturing
the details will create the look
Now you can choose with confidence your curtains.
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