Your choice of window treatment can make or break a room. When choosing curtains for your interior decoration scheme there are so many things to take into consideration such as colour, fabric, which lining is best for your needs and of course the age-old question of whether ready-made or custom made curtains are the best option. With so many styles and factors to take into consideration, choosing the perfect pair of curtains can be overwhelming for first-time buyers.
Below are some of the main factors to consider when choosing the best curtains for your space.
Colour and Material
The type of material you choose is probably one of the most important aspects of picking the perfect curtain for your room. How well your curtains function, how they hang and how long they will last all depends on fabric choice, so it’s something you should decide upon before other factors such as heading style or length.
Think about how you would like the fabric to drape or hang, a heavy material will hang nicely yet may be too bulky when drawn. Whereas a lighter material may not be heavy enough to drape in the way you may want. The best way to test how well a fabric will hang is to drape a large sample next to a window. Fold the top part of the sample in a similar way to how the finished curtain would be hung and get a feel for how different materials move when folded.
Remember that as with most upholstery fabrics, sunlight could fade and damage the fabric over time. If your room gets lots of direct sunlight then bright, colourful material may not be the best option. Fabrics in neutral tones are less likely to fade and are often easier to style.
Your choice of fabric will also dictate how much light and heat enters the room through your windows. This is why hotels tend to use heavy fabrics such as suede or velvet, or blockout curtains as weighty materials block out sunlight whilst keeping the heat inside the room.
Length and Fullness
People often forget that the length of your curtains can make a huge impact on the look and feel of your room. Hanging your curtains higher to the ceiling will make your space look and feel much higher and can look extremely luxurious and dramatic.
When measuring your windows think carefully about how much higher you would like to hang your curtains as well as where you would like your curtains to finish. A heavy curtain may look best much longer, as it will be more rigid, hold its shape and will drape beautifully. This look is often best suited to traditional interior decoration schemes. Lighter materials will not hang as nicely and therefore might look best when they finish a couple of inches above the floor. For a modern home consider having your curtains fall flush with the floor to give a crisp, contemporary look.
When choosing the width of your curtains think about the fullness. Are you planning on using the curtains to block light or are your curtains going to be used purely for decorative purposes? If you want your curtains to block the sunlight then be sure to add six to eight inches to either end of your window to avoid unwanted light leaking into your space.
Ready-made vs Custom made
There are obvious benefits to choosing custom made curtains. You can tailor the look of your curtains to meet your exact needs and specifications. With so many fabric and colour choices to choose from having custom curtains made will give your space a unique look and you will also have the option to choose any header style for your finished curtain. That being said, made to measure curtains can be more expensive than ready-made options.
If custom made curtains are out of your price range then there are still a wide variety of ready-made curtains on the market. Just keep in mind that spending a little extra will ensure your curtains are better quality and could last longer.
Hopefully, the above points will help to narrow down your options and make buying your first pair of curtains much easier. Thinking carefully about each of the points mentioned above will ensure your curtains are suited to your specific needs whilst standing the test of time.
