Any professional interior décor expert will say that curtains have the power to make a room, but this only happens when you choose them correctly. When buying window treatments, you need to choose the color, fabric, lining, length and custom made or off the shelf. There are so many factors to consider which will only make you more confused. Hence, refer to this guide by Store Urbain when choosing the right curtains.
- Color and fabric
Fabric helps you decide as the materials will portray how well your curtains work and stay for longer time. If they are heavy then they don’t fold with a crisp when drawn. If they are too light, they may not work or fold well. The curtains must drape and pleat like an accordion. If it doesn’t, you need to reconsider. Try with a big sample with a length of at least 2 yards as the smaller piece may not show the true drape. Keep in mind that sunlight will fade the fabrics over time. If the room is bright, avoid bright colors. For materials, go with linen, silk, faux silk etc. Hotels tend to use velvet, suede, tapestry or tweed as it blocks the light and keeps the room warm. To prolong the life of a curtain, you can place a piece of fabric between the lining and the face fabric.
- Length and lining
Before measuring, note how high above the window do you want to hold the curtain at. Higher panels give the height to the room. You can go for more than 6 inches, but for more drama, go higher. Measure from the top of the window to the floor. For traditional look, add more two to three inches. For modern look, let the panel fall flush to the floor. Measure the width of the window by adding 4 to 8 inches on both sides and double the total for calculating curtain fullness.
- Off the shelf and custom made
Custom made window treatments help in customizing the window size dimensions to create a tailored look. They are also available in infinite options. And with these options, there also is a significant price difference from off the shelf options. If custom curtains don’t fit your budget, then invest on high quality retail window treatments.
- Washing machine versus dry clean
Know if you will wash the curtains in a washing machine or get them dry cleaned whenever cleaning your house. This helps in saving a lot of money and time. Remember that you can destroy the high quality curtains by washing them the DIY way.
