If you want to give your decor a lift, try dressing up the windows. You’ll soon see it’s one of the most effective ways to liven up a room. Curtains are the opportunity to express your individuality. So don’t underestimate the power of curtains to dress a room.
- An ever-popular choice for curtains, sheer fabrics are also relatively inexpensive. So, be generous and allow plenty of length to ensure the curtains form an elegant pond on the floor.
- Roman blinds, whether customised or off-the-rack standard sizes, are window classics that fit well with most decors.
- Checks and stripes are perennial favourites that feature well with plains. They won’t commit you to a specific room style and are a sensible choice if you’re likely to change other parts of the room, say in a nursery or child’s room.
- If your furnishings involve a lot of pattern, offset them with a window treatments in unfussy fabrics and trims.
- Choose a window style that suits the other furnishings. Select a fabric to go with other elements in the room.
- Hemmed panels with ties guarantee colour and interest without the need for tracks and their associated hardware.
- Some rooms call for a more formal look. The swag is the domain of the expert curtain manufacturer.
- Rods and rings are easy to install and make quick work of the curtain style. A generous gather can be produced by finishing the lined or hemmed curtain with a gathering tape and hooks or with permanent gathers directly stitched to the ring eyelet. Pulled back with a tassel or band, and with a sheer beneath, they’re an all-time favourite for sash windows.
Window decoration in a nutshell
Most homes can take a mix of formal and informal window treatments. Measure your windows accurately and note the level of natural light coming in, then sketch your design. Armed with this information, you can go shopping and get quotes.
Some rooms demand a classical window treatment, but not all styles require a professional to do the job. Swags can be a casually swung affair or have a tailored, pleated look. And remember, trims can make all the difference to a plain gathered curtain. The style for your window will depend on your budget, on the chosen window treatment and on the other features of the room.
Some window treatments such as formal swags and tails can be tricky, so call in the experts. One way to lower the cost of these treatments is to use a plain fabric with the patterned fabric in bands, rather than over the whole curtain area. If you opt for this kind of treatment, you can use quite plain fabrics elsewhere with just hints of the pattern in places such as the bed valance or cushions.