For Open Colleges
In recent years, curtains have made a comeback in interiors and I am beyond happy about it. The impact that curtains make on a space is huge and one of the biggest factors to achieving softness and a sense of completion in your interior.
Whether or not you are buying ready-made or if you should you require custom, first be equipped with a good understanding of your requirements because anyone going in green to a curtain consult will be quickly overwhelmed by the choices thrown at you and curtains can be expensive to get wrong.
While your primary consideration when choosing any window dressing should be about meeting your light and privacy requirements, this should not be your only criteria. Your window dressings play a pivotal role in the success of your interior so whether you want your curtains to be seamless or to make a statement, they need to be a thoroughly considered design choice. So before booking in a measure and quote there are a few factors you need to consider.
Block Glasshouse Master bedroom
Your fabric choice, whether it’s heavy weight blockout, semi blockout, sheers etc., will need to be considered based on your your light and privacy requirements and, of course, your intended interior style. Don’t be afraid to make a bold choice like a large floral or geometric, a two tone, or a timeless print like, ticking.
Your curtain consultant will also a provide you an option on how full you want your curtains to appear, which although is an aesthetic consideration, your answer may be influenced by cost. Naturally, the fuller the curtain, the more you will pay in fabric.
Block Glasshouse study
Tracks, Rods and Poles
You rod and pole options have their limitations and generally only work on fairly small windows. For the larger windows which many of us opt for in our homes now, you are going to want a track. During your consult, you will be offered the choice of a ceiling or wall mounted track and if you are building, you may be surprised to know that your curtains are something that should be considered in the framing stage of the build. Where the plan allows, build a pelmet box in your ceiling so that the curtain can be recessed. The end result means that the track is completely concealed and the curtain has a cleaner look and the illusion of appearing from the ceiling.
Block Glasshouse Master bedroom
The curtain heading style you choose will firstly be influenced by the style of your home and the type of fabric you are opting for. Tab tops and eyelet headings create a more casual look; pencil pleat is more commonly used for classical style homes; and s-fold and inverted pleat curtains are best suited to a contemporary scheme. S-folds are also the most popular and appropriate style for sheers.
Boheme display second bedroom
Curtain length
Allowing your curtain to puddle creates a sense of opulence and luxury but really is best suited to large spaces with high ceilings, such as a warehouse conversion. I would also avoid puddling if your curtains are intended to open and closed frequently, as you could end up with a very grubby curtain hem. A curtain just skimming the floor is my length of choice but allow for slight stretching when you agree on measurements, which a good consultant will do anyway. Keeping your curtain 10-20mm off the floor will ensure your curtain keeps its intended shape and is key to getting the most wear out of them. And just so we are clear, it is never OK for your curtain to end at the bottom of your window unless the window is recessed and you have a ledge to accommodate, like in the image below.
Block Glasshouse second bedroom
While your curtain consultant will of course be extremely knowledgeable and a great guide on what they believe is best suited to your situation, they are also going to hit you hard with a lot of questions and if you don’t do you homework you will be quickly bamboozled and probably too easily influenced. Let Pinterest be your friend and start pinning your way to beautiful, functional curtains.
Carlene xx
