Curtains: Still A Classic Interior Design Choice For Your Home

Window treatments provide an instantly gratifying way to decorate or update the interior and exterior of a room, and the most classic treatment of choice has always been curtains. The grand majority of interior designers feel that some sort of window treatment is necessary however minimal to add privacy, drama, and color to a space. It is also essential to provide differing amounts of incoming light into a room based on your needs throughout the day. Therefore curtains are practical in a functional sense and decorative in the sense of your overall design. Curtains can also make a room look more pulled together and complete. While draperies are available to fit every taste and budget there are a few things to consider before your shopping trip starts.

Curtains Are Not Just For Windows
Curtains provide a fresh airy way to divide rooms, act as informal doors, hide storage, serve as a backdrop for artwork etc. The same verities of curtains work for these purposes as well depending on preference. But, there are even designers bringing back stylish new versions of the 1960’s "beaded curtains" for curtains that aren’t necessarily just window treatments.

General Casual And Formal Curtain Arrangement Guidelines
"Valances" (short curtains meant to hang above your drapery panels on a protruding "Dauphine" rod) when used almost always signify a more formal curtain treatment. When a valance is tailored (meaning straight across and not gathered on the outside with the interior stuffed with tissue paper or other filling) is can be somewhat more causal but still a bit more refined in nature. "Tab and Loop Top" panels hung sans valance in pairs or larger groups are considered more casual and less fussy, just to cite a couple examples. If you must have a valance but want a casual look consider the "scarf valance" which is just a fabric piece that drapes over a rod of any kind in a loose flowing way.

How To Disguise A Small Or Unattractive Window
Hang a rod several inches to several feet above the actual window and let the length of the panels billow on the bottom. It gives the illusion of an architectural detail and a larger window space that requires such a long billowing arrangement. Also you can choose a curtain with a large pattern or horizontal stripes to add width or depth to a window.

21 Century Trends For Curtains
Almost universally big tasseled window treatments with ultra poufy valances are out of style except for the most formal treatments. What is more current now is curtains taking a cue from the fashion world. Big graphic prints are in rather than country chintz prints and just like in fashion right now black and white represents a big current trend in window treatments. Luxe fabrics (like velvet and grosgrain) and ribbon trims are also in style but not surrounded by too many fussy window accessories (for example if you have a “swag holder” you probably don’t want to pair it with “tiebacks” etc.) Green and eco-friendly design is also important with great allergy and mold resistant fabrics being offered. Sustainable and affordable fabrics woven from the seemingly inexhaustible bamboo plant are also another environmentally friendly option.