The choice of curtains plays a very important role, because often it depends on them how the room will look visually. They give the room a mood and a special charm.
When making curtains to order, you can face a lot of mistakes, which can be corrected only by buying new ones. How to buy the perfect curtains to find the necessary colors and materials without additional worries and costs? We will tell you in our article.
The concept of choosing curtains for the interior
To stock up on beautiful pictures and original ideas is not enough to make the curtains fit perfectly into the interior. It is not necessary to hire a designer or make complex calculations here, you can contact a consultant from the store to make a choice. Study the information in detail, choose the type and texture of the fabric, find a suitable color or pattern.
How to choose the width of curtains
Usually, when ordering curtains, they rely on the width of the wall, which is not at all correct. As a result, there are narrow curtains on the window, which do not cope with their direct function – protection from sunlight during the day and from lanterns and headlights at night.
To calculate the width correctly, you need to measure the length of the rod. Accordingly, it is purchased and hung in advance. In addition, you need to decide on the type of attachment. These can be eyelets, clips and hinges that will become part of the decor, or webbing and hidden clips that will be hidden from the eyes and will not distract attention from the composition on the window.
There is such a thing as the volume or the coefficient of assembly of curtains — this is the ratio of the width of the curtain to the length of the rod. Excess fabric is used for drapery.
- The minimum coefficient is assumed to be 1.5 if you do not need strong folds or curtains perform only a decorative function.
- Coefficient 2 is the generally accepted standard for dense fabrics, such a width will provide a beautiful wave or folds both closed and open.
- A coefficient of 2.5 or more is advised by professional designers to create the most interesting composition on the windows. This is accepted for dense, heavy materials, for light fabrics, the coefficient increases by 0.5 to preserve airiness.
As already mentioned, the width is selected depending on the length of the rod and the desired build factor. But you don’t need to cover the entire wall with a curtain, especially if their shades are similar. It is not for nothing that designers advise when combining colors to choose curtains with trim at the edges to separate them from the wall and highlight the windows. So visually the room becomes wider.
The only place where curtains with a width of the entire wall are applicable is panoramic windows or balconies. But even here you need to carefully select the width and make a reserve for draperies or choose the French version of roller blinds for decoration.
How to calculate and choose the length of curtains
Here the choice is yours. Usually choose from 4 options:
- short;
- up to the windowsill;
- long;
- lying on the floor.
After determining the desired length, you can start measuring. The basic rule is to start measuring not the height of the window, but the length of the wall from the rod. After that, you can already calculate the length of the fabric for curtains.
When choosing curtains that will fall to the floor, designers advise to think several times. Of course, they look luxurious, especially in photos, but they are the least suitable for daily use. Most likely, they will gather a lot of dust and it is very inconvenient to straighten them several times a day.
Long curtains are the most common window decoration option. They are elegant and multifunctional. There are a huge number of options.
If you liked the cropped curtains, there are 2 design options:
- slightly above the window sill;
- a little below the window sill.
To calculate the length of the curtain, measure the length from the rod to the window sill, and then subtract or add the required length.
Such curtains are most often used for the kitchen. They protect from unnecessary light, but do not close the radiator, which is important during the heating season.
Choosing the material for curtains
When choosing a fabric for windows, it is important to determine the function of curtains: whether they will only be a decor or their main function of sun protection will also be performed. In addition, the choice of fabric for curtains is influenced by the location of the room.
For a dark room with windows to the north, translucent tulle or light curtains made of natural fabrics will be enough to prevent semi-darkness in the room.
If the room is sunny and the light interferes during the day or street lighting gets into the windows at night, it is worth considering a multi-level composition of translucent materials and dense dark fabric. There are materials with a darkening effect that best protect from sunlight. This is perfect for a bedroom or a children’s room.
In addition, you can complement the selected composition with a roller blind and blinds that will save you from bright light. The choice of colors, patterns and textures allows you to make a choice for every taste. You can also choose an option with a dimming effect or the ability to adjust day-night. Roller blinds or blinds can act as an independent window decor.
It’s no secret that poorly chosen textiles can spoil a good impression of a stylish room.
A good fabric should be wear-resistant, resistant to sunlight and easy to care for. Jacquard, linen, cotton or satin will work well. They can be dense or light. There are a huge number of variants of patterns, ornaments, shades. Velvet, velour or silk are suitable for living rooms, but these fabrics are difficult to care for, and they are very easy to overload the interior. It is better to replace them with lighter fabrics with textile ornaments or spraying.
As for the color scheme and texture of the material, the main role is played by the style of the interior and the shades of the decoration of the room and furniture. You can choose both contrasting colors, which will make the window the main accent in the room, or emphasize the overall style, and use other accessories for the accent. Pastel and neutral tones are suitable for any style of interior and furniture, curtains made of any fabric look advantageous in such colors. A variety of ornaments are very popular. Their choice is also great: geometry, flora and flowers, ethnicity, even photo curtains. The main rules here will be compatibility and measure.
It is worth abandoning too complex designs on windows with a large number of accessories. You can arrange simple draperies with the help of original selections or choose an interesting rod. In general, curtains should visually increase the space of the room and add mobility and freedom to the room. Therefore, any options that lower the ceilings or narrow the room must be abandoned in favor of a concise design and simplicity of forms.
Very often the use of tulle is not justified and only brings inconvenience: it needs to be changed more often, fabrics for a light curtain need much more, with gusts of wind it flutters, which may not be safe.
The trend for multi-level compositions on windows has long been in the past, and tulle can be used in the interior if necessary or a great desire. For example, in dark rooms, so as not to darken the space even more, or in small rooms where heavy fabrics will look bulky. In addition, tulle in the usual sense is increasingly being replaced with translucent curtains made of natural fabrics in light colors.
If the use of tulle is necessary for additional darkening of the room or for protection from sunlight, blinds or roller blinds will perfectly cope with this role. They can be used both in a set with curtains, and independently. In addition, these curtains are suitable for any room in the apartment, it is only necessary to change the shade or texture to maintain the overall style of the room.