How Curtains Can Make or Break a Room

If you've got windows, then you need curtains. Not only do window treatments add beauty to your home, they provide privacy and block light. Some even provide insulation as well. If you walked into a room that was beautifully furnished but had undressed windows, the room would appear unfinished. There are a wide variety of window treatments available for every room of your home. If you need to dress a bare window or replace old window treatments, the first thing you'll need to do is measure.

Measuring windows should be done with a sturdy metal tape measure or wooden ruler to ensure precise results. Measure from top to bottom and side to side. You'll need to consider the type of curtains you want before taking your vertical measurements. Some styles fall to the bottom of the window only, while others fall all the way to the floor. If you're measuring for a floor-length style, leave a half-inch to an inch of space between the bottom of the fabric to the floor. This ensures that the fabric doesn't drag the floor. And, it provides room for vacuuming, cleaning and electrical cords.

After you've taken your measurements, it's time to choose the type of window treatment you want. This will depend a great deal on what room you're in. For example, a formal living room is ideal for dramatic floor-length panels, while a kitchen is perfect for window-length drapes. Your choice of fabric should be based on not only your style preferences, but also on how opaque and insulating you want the window dressing to be.

Curtains come in a variety of different styles. Some are simple, while others are ornate. Some window treatments are simple panels of fabric that hang in a straight line. Other people choose to tie their curtains back using a decorative tie-back. Valances are another adornment that are placed at the top of the window and can be hung a variety of different ways for various effects. The combination of two different types of window treatments on one window is popular with some. This most often includes pairing sheer, see-through fabrics with heavier, more opaque fabrics. This not only adds visual interest, it allows even more control over the amount of light in the room. The amount of options these days means there is something out there that's perfect for any window, in any room.

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