Important Things to Consider When Buying Drapes and Curtains

The most beautiful home can easily be spoiled by one small but flawed design element. The wrong color of paint or a too-bright lighting fixture, for example, can ruin the mood of a supposedly cozy living area. Another possible hit-or-miss are the window treatments. The most glorious ceiling-to-floor windows can be ruined by an ill-placed shade or drapes with the wrong length.

Image Source: Budget Blinds

Indeed, with a wide variety of drapery types, styles, and materials available in the market these days, you can easily make either a bad or a good choice choice when buying curtains and drapes. The Internet has also made things both more complex and more convenient for your window treatments. On the one hand, there are literally millions of design references available online that—while definitely inspiring— might make it even more difficult to make a decision. On the other hand, you can now purchase drapes online from trusted retailers, which is ideal for those who don’t have the time to visit physical stores, not to mention the significant discounts you’ll most likely receive.

Despite the obvious challenges, however, there are a few considerations that might help make choosing your curtains and drapes much easier. Here are a few of them.

Function

This is the first thing you must consider in choosing your window treatments: what purpose will they serve in the room where you’ll be putting them? If you want some privacy, then drapes might be your best option. They are usually made with thicker materials than curtains, including more luxurious ones like heavy silk and velvet. Drapes, unlike curtains, are also typically lined with fabrics that help block out light, cold, and heat. These makes drapes ideal for gathering areas like living rooms and private rooms like bedrooms to make them more relaxing.

On the other hand, curtains are often made of light, even airy fabrics, making them ideal for a balance between privacy and allowing more natural light to get into the room. Easy-to-maintain curtain fabrics like cotton are ideal for kitchen, dining room, and bathroom windows. Cotton is also a good choice for bedroom and living room curtains, along with polyester, linen, and lace due to their wide selection of thickness, color, and design.

Image Source: Budget Blinds

Large French doors and glass windows, meanwhile, are usually dressed up with sheer panels. They provide a reasonable amount of privacy, allow the most amount of light, and still provide a glimpse of the view beyond.

Style

Style considerations include the type, color, and design or patterns of the fabric; the length of the window treatment; and the hardware that will be used to hang and draw them. Depending on the combination of these factors, you can achieve a multitude of looks, from simple and minimalistic to stately and elegant.

Drapes and floor-length curtains add not only height to a room, but also a touch of drama, especially when done in punchy colors like reds and oranges, deep yellows, or dark pinks and violets. Meanwhile, tiered curtains can add a sunny, country-chic vibe, especially in kitchens, dining areas, and living rooms.

Solid colors and muted patterns may be seen as more classic and formal, especially when they almost blend with the background. However, when they have a striking contrast with the paint and furniture of the room, they can also serve as an eccentric focal point. Bold patterns also work well with light-colored fabrics since the design will stand out more. This fabric choice for curtains and drapes work well in living rooms and dining rooms, where people gather and typically have lively conversations.

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Your chosen style should also factor in the length of time your curtains will stay up and how often you plan on replacing them. If you like to switch window dressings more often, you might want to invest in sturdy fabrics that are easy to clean to save on maintenance costs. You may also want to look into seasonal curtains and drapes—say, for extremely cold winters—that have special linings and fabrics to match your needs.

Budget

Different fabrics have different prices as well. Cotton is among the least expensive of materials, but you definitely won’t run out of styles to choose from. Cotton is also very durable and easy to care for, so you will probably incur lower maintenance costs. Linen and lace are a bit higher up the price tier, though not enough that you have to break the bank. They also won’t look out of place in more elegant settings. Meanwhile, velvet, brocade, and silk are among the most expensive upon purchase and also in terms of maintenance costs.

The amount of fabric also affects the cost of your curtains and drapes. Obviously, the longer and wider your window treatments are, the more you will spend. You should also consider the swags, valances, and other fabric-based accessories like tie-backs when estimating the cost of your window treatments.

The right window treatments can make or break the look of your home. They also allow you to express your individual style and unique personality. Choosing the right ones for your home may be a little daunting at first because of the multitudes of choices, but don’t get tired of searching. Trust your instinct, and you’ll definitely find “the one” for you.

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