How to Choose Curtains for Your Room

Selecting the right window curtain can be surprisingly complex. If you choose the wrong type or the wrong color, it can completely ruin the design that you have. Finding the best curtains for your room can lead to a flow in style that will have any professional interior designer borrowing from your idea for future projects.

Are you looking for curtains that can add an element of privacy to bedrooms and bathrooms? Will you need to block light from outside during certain hours of the day? Or would you prefer natural light to shine through your living room window treatments? Do you like to switch your curtains between seasons? And will it be helpful for your curtains to provide insulation in the colder winter months? Make a list of the functionality you’d like from your new curtains. These considerations will help you decide on the appropriate fabric, as well as whether you need a single set of curtains, multiple sets to rotate seasonally, and/or a double rod for a top and bottom layer of curtains.

 

After taking inventory of the functionality your new curtains should offer, you’ll have a better sense for which type of fabric you need. Heavier fabrics, such as silk or velvet, create more drama and give the room a formal feel. They also block light, provide privacy and insulate well. If you want a more casual look, try a lighter weight fabric such as linen. Linen drapes have a textured weave that beautifully diffuses light. For light-diffusing curtain panels that combine the relaxed nature of linen with the lustrous sheen of silk, look for linen-silk blends. Curtain panels made of cotton are casual, easy to clean and allow plenty of light to filter through, helping the room stay bright and cheerful. Cotton curtains are also particularly easy to care for: dry clean when necessary, and vacuum with a brush attachment to prevent dust from accumulating in the folds. To keep pleats looking crisp on cotton and linen-silk curtains, turn inside out and iron on low. Consider that the sheen and texture of your curtains’ fabric will add a significant layer of design depth to your space.

 

 

When selecting a curtain color, think about whether you want your curtains to blend in with the decor or demand attention on their own. White, ivory and other neutrals are light, airy and blend into the space. Rely on stronger colors like blues and greys to make a bolder statement that both adds drama and grounds the space. In rooms where you'd welcome more light, try sheer curtains that let the sun filter through and billow beautifully with a breeze. For more privacy and better light control, choose drapes that are lined. You may wish to bring paper paint swatches to the store to see the colors together in person, or create a Pinterest board to view all of the items together digitally. Above all, pick a color that you love and will be excited to live with, as the curtains will play a large role in the overall aesthetic of your room.

 

If you have patterned furniture or bedding, you may find it easier to coordinate solid curtains to avoid a look that’s too busy. Alternatively, our printed curtains turn windows into a design element all their own. And, like decorative pillows or a rug, they can completely change a space, from the living room to the dining room and bedroom. Subtle neutral prints, such as small dots or thin stripes, will read like texture from afar but surprise up-close with fine details. If you have solid colored furniture and/or bedding, curtains with a large graphic print can add more pizazz, making a bold statement that can confidently hold the space. You may wish to bring small fabric swatches from your bedding or furniture into the store to get a better sense of what will work together. Alternatively, get a feel for how the finished room will look by comparing online photos of curtains with existing elements such as rugs, duvets and wall art.

 

If you are still unsure how to use curtains in your space, I would recommend sketching out the window area and drawing in the drapes before you go out and purchase them. And, most important, according to different settings to choose the suitable curtains.