To select the correct curtain for a room, you must consider the width, the length, the fullness, and the opacity of the curtains. Curtains is used to frame the window in the room, and the size of the curtains will determine how the room appear to the human eye. Using curtains that are too small for the room may make the room appear more smaller than it should of be when viewed from the rooms center.
Using curtains of the correct size will make the room appear taller and more spacious. To determine the width of the curtains, you must begin by measuring a curtain rod, not the window frame. Measure the fullness of the curtain rod from one end to the other, and multiply that number by a fullness factor.
How to Choose Curtains for Your Room
The fullness factor will determine how much fabric will be used for the curtains. A fullness factor of 1.5 to 3 times the width of the rod are the standard. The higher the number, the more curtain folds will be created with the fabric.
Using a factor of 2 will ensure that the curtains has enough fabric to gather when they are closed. If there is not enough fabric for the curtains to gather, the curtains will look flat when hung and will fail to provide depth to the room. The length of the curtains is another critical measurement that you must consider when deciding on the curtains for the room.
Curtains can end at the windowsill or they can graze the floor. Many individual choose floor length curtains because they make the walls in the room appear longer. The length of the curtains is measured from the top of the curtain rod to the floor, not from the window measurements.
To ensure the curtains will create a gentle fold at the floor, add a half inch to the length of the curtains. Finally, the fullness ratios of the curtains will determine how much the curtains will gather and how much light will enter the room through the curtains. For sheer curtains, a fullness ratio of 1.5 is the standard because the curtains are thin and minimalist in design.
A fullness ratio of 2 is the standard for cotton or linen curtains. A fullness ratio of three will create deep pleats in the curtains so that the curtains has a heavy appearance for the room. A fullness ratio of three require more fabric for the curtains and will cost more money for the curtains to purchase.
Opacity determine the amount of light that passes through the curtain. Sheer curtains allow a large amount of sunlight to pass through the fabric, but they do not provide much privacy. Curtains that filter the light from the sun diffuse the glare from the suns rays but do not block all the light from the sun.
Semi-darkening curtains reduce the amount of light that enter a room when the curtains are open. Blackout curtains block all the light from entering the room when the curtains are open. People can choose the opacity of the curtains depending on the needs of the light in the room.
For example, people can place sheer curtains over blackout curtains to gain more control over the amount of light entering the room through the windows. The header determine how the curtains will be attached to the curtain rod. Grommet headers allow the curtains to slide smooth on the rod.
Tab headers provide a more casual look for the curtains. Rod pocket headers create a more formal ruffled look for the curtains when they are drawn. Pinch pleats is used for formal spaces.
The material of the curtains also determine the functionality of the curtains. Curtains made of cotton is easy to wash. Linen curtains wrinkle easy.
Polyester curtains do not wrinkle as much as other materials. People can avoid common mistake when installing curtains by mounting the rod high on the wall and extending it past the window frame. Installing the rod high on the wall makes the window look larger in the room.
Extending the rod beyond the window frame ensures the curtains do not cover the window when they are open. People should not skimp on the width of the curtains. Curtains that are too narrow can look flat when drawn.
Finally, people can steam the curtains after installing them to even out wrinkles and ensure they drape proper on the rod.
