How to Choose the Right Pair of Curtains for Your Home
Spending time choosing a pair of curtains is important; curtains and blinds which have been well-chosen can hugely transform your home and bring your living space to life.
Any interior designer will tell you that a good pair of curtains can make or break a room, but only when they have been chosen with due diligence and careful thought.
When it comes to curtains, it is mostly a matter of fabric, lining, and length, as well as whether you want some custom-made curtains or whether you are happy to buy ready-made curtains off the shelf.
With so much on offer, it is easy to become overwhelmed and get stressed out, however, there’s a lot of advice out there and we have summed it up here for you.
The below advice will help you narrow down your options and pick the right curtains for your home and living space.
Don’t go rushing into it, though; you should spend plenty of time ‘umming’ and ‘aahing’ over all the different curtains you like the look of before you go ahead and buy a pair of them.
#1: Look at Colour and Fabric
Obviously, the fabric is an important part of choosing a pair of curtains. The material which you choose will dictate how your curtains function and whether they will last over time.
If you buy a particularly heavy pair of curtains, for example, you may find that they do not fold neatly when you have drawn them, and a pair of curtains which are too light may not fall well enough.
When you are in the showroom, it’s a good idea to hold up a pair of curtains towards a window and see how it unfolds.
So far as color is concerned, that is a decision which you can make. Pick a color or design that suits the overall look and feel of the room where they are going.
You don’t want heavy brown curtains in a minimalist room which is made up of glass and bright colors.
#2: Their Lining and Length
Before you pull out your tape measure, you need to figure out exactly where you want your curtains to hang from.
If you hang your curtains from high up above the window, then this will make the room feel taller, and it is often the case that designers will hang curtains six inches above the window.
If you want to achieve a more dramatic look, however, hang them higher.
If you’re a contemporary and traditional person, then you may want to go with curtains that pool slightly on the floor.
It’s not too common to see curtains like this these days, so you definitely need to get your tape measure out and figure out how long your curtains need to be to achieve this look.
Make sure to add around four inches on either side of your window too; that way you won’t be blocking any glass when the curtains are open.
#3: How They Will Be Cleaned
Some curtains can be machine washed whereas others, especially heavy materials or those made from delicate fabrics, must be dry cleaned.
It’s important to find out how a pair of curtains can be cleaned as there’s nothing worse than making a huge investment into what seems like an ideal pair of curtains, only to find out that they have to be dry cleaned when you wanted a pair that could be thrown in the washing machine when they get a bit dirty.
Some curtains can be both machine-washed and dry cleaned so if you can get a pair of curtains like this then you’re onto a winner.
It’s always worth asking the retailer. And yes, curtains do need to be washed from time-to-time; they get dirty just like anything else in your home.
Dust, dirt, pet hair, smells from cooking and impurities blowing into the home from the outside can all cause your curtains to get dirty and look a bit tarnished.
We recommend washing your curtains every three-to-six months but it all depends on where you live, how they look, and what they are made from.
Lighter fabrics with lighter colors, for example, will get dirtier quicker and it’ll be more visible, so they need washing more often as a result.
Choosing the right pair of curtains for your home isn’t as hard a task as it may seem at first; it’s something that you can quite easily do if you put enough thought into it.
If you are really struggling to decide, then you can always opt for an online or home consultation, or contact an interior designer to come and have a look at your home and give you some direction. They can even do the entire job if you desire.
Don’t forget to read 10 Wayfair Farmhouse Curtains On Sale You Need To See too!
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