Curtain design and fitting

The right curtains can make a big difference to your home’s style and comfort, so find out more about curtain fitting and design here.

Curtains are more than the cherry-on-top finish to your home. Although they are primarily for keeping light out they can also be used for great aesthetic appeal. In Victorian times curtains were a sign of grandeur; a house with thick, patterned curtains was usually wealthy. Although attitudes to curtains have changed in modern times they still retain their usual functions – keeping light out, insulating and adding variety to the décor of a room. Don’t feel limited to just one option though as it is entirely possible to have practical curtains that add a lot of character to the room.

Choose curtains that complement
your home design

Considerations when choosing a type of curtain

The main purpose of a curtain is to block out the sun. The sun’s UV rays can be harmful to your homes furniture in the long run, bleaching and taking the colour from it. A simple thin lace or gauze curtain will prevent UV rays damaging your furniture whilst also letting enough light in during the day. The thin part of the curtain should move separately to the thicker part so that you can use the thin one during the day and the thicker one in the evening to keep your privacy intact. The thin lace or gauze curtains allow you to see out of the window and others to see in, albeit only your silhouette. Although you can choose to have either a thin curtain or a thick one, it makes a lot of sense to have the best of both worlds and have both, hanging one in front of the other from the curtain rails.

It may not seem an obvious function of curtains but they can also increase your energy efficiency. A thick set of good curtains can keep your home warm during the winter, helping to keep your home toasty and reducing your heating costs over the colder months.

Some curtains are pulled across by hand, others are done with a hand held pole or a draw-string. Consider which would suit your home and lifestyle best. Again, these are not just for functionality but can be used to create a certain look or style, for instance having a wooden, metal or painted finish to tone with your room.

Why curtains and not blinds or shutters?

Curtains are usually considerably cheaper than blinds or shutters whilst serving the same purpose as well as increasing your energy efficiency. Curtains can have much more variety in their styles and designs as well as being more versatile with just how much light you want coming in and your level of privacy. If you do decide to have blinds, shades or shutters one of the upsides is they come in a variety of styles such as pull-down roller shades, roman shades that fold under themselves and pleated shades which can also have optional insulation, known as a cellular shade.

Choosing a design

What design or style of curtain you choose is entirely down to your own preference and what you feel would suit your home. There are masses of designs and styles available, from simple stripes or block colours right through to elegant, swirling patterns. Hire a professional to discuss what pattern may suit your home with the fitting expert before having them fitted for you.

JB