Bright curtains can pick up a dull
room like nothing else can, and muted pastel curtains
give the room cool undertones, writes Harkiran
SodhiGive character to your room
CURTAINS play a very important part
in giving a room a warm, lived-in and finished look. In
vogue since the 17th century when curtains were largely
used to shield the bed and give it some privacy, curtains
today do much more they give the room character
and a mood that is its own.
Bright curtains can pick
up a dull room like nothing else can. Muted pastel
curtains give the room cool undertones. Florals,
geometric, prints, woven, ethnic, classical, curtains in
silk, cotton, curtains that fold up or are pulled back
... the list of options is endless.
What are the curtain
options that are available today? Here are some pointers
on what is best where, as well as some curtain terms
explained. While selecting a curtain firstly keep in mind
the room it is to be hung in. If it is for the formal
sitting room then the fabric and style can be more formal
(and ornamental if you want), while for the casual
sitting area you can suit your fancy and try a more
casual, carefree look easily.
The number of windows in
the room influence the amount of natural light the room
receives, which in turn will affect the colour of the
room and curtain that you will select. The normal
yardstick followed here is that the darker the room, the
more light the furnishings and room colour should be to
lift it and give the room a look of being brighter than
it actually is.
The size of the windows is
another factor that determines what curtain style would
look best in that room, as does the climate of where you
live. In cooler hill areas coloured, heavy fabric
curtains look great and give a cosy warm feeling while
the same curtains in the hot plains would overheat the
room. Light fabric and soft colours look good in hot
places, though you have to ensure that if the window
receives direct sunlight, the curtains should be thick
enough to be able to keep it out.
French windows or windows
that run all the way from the ceiling to the floor
obviously need curtains that go all the way up and down
their size. Apart from this, these types of windows look
good with generous sized curtains in terms of the width
and their fall. Double curtains also look very good on
this type of windows, with light airy fabric curtains in
the lower rail and the heavy curtains coming on the outer
edge. In the daytime the heavy curtains can be pulled
back and secured on the two sides with a decorative
tie-back, leaving the light fabric curtains exposed in
the middle.
Bay windows also look best
with double curtains. A lighter curtain on the outer
window edge and a thicker curtain shielding the entire
bay give a pleasing effect. The seating in the bay can be
co-ordinated with one of the two curtain colours for the
best effect.
Long, narrow windows tend
to make a room look dark and out of proportion. These
windows need curtains that can give them an illusion of
extra depth. This can be done by giving them extra fabric
in the width that stays pleated, as well as the top
railing extending out a little more than the actual
window size on both ends. This way, the windows will look
wider than they actually are, even when the curtains are
pulled back.
Windows whose size and
look are perfect and look upon a good view should have
minimal curtains. Lighter, muted, curtains, which should
not try to detract attention from either the window or
the view are the best.
Fabric choices for
curtains can be bewildering, to say the least, from pure
cotton to silk and blended fabric, the choice is endless.
Each fabric has its own plus points and drawbacks which
should be kept in mind while selecting the right curtain
for your room.
Lets start with the
best silk. This fabric gives curtains a rich look
with a soft sheen that looks fabulous in any room it is
hung in. Though silk is available in both raw and regular
variety, its the semi-raw silk look thats
more popular for curtains. Found in a huge range of
colours, silk comes in prints, woven, as well as plains.
Silk curtains look great on windows that are large in
size like French windows where the curtains are long and
generously sized. This is the most expensive material on
the pocket, both on buying as well as in further
maintenance, as they will need to be dry-cleaned.
Cotton is a very popular
choice largely due to the cheaper price factor as well as
the large variety available in it. From woven, printed,
striped, checked, plain to mixed cotton blended fabrics
like glazed cotton, cotton handloom, ply-cotton, etc.,
the choice is mind-boggling. For those on a shoe-string
budget export surplus cotton can give you simply fabulous
curtains at a fraction of what the regular ones would
cost, and to top it all, they wont burn a hole in
your pocket even if you decide to change them every year.
These are some of the
popular fabrics used to make curtains as well as the
windows styles we have listed in this column. In the next
one we will discuss different curtain styles as well as
the various options on hanging a curtain.
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