Ready to freshen up your windows but not sure where to start? Find out how to select the best blinds, curtains and window coverings for your room.
A number of variables go into picking the right window furnishings for your space. The impact of the sun and light, the purpose of the room and your personal style preferences will all play a part.
Here are some top tips for picking the perfect window coverings for your home.
Where is the room?
If you live on a noisy road, you may want a curtain and/or shutter to help reduce noise. The combination of a shutter and a heavy curtain will help muffle any exterior sound.
Similarly, consider your room’s orientation to the sun. How much protection do you need from the light and heat?
If you don’t want anything too bold, go with curtains a similar colour to your wall colour or stick to a neutral palette.
Spotlight’s are made from tightly woven thick fabrics, ideal for bedrooms or rooms you want to keep dark at certain times of day. They’re also an inexpensive aide to heating and cooling, helping to insulate your room in winter by preventing cool air outside from seeping through the windows and getting into your room.
Finally, consider how much privacy you need from your neighbours and how you can balance this with your need for light. The situation may call for a simple sheer curtain, or perhaps a combination of sheer and blockout curtains or blinds for different times of day and night.
Which room is it?
Different rooms call for different window coverings, i.e. a bedroom warrants a different solution to a kitchen.
Kitchens are essentially work rooms, so you don’t want a flowing curtain getting in the way while you’re cooking. As with bathrooms, kitchens are also areas of high condensation. These rooms call for blinds, which are more rigid, water resistant and take up less space.
Meanwhile a bedroom or living area warrants something soft-looking to help create a haven of relaxation and beauty. Sounds like a curtain to us!
Picking a colour
This comes down to personal preference, but if you’re looking at your room and remain stuck on the colour, consider matching the blinds to your walls. Go with a similar shade if you want to avoid drawing attention to your window coverings.
To make a statement with your window coverings, use a contrasting colour.
However, if you’re not into playing it safe, pick a shade that contrasts with your walls to bring some extra excitement into the space.
Finally, if you want a patterned curtain fabric, a rule of thumb is to keep the rest of your furniture, upholstery or bedding simple.
Setting the tone
Curtains have the potential to create some drama in your space. Heavy curtains absorb light and attract the eye, making them an attention-grabbing feature of a room.
They can offer a luxurious look, especially if you opt for ones with plenty of fabric, allowing them to drape onto the floor and gather in soft folds or pleats. Fewer folds offer a more modern, practical look.
Meanwhile a sheer, billowing curtain can offer a romantic feel. They still attract attention depending on the colour, but less-so than their bulkier counterparts.
Don’t forget the measurements
The key to a successful window treatment is ensuring they fit properly to your windows. Therefore, don’t forget to take measurements before you go shopping.
When measuring curtains, add a little to the length and width for a more flowy, dramatic effect.
Blinds will need to fit your window frame precisely. However, curtains don’t need to be as precise – you just want them to be a bit bigger than your window.
For large windows, hang the curtains slightly higher than your window frame to make your ceilings appear higher and the window appear larger.
Similarly, ensure your curtain rod extends beyond the sides of your frame so that when open, the curtains gather without blocking too much of the window itself. This can also work to make your window appear bigger.
article by realestate.com.au