From Fabric to Finish: Your Guide to Curtains

Windows play a crucial role in the overall aesthetic of a room, and the right window treatments can truly transform a space. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the choice of window dressings and their suitability for your home then read on to find out more. For this journal post we are going to look at curtains.

Layering curtains and blinds can be very effective

Features & Benefits

As far as window dressings go, curtains are a firm favourite in the UK. Their benefits include softening a space and adding an extra dimension of fabric, helping to reduce heat loss from windows, blackout effect when using the correct lining and they are a great way to inject colour and pattern. Sheer curtains can also provide privacy whilst allowing light to travel through into a space. Curtains can be tied back out of the way or left to drape. Curtains can be lined or unlined and they can be made in a huge variety of fabrics.

Sizing

We generally recommend that your total fabric width should be 2-2.5 times the width of your window in order to ensure that the gather of the fabric is full enough. A flat curtain does not look that great!

With regards to the length, you could go ceiling to floor, ceiling to below the sill or from midway between the window and the ceiling to either below the sill or to the floor. You could also choose to have the curtains sitting on the sill if it is quite deep. A full length curtain will visually heighten the room where a shorter length of curtain can have the opposite effect.

There are generally 3 widths and 4-6 lengths of ready made curtains available to buy. These can vary between retailers and countries. If you are unable to find a curtain in the right size ready made then you may wish to opt for made to measure curtains which will be specifically made for your window.

A pinch pleat heading sits nicely on a ceiling mounted track

Headers

There are plenty of choice for headers too with eyelets, pencil pleat (3" or 6"), tab top, slot top, pinch pleat and a wave header (to name a few). Eyelet curtains are often supplied with a satin silver finish. You can select from a range of finishes if you decide to order made to measure curtains. Pencil pleat curtains benefit from a longer pleat in taller rooms. A 3"pencil pleat may be left on show or it could be hidden behind a pelmet or valance. Pinch pleat curtains need to be an exact length as the pinches are sewn in place during manufacturing. They are a lovely finish and can look a lot neater than a pencil pleat for example. Eyelet curtains also give a nice finish and do not require pulling in or adjusting as per a pencil pleat. Wave headers look great and work really well when hung from a ceiling fitted track.

Eyelet curtains can be hung on a pole and can be personalised by finish and finial style

Tracks and Poles

Eyelets, pinch pleat, tab tops and slot tops look great on poles. You can get a variety of pole finishes in metal and wood and you can customise them by changing the finials. There are also different diameters of poles so make sure you are getting the right ones in accordance with your curtains. For example slot top voile curtains look great on a thinner pole and lined eyelet curtains would work well on a thicker pole.

Tracks can be ceiling or wall mounted and you can hang pencil pleat, pinch pleat and wave curtains from them. They are usually cheaper than poles and they can be bent into shape as per your window. Poles can also be used in bay windows and if you do not need to open and close your curtains then the pole can be a lovely decorative feature when paired with dummy curtains at the sides.

Linings are generally white/beige but some cottons come in a variety of colours

Linings

The lining you pick will be dependant on where your curtains go and what you need them to do in that space. For example in a bedroom you may need a blackout or thermal lining and in a living room you may need interlining or just a cotton or polycotton lining. Test your curtain fabric and lining up to the light to see how much comes through as some fabrics are thick enough and do not require a heavy lining. If you are having curtains made to measure then do consider the cost of the lining per meter as well as the fabric. You could make a considerable saving by changing your lining fabric. You could also think about how you want your curtains to look like from outside. Perhaps a nice coloured lining could be interesting?

Plain or patterned, bold or neutral. There is a huge choice of fabrics for curtains.

Fabrics

Perhaps you will start with your curtain fabric as inspiration for the rest of your room décor. Maybe it will be the finishing piece of the puzzle and it will need to match with the rest of the room. Regardless there is a huge choice of ready made curtains as well as the option of having curtains made to measure. If you are looking to have curtains made to measure we would recommend a professional measure to ensure you have the correct sizes and at Robyn King Interiors we are happy to offer this as part of our interior design services. Retailers who provide made to measure services often offer free samples. Be sure to order some before making your final choice. This way you can see your fabrics in your home rather than only in a shop or online. Make sure to check the price per meter of fabrics that you like as this may help with your decision making. Made to measure curtains offer much greater choice and will be the perfect fit for your windows. Ready made curtains can be more limited but are a fraction of the price of made to measure.

To Conclude

We could go on and on about curtains and the above information is just the tip of the iceberg! We might even write another post about curtains but before that we look forward to writing about blinds and shutters. At Robyn King Interiors we seek to give you professional advice and design tips. We provide interior design services within Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Get in touch today to schedule a design consultation and start the journey to a more beautiful and functional home.