While all curtains and drapes should be washed every months, there are some fabrics that require more care and some that can be machine washed.
You can also choose to vacuum your drapes and curtains on a weekly basis if you are prone to dust allergies. Consequently, your decor will be more co-ordinated and harmonious. If you liked this article on how to choose curtains, take a look at How to Buy Curtains the Right Way! Send in your comments and suggestions editor livspace. In Diffe Know More. Livspace Editorial Team August 11, Here are a few quick tips on how to choose curtains that could help you: 1: Difference between curtains and drapes Pick curtains for privacy and drapes to block out sunlight The first step to figuring out how to choose curtains is to figure out what your room requires.
For example, heavier fabrics suit more traditional rooms while sheer fabrics work best in more minimalistic rooms Remember, each fabric falls differently from an elevation and therefore will look different when pleated and drawn back.
Low maintenance fabrics: If you are looking for curtains that need to be washed twice a year opt for cotton or synthetic fabrics. These can be machine washed if they are unlined or else give them your lined curtains a quick hand wash. A great option for those with dust allergies or kids and pets at home High maintenance fabrics: Any curtain that has pleats or swags must be dry cleaned regardless of the fabric.
However, wool, silk and sheer curtains must be dry cleaned or hand washed in cold water to retain their colours and shape You can also choose to vacuum your drapes and curtains on a weekly basis if you are prone to dust allergies. Your Interior Guide. Recent Posts. Popular Categories. Browse By All Topics Rooms. Expert Advice. Livspace Homes. Keep in mind that function comes first. Before you choose living room drapes, you have to know what their main purpose is and why you want them.
There are other important reasons to have living room drapes — mainly to provide privacy and to control the amount of light that comes into the room. These considerations will drive your choice of drapes. When it comes to choosing living room drapes, measurement is key.
Keep in mind that the measurements of the actual window are not the size of the drapes that you need. View in gallery. Hanging this evenly across all the windows in the living room will help make it look cohesive. This is a common question and as we already noted, floor length curtains look best. In fact, shorter curtains are just not attractive and are a very dated look. Part of the reason for this is that when the living room drapes go all the way to the floor, it makes the room look taller and more elegant.
As explained above, there are three ways to have curtains touch the floor. The width of your curtain panels depends first and foremost on whether you want the curtains to cover the entire window. Since this is a room that all your family and friends will see, this is the place where you want to get the best quality living room drapes that you can afford — whether those are custom or ready-made.
The short answer is no. Living room drapes have gone by the wayside in some homes, especially for people who are looking for a more modern or minimalist look. That said, they will never totally fall out of favor for a host of reasons — especially because they can play such an important role in the vibe of a room. After function, the look and feel of curtains in the living room is most important. Even minimalist spaces can benefit from curtains done in the right style.
From neutral sheers to Japanese style panels, variations types of living room drapes are appropriate additions in this day and age. How much living room drapes cost can be a loaded question because of all the variables involved. The estimates can vary wildly depending on whether you are purchasing custom living room drapes or ready-made curtains. Custom — sometimes called made-to-measure — curtains are handmade to fit your specific measurements.
That means you are not limited to any particular size. They also give you the freedom to hang them closer to the ceiling and still have them pool on the floor if you so desire. Even within the category of custom curtains, prices vary.
Ready-made curtain panels are available in all types of stores, from mass-market retailers to home goods stores and high-end department stores. These come in a very wide variety of styles and prices, and if you can make the standard sizes work for your space, you can have new living room drapes for far less than a custom order would cost.
Obviously, not all curtains are the same. As you probably also know, curtains can have different lengths. Long curtains that hang from the ceiling and go all the way down to the floor are very popular.
Of course, they can also be used to make a high ceiling seem even higher. If floor-to-ceiling curtains make rooms seem taller then short curtains must do the opposite, right?
Well, yes, in a way. They do have their own advantages. This is a very distinctive type of curtains which, as mentioned before, only covers the bottom portion of a window.
This term may seem a bit ambiguous but in this case we refer to those types of curtains that are long enough to hit the floor. They tend to have a more dramatic and theatrical look compared to others and they can help a simple space look more sophisticated. They are however not as practical and they make cleaning quite difficult. In this case, for example, interior designer Rachel Blindauer opted for a light shade of gray and a very subtle pattern, a combination which suits this elegant living room perfectly.
The rich, dark blue contrasts with the neutral-colored walls and the sofa in a pleasant way. Chose the color of the curtains and the material based on the amount of light that you want to let into the room as well as on the type of atmosphere that you wish to create.
We love how cozy and luminous this living room designed by Louisa Grey of House of Grey is. Also, they add texture and color to the already gorgeous living room.
A dark color can look super elegant and quite sophisticated without making the room seem dark and gloomy. Opt for dark-colored curtains which can be easily opened up to let more light in.
Let this design by Studio Duggan inspire you. The living room curtains can play multiple roles. Here, for example, they emphasize the height of the room, framing the tall windows and drawing attention to the ceiling.
At the same time they complement the furniture, featuring a color almost identical to that of the armchair. There are five standard curtain lengths: 63 inches, 84 inches, 95 inches, inches, and inches. Curtain lengths are determined by measuring from the rod pocket—which is where your curtain hangs off the curtain rod—to the bottom of the fabric.
Note that there are also short curtains, called tier curtains, that only cover part of the window. These typically measure either 24 inches or 36 inches long. Determine where your rod is going to be installed or measure from the existing rod down to where you want the curtains to hang—either the bottom of the window or all the way to the floor. Do this measurement in inches, since that is how curtain lengths are usually indicated in the U. The standard curtain width is 45 inches.
Types of curtains by length:. Here are the common terms that are used. Curtains come in a variety of fabrics. In addition to thinking about the overall look that you want for your windows, keep in mind the amount of light that will pass through. Heavier, opaque fabrics will keep out more light than lighter and more sheer fabrics. If you want lots of light to shine through: Go with sheer or cotton fabrics. If you want moderate amounts of light: Opt for linen curtains , which offer a textured weave that lets in some light but not all.
If you want the light to be all or mostly blocked out: Choose velvet curtains, which are extremely heavy and opaque. Blackout curtains, which feature a special lining that keeps out sunlight entirely, are also an option. The final step in how to choose curtains is to decide on hardware, including your curtain rod.
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