If you have little ones in your home, their rooms will look and feel more cheerful for them if you decorate with bright and happy children's curtains. The decoration that curtains add to the room won't be found in any other aspect of their rooms. Drapes with special patterns or designs will help to keep your children happy, having chosen themes that they are fond of.
Some design ideas will come directly from your children, so ask them what they would like the room to look like. Curtains will help to finish off the theme your children choose, and add to the enjoyment they get from playing or doing crafts in their rooms.
Little girls will enjoy a candy colored room, using the colors of lemon drop yellow, cotton candy pink and licorice red. Use your imagination – there are more possibilities. You can use the same colors for bedspreads and curtains, and carry the theme through with throw pillows and sheets in similar colors.
Children will be thrilled with TV or cartoon character themed curtains. Many fabrics today come with pre-screened cartoon or TV characters that your children will like. Comforters and curtains can be made in fabrics like these, and they'll make a wonderful surprise for your child. You can also buy curtains and sheets that already have the characters on them, and your children will love their room themes.
If you are creative, you can hand-paint curtains as special and unique as your children's imagination. They can even help you to paint the fabric, if you want their imprint on their room in this special way. Spots and splashes, which may be all your little ones can paint, can really brighten up their room. Select colors or designs that your children are fond of, or let them help you tie-dye fabrics to be used as children's curtains and sheets.
There is something special in helping your children to create rooms that they will enjoy. Finding the right theme, or letting them express themselves, is a bit of a challenge, unless they have favorite characters who can be easily found on pre-printed curtains and sheets. These days, you can probably locate comforters that match the design, too.
Stores that sell curtains for children's rooms will carry many different patterns and themes. They will also have the pieces you need to complete the look, like extra curtain panels and valances. Some of the themes include Crayola, Dora the Explorer, ABC's and sports team logos.
Select curtains for kids that show off beautiful and vibrant colors. You may enjoy buying the various items that will make your children's room very special. Carry the theme through in furniture, bedding and accessories as well. Your little girl might enjoy fairies and ballet dancers, or there may be specific characters that she is fond of.
You can find curtains for your children's rooms in local stores and through online retailers as well. If you shop the Internet, you can select and purchase your drapes from the comfort of your home. If you'd prefer to shop locally, you can get a somewhat better idea of the feel of the fabrics used. Wherever you shop, you'll enjoy selecting just the right children's curtains and bedding for your little ones.
Nothing shows off bay windows like elegant blue curtains. If you are looking to renew the decor of your home, or make your bay windows stand out, stylish curtains will do the job.
Not every home has bay windows, and this makes them rather special, and you'll want to show them off. Curtains of navy or cobalt blue will give your windows a more unique look, and a style all their own. You can keep the colors subtle if you want to make a quiet and elegant fashion statement, or brighten them up if you want to maximize the effect. A well-dressed bay window can make your room appropriate for a family dinner, a colorful party, or a relaxing night at home.
Bathroom decor also lends itself to blue drapes, especially if the color is prominent in your theme. Bathroom curtains are not usually expensive to buy, but they are certainly a necessity unless you have frosted windows. Take your measurements with you when you shop for curtains in shades of blue, so that you'll only have to make one trip out. Make sure that the shade of blue you select enhances the other colors in the room.
If you're still unsure of what style of blue curtains you would like to use, you can easily check out colors and styles online or in catalogs. You can view the items that sell the most, or select more unique drapes that aren't purchased as often.
Don't forget the other rooms of your house when you go curtain-shopping. Kitchens will look good, spruced up with cute draperies that make your room lighter and brighter. You spend a lot of time in the kitchen – maybe more than you would like – and it should be a cheerful place to work and relax. You may select from plenty of curtain designs and themes that are stylish for kitchens. You can buy traditional country style curtains, or art-deco designs, or pretty much any style you might want to show off in your kitchen. There actually may be too many styles and color variations, because the varieties will make it harder for you to decide on one.
You'll want to take the time to decide on what fabric will work best in your room. There are many weights and textures available, and each set of drapes has its own pluses and minuses. You'll also look into the qualities of the fabrics used, like ease of cleaning, dirt resistance, stain resistance and durability.
At the end of the day, selecting curtains is similar to selecting any other piece of decoration for your house. Take the time you need, and be sure that your final pick is really the pair you like best, and that they will last for a long time. Check online and in stores for the best prices, and remember that when you check products online, you can save a lot of price comparison time by not having to drive to various stores. Your room will look better and more finished if your blue curtains help set off the other furnishings in the room.
If you want privacy in your room, but still like the sunlight, voile curtains in a semi-sheer fabric should fit the bill. Interior designers use these curtains quite often for three-season rooms, sidelight windows, and French doors. They are also used around cabanas and pools, for an airy, tropical feeling.
You'll want to measure the windows in your room carefully, with a tape measure and a step ladder. Jot the measurements down, and purchase drapes and rods of the sizes you need, along with any accessories and hardware that you will need to install your curtains.
To install voile drapes on a rod, select those with wider rod pockets, and use a curtain rod made from wood or metal. You can also take a matching scarf and drape it over the ends of the rods, thus forming a top treatment, and adding more elegance.
For voile drapes with tabs, use decorative rods that run through the tabs. Depending on the style that you have selected, the tabs can slide over the rod, or they may fasten with buttons, snaps or Velcro® closures.
To hang voile-type curtains on French doors, thread them onto the rods, using both the top and bottom. This will keep the drapes where you want them, whether the doors are open or closed. They will give you privacy when they are closed. It's easiest to hang the top curtain rod first, and hang the voile curtains on that. Then you can thread the lower rod through the bottom of the curtains, and mark as you go, to insure that the brackets will be installed in the right place. This will also make sure that your curtains will hang in a smooth manner, with no sagging or gaps.
In a glass-walled three-season room, you can use voile drapes with either tab tops or rod pockets. Either way will work equally well, to help brighten up your three-season room. If you are hanging drapes around a swimming pool area, fasten the panels onto rolling frames or movable dividers, to give you maximum privacy in those areas. If you buy outdoor curtains for pool area use, they will usually have Velcro® tabs, and thus are adjustable for various sized of dividers or frames.
Voile is a cotton fabric that is very lightweight, and it really lends itself to sheer curtains. They can be the sole covering for windows where privacy and blacking out isn't an issue, or you can use them along with heavier curtains on windows where you sometimes like to let light in. They can be hung from a rod mounted above your window, or on a tension rod that fits inside the frame of the window. If you are using two curtain layers, hang the voile drapes on a narrower, lower rod than your outer curtain. Alternately, you can use double rods.
If you wish to make your own voile drapes, you can install a curtain rod and cut two voile pieces, with the size based on your window measurements. If you use more than one piece of voile for each panel, use French seams to close up raw edges. Hem the top and sides, and fold the top edges over, and stitch along the folds. Insert your rods through the drapes and hang them up again, and check the length to make sure it's accurate. Then hem the lower edge, and hang your voile curtains in the window for a quiet, elegant look.
Using vintage curtains to frame your kitchen windows can add a charming touch to the room. As many have said, they don't make most things like they used to, and this is true of draperies, too. It isn't difficult to find vintage draperies, even though the high-end types may be a bit expensive. You can usually find a variety of vintage and retro curtains available at flea markets or antique malls. Spend a leisurely afternoon checking through the many booths, so you know what is available and what the price range is. If you find a design that you really like, get the drapes at that time, unless they're too high-priced, because, although there are many vintage draperies available, you won't see many designs twice.
If you're a patient buyer, you may be able to find some pretty vintage drapes for your kitchen by perusing garage sales or estate sales. If you frequent estate sales, you can even check the drapes that are still on the windows. Everything usually goes in these sales, but the sellers may have forgotten to pull the drapes down as they set up.
Antique auctions are another place to find various types of vintage draperies. The downside to auctions is that your favorite curtains may be part of a group of items being sold as one lot. You can still find bargains, though, even if you end up with more things than you headed out to buy. If the bidding gets high, let a dealer buy the lot and then approach them about the drapes you were fond of. They may be happy to let your vintage curtains go then, rather than taking them back to their stores for resale.
Online stores and eBay are also places you can catch a bargain. There are many varieties of curtains and drapes available online, waiting for you. If you buy on eBay, check the seller's feedback to make sure that it is at least 90% positive – otherwise you may pay for something and never receive it. It's also a good idea to make sure they have sold quite a few items, so that you're not dealing with a new seller.
If you have wide or long windows or sliding doors that you want to cover, and they are different sizes than standard drapes, you can purchase pinch-pleated vintage drapes, in heavy or sheer materials, depending on the look you are aiming for. In a room that's more formal, a valance that is color-coordinated with the drapes will be very appealing. Since there isn't a pocket to slip over the rod, you will have to use pre-packaged drapery hooks to hang these curtains with.
You can use vintage fabrics to make your own kitchen curtains, too, if you have even very basic sewing skills. You can use self-stick fasteners or staples if you don't feel like sewing. These can be hidden in the back of your curtains, so they won't be seen. If no ready-made vintage drapes strike your fancy, use old tablecloths or fabric to make your own vintage curtains for your kitchen.
Curtains and drapes are fabrics designed to add decor to windows or doors, and to block out drafts and keep sound and sun outside. Window dressings are usually used to keep sunlight out, and keep the temperature at a comfortable level indoors, by keeping cold air out in the winter, and warm air out in the summer. They also obviously contribute to the privacy you feel at home. Curtains come in many different patterns, colors, sizes and materials, to fit your every decorating need.
You will want to select drapes that are easy to clean, and that won't fade after extended contact with sunlight. Some drapes are moved to the sides by hand, and some with pulls or press-buttons. Measure the sizes of your windows before you head out to select draperies.
In some homes, blinds take the place of drapes and curtains. This is often the case in apartments, where the management supplies them, in lieu of draperies. Curtains can be manufactured from fabric of varying thicknesses, each of which will have different properties of insulation and light absorption. Curtains should hang close to your windows, so that they let the least amount of air in and out, if the windows are drafty.
Sheer curtains are made from fabrics that are lightweight and translucent. They allow more light to come through the fabric, and are sometimes used along with other draperies, to let more light in when the other drapes are pulled to the sides. You can pull curtains off to the side when you want light in, with tie-backs, and you can open and close them with draw-pulls or cord pulls with a pulley system.
Fabrics that are not coated are used most in the making of curtains and drapes, and they utilize fabrics that are tightly woven, generally from a blend of polyester and cotton. Uncoated fabrics give you a certain level of insulation, since they are tightly woven, but the fabric alone will not be thick enough that it can absorb strong light. When uncoated fabric curtains are hung, you will still be able to see some light through them, so they are not effective sunlight blockers.
Coated fabric drapes are made by adding a rubber backing onto uncoated fabric drapes. These drapes absorb much more sunlight and keep it out of your home. The fabrics used in these types of curtains can have up to three times the normal backing applied, for even more dim-out properties.
The maximum in heat insulation and light absorption in curtains is provided by lined drapes. These are usually made with uncoated fabric in the front and a separate fabric, coated, behind. The liner is a simple coated fabric that doesn't have any pattern or color, as a rule.
There are various designs and types of curtains that you can use when you decorate your home. Don't stress out about hanging drapes – as long as you have the same type of curtains as the type of rod you have (or buy), hanging drapes is fairly easy.
Cheerful pink curtains can brighten any informal room in your home. They can be used in lieu of blinds to give a room warmth, color and whimsical character. Lined curtains can also insulate windows with drafts, control sound, add privacy and block light. You'll want to keep several things in mind when you are shopping for drapes for your home.
If you are looking for pale magenta curtains in a fabric that is not sheer, look for panels that have a quality lining. You won't pay much more for them, and they will be more than worth the extra money. Lining is an excellent way to protect your fabric curtains from the sun. It keeps them from fading, and protects your investment. It also adds a uniform, classy look to your house's exterior.
If you would like to sleep a bit later in the morning, lined drapes will will help keep your room darker and cozier. The lining helps to block out excess light, and that is a nice plus, especially for bedrooms. Make sure when you order that the drapes will cover the entire windows when they are closed. When you pleat curtains, the width at the top of every panel will be reduced to 25 inches or so. Un-pleated panels will remain 50 inches across.
Interlining is also available for drapery panels. Generally, interlining is a flannel type fabric that is sewn between the lining and the fabric of your curtains, and this adds weight and fullness to fabrics that might otherwise look thin. It adds insulation and a luxurious feel to your pink curtains. The interlining works especially well with silk fabric drapes.
You can purchase curtains made in many different fabrics, from the softest velvet to the roughest burlap. The fabric you choose for your new curtains depends on what type of mood you will be conveying. Also, you won't want to select delicate fabrics for use in areas with a lot of traffic. You can find quite a few curtains with stain guard protection that will protect them from your busy family and their everyday mishaps. These types of drapes are usually made from polyester, cotton or a blend of both.
If you order custom draperies on the Internet or from a designer, make sure they give or send you a sample of the fabric to look at first. Check and see how the fabric looks on the wall where your drapes will be. Get a good feel for how it will look before you spend a lot of money on drapes.
Panel styles can also affect the mood that your draperies will create. You can select from different styles, like grommeted panels, goblet pleats and rod pockets. Leaf through interior design magazines to see what styles appeal the most to you.
Check your drapery hardware, too. If you have drapery rods already in place, you can use them for measurements, from the ring base to the floor. If there is no rod up there now, remember that if you mount your rods higher, it will make your ceilings and windows look higher, too. Make sure that your pink curtains will be a perfect fit when you bring them home.
A door curtain plays a major role in keeping drafts out of your home, and in adding extra insulation. Whether you're talking about the back door, a patio door or the main entrance, door curtains will help you keep the cold out and the heat in, and in this way it can reduce your heating costs. Similarly, in warmer climates, door curtains can help keep your house cool, and shut out excess sunlight that might otherwise heat your rooms up.
As a rule, people use one curtain, not a pair, for a single door. Pole eyelets are an excellent option that will offer you a design that takes up less space, since the curtain will be less full. When you hang your door curtains, set the rod and hardware up so that the curtains will pull toward the hinge when you open them, so that opening and closing the door will be unimpeded.
A thermal lining will help to keep even more drafts from your house, whether the weather is very hot or very cold. A bump lining will help increase the amount of insulation the curtains will provide, by trapping a layer of air inside the curtains.
Most fabric curtains can be purchased as single curtains, which are the best for door curtains. Cotton velvet is a popular fabric for these curtains. Cold air generally stays closer to the ground, so you might want to measure your doors and let the drapery fabric rub at floor level, to act as an extra draft blocker.
A fully-lined door curtain can be bought in a stock size or made to measure for your own doors. The various types of curtains used for doors include pencil pleat, tabtop and designer curtains, roman blinds, valances, and door, eyelet and blackout curtains.
Door curtains serve an extra purpose, in adding elegance to a room and controlling the amount of light directed into your home. Door curtains are available in modern designs and French door curtains are made in newer styles, and designs that more aptly suit the window panels on your doors. Door curtains are now being more often made with new designs, patterns and styles.
Before you buy door curtains, make sure you accurately measure the door to be dressed. If you are shopping for French door curtains, some of the styles include sheer fabric door panels, soft stripe door panels, white sheer door panels and solid color door panels. You can go online before you head out to make your purchase, to compare various styles and prices. Prices will vary, according to style and fabric. Curtains should go well with your room's decor, and they should give your interior an elegant look.
If you are putting drapes on a French door, you should coordinate them with the curtains on any French windows in the room, so that they accent each other. They should be rich in color and gorgeous to the eye. A door with fancy curtains gives a finishing look to your room, and pleases the eye. The designs available for a French door curtain reflect the colors and hues of the countryside of France, and bring those warm colors into your home.
You can make a design statement with red curtains in your home. They have a practical side, too. Window coverings can lower your cooling and heating bills, give you privacy and block harmful rays from the sun – even the sheerest draperies will give your furniture some insurance against fading. Window coverings include lots of different types of louvers, shades, blinds, curtains and drapery panels. They come in many styles, colors and fabrics.
Whether your home has a modern design or a more vintage look, curtains can add to the feel of warmth. They can fit nearly any sizes and shapes of windows or doors, and they can be modified in many ways, to suit your personal style and taste. Curtains add to the appeal of a room, and they keep the direct sunlight out of your house during long hot days. They give you privacy as well, both night and day.
If you are doing remodeling in your kitchen, or exploring new colors you might like to use there, make sure that you have your other decorating decisions made before you select drapes. Curtains should complement your room, rather than becoming a focal point. Select the right styles for your room's design, and be sure that your budget allows for the curtains you are looking at. Curtains can be either very cheap or very expensive, or anywhere in between, depending on brand name, style and fabric.
Some of the materials used in red curtains include chenille, polyester, silk and cotton. Country curtains generally have a bottom piece and a top valance. If you are seeking an elegant style, you might select lace drapes or silk curtains. Sheers can be used with a shade beneath them, for privacy when you want it.
The materials of your curtains should be made to be fade resistant if they will be exposed to direct sunlight. The amount of sunlight each room gets will depend on what direction your house faces, and whether you have trees and shrubbery around your windows.
Curtains should be easily tied up or pulled back in rooms like your kitchen, when you want fresh air or sunlight in, or when you want to watch the kids playing in the yard. They should be cheerful and bright, and should fit in with the other patterns and colors in your kitchen. Take into account the colors in your countertops, kitchen flooring and tablecloths before you buy drapes. When you browse through catalogs for stores or e-stores, make sure you are looking at patterns that are suited for your room.
You can purchase curtain rods that will allow you to hang draperies in places you wouldn't have expected. Kitchen metal doors are an excellent place to show off your style. You can place drapery panels on a door by hanging them straight or by sweeping them off to the sides and tying them back. You can hang valances on a curtain rod as a full-length curtain or as cafe curtains. These can really brighten up your kitchen. Shopping for red curtains is an enjoyable experience when you decide on the style you want, and they will brighten your room for years to come.
Curtain tie backs can be as decorative as they are functional. There are many designs from which to choose, and finding one that goes well with your decor should not be hard, unless there are so many you like that you have a hard time choosing. The main purpose of tie backs is to increase the amount of sunlight coming into a room, by giving you a place to pull your curtain panels back.
Glass tie backs are an elegant and simple way to add style to a room, and they will give you an opportunity to bring unique colors, patterns and designs into the theme of your room. Glass tie backs with pressed patterns were popular in the mid-1800's, and were used to brighten up homes weary from war. Now you can find various designs and tinted glass, to add welcome detail to the plain designs of windows and drapes. Tie backs may have been used more frequently in earlier years, but they are still a good choice today, because they have decorative and functional purposes.
Drapery tie backs are very useful, for holding curtains back and away from your windows to let light in, and also to tie in common decorating themes from the room to the windows. Glass tie backs are a unique touch, when you also have used other glass hardware in the room, such as door knobs or lighting fixtures. The glass can be purchased in many different colors, sizes and designs, in order to accommodate any needs you have with individual windows. If your drapes are heavy, you will want to use larger curtain tie backs, so that the extra weight will be accommodated for. Lighter types of curtains like sheers can be pulled back and held by smaller and lighter weight tie backs.
Crystal and glass tie backs are still manufactured today, and many of them show off the same kinds of pressed designs that they wore in the 1800's. Tie backs can be an effective final decorative touch to a room that is already well-accessorized. A tie back can completely change the look of a window, to make even boring treatments more beautiful.
Larger drapery panels will need heavier tie backs appropriate for that extra weight. You can also use glass lighting fixtures and door knobs to replace worn and older sets, to update the look of the room. Using these along with glass tie backs will create continuity in your design. Check with an interior designer for input or browse home decorating magazines for fresh ideas.
You can find various tie backs in many home improvement stores, as well as in decorating store catalogs and stores online. You can compare the look and cost of many different kinds of tie backs online, to save you time spent going from store to store locally. Be sure to purchase curtain tie backs that will both hold your drapes effectively, and add style to your room, at the same time.
You can have a lot of fun selecting nursery drapes for your new arrival's special room. Window treatments can give your baby's nursery a comforting and warm feel, and that will be just what you're looking for. Choosing nursery drapes can be exciting for the mother and father-to-be, as you set up the color scheme and the theme for your nursery. It may be easier if you just stay with a few colors, if you're having trouble deciding.
You can pick the usual blue for boys and pink for girls in your selection of nursery furniture and draperies. Or you can build around any pastel color that you like. Bright colors are really not the best until your baby is a bit older. You want the feel of the nursery to be warm and nurturing. Friendly colors will make your nursery welcoming.
You can also go for the ultimate clean look and choose white as the color for your sheer drapes and accessories. Ribbons can be added for a touch of color, in pink or blue, or whatever other pastel color you like. Add accessories to your bright and clean nursery with white bedding and even white changing table and dresser, if you want to carry the color scheme that far.
You can create affordable nursery drapes with things that you received at baby showers. Receiving blankets make soft and warm curtains for smaller windows. You can hang them so that you get a bit of sunlight peeking through between the blankets, to make the room cheerier.
You can make clever tie-backs for your nursery curtains by using baby rattles or wooden blocks. String them together and use them to tie your curtains back in the daytime, to let the comforting sunlight in.
You can purchase nursery drapes that are ready-made and planned for use in a nursery, if you don't have the inclination to work on your own theme. If you want the drapes to look a bit different than the bedding, you can select fabrics with the same colors dominant, so that they complement each other.
Simple sheer fabric drapes can be transformed into nursery accessories by embroidering the alphabet on your drapes, using three or four different colors of thread. This theme can be made into a monochromatic look by using matching threads instead of various colors. You can also cut gingham circles from vintage fabric and attach them on the front of white sheers, for a simple and cheerful look.
You probably won't want really fancy styled curtains for your baby's nursery. The curtains can match or contrast with the other accessories, but usually, new parents match up most of the furnishings in the nursery. If you already have a little girl and your new child will be a girl as well, you can play into the girl-y theme if you'll be using one bedroom for both of them.
Make sure that your drapery choices will keep out sunlight when needed, like when your baby is taking an afternoon nap, or sleeping late into the morning. Thicker drapes will also stop drafts from making the room chilly for your little one. Choose high quality nursery curtains that will last as long as your new baby is little.