Any interior designer will tell you, curtains can make a room. When chosen correctly, window treatments of all colours, fabrics and styles can transform almost any room in your home from drab to fab.

Top tips for choosing new curtains

A new pair of curtains has the power to give your existing décor a fresh new look as well as finish of a newly designed room, so it is important to make the right decision. 

Fabric

Selecting the best fabric is an essential part of choosing new curtains. The weight and thickness of the material will dictate how your curtains drape and function in a room, so decisions should be made on a room by room basis.

If you want your curtains to be functional, for example blocking out daylight in a bedroom, look for curtains in a heavy weight fabric. Be wary however, if the fabric is too heavy, your curtains may not drape particularly well. Popular fabrics include suede, velvet, tapestry or tweed since their weight naturally blocks out light.

Lined curtains are also a great choice for room where you want to block out light or create a cosy and warm atmosphere. Lining is what give your curtains their body and fullness, so is a worthwhile factor to consider.  At Linens Limited we stock thermal blackout curtain linings which can be used with almost any pleated curtains.

Colour

Sunlight will fade fabrics over time, so if your room gets a lot of sun, it is best to try and avoid bright or dark colours as they may fade faster. If you regularly change your curtains, this may not be an issue for you. Neutral colours are popular with interior designers as they blend into almost any décor and are less likely to fade.

Patterned fabrics work best in rooms with a neutral and plain décor. Avoid using bold prints in rooms where you have already used a patterned wallpaper or bright accent colour as it can overpower a room, especially if it is small.

Length

When measuring for new curtains keep in mind how high above your window you would like your curtains to start. Hanging curtains higher than the top of your window will heighten a room; standard practice is to hang curtains 6 inches above the window frame. If you’ve got big windows or high ceilings you could go even higher for a more dramatic effect.

Measure from the top of the window to the floor or finishing point then add on the extra inches from where your curtains will hang from. If you are going for floor length curtains that puddle slightly on the floor, add another two or three inches to the length. For a crisp and clean look, make sure that the panels just skim the floor.

To ensure certain fullness of your curtains, measure the width of your window and then add four to eight inches on both sides, double the total number for a nice drape. This will ensure that you don’t have too much material that blocks out the natural light when open, but also shuts out the sun around the perimeter.