Windows are one of the most important areas when it comes to interior design. It’s essential to get it right and to do your research, know what’s available and how they’ll affect your room in the process.
Here we’ll walk you through the design and practical options to consider and explain how they’ll affect your room and room design. By the end of this article, you’ll be in the best possible position to decide on the perfect treatments for you and give your home space a fresh look.
Room selection
The type of room you plan to put your curtains in is the most crucial factor in deciding on the right window treatment. Curtains are a great choice when you’re looking for a cosy feel, to warm a room up, and to feel like you want to hide away on those wintery nights. If you’re looking for a more practical or professional option for an office or kitchen, then look no further than blinds. Due to the harder materials used, blinds are an ideal choice when hygiene and maintaining a clean and hassle-free space are needed.
Length
Length only really applies to curtains, but curtain length can play a big part in the design and practicality of a window. The most common option is to go 15/20cm below any windowsills (unless you have a floor-to-ceiling window or patio doors). If you have an inset window, then just above the sill will be your only option.
If you have radiators below your windows, then you’ll want to consider this too. You don’t want your radiator to end up behind the curtains when drawn so you lose all that precious heat, and you’ll want to consider that your curtains may shrink slightly with the added heat, so you want to think about this when ordering.
Material
The choice of curtains and blinds is staggering these days, so you’ll want to look around to see the style that fits best in your home. Wooden blinds offer a slightly softer feel over aluminum, and for curtains, thermal should be your go-to for a colder and draughty room, whereas blackout if you want to block out that morning sunlight.
Quality
I’m a big fan of high quality, and curtains and blinds can be expensive, but you get a much better finish and hang the more you spend with curtains. A thicker, higher quality curtain will sit nicely and look fuller, as well as lasting longer and keeping the heat in your room better (or out in summer).
If you have unusually shaped windows, then made-to-measure may be the only way to go, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Made to measure will give you the highest quality and options to spec your curtains exactly how you want them with the best lining and fit possible. Custom made also opens up your options to use the same fabric on other furnishings to get that professional interior designer look! TheSnug has a great selection of made to measure that you can match with cushions and other fabrics easily.
Finials and finishings.
You don’t just want to think about the fabric and style detail of a window space but the finishes and quality of your curtains pole and fittings. Thicker curtain poles are gaining in popularity, but you may find it hard to get standard curtain eyelets to fit if that’s the style you want. With blinds, make sure you get the safest cord length for blinds if you have children, and trawl through the unlimited option for automating, closing, and shutting blinds these days to make sure you get the best fit for you.