Curtains and Drapes

It's common for people who are shopping for curtains and drapes to simply look for a style they like, take a few measurements and purchase the first ones that catch their eye. However, many people don't realize the power that curtains and drapes have. Buying the right length and style can make a huge difference in a room. Consider the following tips to help you find solutions for common window problems.

If you have windows that are shorter than you'd like, using curtains and drapes correctly can help make them look longer. To get the most out of short windows, attach your curtain rod just below the ceiling molding. You'll then choose curtains and drapes that will hang all the way to the floor, instead of just to the window sill. By using longer fabrics, you'll draw the eyes upward and downward, creating the illusion of much longer windows.

Long windows in a small room can feel overwhelming and dwarf other decorating accents you have. To lessen this effect, you'll want to incorporate a valance. Choose a solid color for your base curtains and drapes, then a bold or patterned valance that will hang across the top of your curtains. This draws the eye toward the horizontal portion of your windows and can help them to look more balanced within the scope of your room.

If you're trying to make your windows feel wider, hang your curtains and drapes so that their inside edge just covers the edge of your window. You'll then have the bulk of the curtains actually hanging over the wall around the windows. This will make your windows appear to be much wider than they are, and will allow you to leave the entire glass portion of your windows in plain view.

Finding the right draperies for wide windows can be a challenge. Your best bet is to choose several panels of curtains and drapes to cover your windows. By breaking up the space in this way, you'll create a distraction for the eye that will make a wide window less overwhelming. It also allows you to play around with different styles and colors that you can coordinate to work together.

These are just a few examples of challenges people can have when buying curtains and drapes. Before making your purchase, take a few moments to consider what you'd like your draperies to accomplish for your room.

Author Notes:

Candy Crane contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.curtains-galore.com.  Candy Crane is an author for curtains-galore.com