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CURTAIN FABRICS |
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Originally designed
for purely practical reasons, curtains are a key part of your room's
colour scheme. When selecting curtains make sure you keep their
practical uses in mind to ensure that you select curtains that will not
only look good but that will also be functional. Consider whether you need curtains that: * Provide privacy; * Keep out draughts or keep in warmth; * Soften the window architecture; * Reduce glare; * Protect room furnishings from deterioration by UV light. If, for example, you are hoping to soften the window architecture, but privacy isn't that important, you may opt for cafè curtains instead of heavy curtains. However, if a bedroom can be seen from the street, cafè curtains may not provide the desired privacy. Your selection will depend on the color of the room, privacy required, how hot or cold you want it to be and the amount of light you prefer entering your room. For instance, if you want to optimize the amount of light entering your room, choose a light fabric with light color and soft patterns on it rather than a heavy drape. If your window gets a lot of sunlight, avoid using dark colored materials, as they will fade quickly. Other parameters you should keep in mind while choosing fabric for curtains is size of the room, the shape of the window and the color and upholstery of the furniture. If your are buying curtains for a room that is used formally, use fabrics such as brocade, damask, faille, silk, velvet or velveteen. If it is for an informal room choose from bouclé, chintz, cotton sateen, linen and sheeting. If it is for a casual room choose from broadcloth, burlap, canvas, corduroy, denim, muslin, poplin, suede cloth or tweed. Ask Mara's advice. Curtain linings protect the curtain fabric from coming into contact with the window, dirt, dust, sunlight and other contaminants, while also promoting light exclusion and insulation. Unlined curtains are ideal where insulation and light exclusion are less important than easy laundering and versatility. The steam and moisture present in rooms such as kitchens and laundries necessitates more regular washing of curtains in these areas, so you may opt for lighter unlined curtains, or detachable linings, to make them easier to clean. Ask Mara's advice. There are many window dressing options other than the common fabric curtains - choose from sheer curtains, pelmets, blinds and the list goes on. Sheer curtains are traditionally hung at windows to give privacy to a room that is overlooked, or to screen an unpleasant view. Since they become transparent at night, additional curtaining will be required to ensure privacy. Blinds are an increasingly popular choice, particularly for awkwardly placed windows and where there is limited space. Most of us have to work to a budget while at the same time trying to get the exact look we want for our curtains and soft furnishings. Here's a word of advice. Don't try and save on the amount of fabric you purchase just so you can purchase a more expensive choice. It is much wiser to choose a less expensive fabric and be generous with your fabric quantites. The final effect will be much more successful. At all times go for quality. At Family Furnishers you will find excellent quality at low prices. Within your budget remember that the cost of lining fabrics, sewing thread, curtain hooks, heading tape and other necessities soon add up. Color, print and fibre. Take all three into account when trying to choose your fabric for your window treatment. The final look of the curtains largely depends on the fabric you use, not just the design you create. Silk, linen, chintz and damask are wonderful natural fibres and remain classically beautiful after many years of hanging at your window. Consider the following when choosing your fabric: Is the curtain fabric heavy enough not to loose it's shape and look flimsy at the window, and is it light enough to fall into crisp, yet smooth flowing folds once it has been gathered? Choose your fabric weight carefully according to the look and style you want to achieve. Ask Mara's advice. Generally, the lighter weight fabric you use, the more casual look you will achieve. A heavier fabric will give a richer, more formal look to your windows. Both can look elegant when successfully combined with complementary furnishings. Once common mistake is to choose a fabric that is too heavy for your curtains, thinking that if you purchase a thicker, heavier fabric you will not need to line your curtains. Fabric that is too heavy, such as fabric intended for upholstery, will not fall properly into crisp folds when hung. It can look bulky and shapeless at your window. Gathering at the heading may also be difficult on heavy-weight fabric. A lined curtain of medium weight fabric will give you professional looking draperies and better insulation than one single layer of thick fabric. Ask Mara's advice. Patterned fabric Remember that some pattern will be hidden in the gathers of your chosen heading. An intricate headings such as smocking may look better on a pattern which is less busy to allow the design of the heading rather than the fabric pattern take prominence. Remember to take into account the measurement of the pattern repeat when deciding how much fabric you will need. Especially if you need to sew two or more widths of fabric together for a very wide window. Curtains made using fabrics with very bold patterns will look more professional when the pattern repeat matches when each drapery is drawn together. You can always ask Mara's advice. Ring the store and chat about your needs, we are always willing to advise you. |
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