Three Keys to Upscale, Modern Window Treatments

Custom curtains offer many benefits and options, but with those custom options comes expense. With so many costs involved in a having a newborn, we’ve created custom curtain options that will beat the designer prices, hands down! You don’t have to buy off-the-shelf curtains. Let Liz and Roo help you with your window treatments and you’ll have a true designer look that fits your nursery, toddler room, or bedroom.

When planning window treatments, there are three major factors that impact the overall finished look: Length of Curtains, Fabric and Finish, and Hardware.

 LENGTH of CURTAINS

• Hanging curtains or drapes closer to the ceiling adds height to your room.
• You should aim to hang your curtain rods four inches above the window frame, and have the curtain rod extend slightly beyond the frame (to both the left and the right) This will ensure that the curtains completely cover the window and therefore do not let light through the window frame. You can hang them even higher (6 to 8 inches) if your ceilings are very high.
• Floor-length is preferred over half-length curtains, unless there’s an old radiator or something in the way that prohibits floor length. Half-length (which reminds us of 1950s kitchen curtains) is a thing of the past!
• We recommend panels have a combined width that is 2 to 2½ times the width of the window. For a standard 42” window, for example, two 50” panels will exceed 2 times the width of the window.
• If you want a curtain panel to “frame” the window (and not close), you can estimate fabric that is  1 ½ times the width of the window.
• Curtains should either touch the floor (more modern preference) or “pool” (sit on the floor) slightly. It’s your preference.

FABRIC and FINISH

• Sunlight can fade fabrics over time. If your room gets the afternoon sun, you’d be wise to avoid really bright colors that will fade faster than neutral colors.
• The fabrics that “fall” best are linen, silk, and faux silk.
• Lining is what gives a curtain “body” and fullness. That’s why we prefer custom curtains over off-the-shelf curtains, which are generally inexpensive but not lined.
• One way to customize and enhance the look of your curtains is to add a trim down the side of the two panels, or add a panel of a different fabric at the bottom of the curtains.

Looking for a bright idea for blackout curtains? We can make curtain panels out of white or light gray blackout liner, add a trim to the side panel, and you’ll have blackout curtains in a one-piece solid. These are inexpensive, look fantastic, and completely block the light!

HARDWARE

• Use upscale, high end hardware. Finials come in so many shapes and finishes. Don’t opt for the plain, metal brackets (the kind you find at BBB or Target).  There are many sources to find upscale hardware. One of our favorites is Williams Sonoma.

Another favorite of ours is The Curtain Rod Shop. They have hundreds of styles and colors.

If you want to pull your curtains back each morning, consider brackets in a variety of shapes that accomplish this with beauty. Here’s a woodland themed tie back (branches) from Urban Outfitters. It’s just one of hundreds of examples of tie back hardware!