Drapery is one of those things that most people leave as an afterthought in home design but it can truly bring so much life and style to a room. Without a good pair of curtains framing a window, it’s like getting ready for the day with makeup and clothes but forgetting to accessorize with jewelry, it just leaves something missing.
There are two main ways to add drapery to a window, one is through roman shades and the other one is curtains. Romans shades are good for windows that are too close to the wall where a curtain panel wouldn’t fit, or if there is a heating vent right where a curtain would hang. They also look real classic look! Curtains can make a room look taller, add color or pattern to a room, and of course, give privacy whether with opaque or sheer panels. And of course, for an ultra-luxe look, you can combine both of them which is how I have them in my apt and my aunt’s living room!
The roman shades in my apt and my aunt’s kitchen were custom-made by Claudia Clobes and they did an amazing job!
My living room drapery is Calico (read about my experience HERE) and both them and Claudia Clobes are custom-made options which are more high-end but really provide a just-right fit for the room.
Tips for Hanging Curtains
- In order to draw the eye up and make a room feel taller, make sure to hang the rod higher than the actual window and windowsill.
- Most generic stores only carry up to 84″ curtain lengths which gives you no room to hang your curtains higher. That’s why I like to shop online as there is a larger selection of lengths and looks.
- A common mistake is not having the rod wide enough on both sides of the window so that the window is partially obscured by the panels. A good rule of thumb is to extend the rod at least 6-10″ on either side of the window frame so that when the curtains are pushed totally open you can see almost all of the window.
- Another common curtain mistake is the ‘too short’ curtain. It does what pants that are too short do – it cuts off your room (leg) in a really abrupt way, making it look feel short/stubby and awkward. Avoid doing a short curtain at all costs.
- Let the curtain either slightly float off the floor, just barely “kiss” the floor, or for a really dramatic look, you can let it puddle. It’s fairly easy to hem a curtain so always go for a longer length than shorter.
Favorite Curtains and Roman Shades
Here is a round up of some of great curtains and shades for any look you’re going for!
