6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying Curtains

Need new curtains, but feeling a bit stuck?

Decorating with window treatments can be an overwhelming process.  And with so many options such as curtains, blinds and shutters to pick and choose from, we don’t blame you for feeling confused.

So, before you head out on your curtain shopping venture, we have some questions for you to ask yourself:

Who will use the room I’m decorating? 

It’s important to consider who will use the room.  For example, if the curtains are for a child’s room, then perhaps you might be looking for something a little less heavy and more colourful and patterned.

If the curtains are for a room the whole family regularly uses, then you may want to keep them all in mind.

What do I want to achieve?

Consider the purpose of the room you are decorating and think about what you want to achieve with your new curtains – Do you want curtains to impress? Brighten? Darken? Provide privacy? Warm up the room? Keep the heat away?

As curtains can be both attractive and practical, knowing what you want from them will make deciding far easier.

What style do I want to go for?

The style you want to go for will depend on your choice of fabric.

If you’re looking for a luxurious look, then velvet may be an option.  If you want something light and graceful, then sheers are the way to go, although they don’t offer much in the way of privacy.

How high is my ceiling and how big is my room?

Curtains take up a large amount of visual space and will have a huge impact on the look of your room.  Therefore, thinking about the height of your ceiling and measuring it is an important part of choosing which curtains will fit your room best.

How big is my window?

The size of your window is one of the most important aspects to choosing your curtains.

Here’s how you measure it:

• Measure the height from rod to floor. Remember to consider the height of the rings/hanging hardware and how much space you would like between the curtains and the floor.
• When measuring the width of your window, consider how full you want your curtain to be.

Want a draped look?  Then the curtain should be three times as wide as the window. Prefer a tailored look? A good standard is curtain panels two inches wider than the window.

Do I need to consider any other costs?

Don’t forget that curtains don’t hang up all by themselves. Have you thought about what else you might need?

Curtain rods and hooks are required and you may even need help installing them.  So, it’s important to think about what type of rods you prefer or which ones will best match your choice of fabric too, as well as the costs involved. If you decide to go with blinds or shutters, you will have to get them custom sized and most likely professionally installed.

Ready to talk to us about what you want?  Contact us today, we can come to you so you can discuss your options, get some measuring done and receive a free, detailed quote.