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Design Tips: Curtains - What Style Will Work For You? -
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10June

Design Tips: Curtains – What Style Will Work For You?

By Brooke
5 comments
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Designers Collective Blog
Design Tips: Curtains, what style will work for you?

A couple of weeks ago we had our first installment on curtains.  This is such a big topic we have had to divide it into three different blogs.  Today is installment two of what you need to know before investing in curtains.

Headers

There are a few different headers you can get on a curtain and each one will give you a different look.  (The header is the large hem at the top that attaches to the rod). There are many ready-made curtains on the market these days and many of them have the pocket rod header. This is a channel along the top of the curtain that when the rod slips through has gentle gathering, which makes for a very casual look.  I think these would work well for a rental place or perhaps a cottage or anywhere you don’t really need high quality curtains.  These curtains have no real control system; you just pull the panels over to cover the window, so they are often best suited for curtains that will stay in place as shimmying them over the rod can be challenging.

They are inexpensive because they are the easiest type of header to make and use no more hardware than the rod. These can be found at most big box stores these days in varying lengths.

Along the same lines would be the tab curtain panels. Pretty much everything that we said about the pocket rod curtain panel will also apply with the tab curtain panels.

 

Pinch Pleats is a very common type of header. There are many variations on this header from wide box pleats to more narrow pencil pleats. It is considered a more formal header as it is more structured but could be used in a contemporary setting particularly if the hardware is contemporary. You will need to use a hook and glider of some sort to use this header which will make the curtain panel flow easily across the rod.  This type of curtain uses more fabric than the pocket rod curtain and if lined, these curtains feel like they have a lot of substance which can really add to the layering of fabrics in a room.
My favourite type of header these days is the ripple fold header. It uses a bit less fabric than the traditional pinch pleat but it still uses enough to make them substantial. They can sit right up under the rod sytem if you don’t want to use the ring and hook. It is a more contemporary look but I have used it in more traditional settings to give a more updated current look to a space and it has been very effective.

 

 

What About The Rod?

What type should you use? Again, so many different ideas here so we will narrow it down a bit.

When going for a very casual look, you could use a wooden rod with simple finials (the piece that attaches to each end of the rod). This would work well for a casual, cottage type application. Very often I will use a metal rod that ties into the other metals in the room. If the door hardware is oil rubbed bronze then using that same finish on the curtain rod will help keep the look cohesive. With either of these rods you will need rings and hooks if using the pinch pleat curtain. These rods are called decorative rods as they add to the decoration of the room.

Beach Style Bedroom by

My favourite type of rod to use these days is called the channel rod. This hides all the hooks and gliders inside the rod so that the curtain fabric can sit right up against the rod. This will work well for both pinch pleats and ripple fold. It is definitely a more current, contemporary look but I do feel there is longevity in this look as it has been around for a few years now and has no hint of disappearing anytime soon.

 

With all of these decorative rods I will use fling rods. Because these rods don’t generally come with side pulley systems to opereate the curtain I will use these rods to operate the curtain. If you don’t use fling rods then you will have to pull on the curain fabric to open and close it. This may, over time, cause some staining on the inside hem from the oils on your fingers. Fling rods are long rods that hang on the inside of the inside panels. You can pull on these to operate the curtains and they work very well.

 

If your room has a valance in place then a track rod system will work well. The valance hides all the hardware so you don’t need a decorative rod which is more costly than the simple track. Another advantage of the track is you can have the pulley system on the side which can make for easier opening and closing of the curtains.

 

As you can see there is a lot to know about curtains. Hopefully this will start you on the path of knowing what will work for you in your space.

Still stuck? Send us a photo and we can help answer your questions.

 

 

 

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Brooke Hatfield

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5 Comments
  • Elizabeth Dietz
    June 10, 2015 at 11:35 am

    As we are part way through the home buying process I am definitely pinning this for future use when we move and I can finally decorate my home the way I want to!

    Reply
    • Brooke
      June 10, 2015 at 3:08 pm

      OOOO!!! Keep us informed with your decorating projects Elizabeth. We’d love to see what you are doing!

      Reply
  • Justin Knox
    August 1, 2016 at 7:00 am

    Thank you for the help. I am trying to help my wife find new curtains and blinds for out house. I had not realized that there are different headers for curtains, as you addressed. What type of header would you suggest for durability?

    Reply
    • tina
      August 1, 2016 at 10:34 pm

      Hi Justin,

      The headers don’t really have a lot to do with durability. The headers are mainly for style— pinch pleat are more traditional, grommet are more contemporary, goblet pleat are more glamourous. Most headers are durable and will withstand the weight of the curtain. I hope that helps. Please let us know if you need more information! Regards, Brooke

      Reply
  • Auckland curtains
    August 15, 2016 at 9:52 pm

    For better cleaning, wipe each slat with a soft dry cloth or a paper towel. Another easy way to clean the blinds is to wear a pair of cotton gloves or old socks and run your fingers through each slat.

    Reply

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