Window Curtains | How to Choose Window Curtains

Window curtains add warmth to a room, softening hard edges and making it feel much more inviting and of course they offer privacy too to varying degrees.

While you always have the option of other forms of window treatments such as blinds, curtains add a feeling of opulence which blinds can’t match simply because you are talking about much more fabric. Blinds are great if you want a minimalist uncluttered look but if you want to give your home a luxurious finish then curtains are a must to dress your windows.

Once you have decided to buy window curtains you will be faced with many thousands of different fabrics, colors and styles as well as custom and ready made options. It can all be a bit daunting.

If you’re not sure how to choose curtains, here’s our easy guide…

Modern window curtains and holdbacks

1. Which Room are the Curtains for?

If you are buying kitchen curtains it makes sense to go for an informal, washable style whereas lounge or bedroom curtains can be more formal and “dressy”. Bathroom curtains need to be able to withstand a steamy atmosphere so you would give delicate silks a miss. Novelty curtains are great for kids bedrooms but you probably want something more grown-up for your own.

2. How Much Privacy?

Think about how much privacy you need during the day when the curtains are not closed. If the room is overlooked you may want to add fine voile, lace or net curtains to your windows or fit a mini blind in addition to having curtains to frame the windows and draw at night. If you don’t need to draw the curtains at all, you can get away with dress curtains which would not cover the full width of the windows, use less fabric and yet still enhance your room as if you had full curtains.

3. Which Windows?

Windows come in all shapes and sizes and some are easier to fit with window coverings than others. If you have French or patio doors or a full length window you will need full length curtains whereas you have the option to use sill length or floor length curtains on standard windows. If you have windows which form a feature in themselves such as a small round window or a tall stained glass window you may be better leaving the windows curtain free so that the full shape and style of the window is visible.

4. Measurements?

If your windows are standard sizes you will be able to choose from a vast range of ready made curtains as well as an even vaster range of custom made curtain options. If they are not standard you will have to go the custom route. Ready made curtains are generally cheaper and you can take them home or have them delivered from an online store right away although your choices are more restricted.

5. Current décor?

If you have already decided on or carried out the decoration of the room where the windows are then this will influence the kind of colors and styles you select for your curtains as well as the fabrics you choose. As curtains provide a big surface area make sure they go with the other colors in the room. If all else fails pick a neutral color and use one of the colors or fabrics used elsewhere in the room as a border or trim for a coordinated look. If you haven’t chosen your whole color scheme however it’s easier to start with a curtain fabric and use the colors in that to guide the choices of color for the rest of the room.

The current décor will also affect the style of your curtains which should be in keeping with the general theme you have chosen – contemporary, country cottage, shaker, retro or whatever.

If you don’t know where to start, browse around online where you’ll see many pictures of window curtains to get an idea of the type of styles, colors and fabrics which meet your requirements.