At Florida Blinds and Drapery our in-house decorators will tell you that what finishes  a room is a set of curtains,  either stationary or operable, but if chosen poorly it can change a room for the worse.  Whenever we’re working on a project here at FBD part of our job is allocating budget resources to various parts of the project.  Drapery is always one of those items where it pays to spend a bit of money.  Beautifully designed well made and expertly installed drapes will immediately elevate any room.  With curtains and or drapery you can manipulate the architecture and mood of the room.  You are adding a great amount of fabric in a space– and well placed drapes will work wonders

Here are a few things that need to be considered

#1 – The Fullness

Traditionally you should be looking at 2 to 2 ½ times the width of the window for drapery fullness.  Example if your window is 4 feet wide, the ungathered panels should be no less the 8 feet wide or even better, 10 feet wide.

At Florida Blinds and Drapery we have an in-house workroom where we produce all our custom draperies to your home’s specific needs. With custom draperies you are able to customize the dimensions of your draperies to get the desired look for your room. Custom panels can come in an endless amount of design options, from the material to the header style.

#2 – The Length

Length is another option to think about when deciding about curtains for your home. You must first decide on how high above the window you would like the curtains to start. By hanging the curtains higher above the window, it will make the room appear taller. Most designers and installers hang draperies about six inches above the window frame, some even go for a more dramatic look and hang them higher.  If you are looking at ready made drapes, make sure they touch the floor, even if you have to buy the next size up and have them hemmed.

For a more traditional look, with the curtain slightly puddled on the floor, you’ll want to add another two or three inches to your length. For a modern, crisp look, have the panel fall flush with the floor.  Standard installation is for the drapery to be ½” to 1” off the floor.

#3 – The Functionality

When privacy is not an issue we design drapes that really only function to frame the view. Even in these cases when panels don’t need to close they need to appear as though they could close.   If keeping out the cold is a concern in your home there are certain fabrics that will help with that problem. Those include suede,wool, velvet, tapestry or even tweed, because their weight can help keep heat in along with blocking light out. Inter-lining your curtains- which is a piece of fabric that lines the inside of your face fabric- helps prolong the life of the curtains inside your home. By lining your curtains it can give them body and fullness, especially silk since if left unlined can lead to rot.

#4 – The Fabric

There are not any hard set rules about drapery fabric selection.  This is where design turns into art.  If your other furnishings are leaning towards solid colors, heres your chance to bring  some pattern or at least a pop of color to the room.

A good rule of thumb for choosing the right fabric is to hold up your fabric to a window, even if you are in the showroom. Take the fabric and pleat it like an accordion and the top of the fabric sample and allow it to drape. If the fabric starts to flare out and seems stiff it means that the fabric is less likely to fall nicely on your window.

Working with a big sample, of at least 2 yards will allow for the best showing of your fabrics choice true drapeability.   Fabric  choice, since the right fabric will dictate how well your curtains functions along with how well they will hold up over time. If the fabric is too heavy it will cause the folds to come out as crisply when they are drawn. When the material is too light it may cause the material to not fall correctly.Over time the sun will fade a fabrics true color.

If the room you are choosing curtains for  receives a lot of light, the best decision is to avoid bright colored fabrics since the are prone to fading faster. If you are thinking about changing your curtains every couple of years then fading fabric may be less of a concern. Neutral colors are a great go to for many rooms since they can blend into almost any rooms decor.   Fabrics that hang the best include: Wool, linen, silk, lightweight velvet and Viscose.

#5 – The Stack

When curtains are open the space the gathered fabric takes up is called ‘the stack’

Here is where you can manipulate the architecture of the room or window by playing with the stack.  Lets say you are decorating a room with windows that are definitely too narrow, you can expand the fullness and visually expand the window by stacking almost everything  outside the window frame.

#6 – The Hardware

Great jewelry complements and completes an outfit giving you a pulled together look.

Great hardware correctly specified and expertly installed will complete the window treatment

Much like the placement of the stack can expand a window, the choice and placement  of the hardware can also help a room.  We always mount drapery hardware as close to the ceiling as possible. You want to add verticality to any room add draperies and hang them as high

as possible.

#7 – The Romans

If you want to dress a kitchen or a bathroom and all that fabric is really not needed we always use roman shades which we offer in many styles from flat to hobbled to austrian  e.t.c.

They can either be mounted inside or outside the window molding.

When we do outside mount we make sure to add a decorative valance to balance things out.

At Florida Blinds and Drapery we have certified installers that will precisely measure your windows for an exact fit for all draperies.

When thinking about curtains it comes down to the color and fabric you want, the length and lining, and the benefits that customized curtains offer. With so many options it may seem overwhelming, we are here to offer advice on helping you choose the best option of curtains for your home.

Examples

The main attraction in this living room is clearly the geometric patterned ceiling. And stationary, soft-pleat panels hung at ceiling height do nothing to steal the spotlight. In fact, they help draw the eye up to the room’s canopy. Simple sheers and chocolate brown Roman shades do the work of light control and privacy when needed.

how to choose the right curtains - example 1

Red Panels Top

When a room’s personality comes from stylish pops of color, let window treatments help. Note the bottom third of these grommeted camel-color panels. Red fabric stitched at the same height as the molding adds to the color scheme and carries the low, horizontal line of the living room across the windows, creating more flow.

how to choose the right curtains  - example 2

Fresh Borders

how to choose the right curtains - example 3

An angled wall of French doors and windows is made more welcoming with the softness of tall fabric panels in a pleasing pattern. But the vertical yellow bands command attention here, echoing the height of the living room and allowing the sunny accent hue to carry more dramatic weight.

Floor-to-Ceiling Sheers

how to choose the right curtains - example 3

Lightweight sheers in vibrant coral and hot pink stripes zing across this dining room’s wall of windows on a simple wire. Pushed aside for an everyday look, they add drama when pulled closed for an intense wall of color.

Crowned with Opulence

Want all-out opulence on your windows? Indulge in passamenterie. It’s a French term that refers to the tassels, cording, braids, and other intricate trims often used on formal window treatments. In this grand dining room, silk panels and gathered swags are edged in scrumptious drop-bead trim. The crowning touch, however, is a pair of golden cornices that are right at home in this formal space.

how to choose the right curtains - example 5