Nothing looks better than a well-selected set of drapery. The richness of the fabric, the gentle folds, and the play of light and shadow make drapery the most dramatic of all window treatments. In this article, we’ll discover why custom fabric drapery (also referred to as curtains) is so powerful, and how you can harness that power to bring your room and your home to life.
Choosing The Best Curtain Fabrics
It’s the full-throated celebration of fabric that gives drapery its power. Nothing showcases the color, texture, and natural folds of fabric better than a drapery hung on a window. And because drapery is simply a beautiful fabric, all the glorious details of that fabric comes through unhindered by seams or control cords. Drapery can be made with both natural fibers and synthetic ones—and with modern textile technology, it’s difficult to discern a difference. Cotton, linen, silk, and synthetics like polyester and acrylic that masterfully capture those natural materials, are all common. Whatever Bali drapery fabric you choose, you know that it’s of the highest quality and will look great and perform flawlessly for years to come.
Picking the right drapery fabric means getting in touch your style and what you’re trying to communicate to the people who will be living in and visiting your home. Because a drapery has such prominence in a room’s design scheme, the fabric you choose can set the tone for the room. Heavy drapery in a deep, traditional blue can set a formal tone. Sheer drapery can express elegance. And a bold floral or striped pattern can add a lively touch.
Drapery can also be layered with other drapery to produce a luxurious look. A common pairing is a set of sheer or light filtering drapery combined with drapery made from a room darkening or blackout fabric. Drapery can also be layered over roller shades, solar shades, and Roman shades.
Drapery is Durable
Bali Custom Drapery is durable. The fabrics are hand-selected by designers for durability. Your custom drapery will hold up to daily use and provide your worry-free operation for many years. Draperies can be lined for an added level of UV protection. And control wands let you open and close the drapery without having to touch the fabric. That said, it’s best not to install drapery in places where heavy foot traffic might mean people and objects get caught in the drapery or might damage it. That said, drapery is as tough as any window treatment.
The Big Benefits of Drapery
There are many advantages to using drapery to cover your windows. The first is customizable light control. By carefully selecting your fabric, you can get precisely the light control you choose. For gently filtered light, choose a sheer drapery or a light filtering drapery. For total light control, choose a heavier fabric and have it made with a blackout liner. Or, combine a room darkening or blackout fabric drapery with a sheer or light filtering drapery for a highly versatile set of window treatments that give you many options for privacy and light control.
Drapery Insulates
It’s no surprise that putting a layer of fabric over your window can reduce the amount of heat or cold that comes into your home. Fabric captures air and creates an insulating layer that serves as protection from not only radiant heat and cold but also drafts. On top of that, drapery can help to dampen sound for a quieter room. And all that protection from heat, cold, and sound means more comfort for everyone in your home.
Texture & Weave
One of the best things about curtains and drapery is the texture and weave. Choose a silky smooth fabric for shimmer and a sense of glamour. Pick a highly textured weave for a more organic feel and visual interest. Pick a textured brocade to convey formality. Or try a soft, thick sheer drapery that expresses beauty and elegance. No other window treatment offers so many exquisite possibilities.
Pattern
Bali offers a number of fabrics featuring patterns, both lively and formal. A floral pattern can be quite versatile, working in both traditional and contemporary settings. More formal patterns can elevate your décor and match well with antiques, handcrafted woodwork, and other traditional design elements. If you’re looking to make your drapery a focal point of the room, choose a pattern.
How To Choose Curtains and Drapery for Every Room
Here are some simple suggestions to help you pick the right drapery for every room in your home.
Living Room Curtains
Sheer, light filtering, and room darkening fabrics all work well in living rooms where privacy is less important than bedrooms or bathrooms. And because living rooms tend to be places where visitors are entertained, carefully select curtains that fit your style. Go bold, stay traditional, or present a modern design philosophy—it’s up to you.
Bedroom Curtains
Bedrooms are where blackout shades are most at home. Choose cozy fabrics and soothing colors. Bedrooms are a great place to layer drapery over other window treatments like roller shades.
Kitchen Curtains
Drapery can be hung in kitchens as long as the fabrics are safely away from water, excessive heat, grease, and dirty hands. Many people opt for drapery in light filtering fabrics that allow light into the kitchen while maintaining some privacy.
Bathroom Curtains
Can drapery go in the bathroom? It all depends on the bathroom. Small bathrooms with poor ventilation are not good places for drapery. But a large, airy bathroom with proper ventilation can be great for drapery. Most people opt for lighter colored fabrics over privacy glass or layered over shades that can provide privacy.
Home Office Curtains
Any home office can be outfitted with drapery. Choose colors that enliven and invigorate.
How To Select Curtain Colors
What’s the key to picking the right drapery color? Your own personal taste. If you like it, it’s probably the right color for you. That said, there are a few guidelines that can help you narrow down your choices.
- Darker colors can convey formality.
- Brighter colors can elevate the mood of a room.
- Contrast creates excitement.
- Harmonious color selection can generate calm.
- Warm colors can be friendly and relaxing to many people.
- Cooler colors can be calming and promote focus.
Take all of the above with a grain of salt. Only you know how a color can make you feel. That’s why your first consideration should always be a color or set of colors that you like.
While color is important for all your design elements, drapery color is especially important. That’s because drapery presents such a large swath or color to the viewer. You can’t help but notice the color of curtains in a room. Start with the guidelines you see above and then work discover what colors make you feel good.
Color Trends
Decorators have been using neutrals and warm neutrals for many years now. And for good reason. This family of decorating colors create an excellent backdrop for other room elements. There’s a timelessness to neutrals, and they’re especially good for rooms with a modern aesthetic.Jewel tones have become popular with some homeowners in recent years. The reds, blues, and green jewel tones make a bold statement.
And right now, beiges and browns are having their day. There’s a broad range of browns, ranging from chocolatey to warm.
But the king of all colors is white. Many modern design schemes use white as their underpinning. There is a clean, fresh feel to any white room, and no other color can create as much contrast as white. Choose a bright white, off white, warm white, or cool white.
Dressing Up Your Drapes: How to Choose Curtain Rods and Accessories
When ordering your drapery, you’ll have a number of different options. Pleated drapery has fabric that has been pinched together at the top for additional decoration. Grommet top drapery is quite popular—it’s large grommets move easily across the curtain rod and provide visual interest. And rod pocket drapery is traditionally used on lighter fabrics. Your drapery can be mounted to the ceiling if there isn’t a way to wall mount it. And if you want two sets of drapery, there are double rod systems that make this possible.
Measuring For Curtains and Drapery
There’s nothing difficult about measuring your windows for Bali Custom Drapery. Only three measurements are necessary:
1. Face width of the curtain rod
2. Projection of the curtain rod
3. Length of the drapery
The third measurement depends on how far down you want your drapery to hang. The length is measured from where you want to mount your drapery to the wall down to the bottom hem of the drapery. There are five basic lengths that most people choose:
1. Sill length—Runs down to the sill for a casual feel.
2. Apron length—Runs just past the bottom of the window apron for a tidy look.
3. Floor length—Stops two inches from the floor for a modern look.
4. Trouser length—The drapery breaks at the floor for a sophisticated look.
5. Puddle length—The fabric piles on the floor for a dramatic look.
Find complete information on measuring for Bali Custom Drapery.
Final Thoughts
Curtains offer a world of interior design opportunity. Discover the amazing power of fabric and build a set of drapery that expresses who you are and meets all your light control and privacy needs. Whether you’re decorating your living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, or home office, you’ll find a drapery that will serve you well for years to come.
One of the best things about taking on DIY projects in your home is the satisfaction in knowing you created this design effect for yourself. And a DIY drapery project can provide a lot of satisfaction.
