Surrender To White Curtains

Out of all the colors available to us, white is the one that holds the most symbolism, not only in western culture, but throughout the world, and indeed throughout the ages. The color white is symbolic of purity and cleanliness. Many people view it as being a symbol of extreme good, a polar opposite to black. In Asian culture, black and white are used in symbolism such as the yin yang symbol, to portray the opposite sides of the spectrum in life, and how they interact with each other to create an all encompassing whole.

In fashion and home design, white has always been a popular color to use. White curtains are one of the most popular colors out there, and because of that there is a huge range of different styles available in white. It is customary for a bride to wear white at her wedding, symbolising virginity and purity, and white is used in the bathroom to portray cleanliness and hygiene, this is the same reason the color is used so much in hospitals and doctor and nurses uniforms. In the home, white will blend into the background, allowing other items in your home to take the spotlight and stand out. This is the main reason why white curtains are so popular, particularly on windows that have a nice view, as the white will frame the view outside, drawing your eye out and creating a feeling of being at one with the view.

There are a multitude of styles of white curtains available. white curtainsThe most effective are the softer materials such as light cotton and silk. White curtains with lace trimmings are the perfect solution if you are trying to achieve a country charm in your home, especially if you have a natural wooden background to put them up against. Sheer curtains are fantastic for rooms that don’t need a lot of privacy. If you just want to subdue the harsh lines of a window, a white sheer curtain will do so, adding a sense of softness and serenity to your room.

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Bedroom and living room windows aren’t the only place where white can be used effectively. The kitchen is a very popular place to use this color, as it will make the room feel larger and more inviting. When you get up in the morning and walk into a kitchen with white lace curtains hanging on the window, you can’t help but feel that you have started the day on the right foot. Yet another place that uses white predominately is the bathroom. For some people, a white shower curtain is too much on top of the white porcelain of the bathroom skin, toilet and bath, but if you have a few other colors to break it up, it can work wonders.

One thing to keep in mind about white curtains, they will show up every little speck of dirt. If you have small children, or an animal that can’t leave stuff alone, then you may find yourself constantly taking your curtains down and washing them. If this is the case, one thing you can do is have two layers of curtains. An absolutely classic look is to have black and white curtains together on the one window. You put the white underneath and the black on top. When the kids are home you close the black curtains over, and when you are alone during schooldays, you can open them up and enjoy the fresh crispness of your sheer white curtains.

Gold Curtains – Adding a Royal Flush to Your Home

Ever since the magical metal was found deep under our earth’s surface, the metal and the color have been associated with richness and royalty. The color is one that needs to be used carefully and sparingly in your home, but when done right, it can add incredible warmth to any room. Marie Antoinette was one person that used gold in her bedroom, but there was nothing sparse about the way she did it. Just about every item in her room was gold; gold curtains, gold bedding, even gold chairs. It’s a wonder she ever got any sleep in there.

In modern times, interior designers are a lot more careful about where they choose to use gold. The most common place to find this color is on the kitchen walls. A bright shade of gold in the kitchen gives a sunny cheery feeling, which exactly what is needed when you are trying to get ready for the day, making breakfast and roasting the coffee. As far as curtains go, gold is usually found in the bedroom or the living room. Used in the bedroom, gold curtains can make you feel like a king or a queen, giving a luxurious ambiance to your room.

There are many different shades of gold, and each one has its own characteristics. Many people mistakenly think that you can only achieve one style using this color, but the many different shades give you a myriad of options. Here is a list of the most commonly used shades of gold…

gold curtainsVegas Gold – So named because it is a color that is used predominately in hotels and casinos, the color being carefully selected as the one most likely to keep people comfortable, so that they stick around and spend more money.

Old Gold – Just a shade brighter than Vegas gold, this is a shade most often associated with old world rustic charm

Pale Gold – This is a gold with a pinkish hue, and is used quite often in places like a girls nursery and the bathroom

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Sunglow – A very bright, cheery shade. This is the shade of gold I mentioned earlier as being used in kitchens. It gives a feeling of sunshine and cheer.

Golden Yellow – More yellow than gold, really

Golden Brown – The darker mysterious side of gold, a dark rich earthy tone that can be used to great effect in the home.

Curtains of just about any material imaginable are available in this color, but if it’s the luxuriousness that you want to capture in your home, then gold velvet curtains are the way to go. Velvet gives the gold a shimmering aspect, and adds substance by allowing light and shade play on your curtains. If velvet is a bit rich for your tastes, then you can still get a great effect with cottons and synthetics by embellishing them with rich red tiebacks and frills. Gold curtains look great when accentuated with other golden elements ion a room, for example a gold frame around a dresser mirror, or golden trimming on some furniture. In the bathroom, gold shower curtains can be accentuated with brass tap fittings.

To get the most out of this color, you need to choose colors that will either blend with gold, or give nice contrast to it. The best colors to use with gold are earthy browns and greens. Reds and burgundies work really well with this color too. If you are able to combine the earthy tones of wood with your gold curtains, then you are bound to have a winning look in your room. A gold curtain over the top of a rich brown wooden shutter will look fantastic in any room.

Pinch Pleat Drapes

Pinch pleat drapes have been around for a very long time. For hundreds of years people have been utilising this style, and it still remains a favorite amongst those that have a nostalgic sensibility and like the traditional things in life. A pinch pleated drape is one that has the top of the material pinched, or bunched, together, at regular intervals along the curtain, forming a pattern along the top of the window and causing the curtain to fall in waves, or pleats all the way down to the floor.

The three most popular styles of pleats are butterfly pleat, the goblet pleat and the double pleat. These different styles relate to the way the material is gathered. The butterfly pleat is usually pinched about two inches below the top of the curtain creating an effect that looks similar to a Chinese fan. A goblet pleat is one that is pinched at the back, causing a cylindrical tube to form, and a double pleat is one that is pinched in two places, causing the pleats to run parallel to each other.

When the material is pleated in this way, the effect is quite stunning, the material forms waves along the entire length, and the light shines on some parts and not on others, creating a gradient of colors that is both soothing and interesting, giving your room substance and warmth, and making the curtain look full of body and life, rather than just having a flat piece of material up against your window.

pinch pleat drapesThis style of curtain is most popular for larger windows. If you have a feature window in your living room, or a big sliding door leading out to your patio, then these are great places to utilise the effect of a pinch pleated drape. Although some people use these for smaller windows, they really lend themselves to full length situations, where the pleat can travel all the way down to the floor of your room.

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These drapes attach to the curtain rod a little differently than other styles of curtains. In most cases, when thinking of curtains, you will imagine curtain rings or eyelets that the curtain rod is slipped through. In the case of the pleated curtain, it is more customary to have pins that are slipped into the back of the curtain, through the pleat, and then attached to a rail at the top. This setup makes the curtain a lot easier to open and close, as it travels smoothly along the track. If your prefer not to use this method, you can get larger hooks that go straight over the curtain themselves, although this option makes your curtain a little bit harder to open and close.

If you would like the wavy effect of the curtain, without having to look at the pleats at the top, there is a way to have the best of both worlds. In fact, there are two ways. The first is to get a valance that goes over the top of the curtain rod, or for something a little more substantial, you could get a cornice installed at the top. Either of these options will go over the top of your curtain, hiding not only the pleats, but the hardware of the curtain itself.

For extra insulation, you can get thermal backing on your drape, or if you just prefer to block out the sun, you can get blackout curtain lining. Both of these solutions will fit right onto the back of one of these drapes with no problems at all. If you want something lighter to let some air travel through your room, you can also get sheer pinch pleat drapes, which give you the classic functionality of the pleat, coupled with the light country style feeling of a sheer curtain.

Cheap Curtains – Where To Find Them

If you’re sick of looking at the same drab and dreary window day in and day out, then you have probably started dreaming about covering it up with something new exciting. However, if money is tight (and isn’t it everywhere), it may seem to you like all you can do is dream, and you will never be able to afford anything decent. If this sounds like your situation, then you need to know that there actually are cheap curtains available out there, all you need to know is where to look.

The other thing you need to realise is that cheap in price does not have to mean cheap in looks. Obviously your window is important to you, otherwise you wouldn’t be giving it this much thought in the first place, and you don’t want to end up with a set of curtains that look like you’ve just hung up a bed sheet to get rid of the sun. When I say cheap curtain, I don’t mean cheap and nasty, I mean affordable and attractive.

If it’s the kitchen that you are looking at updating, then the cheapest option for you is a valance. Now, keep in mind that a valance will not give you a whole lot of protection from the sun, the weather, or the neighbours prying eyes. Valances are really just for looks, and while they can look absolutely fabulous in the right kitchen environment, they are just not enough for some people who want more covering.

cheap curtainsIf a simple valance is still too expensive for you, you could actually look at making your own. Valances are usually a very simple design, and if you have a decent sized length of cardboard available, you can pick up some very cheap curtain, create some pleats in it, attach it to the cardboard and attach it behind your curtain rod. It can honestly look as good as the real thing, and will cost you next to nothing.

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So where do you start looking for cheap curtains? Well, there are a few options available to you, and as always, diversity is the key. The more places you look, the more likely you are to find that ever elusive bargain. Here are a few of my favourite haunts…

Discount Stores – There’s not many towns that don’t have a discount store of one type or another, and quite often people don’t even think of looking in places like this for curtains, not only do many stock a range of curtains, but many will have a selection of cheap curtain rods as well, which can be a hidden expense that many don’t think about.

Factory Seconds – When a manufacturer makes a mistake, quite often a curtain is created with a slight flaw in it. This could be something as simple as a faded corner of fabric, or an uneven hem, and these little flaws make the curtain unsellable at the big retails shops. It’s these rejects that end up at the factory seconds outlet, and are quite often sold on for a fraction of the retail price.

Second Hand Shops – Many people cringe at the thought of buying second hand. They are worried that they don’t know what sort of condition the item is in and what sort of abuse it has been put through by the previous owner. With curtains, however, you can see exactly what you’re buying, and you can be certain that there will be no hidden surprises. Second hand stores are also a great place to find cheap shower curtains as well. Specialty items like extra long shower curtains are fairly hard to find in your average curtain store, but they do turn up in thrift shops every now and then.

Sales - Many retail shops have regular sales. Whether it is at the end of the year, or a stocktake sale, or a new line of curtains coming in, whatever the reason, if you are willing to keep your eyes open for these sales, you can pick up some great bargains for a brand new product.

Thermal Curtains – When You’re Hot, You’re Hot

This planet of ours is going through some pretty scary changes at the moment. It’s actually been happening gradually over many years, but has gotten to the point now where we are starting to be able notice it in our every day lives, and finally people are starting to get concerned and start taking action. I’m talking about global warming, and while there are some naysayers out there that don’t beleive that it’s occuring, the moajority of people will tell you that this is a real threat to our way of life. The winters are getting colder, and as a result, peoples heating bills are rising every year. At the same time, the summers are getting hotter. In some place, the summers are so hot that people are being warned to stay indoors and out of direct sunlight. It’s a vicious circle we are in at the moment. The more extreme the temperatures get, the more electricity we use. In winter it’s the heater and in summer its fans and the air conditioner. The more electricity we use, the more carbon is being pumped into the atmosphere, making the problem worse.

So what can you do about it? Well, it all starts in your own home, and although you need to be comfortable, there are steps that you can take to reduce the amount of energy you have to use to maintain that comfort level. Insulation in the roof and walls is extremely imprtant, but if you have that in place, then the main cuprit in your home is the windows, and thermal curtains are a fantstic way of stopping these entryways from allowing heat and cool in.

thermal curtainsThermal curtains seem to have a stigma of being unfashinable, dreary and drab. This is partly because people associate the word “thermal” with the thermal underwear their grnadmother wears, which, lets face it, is far from being attractive (sorry gran). This misconception is uinwarranted, however. Thermal backed curtains are in fact very stylish, and there are a huge range of styles available out there. In most cases, you woudn’t even know whether a curtain was thermal or not, until you look at it’s lining. Thermal curtain lining is usually made from either foam or acrylic, and in most cases these materials have been treated so that they are flame retardant. Some people think that they are hard to care for, but most can be washed in your washing machine just as well as a normal curtain could be. The fabric of the curtain itself is really up to you. The most popular fabrics are cotton and polyester, or a blend of the two, but the skys the limit as far as all the other materials available, it really comes down to your own personal choice.

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Not only do thermal curtains and drapes do a great job of keeping your home insulated, but they have the added benefit of keeping the light out of your home as well. They are almost on par weith blackout curtains, and will help to keep your furniture and curtains fro fading due to excessive exposure to the sun. Not only that, but they will protect the curtain fabric itself from suffering the same fate.

When thew extreme temperatures are gone and spring or autumn settle in, these curtains are easily replaced by somethin lighter and more in fitting with those seasons. It’s a simple matter to remove the curtain from its rod and put something like a sheer curtain in its place. Speaking of curtain rods, one thing to keep in mind is that thermal curtains tend to be a lot heavier than normal curtains, so you will need to ensure that your rod is sturdy enough to withstand the wieght pulling down on it.

Curtain Blinds – There’s No Such Thing

A lot of people talk to me about their curtain blinds, and I must says it’s a little pet peeve of mine. The truth is, there is no such thing as a curtain blind, they are two completely separate things. I can understand where the confusion comes from, in the world of window treatments, there are blinds, shutters, shades, curtains, drapes, awnings, and all sorts of variations as well. I thought I’d take the opportunity to clear this misconception up. Blinds are one thing, curtains are another, and in this article I’ll weigh up all the different pros and cons of each. Hopefully, after reading this, you will be able to make a more informed decision on which one of these two very different window coverings you prefer.

Price - In the price stakes, curtains are a sure winner. Of course, there are certain curtains that will cost you an absolute fortune, such as thick velvets and pure silks, but comparing quality to quality, curtains are a much more inexpensive way to go. Blinds have moving parts that make them more labour intensive to manufacture, and this adds to the cost of them.

Maintenance - Both blinds and curtains are fairly easy to clean, although this largely depends on the material of the blind. A wooden blind with scuff marks or scratches can mean a lot more work, in some cases even needing sanding and recoating of varnish. Vinyl blinds, on the other hand are very easy to clean, only needing a quick wipe down with soapy water in most cases. Curtains are simple, as they can be taken down easily and thrown in the washing machine. Once again, this will depend on the material of the curtain. There are some materials that will need to be hand washed.

curtain blinds 1Variety - Curtains & blinds have a whole lot of variety between them, and it would be hard to pick a clear winner. Blinds come in different slat sizes, different materials, and a wide range of colours and patterns. The same can be said for curtains. You have sheer curtains, beaded curtains, blackout curtains and a whole range more. Suffice it to say that between the two of them, you will be spoilt for choice.

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Versatility - I personally think that blinds are a little more versatile than curtains, at least as far as functionality is concerned. The reason I say this is because blinds with moveable slats allow you to adjust the amount of light that is being filtered into your room, while curtains are either opened or closed. That said, curtains are a lot more easy to swap and change as the mood suits.

Insulation - Unless you are using a thick material such as blackout or velvet, curtains don’t provide you with a whole lot of insulation. Blinds, on the other hand, can do a great job of insulating your home. Particularly of they are made of a thicker material such as wood. If you live in a place that has extreme temperatures, then blinds are definitely the way to go.

curtain blinds 2Aesthetics - Aesthetics is impossible to judge, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and all of that. Blinds certainly are a lot more versatile as far as fashion is concerned, and you can’t match the soft flowing curves of an eyelet curtain with blinds. A nice set of plantation blinds, however, can look amazing in the right situation. It really comes down to personal preference.

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Longevity - Blinds win hands down here. Curtains will not last anywhere near as long as blinds, particularly if exposed to harsh sunlight. They will gradullay fade and thin over time, while blinds will stand strong for decades to come.

Installation - Well, of course, curtains are a lot more easy to install than blinds. Not many people will have a professional come in and install their curtains for them, while the majority of blinds out there have been fitted and installed. The only hardware needed for a curtain is the rod and a couple of brackets, and getting that up and running is childs play.

Safety - Safety is a big issue in many households, and curtains blinds and any other type of window covering should be purchased with safety in mind. If you have a small child in the home, then you need to be extra careful of cords dangling down. Curtains, on the other hand, can be a real fire hazard, and many a home has been lost because of a heater being placed too close to a curtain.

As you can see, there are many things that need to be taken into account when deciding between curtains and blinds. I hope I have cleared a few things up for you though, particularly the fact that curtain blinds are not an option for your home.

Lined Curtains

Although we all use curtains for some sort of protection, quite often the curtain itself is not enough, and we need to strengthen its ability to shade our home. This is where lined curtains come in. Lined curtains play five major roles on our windows and doors. They provide insulation, block out light, keep draughts out, protect our home from damaging UV rays and reduce noise. If any of these things are an issue in your home, then a lined curtain is definitely worth investigating as a cost effective option.

It seems that the two biggest news stories for the last few months have been global warming and the financial crisis, and it’s sort of strange that one of the places these two issues intersect is window coverings. You may have no idea what I mean by that, but think about it for a second. Global warming means that our summers are getting hotter and our winters are getting colder every year. The financial crisis means that we have to be extra careful about how we spend our money. A decent lined curtain on your window will block a lot of the heat coming into your house in winter, and hold that heat in on those chilly winter nights. By providing your house with this extra insulation, you are reducing the amount of time that you need to run your air conditioner and heater, thus saving you a lot of money.

Another benefit of having your curtains lined is that you will be blocking out a lot of unwanted light in your home. For extreme cases you can get blackout blinds that will block everything out, however if you just want to tone it down a bit, a normal lined curtain will make a big difference. This is particularly useful for people that need to sleep during the day, such as shift workers. lined curtainsIt’s also a good idea for the babies nursery, as your bubs will be able to sleep in peace without the harsh sunlight shining through their window during their afternoon nap. Having the ability of blocking out the sun will also have the added benefit of protecting your carpets and furniture from harmful UV rays. These sunrays can fade your fabric over time, and these items can be very expensive to replace.

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There are a couple of things you will need to keep in mind if you are considering lined curtains as a solution in your home. The first is that these curtains are a lot heavier once you add lining to the back of them. The bad side of this is that they are going to be putting more strain on your curtain rods, so you will need to ensure that both the rods and the brackets that hold them up are able to withstand the added weight. The good thing about the extra weight is that your curtain will hang a lot better, and not get blown around in the breeze as much. The other thing you need to keep in mind is the lining material itself. A lot of people don’t give the color or pattern of material a lot of thought, and are shocked when they first see the curtain from the outside of their house. It’s easy to forget that there are two sides to every curtain.

Lined curtains aren’t all that expensive, especially when you take into account the energy saving benefits mentioned above, but if money is really tight, then you could consider lining your existing curtains. It can be done with a little knowledge of a sewing machine and an understanding of what material to use, for very little cost. The most expensive material is the specially designed thermal lining, which is specially coated. However, a cotton or polyester material can work just as well as a lining.

Lace Curtains – Timeless and Classic

Lace has been around for hundreds of years, and has always carried with it an air of mystique and allure. Back in the days when it first began to be used, lace curtains were handmade by people that were considered experts in the field. It took a lot of hard work, time and dedication (not to mention skill) to create lace, and for that reason it was a material that was usually only used by people of wealth or royalty. The work that went into creating even a small length of lace material was very intricate and therefore extremely expensive. On top of that, lace was usually made out of silk, which was a very expensive material to begin with. In Victorian times, if a person was wearing lace, then they were considered to be very special indeed.

Then, around the start of the 1800′s, the bobbinet was invented, changing the entire lace making industry. There was a big uproar when fabric manufacturers starting using these machines to create lace, as it put a lot of highly skilled people out of work. In fact it wasn’t long afterwards that riots started to occur as more and more people were laid off in preference of a machine that could work faster than a human, and didn’t expect any pay in return. Now in present times, the art of lace making has become more of a hobby than anything else; technology has completely taken over this task and is able to churn out lengths of intricate lace at an incredible rate.

Lace CurtainsThis is good news for the home owner, as it means that you no longer have to be a queen to enjoy the delicate feel of lace hanging on your windows. As a matter of fact, the place where lace is most used nowadays is in country settings. It is common to see an old style country farmhouse with a lace curtain billowing out in the spring breeze. This is proof that lace is a very versatile material indeed, as it can also be used to great effect in any modern style home that wants to add a bit of flair or charm to its walls.

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There are literally hundreds of different types of lace that can be used, but the five most common ones are lattice, bride lace, Italian, French and decorative. Any of these styles can be used in your home, but the most popular for window coverings are French lace curtains. These curtains are not suited for someone who wants complete privacy in their home, as they tend to be quite see through and sheer. If you really like the look of a lace curtain but aren’t willing to lose your privacy, you should look at having two layers of curtain installed. This is done by purchasing a double rod and putting the lace curtain on the back, with a full panel curtain over the top of it. This way, during the day you can tie back your full panel and show off the lace, while still protecting yourself from prying eyes and bad weather at night.

Another place where lace is used quite often is in the bathroom. Lace shower curtains are becoming extremely popular, as they can really help to soften the hard lines and bright whites of your bathroom, giving it an air of mystery. If you are worried about getting them dirty by using them in the shower, then you needn’t be, because cleaning lace curtains is a breeze. Obviously, you can’t just throw it in the washing machine, it is much too delicate for that. You can, however, simple soak it overnight in some soapy water and then hang it back up the next day wet. It will dry as it hangs, retaining its shape and looking as fresh and airy as ever.

Voile Curtains – Pulling Back The Veil

You may have heard the term “voile” used in conversations about window treatments and not known exactly what it means. The word actually originates from the French language, and translates as “veil”. This definition conjures up images of romanticism and secrecy, the pure look of a bride walking down the aisle, a light covering over her face keeping her hidden beauty a mystery from onlookers. Well, that is exactly the feeling that voile curtains will add to your home, they are a curtain of elegance and style, and are a great addition in the right situation.

The elegance of a voile curtain cannot be beat, they are considered to be an extremely classy addition to your home. The great thing about this style is that it not only gives you a level of privacy in your home, but it still allows the light to shine through the translucent fabric, creating a soft ambiance inside your room that cannot be reproduced with any other style of curtain. The fabric is usually made from cotton, and is designed to be semitransparent and very light weight.

Windows aren’t the only place where this style of material is used. The fashion industry has been utilising the allure of voile for many years in areas such as dress making and lingerie. It is also used in the manufacture of fine mosquito nets and bed coverings, as it breathes really well and allows the cool breeze to come through, while keeping the nasty insects out.

voile curtainsIf you are interested in getting a voile curtain in your home, then there are a few points that you will need to keep in mind before purchasing your curtains. For starters, measuring for a voile curtain is not as simple as just measuring the width and height of your window. To get the right effect, you need your curtain to gather a fair amount. Not only will this create a sense of fullness in your curtain, but it will also give you a little bit of added privacy. For this reason, when measuring the width of your window, you should multiply that number by two and a half.

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The only downside to this style of curtain is that they do not provide any insulation in your home. The cold will tend to travel straight into your house if this is the only protection you have on your window, but there are a couple of things that you can do to alleviate this problem. For starters, you could have two layers of curtain. The first layers is your voile, which looks great during the day, and the layer on top is a full panel curtain, that keeps you warm at night. The other option, if you don’t want two layers of curtains, is to get lined voile curtains. They will still look good from the inside, but you lose that transparent quality when they are lined.

Cotton voile curtains can be either hung off a curtain rod like a normal curtain, or they can be draped over the top and run down either side. This style is called a “scarf”, and looks great with tall windows and doors. The easiest way to measure your window for a scarf is to use a piece of string and drape it over your opening just as you would the curtain itself. All you then have to do is measure the length of your string, and take those measurements to your curtain shop.

Voile curtains come in many different colors. This is in contrast to net curtains, which are usually only available in whites and creams. If you want a little more diversity in your choice of colors, then voile is the way to go. The best shades to get are pastel colors, which enhance the soft lines of a voile curtain even further, and give you a real romantic feel in your home.

Eyelet Curtains – I Spy With My Little Eyelet

If you’ve never heard of an eyelet curtain before, then you are missing out on a great innovation in the world of window coverings that not only looks great, but is functional as well. An eyelet curtain is made up of a single length of material with a ring sewn at regular intervals along the top of the material. These rings act just as a curtain ring wood, without having the hassle of extra hardware. Usually, the rings are metallic, but you can get them in a range of colors and styles. Some people prefer the eyelets to blend into the material of the curtain and be unobtrusive, while others like them to stand out and make a statement. Either way works, and it really comes down to your personal preference, and your homes decor.

Other than the fact that the eyelets are sewn directly into the fabric, an eyelet curtain works exactly the same way as a traditional curtain would. You still use the same style of curtain rod, and it still threads through the eyelets in the same way. One of the biggest advantages of this style of curtain is the effect it creates when the curtain is hung. Instead of having a straight flat length of material, having the rod weaving in and out of the material creates a wavy effect in your material, which really softens your room and accentuates your windows. One thing to keep in mind is that when using this style of curtain, you actually need more material than the length of your window. Generally, you will need about twice the length of your window, as the waving pattern takes up more space.

Eyelet CurtainThe eyelets themselves actually come in a wide range of sizes. Generally speaking, the larger your window is, the bigger the hole should be. This is because for big heavy curtains you are going to need a more robust curtain rod, where as small light fabrics like sheer curtains do not need as much support when hung. Although eyelet curtains are a fairly new innovation, they can be used just as well in a traditional setting as they can in newer homes. The soft curves of these curtains look great against a wood background and a warm country decor, while still working in a modern corporate environment or a newer style of home.

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Compared to tab top curtains, eyelets give a much more uniform and professional look. Tab tops are great for the price, but if you are after a little more sophistication, eyelet curtains are a great way to go. With tab tops, you will quite often find that the tabs are uneven along the top of the curtain rod, and you are constantly spacing out the material evenly so that they look OK. With eyelets, the holes naturally spread out in a uniform manner with little or no intervention from you. This makes them great for curtains that are being open and closed on a regular basis.

There are a few things that you need to keep in mind when choosing your eyelt curtain. For starters, you need to remember that the curtain rod will be fairly prominent on this style of curtain. If you have an existing rod that is not so attractive to look at, then you may need to get a new curtain rod at the same time as your curtain. Many eyelet curtain kits will come with their own curtain rod, specially designed for that curtain. The best type of rod to go through curtain eyelets is something thick and good looking; preferably that matches either the curtain material or the color of the eyelets.

Eyelet curtains can be used with great success in just about any room you desire. The most popular rooms are the living room and bedroom; however they are also great in the bathroom. There are a wide range eyelet shower curtains that are especially made to withstand the abuse that a shower curtain is given. The benefit of having evenly spaced rings is even more important in this section, as it will help to keep the water inside the shoer recess, where it belongs.

Kids Curtains Should Be Seen And Not Heard

If you have one or more children, then you will know what a roller coaster ride being a parent can be. Your child goes through so many changes on their journey to becoming an adult, that it’s a constant battle keeping up with them. Choosing the right curtains for kids is a challenge that all parents face at some stage, and knowing what the best choice for your child is has a lot to do with knowing who they are, and what stage of development they are currently in.

A newborn baby is easy to buy curtains for. For starters, if you get it wrong, they can’t argue with you (but boy, can they complain). The most important aspect of decorating your room for a baby is to choose bright vibrant colors. Some people will disagree with this and say that bright colors will stop a child from falling asleep easily, but I tend to disagree with that theory. If a baby is going to sleep, she will sleep regardless of what’s going on around her. Likewise, if she doesn’t want to sleep, then it’s going to take a lot more than a neutral colored curtain to settle her down. Giving your baby a bright atmosphere to wake up in will stimulate their senses and their brain growth. One thing that is very important is the ability to block out light from your nursery. If anything’s going to keep bubs awake, it’s direct sunlight shining into their room. Blackout curtains are perfect in this situation, and can still be covered in bright and colorful material that will liven up the room.

Toddlers are a different story. When that little bundle of joy starts becoming a tornado on two legs, you are going to want to make sure that the curtains in their room are sturdy enough to withstand a whole lot of beating. A heavier material like vinyl can be really useful at this stage, as it’s also going to be much easier to clean grubby handprints off. kids curtainsAt this stage in a child’s development they are starting to learn about the alphabet and numbers, and you can stimulate this learning by having these symbols on your kids bedroom curtains. They may not seem to pay a lot of attention, but subconsciously the message will be getting through.

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Once your kid becomes an actual kid, around the age of 7 or 8, they are going to start developing interests and hobbies. They see themselves as independent people, and need to be given a bit of freedom in expressing themselves. For boys, a soccer theme in their room can look fantastic, or if your boy is into motorbikes or super heroes, there are plenty of kids room curtains with these types of patterns on them. Likewise, for girls, you have the option of prints with horses, the Hello Kitty range, or just plain pinks and purples, which almost every girl loves. Make her feel like a princess by taking a little bit of extra attention and getting frilly lace for the edges of your curtains.

And then you’ve got the dreaded teenage years. This is when the decisions stop being your own, and you have to start making compromises. The thing that is of the utmost importance to a teenager is their independence, and you need to respect that by letting them express themselves, even if it means biting the bullet and letting them have black curtains and matching black bedding. At this stage of a child’s life, privacy is also a big issue. One thing that you can do is get them some beaded curtains for their door, which look great and still allow them to have their own space. Teenagers need to be provided a good study environment as well, so along with a wooden desk, room for computer and books, your window coverings should provide them with seclusion to concentrate on their studies.

Other than the bedroom, kids shower curtains are also in high demand with parents. Kids, regardless of their age, don’t like washing themselves, and if you can make the bathroom a fun vibrant place to be, you will make it just that little bit easier to keep them clean. The most popular look in a kids bathroom is the ocean, and having a kids shower curtain with a seaside theme can make a real impact. Whether it’s The Little Mermaid or Finding Nemo or something a little more generic, you will find plenty of styles available if you do a little shopping around.

Going Loopy Over Tab Top Curtains

People put so much time and effort into deciding on a style of curtain for their window, that they often forget about how the curtain will attach to the rod. Some prefer to have a sleeve at the head of the curtain that the rod slips straight into, while others prefer to use rings that make opening and closing the curtain much easier. There is a third option that lives somewhere between the two, and that is the tab top curtain.

Tab tops are a great alternative for families that are on a budget. Their simple design means that they extremely easy to make, ultimately meaning that they end up being inexpensive when buying from a retailer. In fact, they are so simple in design, that you could quite easily make your own.

One of the main benefits of tab top curtains is that there is no need for curtain rings, which can be an added expense that many people don’t take into account when buying their curtains. The top of the curtain consists of a number of loops of material, running the horizontal length of the curtain, which you then simply thread your curtain rod through.

There are a couple of disadvantages with tab tops, however. For starters, it can be a little more difficult to open and close your curtains compared to curtain rings. However it is still much easier than having a sleeve at the top of your curtain. For this reason, this style of curtain is best utilised on a window that doesn’t need to be opened and closed every day. tab top curtainsIf you are opening and closing tab top curtains on a regular basis, the loop of material will begin to wear out over time. The other downside to this style of curtain is the fact the loops will need to be even when the curtain is drawn closed, otherwise your curtain will look messy, and it will take away from the overall allure of your curtain.

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If you decide to use tab tops on your window, then you are going to need to give a little bit of extra thought to the type of curtain rod you are going to get; the reason being that there will be gaps between the tabs where the curtain rod will show through. Many people see this as a benefit, and with the money they save by purchasing tab tops, they will spend a bit more on a fancier curtain rod. If you would prefer to hide the rod and the tabs altogether, you could put that extra money towards a pelmet instead, which can be a really great look on the right type of window.

Other than the fact that the top of the curtain is adorned with tabs, there is no great difference between this style of curtain and any other style. You can still get them in a wide range of materials, ranging from polyester to velvet, and everything in between. You can also get a huge variety of colors and patterns, everything from pink tab top curtains in the girl’s room to blue tab top curtains in the boys. You can get a country style for your kitchen, or a blackout curtain for your lounge room, if you look around you will find pretty much anything you desire in this style of window treatment.

If you are contemplating a heavier style of fabric, such as velvet or blackout material, then you will need to keep in mind the number of tabs that run along the top of the curtain. It is recommended that the heavier the curtain material, the more tabs you should have, as this will help to bear the load evenly and stop your curtain rod from sagging.

When purchasing this style of curtain, you have a few options available to you. Your first stop, as always, should be online. The number of online curtain stores out there on the World Wide Web is staggering, and this is the best way to get a good look at the wide range available. Once you have narrowed down your choice, you should still go and have a look at a local window treatment specialist store if possible, as what you see on your computer screen and what you see in real life are sometimes two very different things. While you’re online, you may want to take a quick peek at how to make tab top curtains yourself, you may just be surprised at how easy they are to make, and how much money you can save by doing it yourself.

The Theory Behind String Curtains

Something that has been around for a while, but is starting to become popular in homes, is string curtains. This style of curtain works under the same concept as beaded curtains, where instead of having a single length of material, you have many individual strings hanging down. Beaded curtains are great for decorative purposes, but they are fairly striking, and can quite easily become the focal point of your room. String curtains, on the other hand, are created in such a way that they blend into your decor, softening hard edges and enhancing your room.

String curtains are used quite widely in motels, restaurants ad casinos. These businesses put a lot of effort into making their clientele as comfortable as possible, so that they will stay longer and spend more money. They do this in many different ways, and a lot of research has gone into finding those methods that work. For instance, it has been found that a particular type of music playing will help people feel calm and relaxed. Likewise, a particular shade of paint on the walls will also help. When it comes to furnishings, soft and light is the way to go, and the string curtain is the perfect thing to help create this atmosphere. Of course, it wasn’t long before people noticed just how calming and elegant this style of curtain was, and before you know it people were using them in their own homes as well.

There are many different materials that can be used to make string curtains, including rayon, cotton and polyester. You can even get them made out of leather for something a bit more substantial, but obviously these are a bit more on the pricey side. string curtainsThe material that you end up choosing will largely depend on your decor and where you want to install the curtain. If you do want it to stand out a little more, then leather may be the best way to go, but most people use this style of curtain to soften their rooms.

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Not only are there many different types of materials used, but there are also a multitude of colors available. The most common color used is white, as it helps with the softening of your room, creams and pastels can also be utilised in this manner. Some people prefer more striking or unusual shades, and if you are one of those that are a little more adventurous, you could try a metallic look, or even combine two different colors for a two tone effect. If privacy is a big concern, then a black string curtain would be the best to keep out prying eyes. The only limitation is your imagination with this style of curtain.

As far as the functionality of these curtains, they can be used in a variety of ways. The most common use is to hang them between doorways. A string door curtain creates the effect of dividing your rooms, while still allowing a sufficient amount of air to flow through the house. They will also minimise the amount of insects that come into your home during the warmer months. They can also be used on windows, either as an alternative to a sheer curtain, or as a backing to another full length curtain. Some people like to hang these curtains around their beds, creating a luxurious and intimate atmosphere in their bedrooms. You can even hang them directly on a wall as a feature for your room.

This style of curtain is extremely inexpensive, and so basic in design that you could actually experiment with making your own and saving even more money. Because they are so cheap, it won’t hurt to do a little experimentation and see how they look in your home. You can even cut them into different shapes to create an archway effect. Just make sure that the strings aren’t the type of material that will fray when you cut them

Country Curtains – Escape The Rat Race

The world is turning into more of a rat race every single day. The high rise buildings are marching ever further out into the suburbs, and people are getting swallowed up in the hustle and bustle of it all. You stumble out the door at some ungodly hour and fight your way through the peak hour traffic, the honking of horns and screaming of kids, you do your eight hours work in the city, running from phone calls to emails to meetings, trying to please everyone at once, and then you battle the traffic back home again. For many of us, when we do finally get home, the last thing we want to look at is decor that reminds us of the office, and this is why the country style of decor continues to be a popular option in the home. Having a country style theme in your home can literally whisk you away to days of old. For me, it takes me back to my childhood, and memories of my mother baking bread in the kitchen. It’s amazing what a change can be made to a home by adding something as simple as country curtains.

The most popular place to use a country style of curtain is in the kitchen. Country kitchen curtains come in various styles, but the most popular setup is a cafe curtain at the bottom and a valance at the top. The use of a swag at the top is also a popular style. There are many variations to this, and it’s not particularly the style that personifies a country curtain, but rather the patterns and extras. The most popular pattern by far is gingham, which consists of a small checked pattern. Other patterns that are used in country themes include plaid, stripes, and pictures of animals, such as geese and cows.

country curtainsOf course, the kitchen is not the only place that can utilise the country feel. Country curtains are usually considered to be of a light and frilly material, but in the case of living rooms and bedrooms something a bit more substantial is usually needed. In these cases, you can still achieve the country look by incorporating heavier materials that still have specific patterns on them.

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And then there is the bathroom. One of the fastest growing trends in curtains at the moment is country shower curtains. The bathroom is one of the busiest rooms in your house, with traffic going in and out of it every day, and if there’s one place that you know your guests are going to visit while they’re in your home, it’s the bathroom. Spending a bit of time on the design of your bathroom can make a big difference to your visitor’s impression of your home, as well as making it a more comfortable place for you to live. Old style bathrooms, with claw foot baths and extensive use of porcelain, will look fantastic with a country style shower curtain. These curtains follow the same pattern and design rules as in the kitchen (for instance, gingham with a ruffled top). They are usually made of material, which can be problematic because of the dampness of your bathroom. Most people will line these curtains to avoid them getting damp and musty. One of the defining characteristics of these curtains is the use of curtain hooks at the top in various shapes. These hooks give an amazing finish to your shower curtain.

Cafe Curtains – Wake Up And Smell Them

Businesses, especially those in the dining industry, are constantly trying to make their restaraunts and cafes as comfortable as possible. Usually that means making the customer feel like they are relaxing in their home. As a result, many restaraunts and cafes mimick decor and furniture ideas that are in fashion for homes. There is, however, one style that was popularised in the opposite direction – cafe curtains. Cafes have been using these curtains for literally centuries, and slowly but surely, people began to realise that they could utilise both their functionality and their charm in their own homes.

Nowadays, cafe curtains, although they retain their original name, now adorn more houses than they do actual cafes. If you haven’t explored the world of the cafe curtain before, let me give you an explanation. A cafe curtain is designed to cover only the bottom half of a window. It is either a continuous single panel curtain that travels the length of the window, or two panels that can be opened as regular curtains would. Cafe curtain rods are hung in the middle of the window frame. quite often home owners will use a spring loaded rod that just snaps into place, this makes it easy to remove when it is not required. To be fair, cafe curtains could be used on any window in the house, but traditionally they are used in the kitchen. In fact, the use of cafe curtains is limited almost exclusively to the kitchen window, there’s not many times when you will see them on any other window in the house.

If you like the idea of a curtain like this, but need a bit more coverage for your window, you are not limited to having just the half curtain at the bottom. In fact, the majoirty of people prefer to have not only the cafe curtain at the bottom, but a matching valance at the top to finish the look. cafe curtainsIf you need to go a step further and have complete cpverage at night to keeop out the cold, you can look at getting a full set of curtains installed over the top, that can be tied back during the day. If set up properly, with matching material, this can be a great look in your kitchen.

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The obvious benefit of the cafe curtain is it’s charm. Installing one on your kitchen window can have an immediate effect on your room, changing it from just another kitchen to a European coffee house. Start the perculator bubbling and your kitchen will be one of the most inviting rooms in your home. But this is not why these curtains were originally created. Their main purpose to begin with was to give cafe patrons some privacy as they enjoyed their favorite cup of coffee or tea. Having the curtains cover just the bottom half of the window meant that the light still shone through, creating a fresh, alive atmosphere, while nosy parkers outstide couldn’t bother the customers inside. When installed in your home, they provide you with the same level of privacy. You can comfortably go about your cooking and cleaning chores, while not falling prey to inquisitive neighbours.

Cafe curtains are one of the easiest styles of curtains to make, they only consist of one (or two, in the case of double panels) sheet of material, with a pocket for the rod to run through. Because of this minmalistic design, they are also extremely inexpensive. You will have no trouble at all picking up a set of cheap cafe curtains if you do a bit of shopping around. In fact, because of their simplicity, retail shops tend to stock them in abundance, in many different styles.

On of the hardest choices will be the pattern that you want on your curtain. You can get them in checks, tartan, stripes or plain colors, with many different color variations. You can also get them with country style images on them, like cows and chickens, if you are trying to create a country kitchen look. Another very popular style are lace cafe curtains, that can add a bit of old world charm to your kitchen.

Velvet Curtains – Rich and Regal

Velvet has been used throughout history to provide a dramatic effect in rooms around the world. It is a luxurious material that is considered to be amongst the finest that you can get. The texture of velvet lends itself to rich dark colours such as burgundies, royal reds and deep purples. It was used prolifically centuries ago amongst royalty to seignify their wealth and status, and has continued to be looked upon as a regal material.

From a functional standpoint, velvet is a very heavy material to be used on curtains, which carries with it pros and cons. The weight of the curtain means that it falls well as a velvet curtain, and gives a sense of intimacy. On the other hand, it means that it can be an effort to open and close them. If you have curtains that need to be opened and closed on a regular basis, or in a house that is inhabited by an elderly person, velvet may not be as good an option.

Velvet is manufactured by weaving material together, usually on a specific type of loom that will weave two or more pieces of material. The best velvet is woven from silk, but this is top of the range material that will cost you a fortune, especially when you need large lengths for items such as curtains. You can also get a great quality velvet from cheaper materials such as cotton and polyester, that will still cost you a fair amount, but won’t break the bank like silk can.

velvet curtainsApart from the luxuriousness that this material provides your room, there are other benefits to velvet curtains. Because the material is so thick, it will make a great blackout curtain, literally blocking out all light from your room quite effectively. Another benefit of it’s thick texture is that it will dampen sound, making it a great barrier against your room and a busy street outside.

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Velvet is not traditionally used in kitchens and bathrooms. Usually you will find this material used in lounge rooms and bedrooms, which offer themselves more to an intimate feeling of warmth and comfort. An average bedroom can be turned into something grand quite simply by hanging velvet curtains. Do keep in mind, though, that this material, being so dark and heavy, will make your room appear smaller than it actually is. So, if you have a small bedroom or living room to begin with, velvet may not be the right solution for your windows.

Traditionally, velvet curtains were (and still are in places) used in movie theatres, and when the movie begins, the big red velvet curtains are drawn back to reveal the big screen. As a result, many people now use this same style in their home theaters, in an effort to mimick the atmosphere created in the big cinemas, and to great effect. As mentioned above, they do a great job of blocking out light and dampening sound, which makes them absolutely perfect in these situations.

One of the most striking characteristics of velevt is the way the light plays off them. Because of the way the fabric is woven together, you get all these different shades of light and dark (with the possible exception of black velvet curtains), making them a great focal point in your room. In fact, if there’s one thing I would warn you about, it is that these curtains have the ability of taking the focus away from other items in your room. This should be kept in mind for rooms that already have a a main feature, such as a large painting or a feature wall.

Pink Curtains – Femininity Personified

Out of all the colors of the rainbow, I think it would be fair to say that pink is the one that is the most stereotyped. First and foremost, pink is considered a girls color. When a newborn baby girl is born, she is traditionally wrapped in pink, and many of her first possessions will be pink. Pink blankets, pink curtains, even pink nappies in some cases. Quite often, as that girl grows up, she will hold on to that color throughout her school years.

Boys, on the other hand, stay as far away from pink as possible (with an interesting exception that we will discuss in a minute). The majority of parents wouldn’t even dream of dressing their baby boy in pink clothes, some even going so far as to imagine it as being repulsive. Once again, this stays with a boy as he goes through school, and wearing pink to school would be inviting trouble from other kids. The one notable exception to this rule is young gay men.

Whether you agree with these stereotypes or not, one thing is for certain; pink is a stunning color, and its many different shades can be used in many ways throughout your home decor. The one thing you have to keep in mind when using pink is that you shouldn’t go overboard with it. This is true for all bright colors, as too much of the same hue can make a room uncomfortable.

Other than the girls bedroom, the other room that a lot of people use pink in is the bathroom. A pink shower curtain can make a stunning statement in your bathroom, and a lighter shade can really soften the whole room and make it seem light and airy. pink curtainsThis is a great shade to use in bathrooms that are fairly small, as they will give the illusion of more space in your room. Many people use particular scents in their bathroom that remind the senses of flowers and roses. The use of colors that represent these flowers, such as pinks and purples, can add to that effect even more.

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Because pink is considered such a feminine color, the majority of curtains that you will find in this color will have a feminine feel to them. For instance, lace edging and ribbons will be utilised extensively, and they will mostly be manufactured using soft and flowing materials. There are, however, exceptions to this rule. Pink velvet curtains in darker shades can be an extremely rich addition to a room, giving it an extremely unique ambiance.

Because of the unique nature of this color, you will have no trouble at all when looking for the right pink curtain for your situation. If you do a bit of browsing online, you will find many stores that enable you to search for your curtains by color and shade. You will find a much greater range online than you would in any retails store, but the one thing you need to be careful of is that the color that you see on your computer monitor is the same as the actual color of the curtain. If possible, it’s a good idea to ask the store to send out a sample swatch of material to make sure.

Blackout Curtains – There Goes The Sun

Blackout curtains serve one purpose – to keep as much light out of your home as possible. Any medical specialist will tell you how important natural sunlight is in your life. A lot of people have forgotten this simple fact. Most of us spend our lives cooped up in cubicles all day, and by the time we leave the office, the sun has gone, and after a while it just becomes a distant memory of a bright light in the sky. Then, when we go on holidays, all we are told is how dangerous it is to be out in then sun. Get in the shade or you’ll get skin cancer, cover yourself in sunscreen every couple of hours, make sure you wear a shirt and hat at all times. While this advice is important, and the threat of skin cancer from too much exposure is real, it can be confusing when we are being told one thing here and another thing there.

Having natural sunlight in your home is extremely important; it gives you a sense of wellbeing and makes your house a more cheerful place to be. In places like your kitchen and sunroom, you want to maximise the amount of light that you get, to make the most of this atmosphere. There are, however, times and places in your room where you want to minimise the amount of light that comes in as much as possible.

Take your bedroom for example. Sure, it’s nice if you are able to air it during the day, but when night comes and you are trying to get a good nights sleep, there is nothing worse than being blinded by a full moon, or traffic lights, or street signs peering through your window in the middle of the night. blackout curtainsAnother example of when a blackout curtain in your home can be beneficial is if you or one of your family members are a shift worker. Shift workers get home after a hard nights work, and then have to cope with the fact that their body is telling them it’s daytime and not time to sleep. Having blackout curtain lining in your bedroom can trick your body into thinking it is night time, and help you get the sleep you need.

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The bedroom isn’t the only room in the house that can benefit from these types of curtains. If you have spent a bit of money on a home cinema system, then there are going to be times when you are going to want to use it during the day, such as on a rainy Sunday afternoon, to relax and watch a movie. There is nothing worse than trying to watch TV and having the glare bouncing off your screen from the sun shining through the window. Having blackout curtains installed in your lounge room will give you the effect you are after, to feel like you are actually at the movies.

Some people have other reasons for installing these curtains. For example, I have a relative who collects antiques, and they need to keep them away from as much direct sunlight as possible, to prevent from fading and decreasing in value. This is the same reason that these curtains are used to great effect in museums and libraries. Another place outside of the home that uses them is in the corporate world. The modern style of office has a lot of windows, taking advantage of sweeping city views in high rise apartments. However, these same apartments are used for important meetings, and sometimes those views need to be completely blocked out so that people can concentrate on the task at hand.

Finally; a word of warning. Do not get confused between blackout shades and blackout curtains. If it is a complete blackout solution that you are after, then shades are the better choice. Specifically, shades that attach themselves to the inside of your window frame. See, curtains hang on the outside of your window, and there will still be a little bit of light that seeps through the edges of the curtain. It will still stop any direct sunlight from coming in, but they won’t give you complete darkness.

Sheer Curtains – Elegance, Not Privacy

There are places in your home that really benefit from being open to the outside world, without the restriction of a heavy curtain or blind. While you may want to enjoy an uninterrupted view out of that particular window, you still have the problem of the hot sun piercing its way into your room. It’s in these situations where sheer curtains really come into their own.

Usually you will put up a curtain for privacy, or for insulating your room against the heat or cold, but sometimes you just need to filter these elements out, rather than blocking them out completely. After all, what’s the use of having a window in your room if you can’t utilise it? If your window overlooks a paddock or a lake, or even a cityscape, then you are not going to want to hide that view away, especially if you are in the situation of not having to worry about neighbours or passers by sticking their noses in.

And that’s the one downside of having sheer window curtains; they afford you little or no privacy. There are ways around this limitation, which we will be discussing later, but ultimately sheer curtains should be used in places where you either don’t care about people looking through your window, or you are in an environment where there is no one around to look through. sheer curtainsThe benefits that a sheer curtain affords far outweigh this technicality. The translucent nature of these curtains soften those harmful sun rays so that you get a wonderful filtered light effect in your room. In the right situation, this can add a whole new character to your house.

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If you really like the style and elegance of a sheer curtain, but need just that little bit of privacy during the day, then you can look at gathering your curtains, giving them a fullness that will provide a higher level of intimacy. This is achieved by purchasing a covering that is larger in width than the actual width of your window. What you need to do is measure the width of your window frame and multiply that number by three. This is the width of the sheer material you need to buy in order to give you a fuller, more private, window covering. When hung on the window, this curtain will fall naturally in loops, which also gives the room a softer ambiance.

Another benefit that you may not have considered with sheer curtain panels is the fact that they are great for indoor plants. I have found it really difficult to keep my plants healthy. Either they are not getting enough sunlight and their growth is stunted, or they get too much sun and shrivel up and die. These plants require a delicate balance to survive. I like to think of what they need in their natural setting. Imagine a forest with the smaller plants on the forest floor. The light that these plants receive is neither too much nor too little, there is this dappled sunlight effect that naturally occurs in these environments, and that’s what we need to try and accomplish in our rooms that have these plants in them. Sheer curtains are the perfect way to achieve this, and your plants will love you for installing them and reward you with plenty of greenery in your home.

There are quite a few different materials that sheer curtains are made from. One of the most popular, but also most expensive, are silk sheers. These curtains provide a luxurious and elegant feel that cannot be reproduced by any other fabric. Who would have though that the humble caterpillar could create something of such magnificence? If your budget is too tight to allow for the luxury of silk, you can still buy semi sheer curtains that are made using cheaper materials such as cotton and polyester. The most common colour for sheers are lighter shades like white and creams, but people have used pastel shades to great effect in these curtains as well.

Beaded Curtains – A Spiritual Resurgence

It’s difficult to explain the atmosphere that beaded curtains add to a home, but if you’ve ever been in a house that has had these types of curtains hanging, you will know what I’m talking about. To walk into a room that has beaded curtains is like walking into a holiday. You get whisked away to another place, one of rolling waves and gentle breezes. There is no practical reason why this would be the case, but nevertheless it is true. These curtains were at the height of popularity in the 60′s during the hippy movement, at a time when people in western society were exploring their own spirituality more than ever before. Of course, it wasn’t western society in the 60′s that invented the beaded curtain, they were simply discovering something that asian countries had known for thousands fo years.

Unfortunately, the popularity of beaded door curtains was short lived. The 80′s rolled around and we became more interested in materiaslistic things. Our bank balance became more important than our spiritual wellbeing, and we lost a lot of the things we had learned in the process. During this time, the only place you would see a beaded door curtain would be in the entrance to your local fish and cheap shop, and these were only there to keep the flies out, and were usually made of plastic.

Things always go in cycles, and it seems that we are now entering a time of spiritual reawakening, and people are starting to go back to the things that gave them pleasure all those years ago. Yoga classes are booked out, buddhist monks are travelling around our cities and praying to huge crowds, incense is being burned again, and people are meditating on their lunch breaks. beaded curtainsAs these changes sweep through our community, we develop an increased awareness of how we can use certain items in our home to modify our outlook on a very basic level.

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This may sound silly, placing such an importance on something as materialistic as curtains, but as I said before, unless you have actually been in ahome that has one of these curtains hanging, you will have trouble understanding what I am talking about. In the ancient practise of feng shui, beaded curtains are considered an important part of home design, as they prevent the good fortune and energy from leaving the house, especially in cases where you have an inside door frame that faces your back door.

Beaded curtains come in many different designs, but one of the first choices you will have to make is whether you want one with a pattern or motif or a plain curtain.There are a heap of patterns you can get for your door curtains, and they can create a stunning effect in any room. They are not just for looks and good feng shuii, however. bamboo beaded curtains can do a wonderful job of blocking out harsh summer rays while still allowing cool breezes to blow through. And when the wind does travel trhough, you get a soft wind chime effect which adds to the ambiance.

Although it’s fairly easy to find cheap beaded curtains, there is nothing more satisfying or relaxing than making your own. They’re really easy to make, all you will need is some beads, lengths of thread, some eye hooks and a curtain rod. As far as the beads are concerned, you can chose glass beads, bamboo, or even wood, depending on the type of atmosphere you are trying to create. You can even mix and match these materials. This is the perfect opportunity to let your creativity flow and create something unique that matches your home.