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.

This 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.