Designer Curtains - Custom Made Window Treatments

Despite the endless variety of ready made curtains available at the stores or online, at times you are left wondering for something that really matches the style and vision that you have for the room to be provided with curtains. It’s under such situations and with that special vision in mind that you look around for designer curtains to get something tailor made that fits your vision and requirements.

There is absolutely no doubt that having designer curtains for you home is going to cost a lot more than if you bought something off the shelf. Yet, at the same time you remain assured that here is something exclusive you have wanted to have to match the décor of your room and will especially be designed and made for you. It surely is highly satisfying to have your home done up exactly the way you wanted it to be. Then, there is an element of achievement and the sense of pride and contentment that comes with it.



Designer curtains have an inbuilt sophistication and grace that is very obviously visible and is often lacking in curtains that you buy off the shelf. You stand the advantage of having a unique design that nobody else would have anywhere. That gives your home very interesting and exclusive looks. It feels very nice to earn the appreciation of visitors and at the same time you are assured that they wouldn’t get a chance to see an exactly similar curtain at any other place.

Many different fabrics can be employed for making designs of window curtains. When you decide to have them custom made, a whole new range of choices opens up for you. For giving your room that rich look, choose one of the thicker materials like velvet or even soft and alluring wool. On the other hand, if you like to provide a light and airy feel, go for sheer fabrics or cotton. Or you could opt for the unique style of damask or may be the traditional looks of lace curtains. Whatever be your choice of fabric, you are sure to get a larger variety when you decide to have them custom made.

Apart from the wide choice of fabrics to choose from, there are many styles available. In case you prefer to have a contemporary look of eyelet curtains, you can have this style incorporated in the design accordingly. Eyelet curtains look grand, with rings sewn directly into the curtain itself they do not need any more hardware for their support. They provide a much better fall than the one you get with rings. But, you can’t discount the curtain rings totally, as some of the rooms definitely look better with curtains making use of this accessory. And, an important benefit of having your own design of such curtains is that you can have rings in a design and style of your choice that helps to get the desired overall effect. There is a colossal variety of curtain rings and you can try mix-and-match before zeroing down to the final choice.



The trend of having designer curtains exceeds the boundaries of bedrooms and living rooms. We have on offer designer curtains for bathroom and the kitchen too. More than the curtains, you get all the matching trimmings that include curtain rods, tiebacks, valances and cornices. All this goes to make a big difference to ambience of these rooms.

While selecting one of the providers to make items as you visualize it, make sure that the provider has adequate experience. They need to be competent and professional in creating exactly the style you wish to have. Most businesses that offer a range of designer curtains will offer some kind of guarantee for their products. It surely helps, knowing the kind of money you are going to spend to acquire these curtains.

Door Curtains – Functionality And Aesthetics

Most of the time when we mention curtain, it’s interpreted as window curtains as many people seem to be unaware of the few options available for having them on the doors also. Generally, we find houses with three types of doors. Though solid front doors that are panels of solid wood are more common, we do have doors with panels or slats of glass. That brings to mind the French doors or the large sliding doors of glass often used at the entrance of patios. These doors need a different kind of covering and thus we have a few styles of curtains for the purpose.

Solid doors do not need covering most of the time as they offer all the needed protection and privacy. But, at times you like to leave the door open for a while, especially during summers when you may like to get rid of all the trapped air inside the room to let some fresh breeze come in. Such circumstances lead to the option of having a screen door that keeps out the insects and other such intruders, though many house owners feel that such an arrangement mars the looks of a beautiful door. Another option is to install a beaded curtain just outside the door. This arrangement adds to the looks of your door, lets in some amount of fresh air and provides moderate protection from pests and insects.



Bamboo and wood are the materials often used for making such curtains and it is quite usual to have them painted for getting the impression of a solid curtain. It makes a very good choice to have such curtains for a child’s room. It’ll be a nice idea to involve the child, when the schools are off, for making or painting of sketches on such curtains.

Doors with glass paneling, like French doors usually use more solid curtains and the most popular type of curtains for a French door continues to be sheer curtains. This style reminds of the classical romantic style linked with the French doors and goes to provide a soft cover for the hard lines of the wood underneath. In this case the curtain is fixed to the door itself by means of a wire connected at the top and bottom of the wooden frame. Often a ribbon is tied across the middle of the curtain to give it an hourglass figure, while some of the sunlight filters in thru the glass left uncovered.

Then we have large sliding glass doors. A popular choice of curtains for such doors is often the same that works on the principle of window curtains. These curtains generally have a single panel of material attached to the curtain rod by incorporating curtain rings or eyelets running along the length of the material at its top. Well, these curtains are known for providing a characteristically soft look, yet there are many who prefer to have vertical blinds.



All over the world curtains are used for their functional utility, but the Japanese look beyond aesthetics and functionality to include spirituality too. The Japanese equivalent of a door curtain is called as “Noren” and it is a common belief there that a properly placed curtain at the door brings in good luck and prosperity. People who practice feng shui also believe that a doorway is the entrance to good and bad energies and the right kind of door curtains lets in only the positive energy while keeping the bad one at bay.

Silk Curtains - Elegance And Luxury

Of the many natural fibers known to us today, silk is certainly among the oldest. It has been around for centuries and people love it for its delicate and luxurious feel. It is derived from silkworm that is bred in captivity before harvesting. The silkworm weaves a cocoon around itself and on emerging from the cocoon, it tears up the cocoon of fine threads that we know as silk. This natural process is very slow and farmers don’t find it very viable. So, to hasten up the process, the farmers put the cocoons in hot water that kills the larvae but keeps the cocoon in tact. It may appear quite unpleasant, but that’s the way to make the best silk.

Silk, because the slow process of producing it, is not available in abundance like most other fibers and is therefore rather expensive and historically found its patronage among the wealthy and royal people. Archaeologists have established that the material was used on mummies of ancient tombs of Egypt. But, Chinese are known to have used silk ever since their recorded history, and Chinese silk is still considered the best all over the world.



There is an interesting story as to how the Chinese discovered it. It tells us of a Chinese princess enjoying her cup of green tea out in the garden when she realized that some cocoon had dropped in her cup and on taking it out she discovered that it was all made up of fine smooth threads of which she got a piece of her dress made. Silk is a superb material for clothing. It has the natural characteristics of keeping the wearer cool in summers and warm in winters, just like the cocoon that kept the developing larvae safe during different weathers.

Silk curtains: Silk, apart from being used as a clothing material is also used for making curtains. Any room provided with silk curtains radiates luxurious and romantic looks. It’s a great way to decorate your room with silk curtains. They gleam and glisten with the changing intensity of natural light falling on them. They are lightweight also. Silk is a very delicate material and therefore demands better care than the usual cotton curtains. On being exposed to the sun for long, silk gets faded easily and may even rot. So, people devised a preventive measure by way of providing a layer of some other material in between the window and the silk curtain. Some people prefer to use shutters or blinds to ease out the situation. However, using a sheer curtain at the back of the silk curtain is simpler and not so expensive solution of this problem. It also gives the benefit of depth to the window. By tying back the silk curtains and exposing the sheer or lace curtains of your bedroom, you can create a truly magnificent atmosphere in the room.

Commercially silk is available in three grades of varying prices. The low grade of silk is made from cocoons that get damaged by whatever means and yield shorter threads is therefore the cheapest. This variety of silk lacks that luxurious texture of a high quality silk, and gives the feel of a better quality of cotton. The next higher grade is known as wild silk. Though of better grade, it tends to give a gray tinge and not the rich pearly white shine that people love to have from silk. The final and the best grade is called mulberry silk, and is the finest quality that one can have. Obviously this is the most expensive variety with its characteristic softness and elegance. People, who like to have silk curtains but find them too expensive, often opt for a silk like material produced synthetically and known as faux silk. The material can’t be expected to live up to the real thing and often causes disappointment sooner than expected.

Taffeta, plaid, beaded and embroidered are all different and popular varieties of curtains made from silk, but the most popular style of silk curtains is Dupioni. Weaving together two different colors of silk makes these curtains. It’s amazing to see light paving its way thru such curtains. They simply make the whole room come alive.

Cheap Curtains - Get More For Your Money

If you are on budget and looking for good curtains for giving a facelift to your home with new window treatments, there are two options for you. Obviously, one option is going around the town and visit a couple of renowned stores selling at discounted prices. But you need to have the stamina and time for undertaking such a venture. The other option is to be at home and visit a few online stores to check and compare prices, designs and fabrics. You’ll find quite many online stores selling a range of window treatment materials at very attractive prices. Get started with any of these:

One of the best sites to offer curtains for your home at very affordable prices is Overstock dot com. You get curtains at affordable prices in the price range of $15-$60, in lengths of 84 inches to 96 inches, and the materials include: velvet, micro-suede, ultra-suede, cotton duck, cotton voile, chamois, metro, faux leather, silk, dynasty silk, faux silk, lined raw silk, signature velvet, heavy denim, and many others. These are beautiful drapes that are sure to find customers even with very low budget.



Another online store that offers curtains at highly discounted prices is Swags Galore. On offer are: tab tops, rod pocket panels, tiers and swags, valances, scarf panels, fabric shades, country style curtains, ascots/tassels, and pinch pleat drapes, among others. The styles go to include: Sheers and semi-sheers, heavy draperies, velvet, casual, thermal, lace, satin, insulated and lined, silk, and tapestry with prices starting from $4.99 and up.

Wal Mart's too offers a vast variety of curtains at very attractive prices, especially for online buyers. These are available in fabrics like: cotton, velvet, chenille, silk, and blends, plus many more. You get them in different colors and style, thus making it easier for you to coordinate for any of your rooms. The pricing is $9 and up. It’s worth visiting their site to check their offer for those on a budget.

Wild Orchid, a U.K based online store has many exclusive and attractive curtains at discounted prices, and above all, they ship it without charge. On offer are their Pink Heart curtains made from white cotton organdy with pink embroidered hearts. A set of two 63 inches panel is priced at $27. You may have these curtains with blue stars and beads replacing hearts at comparable prices.

You may also have hand painted curtains with butterflies from Wild Orchids at very exclusive price. Velvet drapes are available for about $45 a pair. Should you be looking for something extraordinary, better check with them to compare the prices with others, if at all the others have similar stuff! Internet, no doubt, is the best place to get cheap curtains.

Outdoor Curtains - Great Solution For Backyard

Most of us would love to have a place outdoors, in the backyard, provided it’s comfortable and beautiful, and above all offers privacy. That leads us to start thinking on the lines of constructing a sunroom or even a screened-in porch. But, on second thoughts we realize all the hassles of dealing with the contractors and getting building permits and face noisy music of running machines and finally drop the idea of going in for any outdoor additions. Very often one tends to overlook the idea of creatively using curtains for the purpose. Yes, curtains offer an affordable, quick and reasonable option for getting the desired results. And, if you already have a covered patio or deck, it further helps. Outdoor curtains provide a very simple and practical solution to the problem.

At times we tend to overlook the convenience offered by curtains in providing privacy at affordable cost and in short time. It’s no fun to enjoy your outdoor sessions in the company of friends or a book under the eyes of neighbors and passers by. Homes with a common boundary wall or those with their backyards adjacent to commercial properties can enjoy the privacy that exterior curtains and drapes may offer.



Apart from providing the primary facility of privacy, curtains help change the total outdoor ambience by sort of softening the affects of otherwise tough outdoor furniture comprising of wooden deck, pergola and stone patio. The simple inclusion of outdoor curtains makes the outdoor area lively, as the charming drapes of fabric tend to create a feel of being indoors. You have the freedom to hang the curtains fully or use fancy tussles to tie them back and thus afford changing their looks conveniently and more often.

The quality of material selected for outdoor curtains is a crucial factor, for outdoor curtains are different than their counterparts that remain indoors. Outdoor curtains should have the capacity to bear the harsh sun and continuously changing outdoors weather. Fabrics meant for indoors won’t work outdoors. Outdoor curtains are especially treated to make them resist water and absorb harmful sunrays without getting faded in the process. Better quality of materials made by the likes of Sunbrella, are designed to block 98% of injurious UV rays coming from the sun. The material is breathable and capable of resisting mildew and stains. The only similarity perhaps between the two kinds of curtains is that both come in a very large range of colors, and styles, thus giving you as many options.

Rather than spending a lot of money and time to construct an additional area in the exterior of you home for enjoying outdoors, you could consider using good looking outdoor curtains or drapes in you present covered patio or deck to fashion a distinct and peaceful room in the backyard. An increasing number of homeowners are realizing the advantages of developing their backyards to better uses by including outdoor curtains in that area.

This is just ONE of the way outdoor drapes are made:

Sheer Curtains And Drapes

Most of us provide curtains for windows to control sunlight, but mainly to have privacy within the house. Everybody, irrespective of the social status he/she might be enjoying, needs to have curtains to carry out certain activities within the privacy of home, without any intrusion of any kind from the outside world. A regular curtain best maintains the privacy, preventing the outsiders from watching anything going behind the curtains.

Yet, there is category of people who are continually seeking attention of others by whatever means. They take pleasure in being watched by others in whatever be their activity, and wouldn’t mind being watched by others even when performing very personal tasks in the inner rooms of their homes. Perhaps that explains why we see houses with sheer curtains even in the windows of their bedrooms.



Sheer curtains can in no way offer any sense of privacy; they are not meant for the purpose. At the most they slightly distort the view of inhabitants as well the onlookers.

Generally, sheer curtains are too translucent to keep anything away from the passersby. Probably that is what the users of such curtains look forward to- being watched by the passing crowd all the time. They seem to enjoy the idea of sharing their very intimate actions by anyone who might be interested. The choice is of the onlooker- watch our actions or just pass by without bothering or getting bothered.

Well, the world is full of people having different preferences that suit their lifestyles and personal tastes. There may be some kind of pleasure associated with voyeurism, but that’s not for everybody. And, people using sheer curtains should understand that and must practice some restrain under certain circumstances. Suppose you have some growing children around. Certainly it won’t be healthy to create unhealthy images on their young minds by encouraging them to peep into your private affairs, if they may be called so, behind sheer curtains.

There may be some strangeness of character, which prompts people to use sheer curtains without any consideration for the world around them. Certainly, privacy is not the purpose there. It’s understandable, though, for a homeowner on the higher floors of a multi storied residential building to patronize sheer curtains, as nobody is there at such heights to peep into your house to see what’s going on.

Whatever be the motive, both, the curtains and the patrons of sheer curtains, are unusual. There is none denying that the curtains do reflect the personality of the householder.

French Door Curtains - Buying Tips

Like any other style of curtains, French curtains also help control-incoming light, but more than that they are known for their aesthetic appeal and beauty that they add to the room. In case you have French doors and looking to buying curtains for these doors or windows, here are some helpful tips that you would do well to keep in mind while shopping for French curtains. It’s better to appraise oneself on the subject before hand rather than regretting later.



The most important feature of these curtains is the size. You should know exactly the size of your French door. Take measurements along the height and the width to get right sized curtain. It’s very embarrassing to learn that the curtains you bought are of insufficient length and there is hardly anything you can do to correct their lengths. Unduly long lengths again serve no purpose and you just wasted money in buying longer lengths. Moreover, knowing the right dimension helps you to decide the pattern.

You may be aware most of the time the French curtains are white, which means they do not absorb much of the incoming light and reflect the same. See that these curtains blend well with the present décor of your room, and that includes the furniture and upholstery that you may have in the room. They should add to the overall look and feel of the room.

Next, choose the fabric. Here, you need to have a very practical approach in the sense: is it washable or rather machine washable and how expensive it is? You may be aware that thicker fabrics are more expensive than the thinner ones. Remember, thin fabrics are easier to wash and more convenient for being removed or fixed back to position. Obviously, thinner variety will be easier and economical to maintain, as you’ll be paying more to the cleaners for thick fabrics.

I can’t help making a very important suggestion for buying French door curtains. You should do the shopping of these curtains in person and not online. Are you surprised? Of course online shopping saves a lot of valuable time, physical strain and even money, but one big drawback of online shopping is that you can only see what you are buying, but you can’t feel what you are going to have around you for along time. You may buy gadgets and books and what not online- but fabrics?

You may end up buying a fabric or design that’s very inappropriate for the intended place you had in mind. Spare some time and energy and be sure of what you are buying.
Even if your trip were unsuccessful, you would have learnt a few things of what are the latest varieties available.

Yet, if you insist on buying online, ask the stores to send you a few samples of the designs and fabrics that you may find suitable. Whether buying online or physically from a store, don’t forget to enquire about the guarantees.

Cafe Style Curtains For Your Windows

Sometimes it really gets very perplexing to decide on the design, style or color of your next set of curtains. So many different options available today give you a hard time arriving at a decision. Ever considered having café curtains!

The Cafe Ambience



Bring home that café ambiance with these wonderfully looking curtains that go well with almost any setting. Despite being simple and quite basic, café curtains bring grace to any window and look great on kitchen windows especially. These can simply be made from a pillowcase and clothespin to the professionally made kind.

Just spend a while online to discover their simple designs and affordable prices. It’s not difficult or time-consuming to search for them online, for the simple reason that their making is so easy and straight that almost everybody dealing with window coverings is there online. And, you will be spoilt for their colors and styles. Try imagining white linen dipped in a cup of tea to get an antiquated look. Such smart ideas give the curtains an old-fashioned look while helping you to hide dust in the process.


Decide On The Rings

One more option that you have while thinking of café curtains is the kind of rings you may like to have. Of course, you get simple brass rings but you may provide them with something as simple as ribbons that are tied to create loops to let the rod pass thru them.
Or for getting a more authentic look, you may have a raw hem or a blanket stitch hem.

Cafe curtains may have a checked pattern or a design at the front side. It will present a nice look to sew a photograph contained in a plastic cover on to the curtain. You may decide to have a photo of your home or family or pet, anything you love. If stripes are your favorites, you can have them in red, green, blue or yellow with white stripes in between. You’ll realize primary colors or soft ones look better.

Measuring

Curtains are available in many different sizes and you have to know the one that should best suit your requirements. That makes it very important to know the size of your windows. Take measurements before you go to procure the curtains. Measure the size with a tape from one outer edge of the frame to the other edge on the outer side. You should also measure the top for the valance as well the middle of the window where the other part will hang. Further, you have to decide by what length the curtain should be hanging. Some people prefer to have a longer fall, while others like to have a neat short length that fits within the frame.

Choose a welcoming style and color that has some warmth and looks charming to visitors. After all, curtains do reflect on the personality of the homeowner.