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Curtains are materials that are hung over a window for decoration and other purposes. The main purposes
are to provide privacy, block sunlight and decoration.
If the window looks onto streets or sidewalks, then curtains
can be used for privacy. Translucent curtains like net curtains or sheer curtains will only block sunlight partially. These
types of curtains do not provide any privacy, especially at night. For privacy opaque curtains are better.
Curtains
are also used for light control to prevent glare, for sleeping during the day, or watching TV etc. Opaque curtains are suited
for light control. For partial light control sheer or net type curtains are better suited.
Curtains are also used for
increasing the aesthetic appeal of a room. An elegant curtain greatly increases the aesthetics of a room and gives an opulent
look. On the contrary dirty or ill matched curtains give a room a gloomy look. When the window looks onto a street it is better
to give thought to the underside of the curtain as the curtain can be seen from outside and will dictate the appearance of
the house.
Types of Curtains.
There are lots of varieties of curtains available in the market today. Few of them are:
Curtain
Valance. These have deep frill fabrics framing the window and usually the curtain rod is hidden. They generally have pleated
heading. The pleated headings can be decorated using braid, ribbons, tassels and trimmings.
Cascade Curtains. Cascaded
curtains consist of two or more curtains hung over the window. The tiers are hung from transoms.
Shirred curtains.
These types of curtains have the fabric threaded through curtain rods at the top and bottom.
Tie back curtains. These
curtains are gathered at the sides of the window and decoratively tied back at the lower part of the curtain with a sleeve
or cord.
Café curtains. These are designed to cover only half of the window and are stationary. They are usually used
in kitchens and bathrooms for privacy and are made form scalloped headings.
Pelmets. Pelmets are structures mounted
above the windows on which the curtain rod is fixed.
The choice of curtains depends on the purpose for which the curtains are being installed. Color, fabric and style of curtain
give the room a formal or informal appearance. There are lots of decorative rods, pelmets, cordings, sleeves, beads, fringes,
rings, eyelets available in the market to decorate curtains. Also a thought should be given on safety for floor length curtains
when pets and children are present in the house.
By: Keith George
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