When it comes to interior design, we wish we could just buy everything we like from the store and fill up our houses with a mishmash of colors, patterns, and furniture. Thankfully, our better judgment stops us from creating an epic attack on the eyes and hones in our aesthetic so that everything matches – including the drapes. Drapes can be a huge statement piece in any room, so there are some important things to know about how to pick the right window drapes for you and your home!
Choosing the color
At the end of the day, the color of your drapes is completely dependent on your own personal choice. Whether you prefer bold prints or block colors, soft tones or in-your-face brightness, many people know exactly what they want from their drapes. However, if you’re not sure, it’s always best to choose soft, neutral colors. White, cream, gray and light brown drapes normally match against any wallpaper, paint color or furniture, making them a welcome addition to your room. Because they are barely noticeable, they also aid in making any room look larger and lighter. As if this wasn’t enough to sell you on neutral drapes, they also take longer to fade! Bonus.
Choosing the fabric
There are so many different fabric types to think about when choosing your drapes – and they all come with their own unique price tag, look, and drape. If you’re looking for luscious silk drapes, they will obviously cost you more because silk is expensive, but they will also crease easily and be a lot more difficult to maintain. Again, it is down to choice. Nevertheless, if you are looking for average-priced drapes, linen or curtain will do the trick. Because these fabrics are readily available and extremely light, they will be cheaper and easier to maintain. Before you make a final decision on your drape fabric, lift the material into a gather (to replicate the draped look) to make sure you are happy with how it looks.
Choosing the length
When it comes to choosing the length for your drapes, it mostly comes down to common sense. If you have a short window, you want shorter drapes. If you have a long window or patio doors, you will want longer drapes. If you have short windows and wish to make the window and your room larger, you can raise the drape rail a few inches higher than you normally would and buy slightly longer drapes to pass a few inches below the window ledge. Generally, the rule of thumb for longer windows is that you should measure your drapes to land half an inch above your floor.
Choosing your lining
When buying your drapes, it’s important to note whether the fabric itself will come with a lining. If not, buying an additional lining is recommended. Although they might not look pretty, linings drastically increase the life of your drapes, by reducing the amount of light that passes through – resulting in less fade. The lining also allows the main fabric to drape easier, meaning the drapes look more full. The most common form of lining is cotton, but you can buy black-out lining which will completely shut out any light from coming into the room. This is more expensive, though.
Choosing the gathers
If you’ve already been shopping for drapes, you may have noticed that they come in percentages. This percentage refers to the gathers of the drapes and allows you to choose the kind of drape you’d like for your room. If the percentage is higher, this means that there is more fabric being gathered up to make a fuller figure. If the percentage is lower, there will be less gather, and the drapes will fall easier. Interior designers recommend choosing drapes with 100% gather, but the choice is completely yours. When shopping, keep your eye out for all of the different options so you can really weigh up what you like and dislike.
Buying the right drapes for you can be a difficult task, but if you follow these rules, you can bag yourself the perfect ones!
