Things You Have To Keep In Mind When Purchasing Your Curtain Fabrics

By Author: Jo Alelsto
Total Articles: 405
Comment this article

Who says choosing curtains is an easy and straightforward affair? I heard someone say something like this then obviously they haven't really tried doing it.

Deciding that you need to change your curtains is more than just an aesthetic decision, it is also an investment. Paying for the curtain maker as well as for quality curtain fabric material can take out a reasonable sum from your savings so it is important that you spend some time thinking over what you want and what you need your curtains or drapes to be.

Here are a few things you need to think about:

1. Light and Opacity - How much light do you want in the room? Do you want to completely block out the morning sun or do you want to wake up with the sun streaming through the windows? If you want the fabric to be thick enough to keep the morning sun out, try a large sample of the fabric by holding it up against the sun. You can have a coating fabric or have a black out lining.

2. How much fabric do you need? - You should set the task of measuring the window to know how many meters of curtain fabric you will need. Ideally, you need 2 to ...
... 2.5 times the width of the window and 2 to 3 inches below the window. However, this may vary according to style and design you want for your curtains. Some fabrics are prone to shrinkage so always allow for this possibility.

3. Drafts and Insulation - If the window is in an especially drafty area of the house, you may want the curtains to have some insulating properties. A coated fabric is quite effective in reducing drafts. An interlining can also serve the same purpose. Also make sure that the curtain rod or track is higher than the top of the window and that the width and length are adequate to cover the whole window.

4. Keeping in style with your home - Of course, you would want to have curtains that will maintain the look you want your home to have. If you have a Victorian house then curtains made from velvet, chenille or heavy damask will keep up with the elegance and style you want. For a Georgian home, silk, satin, cotton, linen, chintz and dyed calico of subdued colors like white, gray, and chocolate with olive and pale blue prints or highlights will do.

5. Color - Knowing which fabric color works best for the motif you have for the room is just as important as identifying the type of fabric that matches the style of your home. To create harmony in the room, the colors of the furniture, the ornaments, the floor and walls must blend well together. Ask for professional advice if you can't decide, it may be a bad decision to choose just anything and find out later that the color is simply out of sync with the rest of the room.

With these tips, choosing the right curtain fabrics as well as the colors and patterns is made easier since you now know what you will be looking for. If you have other considerations, then you must also take these into account.

Choosing the ideal curtain fabric needs some time. Don't hurry and take as much time as you need, remember that your curtains are an investment too. Seek out professional advice if you need to and do your own research for the best deals in town. However, don't make the whole exercise of choosing the right curtain fabric an inconvenience, enjoy the experience. After you see it has been hung on the windows, you'll know you did a good job.
Jo is a writer for ‘Lara Grace Collections' (http://www.laragrace.co.uk), an online curtain fabric dealer in UK that specializes in the distribution of fabrics for curtains, soft furnishings as well as upholstery. If you are looking for and would like to buy a distinctively designed curtain fabrics which can create an elegant and fashionable effect to your residence that can be used and coordinated in a variety of ways then check out Lara Grace Collections.