It’s not uncommon to hear your friends mocking your choice of shoes or blazer or harem pants with: “You look like you’re wearing your grandma’s curtains.†Yes, it’s a feeble attempt at knocking your carefully honed fashion sense, but is it an insult? Nope, far from it.
Curtains and blinds add spice to your space. Be it for a bedroom or a living room, in a traditional mountain home or a sparkling block of flats in the heart of the city – curtains have transformative powers similar to those of a statement jewellery piece. Your outfit/room might look perfectly fine without those dazzling earrings/drapes – but then you add the earrings/drapes, and bam! Just like that, your outfit/room looks entirely different, distinctive and dynamic…
Whether you’re furnishing a new home, or redecorating a tired-looking space, it’s important to get the curtains right. Curtains have been an integral part of home design ever since humans started thinking, and caring, about home design. They maintain privacy, conserve energy, and add cosiness, colour and pattern to your room. So dig out the measuring tape from your DIY drawer and check out these tips to help get you started:
Choose your style and fixtures
We’ve already established that curtains can make or break your room scheme, so take your time in selecting the right style, length, fabric and colour. First thing’s first: The type of curtains you go for will ultimately depend on your windows. Bay windows, balcony windows, straight windows, picture windows, slider windows, floor-to-ceiling windows – there are probably as many window types as there are ways to dress them. The key is to make sure your curtains – whatever style you choose – compliment your windows. Next, consider your room type and size. For instance, blackout blinds are popular in bedrooms, however no curtains should obscure your view.
Layer up
Window dressing is much like dressing yourself. Setting aside boring factors like the weather and laundry, every morning you choose your clothes depending on your mood and how you’d like to present yourself that day. Similarly, each room in your home can be designed to convey a distinct atmosphere, and curtains play a big role here. Think of your curtains like an outfit, and have fun with layering up different textiles and textures; or mixing and matching blinds and curtains. Avoid overcrowding your windows by choosing textiles that hang well together and allow you to control how much light filters through.
Go big and go bold
For maximum impact, go big and go bold. Step out of your comfort zone of plain beige drapes, and explore the world of prints, patterns and colour-blocking. A pop of colour can add character and brighten up a dull room. And the beauty of prints and patterns is that they can be as bold or as subtle as you like, and as minimal or as vintage as the rest of your room decor. Lastly, don’t forget about curtain rods – the finishing touch that pulls your window dressing together.
Alternatively, you could pay Teta a visit for some more curtain inspiration…