Curtain Story
Even in ancient times, the nomads hung their skins with their entrances to their tents, and the wise Greeks used fabric draperies to decorate the house. But curtains in the sense of the word familiar to us appeared in the Middle Ages and gained special popularity in the Renaissance: they began to be made from very exquisite fabrics - silk, velvet, cambric - and decorate with all sorts of patterns. During the Baroque period (late XVI - mid XVIII centuries), stylish personalities began to pay special attention to a competent combination of the shade of curtains and furniture upholstery, and in the times of classicism, in the 18th century, an even stricter rule arose: henceforth they should not simply harmonize in color , and they had to be made from one material. Now, fortunately, there are no such strict laws in interior design, so there is no need to limit your creative imagination. But still it is worth remembering some tips that will help you when choosing curtains.
Material for reflection
To begin with it is necessary to be defined, what style of curtains and curtains to prefer. It should be the easier, the denser and more solid the fabric. And if there is a large picture on it, it's better to do without any special frills: let the window frame a slightly prisborennoe or quite smooth cloth. But if the material is simple and light, then the curtains can be made from it even more difficult - with festoons, for example (this is the name for the edge or bottom curtains in the form of rounded or notched cutouts). If you dream first of all of a beautiful drapery, then remember that the cut of the fabric should be this way two or three times the width of the window. In addition, if on a cloth you like, there is a repeating pattern, be sure to "gather" the fabric and see if it looks so good in the folds.
Multicolored secrets
With the help of certain colors, you can change the general appearance of the room. Choosing the right color curtains and curtains, you will transform your room. Yellow, red, orange will make it warm and cozy, even if the sun to you in the window rarely peeps. Beige, white, light green (in general, neutral colors) will give it airiness. Cold shades of blue, blue, violet, gray soothe the nerves, and in addition, visually increase the distance. Therefore, they are good for small rooms that want to do more. Just remember that the curtains should not "merge" with the wallpaper: it is better to make them lighter or darker, otherwise it will turn out to be too monotonous design.
Friendly ranks
To hang curtains, you need a cornice. The simplest - from the wires attached to the ceiling - does not look particularly aesthetic, and the hooks on it do not slide well. It is better to acquire decorative cornice, which is attached to the wall. It can have several rows of crossbeams. If you have on the window - only tulle (thin mesh fabric) or curtains of dense matter, then one row is enough. If both are needed, two, and if there are also lambrequins, three. An additional transparent or lace curtain is useful first of all for those who live on the first or second floor, or in the event that outside there is some not particularly pleasant landscape with the factory pipes - in general, if necessary, even on a clear day, fenced off from the outside world. A lambrequin - a horizontal strip of cloth - will cover the upper edge of the curtain, if it does not look particularly beautiful when attached to the cornice (though this decorative detail looks good only on tall windows).
Shutter, hold on!
Variants of fastening are very diverse - it's not just hooks. On the linen curtains in the style of "country" will look good loop of fabric. And that this masterpiece of design was convenient to take off for washing and hang back, you can make such loops on the buttons. Eyelets - metal or plastic rings sewn into the fabric, - especially effective look, if it is dense, synthetic. And still it is possible on the top edge of the curtain (having retreated by about 7 cm) to stitch a narrow "kuliska" into which the bar of the cornice will be inserted. If you go there also with an elastic band that will pick up the fabric, magnificent draperies are provided, just do not forget that the material on numerous folds will take a lot.
Magic transformations
If you want to miraculously "enlarge" the window opening, you need to choose a cornice slightly longer than it (at least 20 cm on each side). It is very important to choose it correctly - curtains and curtains "do not care" hang on anything. Curtains should start from the very edge: when they are pulled away, more light will enter the room. If the window is located low and the ceiling height is low, the cornice is best to raise as much as possible, and from all types of fastening choose eyelets or "kuliska": above them a wavy "scallop" is formed, which visually lifts the curtain. The distance from the floor is also important: the curtains-cafe (light, along the length of the window) and the breeze-breeze (half-curtains, beginning at a height of 70-80 cm from the windowsill) visually shorten the window. But they are preferable if the house has pets tuned to try out on their beautiful material their teeth and claws, as well as curious little children who can get confused in the fabric. As for the possibility to "expand" the premises at the expense of the pattern or the style of the curtains, there is no unified opinion. Some designers are sure that in small rooms should avoid drapery, horizontal and vertical lines. Others are convinced: beautiful folds and a large pattern will distract attention from the size of the room. So you can experiment and draw your own conclusion. In the end, you will continue to admire what you yourself will do from your room. So get ready with the spirit - and forward to change!