How to Choose the Best Curtains for Any Room
Getting a new set of curtains is a quick and relatively affordable way to freshen up a room. But beyond the choice of colors and patterns, other factors such as their material and length can help you further customize the space. In an article for The Spruce, Laura Miller shares some strategies for choosing the type of curtain that works best for a particular room. Here’s what you need to know.
Material
First, determine what you need in terms of natural light and privacy. For example, if curtains are meant for the bedroom, consider whether you want blackout curtains that will let you sleep through anything, or something more sheer that lets in enough natural light to help you wake up.
Here’s how Miller parses it depending on how much light you need:
- Maximum light: choose a sheer or cotton fabric. Even if you choose to choose curtains with a color or pattern, they will still let in the sun.
- Moderate light: Linen curtains are best because their textured fabric lets in a little light, but not too much.
- There is practically no light: here blackout curtains come to the rescue. They have a special lining that blocks out almost all the light. Another option is velvet curtains because they are very heavy and opaque.
Length
While the material of the curtains matters the most in terms of the amount of natural light that can enter the room, their length is also worth considering. Curtains come in five standard lengths: 63 “, 84”, 95 “, 108” and 120 “, but according to Miller , designated terms are sometimes used to describe the overall length:
- Tier curtains are short curtains that cover only part of the window.
- Apron curtains are curtains that hang just below the bottom of the window.
- Floor curtains – curtains that extend to the floor. Usually works best with a bar that is closer to the ceiling.
- Puddle curtains – floor-length curtains with fabric remnants at the bottom. Again, connect them to the taller rod.
In her article, Miller also provides information on how to buy the right fittings for your curtains and what to do if you already have existing window treatments.