"Curtain home window treatments"

Curtain home window treatments don't seem too difficult until you come to the point of actually doing them. It's easy to think of them as just something you install at the end of a long period of decorating.

Choose a fabric? Easy. Style of curtains? That can't be too difficult.

Then you stand and look at your window, and suddenly all sorts of problems begin to raise their ugly heads.

"Should I have a pole, a track, or what?"
"How long should it be?"
"How far up should it go?"
"Should I have my curtains long or short?"
"Where should I fix my cornice box?"
"How deep should I make the cornice box?"

And so on. Well, using the links below you'll find advice and tips on how to think about the overall effect you want for your curtains, and how to make it happen.

Think about the final result

To make a success of your window treatment you'll need to take everything into account. Think of where your curtains should draw back to - right off the sides of the window or just covering them? Should they come from the ceiling or just about the window?

By taking care over your choice of curtains you can make a big difference to the look and attractiveness of your home. Fabrics come in a multitude of textures, colors and designs. There's no reason why with a bit of effort you can't make your home just as you'd like it.

The fabric effect

Fabrics are a great way to add softness and elegance to any window.

Here a modern woven fabric is used to make a curtain with deep folds. This type of construction uses plenty of fullness (eg. lots of fabric) which gives the curtain its 'body' and makes it look substantial.

You can make your curtains so they blend with your window frames, or if the window is not very attractive you can arrange for the curtains to be the center of attention.

Practical issues are important

It's very easy when installing your home window treatments to just go ahead and do it. Many of us don't take the time to find out how to do things, we use our best judgment and simply get on with it.

But it pays to find out a little more before jumping straight in. There are some very practical decisions to be made, and they have a big effect on the final look of your window.

For example, when you look at a blank window, where exactly would you fit a track or pole? Just under the ceiling? Level with the top of the window?
And how far would you extend the track either side of the window? Just a couple of inches? A foot and a half?

These are decision you'll have to make, and they will have a big effect on how much fabric you'll need for your drapes. And they'll have an even bigger effect on the look of the finished treatment.

living room drapes

This traditional English living room shows elaborate drapes on the side window and the bay window. Your home window treatments can be as simple or as complex as needed for the situation. Even if you can't use such schemes in your own home, you can still take ideas from them to adapt for your situation.

Take a look at the following sections for more information. You'll find advice and sketches to help you plan and implement your home window treatments.