CURTAINS AND FABRIC

Main curtains

Curtains have the ability to transform a space. They soften the hard lines of a room, provide warmth, privacy and light filtration.

Whatever fabric and style you choose, curtains can add the finishing touch to a room by working with the furnishings. To help the decision-making process I have put together six tips to get you on your way: 

1.       Window Size– Not all windows are created equal.  Some windows lend themselves to the floor to ceiling curtains.  Others may be small, narrow or in an awkward space, and perhaps a blind might be more suitable.  Consider what type of window you working with and then make a choice on a window treatment for curtains or blinds. 
2.       Style– Formal or informal?  The style of your home will help inform this decision.  A traditional home with a very high stud and ornamental features might suit voluminous velvet curtains that puddle on the floor while a more contemporary home might suit a more simplistic style, with less volume that sit just to the floor.  The selection of ‘headings” that you choose (of which there are several options available), will also create a certain aesthetic.  Either way, it works best if you keep the style of your curtain consistent from room to room. 
3.       Function– What is the role of the curtain in the space?  Is it a bedroom that requires full blockout for sleeping, is it a TV room where sunlight needs to be filtered or is it a lounge room that you like to keep warm? Each room in your home will have different requirements depending on who and what the room is being used for. Think about children and pets and the role they play in the house too with durability, easy-clean properties being a priority in the fabric choice.
4.       Position– Depending on where you are located in the world, the harsh sun can cause damage to curtains. Edges of curtains that face the window can become sun damaged that can cause the fabric to disintegrate. Choosing a fabric that has a good UV protection rating will help reduce this problem as well as ensuring you stack back your curtains as much as possible, so they sit off the window. Alternatively, you might like to use a sheer fabric that lets light and filters the rays at the same time.  
5.       Lining– Did you know that professionally fitted, lined drapery can reduce window heat loss by 40-60% when closed. Working all year round, lined drapery is an important tool in creating a thermal insulation barrier. 
6.       Budget– We all have a level of investment we are prepared to pay for our home furnishings. There is a range of fabric options available in a variety of price points. 

I  also have a competitive range of end of run designer fabrics that we can make into curtains just for you.

Step 1 – Measure the width (horizontal) first; allowing where possible 2-300mm each size of the window for curtains or 150mm per width of fabric to allow the curtains to be pulled off the window to allow in more light.

Step 2 – Measure the length (or drop). First, you need to decide how long you want the curtains to be. To measure the length, you need to measure from the top of the track or architrave to the required length. Measure both sides of the window and if the floor is uneven, take the longer length.

• Typical lengths are: just above the floor (measure to the floor then minus 10mm) 
• Puddling on the floor 300mm longer than to floor-length so the material puddles on the floor.
• When measuring a whole house always start at the entrance and work around the building in an anti-clockwise direction.
• Then measure the drop (vertical) from where the track will be hung to the completed curtain will finish.
• When measuring for a bent track take all the measurements including the inside and outside bends use an angle devisor to ensure you have the right degree of the angle draw the track shape on your measure sheet including the stack back at either side.
• Note down how many curtains you want on each window and which way they are to stack

• • Is the window square with floor and ceiling?
  • Is the floor level?
  • Do you need the tracks to sit out from the wall to allow drapes to draw over the window sills?
  • How many curtains on each window and which way will they stack?
  • What type of tracks are they hand or cord drawn?
  • Are you covering light switches (and does it matter)?
  • Does art or furniture need shifting? 
  • Do doors open inside or out? Could they cause you a problem?
  • Are heat pumps or alarm monitors going to get in the way? 
  • Are window seats going to be added to bay windows?

How much fullness do you want: – double the curtain track width is usual but depending on what type of heading you want means you could bring this figure down.

How wide is the fabric: – with wider fabrics (1400mm, 1500mm or 3000mm) you will need fewer drops than with a narrow fabric.  If the fabric is 2800mm or 3000mm wide all you have to do is double your track and that gives you the amount of fabric you need.

To work out how many drops you need, take your track width and multiply it by 2 or your desired fullness.  Divide this by the width of your fabric.  Round this number up to the nearest whole number and that gives you the ideal number of drops for your window.

e.g. The track width is 2000mm. The fabric width is 1400mm, and you want 2 times the fullness. 2000mm x 2 = 4000mm 

Then   4000mm divided by 1400mm = 2.850    which rounds up to 3 drops

Take the required length and add 300mm for hems and heading (add 200mm if you want gathered curtains).   Multiply that amount by the number of your drops – and that gives you the amount of fabric you need – for plain fabrics. Using lining, do the same calculation to find out how much you need.