Home Improvements: Curtains, Drapes and Blinds
One of the easiest ways to improve your home is to update or change your window decorations. By installing new curtains, drapes or blinds you can make a dramatic difference to a room. There are almost endless options for home decoration using window coverings, so it is possible to find something to suit any room.
The words curtains and drapes are often used interchangeably, but curtains usually refer to window coverings that filter the light coming in through the window, while the draperies are those that can be drawn closed across the window. Curtains and draperies come in many different forms, from transparent cloth and lace to thick velvety materials. They can also be arranged in many different styles. The draperies may be the same length as the window, slightly longer, or skimming or trailing on the floor. The curtain rail may be concealed by a valance or cornice, or it may be draped with swags of fabric.
Blinds also come in many different forms. The two main types of blinds are vertical and horizontal blinds. Blinds can also be manufactured from many different types of materials. They can be made of sheets of cloth, or they may be made of slats of wood, bamboo or plastic. Many blinds are very simple, such as Venetian blinds, but others can be more elaborate, such as Roman blinds, which are formed of folded and pleated fabric.
Installing new window coverings is one of the easiest home improvement jobs. All you need to be able to do is drill holes in the window frame or the wall and then screw the curtain rail or the brackets that will hold the blind in place. The most important part of the job is ensuring that you have the correct measurements for the window and that you install the rail or brackets so that the top of the drapes or blinds will be level. You will need to use a spirit level to check this.
Changing the window decorations can make a huge difference to a room. It can open the room up, making it appear brighter or more spacious, or help it to feel warm and cozy. Blinds and drapes can ensure that you have your privacy, but they can also be used for aesthetic reasons. It is important to match the drapes or blinds to the style and size of your room in order to achieve the best results. If your ceilings are fairly low, for example, you may want to avoid long, floor length curtains as it could make the room appear smaller. If your room is very modern and minimalist, you may want to install plain blinds, but if you have a very traditional, grand room then some elaborate draperies may be better.
