There is nothing more magical than natural light flourishing into your homes, right? But what if it’s hindering your sleep, privacy, and the circadian rhythm? Well, in that case, wisely choosing the curtains for your home is the key.

Since there have been numerous times, I have been asked about how to choose curtains for your home – I have thought of addressing this interior design issue in my blog!

Yes! These curtains are pretty necessary whether you reside on a sunny, tropical island or the northern woods of Scandinavia – not only because of the sun rays but also natural light!

Before you choose curtains for your home – it is necessary to research their size, style, type, fabric, and finish.

And that is why here is an enlisted guide on everything you need to know about how to choose curtains for your home.

How To Choose Curtains for Home?

Step One: Determine the Size

Curtain length is the number one factor that needs to be determined.

Depending upon the interior design style, whether you incline towards the modern and minimalist or the traditional and transitional, the overall length may vary.

The second important aspect is the overall height of your room and the window dimensions. So, you need to measure the floor-to-ceiling height, the height and width of your windows, and the distance between the ceiling and the window lintel.

Unless you are hanging your curtains up high near the ceiling – you may need to measure the distance between the curtain rod and the floor.

Well, here is a Pro Tip:

Choose Floor-to-Ceiling length curtains to create an illusion of higher ceilings and a modern touch!

Generally, ensure to hang the curtains at a height of at least 6 inches above the window or if you further want to add an elegant and sophisticated touch – hang them even higher!

Secondly, have a look at the number of window panels – is it just a single panel or is wide enough to make your room larger?

So, measure the horizontal length of your curtains and then add about 12 inches on each side that will seamlessly accommodate the folds. Now, here is another pro-tip that you might want to consider:

Choose curtains with greater width and extended folds to create an illusion of a wider room and a dramatic touch!

Types of Curtains

There are four types of curtains depending upon the length:

1. Tier Curtains: Curtains that only cover the frame of the window
2. Apron Curtains: Curtains that hang below the window frame
3. Floor-to-Ceiling Curtains: Curtains that are hung up high near the ceilings and reach down to the floor (One of my favorites for any and every space)
4. Puddle Curtains: Curtains that touch the floor with some remaining puddling on the floor. You should generally hung them up high near the ceiling – a great option for classical and glam-styled spaces. (However, if you have pets and kids at home – you might want to avoid these as they seriously get dirty)

One of the curtains I most recommend is the Floor-to-Ceiling as they look absolutely refined while proving to be a one-for-all solution!

I wouldn’t recommend the apron or tier curtains as they exhibit an unfinished and incomplete backdrop that may look excessively messy and unattractive.

Step Two: Choose the Fabric

Choosing a particular fabric for your curtains is highly dependent upon the overall incoming sunlight and the mood you desire to create. There is a wide variety of fabrics for curtains – from cotton to linen, silk, velvet, suede, velveteen, and wool-blend.

For example, in a traditional and transitional-styled bedroom, the curtains would be comparatively heavier and thicker as compared to the minimalist style that requires lighter curtains.

Next, ask yourself as to how much sunlight do you want to receive in your room?

So, if you want tons of sunlight – it is better to pick a cotton sheer curtain to help natural light seep in.

They come in various colors and textures – so, it is recommended to choose a pastel or light-toned curtain to achieve the most of sunlight. You can check out TheSnugCo since they have a great range of curtains to look through!

Meanwhile, if you want some amounts of light, it is recommended to choose linen curtains that have a textured weave to easily diffuse the incoming light – but not completely.

Lastly, if you want the light to be completely blocked out, then simply choose velvet or suede curtains that are comparatively heavier and darker in color.

Another option for using blackout curtains is to reduce the light as well as noise. It will also help retain insulation properties while keeping your room cool or warm, as desired.

To add more depth to your room, I recommend you add two layers of fabrics!

A sheer and a blackout to serve both purposes at the same time.

However, always remember to…

Pick lighter fabrics for a smaller-sized room while preferring bold and heavier fabrics for larger-sized rooms

Step Three: Align the Style

Now that you know the size and the fabric, the next major step is to analyze your interior design style.

Trust me, curtains have a major role to play in the overall characteristics of your room.

Curtains can make or break the appearances of your space

So, in case you have a sleek taste – well, choose something clean and crisp.

Something like modern, minimalist, or contemporary – then the curtains are bound to be bolder in hues with the least embroideries or patterns.

On the other hand, a Traditional, Art Deco, Shabby Chic, and Transitional interior design style crave patterns, textures, and flamboyant shapes and prints. Also, if you are a maximalist, go the second way around!

Ask yourself another question – how do you want your curtains to play in a room?

Should they serve as a focal point? Or simply play a neutral backdrop?

If you want your curtains to be the focal point of your room, ensure that it is bold and not aligning hues with the base paint of the room.

Add an accent color to your pillows, rugs, and curtains to make them stand out!

And on the other hand, for a neutral backdrop, just simply use pastel or an off-white or neutral shade!

Furthermore, you can always add valances and pull-backs to play with the overall character of your curtains!

Step Four: Select the Hardware

Choosing color, materials, and texture for the curtain rod is one of the most underrated tasks.

I usually observe homeowners ignoring this aspect to generalize how only the curtains will look like – but the fact is that the hardware is of utmost importance too.

So, first and foremost, it is essential to analyze the color palette of your space. Does it include any metallic tints and accents?

What is the color and material of your lighting fixtures or sofa legs?

Yes! That is what helps in determining the finish of the curtains rods.

You can choose from gold, brushed nickel, antique bronze, or polished nickel!

Secondly, always remember to choose rods that are at the most 6 inches to 1 foot wider than the windows!

This way, you add visual interest to your space with ample space for your windows to easily open up!

Last Word – How to Choose Curtains for Your Home

You see, choosing curtains isn’t even that difficult, right? Just some basic research and analysis is good enough to pick the best curtains for your home.

Remember, curtains have the potential to make or break your space – and that is why you need to be very careful around using them correctly and proportionately.

However, another important aspect to consider is maintenance!

There is no one solution for all when it comes to various functions in your home.

Your kitchens will have different curtains than your bedrooms. And similarly, the east-facing rooms will have different curtains than the north-facing rooms.

And moreover, if you have kids and pets at home – you need to be extra cautious with the fabrics.

Make sure to clean or dry-wash them every twice a year (Depending upon the fabric)! You can also vacuum the fabrics in case you have dust allergies!

Now that I have enlisted the points about how to choose curtains for your home, are you excited to incorporate any? Do let me know your thoughts in the comments below or check out my interior decoration packages if you need a hand in styling!

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