Dressing up windows beautifully:

Curtains for windows:

Practically any material can be used for curtains, provided it drapes or folds well, since any weave that is likely to go out of shape unduly can have this tendency counteracted by being mounted on suitable linings and weighted if necessary. If the material is particularly fragile, and you intend to take advantage of its delicacy, then obviously linings would destroy this effect, so sheers, nets or laces made from the stronger synthetic fibres and weaves already discussed would be ideal.

On the other hand, if you want to use a particularly coarse material that does not fold neatly or drape well, then other methods of hanging can be found. To show the material to advantage it can be scalloped at the head and hung from the apex points, used in blind form or made simply as a dressing fabric, stretched or hung in a very simple and straightforward manner.

Window designs vary a great deal, so a thorough inspection is needed to check whether you can have uninterrupted banks of curtaining, billowing or flowing, smartly tailored or neatly rouched and anchored. Sometimes you may need to use curtaining to adjust irregularities or negotiate awkwardly opening lights. This may involve some constructional treatment, with or without a pelmet board.

Curtains look best if you provide ample material, from 50-100% more than the width of the opening depending on the thickness of the material. When choosing a material the 'essence' is very important to establish: for instance, whether you want a craft-based and comfortable atmosphere or a smooth and impressively opulent appearance. Once this has been determined, you know the type of materials you must seek and can then decide on the type of pattern or texture that is needed to confirm the impression you wish to create.

Heading Styles:

Heading Styles: There may be a number of heading styles starting from contemporary tab tops to traditional pleats to suit every interior style and decor.
The mostly used styles are:

• Pencil
• Double pinch
• Tab top
• Triple pinch pleat
• Triple pinch & button
• Goblet

Pelmet Designs:

Pelmet Designs: There are numerous designs and styles that can be incorporated in the pelmets of the curtains. This will depend essentially on the overall room theme and decor.
The most commonly used pelmets are:

• Swags and tails
• Triple pleat & button
• Traditional style
• Box Pleat
• Straight frilled
• Shaped and frilled
• Bond edge

Choose from any one style in your room and follow the same style throughout in all the rooms.

Tie backs:

Tie backs:

The curtains are not complete without the coordinating tiebacks in a traditional, bound edge or plaited style. Choose 30" or 45" embrace for larger curtains. And they may be smaller depending on smaller curtains or curtains with less drop.

How to measure the drop:

How to measure the drop: Use of wooden or metal tape is necessary. Check: Whether the rail is even? To be sure you can take a drop measuremnet in the middle of the rail, and the at each end. Measure carefully. It is important to decide where you want the curtains to finish -popular choices include just above or just below the window sill. above a table below the window or till the floor or above the carpet. Allow a 1/2" clearance above a table or carpet. If their is no carpet then 1" to 1-1/4" clearance will help not to spoil the curtain with dust and dirt.

How to measure the width:

How to measure the width:

Use of wooden or metal tape is to be made for accuracy. Your curtain poles or tracks must be installed in their correct position before you measure for your curtains.Measure them carefully in the order according to the diagram.

How to measure the pelmet:

How to measure the pelmet

Pelmets are easy to measure for.
You will normally be measuring a pelmet board which may or may not be flush to the ceiling or a pelmet(duo) rail.
In all cases you will have to take into consideration the width of the pelmet board plus the depths of the returns.

That is separate measurements of B and A+C in the diagram.

Measuring The window for curtains:

Measuring The window for curtains: Two measurements are required for each window The width and the drop. Width should be measured to the ends of the track or pole + some additional amount to be considered depending on the heading styles you are choosing for.

Welcome to the world of window dressing:

In the world of window dressing there are various often-used terms which at this point deserve clarification.

Head- top of window.
Sill -the window board.
Reveal -side walls to window recess.
Fabric weight -thickness of weave.
Sheer -very fine fabric: cheesecloths, muslin, nets and laces.
Heading tape- tape at top of curtains/fabric blinds for gathering and inserting hooks.
Gathering -tightening of heading tape to pleat or ruffle the fabric.
Track/pole/rail- support for curtains, blinds and valances, in plastic, timber or metal.
Tie-back -shaped fabric or decorative rope securing curtains in drapes. Ornamental metal pins (clips) may also be used to hold back fabrics.
Swag and tail- decorative draping of fabric.