Decorating your home can be fun and exciting, while sometimes scratching your head to show off your taste correctly.
Choosing curtains for your home can be one of those moments that you have to scratch your head. How do you choose curtains that best complement the rest of your decor?
The curtains you choose should always match the rod they hang on, your walls, and your style. They should also complement the rest of the decor in the room. If you have more than one set of curtains in the room, they should match in color, design, and length.
Read on to better understand how you can match your curtains to your home style. This article explores six things that should always bring your curtains together in your home to create flow and attractiveness. Let’s get started!
Contents
1. The Rod
You may not have given much thought to your curtain rod, but the curtain and rod should match. This means that the rod should have the right weight and thickness to support your curtains.
The weight of curtains can vary depending on the fabric, so you’ll need thin rods for lightweight curtains and thicker rods for heavier curtain fabric.
If you’re using curtains with a colorful design, choose a rod with a simple design to balance out the attractiveness.
Fancy rods complement simple curtains with solid colors or embroideries in the same color as the background fabric.
2. The Wall Color Scheme
Whether you’re buying curtains for the living room or any other room in your home, they should match the rest of the wall color in the room.
Bold-colored curtains can create contrast and make a statement against lighter walls in the same color family.
Alternatively, you can opt for light curtains for dark walls in the same color family. If you’re unsure when choosing a color, use a neutral tone to flow with your colors, and always make sure the background color matches the wall color.
If you have wallpaper with elegant patterns on the walls, your curtains will shine best in solid or neutral colors.
Curtains with embroidered patterns in the same color as the curtain fabric are also an option. Using a simple curtain set with a wallpaper design balances out without overstimulating the room’s vision.
3. The Style of Your Room
The decor and furniture throughout the room should create a design flow with a matching style. Curtains should always match the natural flow of the rest of the decor and furniture to achieve a balance in color and design.
For a simple decor and solid-colored walls, spice up the room with a set of curtains with a stylish pattern using colors that create contrast and complement the rest of the room.
Use solid curtains to match patterned furniture and busy decor. Too many patterns in the room can create a chaotic appearance that affects your mental health by overstimulation.
Those living in households with chaos and clutter may suffer from memory problems because the brain is constantly trying to process a flood of information.
Choosing a set that flows and complements the rest of your room’s style, your curtains can make a strong statement in the room’s design.
4. The Texture of the Room
Curtains vary in fabric textures and should match the rest of the room’s texture style. Take a look around your living space, and you’ll notice all the textures that your decor and furniture offer. Choose a curtain set that matches and complements the existing textures in the room.
The following differently textured fabrics are available for curtains:
- Linen
- Silk
- Cotton
- Polyester
- Velvet
Using Linen for a Refreshing Look
Linen curtains provide a clean look and add texture and character to your room. This fabric has a lighter feel, allowing for air circulation when the windows are open. It also allows for brightness to fill the room when the curtains are closed for privacy.
Curtains made of linen fabric are versatile and match most wall colors and decors.
If you like the look of linen but want to block out more light, there are thicker and heavier linen options.
Silk Adds an Elegant Look
Long silk curtains draping down the walls and transitioning to the floor can create a stunning sight as you and your guests enter the room.
However, they are a bit more challenging to maintain than the other types mentioned on this list because they are made of a finer fabric.
If you’ve ever owned silk clothing, you know how easily the material wrinkles and can get caught on something slightly sharp. Silk curtains may not be the best choice if you have playful pets and children.
Hanging silk curtains during the summer months reduces wrinkles and keeps the fabric dry.
The Comfort of Cotton Curtains
Cotton, like linen, is a natural, lightweight, and versatile fabric for curtains. You can choose a thicker cotton fabric to reduce sunlight when closed or sheer cotton curtains for a soothing effect.
Cotton curtains add texture and elegance that are suitable for complementing your home decor and walls.
Easy Care and Attractiveness of Polyester
Polyester may be the easiest to care for compared to the other fabrics mentioned on this list. This type of material is solid and durable while also providing protection against sun heat and window drafts.
If they get dirty, you can simply toss them in the washing machine and dryer without worrying about them being damaged or shrinking.
Polyester curtains are also more affordable compared to other curtain materials.
The Fancy Look of Velvet Curtains
Velvet curtains are best presented draping on the floor to create a rich, regal look. It is one of the heaviest fabrics for curtains and works great at blocking out sunlight to set the mood.
The thicker material also protects against cool drafts coming through the tiny cracks of your windows, helping you save money on your heating bill.
5. The Height of the Room
As mentioned above, all curtains should match in color, pattern, and uniform length to the rest of the room. Using the correct curtain length creates a cohesive appearance with a balanced overall look. Symmetry is essential for decorating your living space to achieve a cohesive appearance.
The following are standard lengths of ready-made curtains you can find in a typical department store:
- 63 inches (160 cm)
- 84 inches (213 cm)
- 95 inches (241 cm)
- 108 inches (259 cm)
- 120 inches (305 cm)
Measuring preferred lengths
Curtains are available in several sizes standard for common window sizes in apartments.
For the perfect fit, there is the option to order custom window treatments if you have window dimensions that fall outside of the normally available standard sizes.
Custom-sized curtains are also great if you have a specific look in mind that standard curtain dimensions wouldn’t achieve.
Typically, you measure the window from the top to just below the lower window sill for the desired area you want your curtains to cover.
Curtains can be flush with the ceiling and the floor to create the impression of a larger room. Make sure all curtains are mounted evenly if multiple sets or panels are hung to cover all windows in your living space.
Longer curtains create the illusion of a larger space
Use long curtains cascading from the ceiling to the floor to make the room appear larger. Mount the rod as close to the ceiling as possible or use ceiling brackets so the curtains fall onto the floor.
Ensure the distance between the bottom of the curtains and the floor matches the distance between the top of the curtains and the ceiling.
Depending on color and pattern, it can add a dramatic or elegant charm to your overall look.
To create contrast and a dramatic look, use curtain colors and patterns that complement the rest of the room and are slightly darker against lighter walls.
For a calming and relaxing living atmosphere, use a long curtain set that is a neutral color or a shade slightly different from the wall color but in the same color family.
Curtains that match the window dimensions
Using curtains that match the window dimensions doesn’t always complement the style and feel of the room. Often, attention is drawn to the size of the window, affecting the overall balance.
Even for short or short and wide windows, many designers suggest using floor-length window treatments to create the impression that the windows are oversized than they actually are.
However, windows vary in size and style from home to home. And while built-in window treatments may not be suitable in one home, they could perfectly complete the look in another.
Here is a popular video with great ideas on how to make shorter curtains look stylish in your home:
6. The Decor Style
Many designers have used curtains to add more dimension to a room, and achieving this look is not difficult.
The goal of decorating a room is to create balance and symmetry that create a natural flow and stimulate positive mental health.
Adding dimensions to the room with colors, textures, and accenting decor like curtains is part of the balance and symmetry.
The following ways show how curtains can create dimensions in your room while complementing the color and decor style:
- Frame the window.
- Use curtain ties to create dimension and style.
- Mix two sets, one in neutral tones and the other with a color or pattern.
- Hang curtains across the entire length of the wall.
A Stylish Window Frame with Curtain Panels
Some prefer not to actually use the curtains for privacy or blocking sunlight. Curtain panels can be placed with short rods on both sides of the windows to add a “framed” appearance.
This style can be used to create the illusion of a larger room by mounting the curtains from the ceiling to the floor.
It’s also an excellent option for those who prefer nothing obstructing the window view.
Create Style and Dimension with Curtain Ties
Traditionally, curtain ties are used to hold the curtains to the side of the window to allow sunlight to shine through.
However, people have gotten quite creative when it comes to styling their window decor with ties or the curtain itself, if it’s a lightweight fabric. You can use floor-length or shorter curtains.
Tying up your curtains also helps when there are large furniture pieces in front of the window.
For example, if an oversized couch is in front of a row of shorter windows, use curtains that are slightly longer than the window and tie them directly above the windowsill.
Center each curtain panel with the middle of the window. This creates dimension, style, and elegance.
Mix Two Sets: Traditional and Modern
Traditionally, curtains were displayed in many homes with sheer curtains behind a thicker colored or patterned set of curtains. Each set was on a separate rod, allowing you to open and close them freely. However, creative eyes found other ways to add character.
Another option is using the combination of curtains and blinds for dimension instead of two sets of curtains. By mounting the blinds slightly lower than the curtain rod, a layered look is created, making the window appear larger. This style can make a strong statement when entering the room.
From Ceiling to Floor
As mentioned earlier, curtains hanging from the ceiling to the floor visually expand the entire room.
You can use rods designed to hang from the ceiling, or mount the rods just below the ceiling or crown molding.
Let the curtains flow down the wall until they touch the floor or let them pool on the floor for an elegant look.
Creating an illusion of symmetry, textures, and dimensions naturally flow together to decorate your living space.