Curtain Guide!

What is a curtain? In normal layman’s term it is a piece of cloth which is hung over a window to barricade the view from the outside and vice versa and which obstructs light from freely flowing inside the room. But if we explore curtains a bit more curiously, we will come to realize that it’s not just some piece of cloth useful in barricading the view or sunlight.

Today in Curtain Guide, we shall see how important curtains are for our home decorations. A curtain, if chosen well, can light up an otherwise dull room and a poor choice of curtain can ‘dull-up’ an otherwise bright room.

So when choosing which curtain to go in which room, we have to be very careful.

With so many different styles and shades of curtains it becomes very taxing to decide on a particular style. In such cases we have to see our personal requirement. Like for kid’s room we would like to go for non-fussy washable curtains which can be removed and put back together easily. In formal areas we can go for pencil pleats with window valance to give it a more polished look. Another thing to keep in mind is maintainability. Managing curtains is not that easy a task. And with good domestic help ever-so-difficult to find these days it becomes really tiring to look after the yards of drapes which are so important to a room.

The ‘Eyelet’, which is very popular these days, requires particular attention. We can’t just simply pull these curtains open or close. We need to make sure that the pleats are in proportion and uniformity otherwise the room can look a bit disoriented.

Also in today’s box size small houses the most important factor that we have to keep it in mind is that the curtains we choose should not make the room look small and dreary. They should not be heavy in the terms of look and thick in the terms of fabric.

With such diverse styles of curtains available today like Eyelet, Tap Top, Pencil Pleating, Window Blinds, French Pleating etc., it can quickly get very confusing which one to opt for. But do not worry as yours truly is here with our pick of the lot: the ‘Window Blinds’.

Window Blinds offer total light control with horizontal light filtering or room darkening fabric which floats between two layers of soft sheers. In Window Blinds itself one can have so many choices ranging from Venetian blinds, the Roller blinds, the Roman blinds, the Pleated blinds and the Vertical blinds. Each one has their own specialty. For example Vertical Blinds are the most dust free blinds. They are less likely to collect dust because they stand vertically. Since they draw to the side rather than lifting and lowering, they operate better on doors and windows that also slide from side to side. Generally they require less muscle strength, and are faster to operate. If we look around at the new housing whether it is a villa or apartments most of the builders are giving sliding windows or sliding French doors. So the Vertical Blinds would be an ideal choice.

For a more homely and cozy look especially in bedrooms and other personal areas SOUL would recommend “Roman Blinds”. If we describe Roman Shades in a very technical manner we would say that “Roman shades are different from standard window shade in that they stack up evenly when being opened, however when they are open they are visibly smooth, not bumpy or ribbed like typical vertical shades of blinds.”

Roman shades are available in a variety of styles. Both Looped Roman Shades and Classic Roman Shades are designed to create depth and dimension. Looped Roman Shades have folds that cascade down the face of the shade to help create depth, while Classic Roman Shades offer a pleated design. Roman shades are also available in a seamless style, which feature a smooth or flat shade face.

We interestingly also have lot of material options with Roman Shades. From wood, fabric to natural materials such as Bamboo.

If we are looking for something to be done in our bedroom, fabric material would be an ideal choice. You can choose from a variety of fabrics: grass cloth, simple polyester, woven woods, cotton blend, and also a silk option. Based on the different fabric choices, price can be affected significantly.

And for the ‘Distingué Class’ the more traditional and expensive style is a handmade Roman shade where you take the fabric and hand stitch on liners and inner linings; you have a much more durable batten systems and a heavier duty lifting system.

On the whole Window Blinds if chosen well gives the room a silhouette which also helps in making the room look more spacious. It is quite practical with its clean lines, neat cuts and is easy to pull up and pull down with no heavy curtain rods or any additional need to tend to them.

SOUL Tip: Window Blinds are a must have accessory for ones window to make it look effortlessly stylish and make the room go from drab to fab!

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