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How do I Choose the Best Decorative Curtains?

G. Wiesen
G. Wiesen

To choose the best decorative curtains, you should consider any other purposes you may want the curtains to provide, such as warmth or blocking out light. You should also look at the room in which the curtains will be used and ensure that any design, color, or print on the curtains matches well with the rest of the aesthetic feel of the room. It can also be helpful to consider several sets of decorative curtains that you can change throughout the year or for particular occasions.

Decorative curtains are drapery designed to hang in front of windows which serve to enhance the aesthetics of a room and can provide other features as well. These curtains might be used only for looks and may remain tied to the sides of windows, rather than actually providing any covering to the windows themselves. Decorative curtains that provide no functionality may be available as a façade that do not unfold but instead remains to the side of a window and provide strong visual appeal to the area.

Woman holding a book
Woman holding a book

More useful decorative curtains, however, can provide a number of secondary functions beyond the simple visual appeal of the cloth. The functionality of these curtains is one of the major factors you should look for as you select the best curtains for your needs. You should consider how much light you want the curtains to block if used during the day, as well as any additional features such curtains might provide, such as improved warmth in the winter. Thick or blackout curtains can help keep a room dark, which can be advantageous for home theaters and living rooms, and if installed properly can also help regulate temperature in a room.

Even when used in a functional capacity, decorative curtains should remain visually appealing, so you should look for curtains that work well aesthetically with the rest of your room. You should consider the other colors, surfaces, and textures in your room to ensure you match warm or cool tones. Decorative curtains can also be used to create contrast, such as using soft curtains near hardwoods to create a more striking affect from the juxtaposition of textures.

You might also consider choosing multiple sets of decorative curtains that you can change throughout the year. Curtains in a dining room, for example, might be used to match a tablecloth or runner, so you could have several sets to match different tablecloths. You can also choose curtains that work well for decorations you may use during various seasons or holidays, such as burgundy curtains for Christmas or light green or pastel blue curtains to use in spring.

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      Woman holding a book