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What Should I Consider When Buying French Door Curtains?
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Choosing the right curtains for your French doors can add a lot to the overall look and feel of the room. Many people are surprised by the range of materials and styles that are available for use with the doors. If you are in the market for French door curtains and are not sure what to select, here are tips that will take away the confusion.
One of your first tasks is measuring the width of each French door in the set. This will help you know the length and width you need for the panels. While this seems like an obvious step, far too many people shop for curtains and do not think about the dimensions until they come across window treatments they like. Get ahead of the game and have that information at hand as you begin to shop.
There is also the need to determine if the French door curtains will be accompanied with any other elements. For example, will you also be employing blinds or shades to cover the panes in the doors? If so, you will want to make sure the style of curtains you choose allow easy access for cleaning and arranging the slats or pulling the shade up and down.
Color and texture are also two important points to consider when buying French door curtains. One of the easiest ways to dress the doors is to purchase a set of panels that pick up one of the accent colors in the room. The panels can be attached with top and bottom rods to create a clean look to the space. As an alternative, buy panels that mimic a pattern found in the room, such as a piece of artwork, an abstract print, or the sofa pattern.
Keep in mind as you look at textures that it is important the French door curtains tie in with the general décor and also the purposes for the room. Masculine looking patterns are not likely to be appropriate when the room is decorated with pastels and frills. While it is perfectly acceptable to introduce a new texture to the room, such as adding silk in a room with cotton linen and chenille, make sure the cut and style of the curtains accentuate what is going on in the space rather than disrupting the mood of the room.
Along with involving the French door curtains in the décor of the space, there is also the need to be practical in terms of the material selected. Ideally, you will look more toward fabric options that can be cleaned easily at home, either on the gentle cycle of the washer or rinsed out in the sink. This will save extra trips to the dry cleaners, and also decrease the cost of maintaining the treatment.
Fortunately, there are plenty of colors, patterns, textures, and fabric blends that are used to make French door curtains. If for some reason you cannot find what you want, there is another option. Purchase material that you find ideal for the window treatment, settle on a pattern, and have the curtains custom made. While more expensive than mass-produced sets of curtains, you will enjoy the look of the doors much more than if you settled for a commercial set that is only adequate.
Malcolm Tatum
After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGEEK, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.
Learn more...
Malcolm Tatum
After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGEEK, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.
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![It is important to measure the width of each French door before buying French door curtains.]()
By: ElenathewiseIt is important to measure the width of each French door before buying French door curtains. -
![Window treatments complement French doors.]()
By: pramecomixWindow treatments complement French doors.
Discussion Comments
@closerfan12 -- I agree with you. I think that thicker curtains, like blackout curtains or insulated curtains, look too heavy for French doors.
Although I suppose it's a matter of opinion, I've always felt that linen or sheer curtains were a better choice.
Perhaps you could see if your husband would compromise with something like a dark linen curtain, since that would still block some of the light, but wouldn't be so heavy.
Has anybody used black out curtains for French doors?
My husband wants to get some for the French doors in our room, but I think it will look too strange.
Does anybody have any advice for this kind of thing?
Another thing to think about with French door curtains is to decide if you want ones that go all the way across, or ones that fit individually on each door.
If you plan on opening your French doors often, then having a curtain that goes all the way across can be kind of a pain, since you have to pull it open and shut, and make sure not to close it in the door.
In that situation a French door curtain panel may be more what you're looking for.
French door panel curtains are individually hung on each door, which means you can open and shut it as much as you like without worrying about pulling the curtain to.
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