How to Choose Curtains for your Home in 8 Easy Steps

8th August 2022



When it comes to buying curtains, there are a lot of options available. It can be difficult to know which Window treatments will suit your home and your personal taste best. In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about choosing the perfect curtains for your space - from looks and style, through to functionality and budget considerations. 

 

1. Carefully assess the room you want to hang curtains in.

Before you choose curtains, it's important to consider the space that they'll be hanging in. Will they be used as a part of a wider design brief? If so, how will they fit into that design? Begin by measuring your room as well as the dimensions of your window. This task may require two people to accomplish. At Peter Green Furnishers we take the guess work out of all the measuring, with our at-home measuring and estimating service and expert fitting. https://www.petergreen.co.uk/freecurtainsestimate Think about placement and length… is there a windowsill, a radiator or furniture below the window that will restrict the length, or can you go for dramatic full-length curtains? As much as it is important to choose curtains that suit your space it is also essential to consider other factors. For example, when choosing curtains for a small room with high ceilings and lots of natural light, you'll want a fabric that will block out harmful UV while letting in plenty of light—and that means fabrics like cotton or voile should be avoided. For large windows in a room with a rectangular shape and lots of furniture against the walls (think dining rooms), go for thinner gauze-like panels rather than heavy damask prints or brocade silk…because they'll hang nicely without pulling on anything else around them.

 

2. Consider the style of your house.

It's important to consider the style of your house, as well. If you have a modern home or are planning on renovating it, consider selecting curtains that are designed with more modern patterns and colours. If you have an eclectic styled home with many different furniture pieces and decor items throughout the rooms, then choose curtains that coordinate well with your collection, or with a key statement piece in the room.

If your decor is more traditional but still has a modern flare (think rustic meets chic), then go for neutral-coloured drapes that match existing furniture pieces in your home. Most people think about their homes as cosy places where they want to feel comfortable and secure within —and perhaps even want some privacy by closing off certain areas—if this is the case then consider choosing blackout shades so that no light can pass through during daytime hours. This will be perfect for both those who work late nights, as well as people who like to get a good nights sleep in lighter summer months. Blackout and thermal curtains are also a great way to keep your house at the perfect temperature and will save you money in the long run. In a home office space, curtains can also help protect against glare on your computer screen from the light outside.

 

4. Identify the purpose they will serve.

Curtains can be used to block out light, or to provide privacy. They can also be used to provide warmth or keep the cold out or to add decorative elements that don't interfere with the functionality of your home.

Before deciding on what type of curtain is right for you and your space, consider these questions:

 

  • What purpose do I want the curtains to serve?
  • Do I need light blocking, light filtering, or both?
  • Do my curtains need to be thick enough to insulate drafty windows?

 

4. Work out the tones and colour schemes with references.

When you’re choosing curtains, it’s important to consider the colours of your room. You want to match or contrast with the current colour palette, or the new colour palette if you are remodelling. If you have a lot of white, cream, or very pale neutral furniture and artwork in the room, try hanging some darker-coloured curtains, like black, navy, charcoal, even aubergine. If you have many dark elements in your home, like dark wood furniture, or paint work, consider hanging light-coloured drapes to add a breezy element to the room. 

It is also important that when choosing drapes for a window there is a good balance between opacity (how much light passes through) and transparency (how much light comes out). In a very airy high-ceilinged room, having opacity to a curtain can add visual weight, and create some beautiful textural elements. In a room with low ceilings, more transparent and flowing curtains can really open up the space.

 

5. Look for inspiration from design blogs and magazines.

If you're looking for ideas, there are plenty of places to find them. Design blogs and magazines will often feature rooms that are similar to yours, so you can use their styles as inspiration when planning your own space.

If Pinterest isn't your thing, try browsing through photos on Instagram or Google Images—you might be surprised by what kinds of things other people are doing in their homes! You may also see some great examples by looking at interior design websites. Once you've got a sense of what works best for you and your space, try incorporating those elements into your own plan for curtains.

 

6. Find a pattern you like and use it as decor in other areas of the room.

If you like a particular pattern, think about using it as decor in other areas of the room too. This will tie the room together and make it look more cohesive. It’s also good for making a space look bigger or more expensive, which can be important if you have limited space in your home and want to maximize every inch of available floor space without sacrificing style. 

 

7. Buy curtains that can be layered with blinds or voile for extra light protection or warmth.

When you’re choosing curtains for your windows, consider whether they can be layered with blinds or voile. Blinds are a great way to block out light, heat, and noise—and they also make the room feel bigger, layering with curtains can elevate the look, and add depth to windows with blinds. Voile is a lighter-weight material than most curtains, so it allows more natural light into your home without sacrificing privacy. It's perfect for those who want an eye-catching window treatment, and when layered with curtains allows you to have lovely light-filtering privacy during the daytime, and light blocking privacy at night time.

 

8. Talk to the experts?

If you’re still unsure about how to choose the perfect curtains, then gather together your measurements and ideas that you have drawn from reading these tips and bring them to our showroom where you can check out hundreds of samples and speak with our curtain specialists can help you to find the best curtain options that will make sense for or your home. Oh, and don’t forget to bring some photos of your room because they will help lot in your choice making!

 

You can book your appointment with us here https://www.petergreen.co.uk/freecurtainsestimate

 

With such a wide range of fabrics, styles, sizes and patterns available, choosing curtains can seem like a daunting process for homeowners - at Peter Green Furnishers we will make it easy for you!



LONGDOWN CHAIR - PUMPKIN
Was £399.00 Now £299.00

PRISMATCI PRS17 DENIMPRISMATCI PRS17 DENIM
PRISMATCI PRS17 DENIM
from £636.00


LINEAR GLOW CUMINLINEAR GLOW CUMIN
LINEAR GLOW CUMIN
from £198.00

LINEAR GLOW SUMACLINEAR GLOW SUMAC
LINEAR GLOW SUMAC
from £198.00

Posted by Natalie Thompson
8th August 2022

Back to blog