Interior Decorating Ideas» Curtains

Decorate the Bedroom With Zebra Print Curtains

Admin — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:34:44 +0000

You may have decided that you wanted to furnish the windows with neutral colors but would still like to add some interest in some way. Zebra print curtains can fill this brief for you and they can be added for only a relatively small outlay. Take a look at the selection of zebra print curtains for sale below and choose any of them to get more information.

Buy Zebra Print Curtains Here

Modern Zebra Safari Animal Print 17 Pc Bath Rug Shower Curtains Hooks Towel Set
US $29.99

Zebra Printed Thermal Insulated Blackout Curtains Panel 2Panel Pink Color
US $58.99

BLACK and PINK ZEBRA WINDOW CURTAINS DRAPES SET
US $29.95

BLACK and PURPLE ZEBRA WINDOW CURTAINS DRAPES SET
US $29.95

BLACK and WHITE ZEBRA WINDOW CURTAINS DRAPES SET
US $29.95

BLACK PURPLE ZEBRA WINDOW FLOCKING CURTAIN CURTAINS DRAPES SET NEW
US $29.95

The pattern is bold and distinctive and will add texture to the room.

Although the colors are merely black and white, the design is a familiar animal print that will create interest in front of the window and when the light is shining from behind it can really be brought to life.

The range of choice will come from the size of the zebra stripes and the width of each of the black and white bands. This type of print will look very effective when married with a room that has been furnished predominantly with wood. The black and white complements the grain of the wood furniture nicely.

A zebra print will provide you with the perfect accompaniment to a more complete jungle-themed room and while it won’t really be effective if it is offset with a leopard skin rug or a zebra print bedspread, it will look particularly effective with large single-colored items.

Rather than stick with curtains that are solely patterned with a zebra print it is also possible to buy curtains that feature a small section of the print that is surrounded by a far more eye-catching color such as bright pink or lime green. The darker tones of the black with the white offset the loud colors in a very effective way.

Use the curtains for sale at the top of the page as a way of imaginatively decorating a bedroom. Introduce a new theme to the room or simply apply a textured look that can be used as a focal point to work around.

Be Bold And Use A White Eyelet Curtain

Admin — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:57:58 +0000

There are many ways in which the room can be lightened while it is also in the process of being darkened and using white curtains is the perfect way to go about this. A white curtain provides an almost ethereal feeling to the room, particularly when it consists of a flowing fabric that falls nicely. A great way to get a tremendous effect is to try a white eyelet curtain. The pleats of these curtains fall symmetrically and provide a perfect backdrop to the room.

The use of white eyelet curtains can provide a means of highlighting the decorative appeal of other objects in the room. They can provide a background to show off the colours of a lounge setting or they can complete a French country look.

By using white eyelet curtains you will be effectively allowing the curtain rod to become an important part of the window display. A dark curtain rod such as a black wrought iron curtain rod will become a very distinctive feature as it disappears and reappears in and out of the eyelet holes at the top of the curtains. With decorative filigrees at either end this can become a particularly spectacular display.

In some ways the choice of white curtains is a particularly bold statement because rather than being plain looking they will stand out against the other colours in the room. It is unusual for the lack of colour that it provides in the room and relies on something else to make them look special. It may be the fabric that you choose for them or it may be the fact that the curtains are hung using eyelets or it may simply be the surrounding furnishings that draws the entire combination together.

It may also be possible to dress the curtain display up a little with some decorative curtain tiebacks, whether you choose to use a coloured cord or an antique curtain tieback to provide some old-charm in a simple yet very effective way.

Here are some more ways in which you can use eyelet curtains to decorate your home.

Easy To Use Eyelet Window Curtains
Use Eyelet Curtains For A Breezy Modern Style
Types of Eyelet Curtains

Decorate With Retro Kitchen Curtains

Admin — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 13:18:00 +0000

So what would you need to make some cheerful retro kitchen curtains? The typical kitchen was dressed with nice bright colors and large prints and perhaps a nice treatment at the top as something different and fun to tie them to the curtain rod with. The retro era was all about experimentation and the result was some design styles that were very questionable as far as taste is concerned. As long as you have fun there is little you can do wrong when hanging retro curtains.

Here is a selection of bright retro kitchen curtains for sale.

VINTAGE RETRO SHEER KITCHEN PINK RUFFLED CURTAINS ESTATE SALE
US $1.00

Retro Pink Cherry Kitchen Curtain Cotton Fruit Quilting Fabric 44w BTY Cherries
US $4.95

Vintage Retro Kitchen Curtains Material Fabric Kitschy UtensilsTeapots Pitchers
US $9.99

Darling retro red polka dot ruffled kitchen curtains from the 1950s vintage
US $25.00

Vtg 40s Embroidered Kitchen Curtain Panel Dutch Lady Woman Linen Geluk Retro
US $8.50

Vintage Retro Pair Set Kitchen Cafe Curtains Drapes Unused Cheery 1950s 60s
US $9.99

A great way to get the retro theme happening is with the right colors and red and white would be the perfect way to go. A very typical red and white curtain would be some kind of checked curtain the type that would be also known widely as gingham. Alternatively you might choose to go with a pattern that consists of solid colors at the top and bottom with a printed design featuring in between on a white background. The type of print doesn’t really matter although generally speaking if it is nice and bold then it is going to provide you with the effect that you will be after.

When you imagine your retro kitchen curtains you should also try to imagine the type of kitchen that it would have been featuring in. Back in the fifties and sixties the decor of a retro kitchen would have featured a lot of Formica, particularly the bench tops and perhaps also the kitchen table. Burnt orange seemed to have become a preferred choice when going through the palette of way-out and wacky colors. The kitchen cabinets were usually painted and once again the colors were often bold and brutal.

The seating in a retro kitchen would have most likely have featured some kind of vinyl covering over chrome tubing, possibly tending toward the space ace in design and promise.

There is no way known that among all of this garish melange of color and experimentation with materials that the curtains hanging in front of the kitchen windows were going to be anything less that bold and loud.

If you are going to decorate your kitchen following a retro style then the one thing that you simply must do when you get to the curtains is have fun with them. Rather than design them with simple tab tops, use bows, make sure they stand out but also make sure that they are breezy and they can be drawn back to let in the maximum amount of light possible.

Should You Use A Scarf Valance in the Kitchen?

Admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 12:38:29 +0000

In some ways a kitchen is a great place to hang window valances. That is because you need the softening effect of fabric with all the hard cabinets, appliances and tiling around the room. While curtains might get in the way and get dirty as they are usually so near to either the kitchen sink or food preparation areas, valances are at the top of the window and usually high enough to avoid getting wet or splashed with food. On the other hand, you are probably better off with a simple valance, rather than a scarf valance, for the following reasons.

1. Frequent Laundering

A kitchen valance is high above the work surfaces of the kitchen, but it is still subject to all the grease and steam, which hangs about in the atmosphere. Therefore it will need frequent laundering, probably every few weeks. Scarf valances are usually made from very thin flimsy fabric (giving them their great draping qualities) and unfortunately this type of fabric may not stand up well to constant laundering.

2. Arranging the Valance

Scarf valances generally need a bit of arranging to get the right look when you put them up, and you can spend a bit of time getting the folds just right. What may be interesting the first time, will become annoying when you have to do it after every wash.

3. Too Soft in Style

Although you want some kind of softening effect with your kitchen valance, a scarf valance is generally too soft in style for the room. It is more in keeping with a romantic bedroom or a kid's fairy princess room than a practical kitchen. It also does not pair well with other window treatments typically used in a kitchen, such as venetian or roller blinds and cotton curtains, all of which have a practical, no nonsense look, rather than the floaty one, suggested by a scarf valance. If you decide you want a scarf valance, however, look for fabric which is as substantial as possible while still draping well, for example, thin soft cotton rather than voile.

Embroidered Silk Curtains

Admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:30:06 +0000

There are many different styles and fabric types that can be used when deciding on the perfect set of curtains for the rooms you are decorating in the home. Silk is a particularly popular fabric for a variety of reasons and embroidered silk curtains gives the room an added boost of color and appeal.

Silk is a beautiful fabric that looks superb when allowed to flow in long waves such as you would see with a decorative curtain. Although silk curtains look luxurious simply as plain fabric, they come to life even more fully when they have been embroidered. There is no limit to the kinds of patterns that can be stitched into silk curtains to create the kind of curtains that will make a simple and subtle difference to a room.

It’s possible to buy plain silk curtains and do the embroidery yourself if you are equipped with the creative abilities necessary to do the job justice. But the simplest way to get the perfect embroidered silk curtains is to buy them already made.

They can be bought as light, sheer curtains to give a breezy feel to the room or they may be lined to make them more substantial affording greater privacy from the outside.

The wonderful thing about embroidered silk curtains is that there is a restrained elegance about the embroidery on them. Rather than going overboard and ending up with a set of curtains that look too busy, you may choose a set of curtains you come across rely on the beauty of the silk itself to make a stunning impression with the embroidery confined to either the top or the bottom of the curtains or perhaps both.

Alternately the curtains could be decorated with a simple floral design that is repeated over the curtains to give them an understated elegance. Part of the appeal of silk curtains is the subtle shimmer they give off and when this is combined with an Eastern influenced embroidered design they simply exude a sophistication that takes them beyond.

Decorate With Retro Curtains

Admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:19:35 +0000

One of the great things about fashion and interior design trends is that the old fashions always come back into style. The retro era was a particularly distinctive fashion era and was shunned in the 1980s as the epitome of bad taste. These days retro is coming back and rooms are being designed around the retro fashion designs. To finish off a retro room you should complete the look by hanging retro curtains on the windows.

Here are some great retro curtains available for sale. Click on a link to get more information.

Vintage Retro Mod Neon Flower Power 4pr Cafe Curtains and 2 Valances
US $35.00

LOOK AT THE COLORS FUN MultiFLOWERSRetro70s Groovy Trim Valance CURTAINS
US $11.99

VINTAGE RETRO SHEER KITCHEN PINK RUFFLED CURTAINS ESTATE SALE
US $1.00

2 Vintage Mod Retro 50s 60s orange Drapes drapery Curtains panels pom poms
US $19.95

RETRO 60S HIPPIES DESIGN MOD FOLK ART VALANCE CURTAINS
US $25.00

Vtg Brown CURTAINS Mid Century Danish Modern 4 Panels WOVEN Retro Beige DRAPES
US $6.99

Retro curtains have a distinctive pattern style about them with specific types of colors dominating the overall theme. Large, bold prints particularly with floral overtones were very popular in the retro period with no fear that the curtains might overpower the rest of the room.

In fact one of the biggest factors to come out of the late 1960s and early 1970s was the use of the floral print in all kinds of situations. The floral curtains were definitely a part of this and if you were trying to replicate this look you would have to go after some of the more funky types of curtains out there.

Take a look at the loud retro floral curtains for sale.

Cotton Covering Curtain Fabric Antique Retro Floral Red
US $7.98

12 CRAZY DAISY Groovy Retro Floral Flower Shower Curtain Hooks NEW
US $18.95

NEW Blonder Home Vibes Black Retro Floral Shower Curtain w 12 Hooks White
US $26.99

NEW Blonder Home Vibes Purple Retro Floral Shower Curtain w 12 Hooks Pink Gold
US $26.99

Vintage Retro 1960s 1970s Curtain Drapes Flower Power Hippie Floral 2 Panels
US $8.99

STUNNING QUALITY RETRO FLORAL METAL EYELETS SHOWER CURTAIN 180CM X 180CMS
US $31.59

There is actually a great deal more range of choice when it comes to types of retro curtains than with a lot of other fashion periods with virtually an “anything goes” policy. Paisley was a popular choice as we moved from the 1960s to the 1960s and it didn’t matter if the colors were burnt orange or mauve the retro curtains were still considered suitable for most rooms.

A big influence during this period was man’s adventure into outer space with the Space Age glaringly apparent in many of the designs to come out of the period. The curtains were not immune to the touches from the modern technology that came out of the space program.

The retro style is all about the era in which the curtains were designed and made. The 1950s, 60s and 70s are classed as the retro era and reflected the mood of the populace, the exuberance of post-war life and the experimentation with the many technological breakthroughs that were taking place.

You can really make a distinction between the early and late retro period curtains with a definite difference found between the curtains that came out of both ends of the era. The early retro era was distinguished by more solemn curtains that often featured pinch-pleat valances. The later retro curtains were more bold and explored color a lot more fully.

Although the retro period has long since passed, it is being revived through the love of progressive furnishings. Due to the comeback of the retro era it should not be too difficult to pick out suitable retro curtains that twill do justice to the retro room in which it will sit.

Layered Sheers

Admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:25:40 +0000

There are a number of ways to effectively use a window treatment to add softness and accents to a room. One of the simple ways to achieve this is to use what are known as sheers. Sheers can be defined as soft window treatments in that they are light and give an airy feeling to a room. Lace or voile curtains are examples of sheers and they allow a certain level of light into the room while still giving you the privacy you need.

Sheers may be hung singly or they may be layered in combination with a printed fabric or another type of sheer to create a more complex look. The purpose of layered sheers is to give you a best of both worlds scenario where you achieve the ability to allow some light into the room yet still maintaining the ability to increase the privacy by drawing the more substantial curtains.

A nice combination is eyelet curtains with layered sheers because the ease with which the eyelet curtains may be drawn and opened makes for a trouble free process of revealing the sheers when needed. The hanging process of eyelet curtains combine with layered sheers is very simple as well.

You can find sheers made of fabrics such as lace, silk, cotton or voile. It is also possible to buy sheers that are made from heavier fabrics. These are known as semi-sheers and may consist of a patterned lace. A semi-sheer might be required by someone who wants a sheer curtain but is uncomfortable with the level of privacy a full sheer will give them.

By understanding that hanging layered sheers is an extremely simple matter it may save you some expense when you decide that the single sheers are not providing you with the necessary privacy or light blocking ability. Simple hanging layered sheers can be bought at very little expense and can be added to the existing window treatment.

As mentioned at the start of this piece, sheers add a certain lightness and airiness to the room. The flowing fabric will catch the slightest hint of a breeze providing gentle movement in the room. Some find that movement very soothing. Should it become too windy the heavier layer can be used to cover them over.

Buy Net Curtains For Casual Appeal

Admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:21:36 +0000

Window treatments are always a difficult part of decorating a room, largely because if they are done right you hope that they will be barely noticed. If they help other parts of the room stand out and they are creating the right balance of light and privacy then you know you have made the right choice.

One of the lighter screening types of curtains is net curtains. They are important because they provide you with a little bit of privacy yet they are sheer enough to allow some of that important light into a room. They are a casual type of curtain that will catch any breeze that happens to make its way into the room and will wave comfortably creating a relaxed mood.

Net curtains provide a few benefits when they are hung in front of the right windows. They are visually appealing bringing that quaint, prettiness to the room. They are able to be customised, ordering them to be made so that they match the rest of the room. They are also quite inexpensive making them a cheaper alternative to dress the windows.

Don’t think for a minute that net curtains are all the same because the truth is that there is a wide range of net curtains available with subtle textures and woven patterns in the netting allowing you a range to choose from. A set of lace net curtains should appeal to most tastes with the intricate designs a feature that adds much needed texture to a part of the room where such things are sometimes lacking.

The following is a part of the range of sheer and net curtains that are available to buy at Amazon. They represent a range of designs and styles.

Sheer Panels and Drape Curtains Burgundy Red
US $35.00

Lolipop Sheer Tab Top Curtain Panel Lime 56W X 84L
US $24.00

SHOWER CURTAIN CROSCILL CHERRY BLOSSOM PINK SHEER
US $34.99

Country Shabby Floral Rose Chic Sheer Voile Curtain Drape Panel P Custom Made
US $67.00

Pottery Barn Teen Twisted Drape Sheer 40x63 NWT SALE Curtain Yellow
US $12.99

Sheer Black Leaf Pattern Shower Curtain
US $1.75

Here are just a few of the better known patterns that you can get when you buy net curtains. The embroidered net curtains are always popular with the patterns made with either simple understatement or bold showiness. You may also get jardinières, voile panels, café curtains and window sets each of them in a net curtain that will look lovely.

In general you will have to hang your net curtains using the traditional stitched seam pocket that has been threaded onto a curtain rod. However there are a growing number of net curtains that have been made as eyelet curtains making them even easier to hang than they already are.

Go Casual With String Curtains

Admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:30:52 +0000

String curtains are a great casual alternative in window treatments to curtains or drapes allowing you to get creative with your design aesthetic. As well as on external windows string curtains can be used as room dividers and in doorways. This style of curtain is available in a wide selection of solid and multicolored designs. A high quality string curtain has at least 18 strings per inch, and can be purchased at a reasonable price.

String curtains are perfect on high windows. This is an eye-catching approach to achieving privacy while also allowing the light in as they give an appearance of a sheer finish. They will also be very effective used in brighter rooms such as sunrooms. For larger rooms they can be an effective means of dividing the room up on a temporary basis while still allowing an airy feel to it. Use string curtains to section off the room without having to undertake a major remodeling project.

Look at the selection of string curtains that are available below.

STRING Curtains door window panel blinds vertical room
US $11.99

Another popular use of string curtains is to install them in office interiors. Instead of the dull dividers that are often spread throughout the building, bright colored string curtains bring a fresh setting. No-fray string curtains are available, and can be cut with a scissor for a custom fit. Shorter strings may be necessary to frame a piece of furniture, or an arched walkway might need to be fashioned.

String curtains that surround an outdoor area such as a spa or barbecue will generate a relaxing and private atmosphere. These also work very well for creating a party area from what would otherwise be an exposed patio or porch. Try giving your glass doors a decorative boost with the contemporary look of string curtains. These are such fun, reasonably priced, and easy to install. The wide array of colors and styles will provide a scheme that is perfect for any room.

A creative idea in a loft or warehouse is to use string curtains as camouflage on ductwork and rafters. These innovative curtains are also a clever touch at trade shows and exhibits. String curtains are the solution to countless decorating challenges. They aid in correcting eyesores, and lift spirits with cheery zip. Check out the potential of string curtains. The price is right, and installation is a snap.

You will find string curtains in a number of different materials such as cotton, rayon or polyester, occasionally they might be laced into beads for effect. This is a window furnishing that would be appropriate in a more casual setting such as a beach house where they might be hung as a means of allowing a breeze in while deterring insects.

For a particularly cheap method of securing your home’s privacy while still letting in the light, a set of string curtains will fill the bill.

Floral Curtains Can Fill The Room

Admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:41:43 +0000

Floral curtains can be a hit or miss kind of choice and it can all come down to the size of the floral pattern as much as the color that the pattern is in. In the 1970s we went through a period where the bigger the floral print the better we liked it and some of those hibiscus curtains were simply ghastly. But when they are done right, floral curtains can look graceful, beautiful and extremely tasteful.

As a means of subtly bringing out color accents in the rest of the room, nothing can beat a tasteful set of floral curtains. The idea is not necessarily to find floral curtain fabric in which your primary color is featured as the main color. Used as an accent color among a largely black or white background it will help to highlight the same color used in other pieces in the room.

One of the most interesting effects is to place floral print curtains in a room that is otherwise largely bare of patterned design. The various colors in the curtains can then show off the plain pieces used in various parts of the room such as the sofa fabric, the cushions or even the walls. It’s all a matter of balance and being restrained without being boring. Floral curtains can add that bold statement that you’re looking for without compromising the rest of the room.

Green Palms Tropical Floral 15 Pcs Shower Curtain with Hooks Bathroom Rug Set
US $27.50

NEW MISS KITTYBLUE TAN Bloomcraft Floral Scall Check Double Valance CURTAINS
US $14.99

Martha Stewart LE PETITE FLEURS Red CARNATION Floral FABRIC SHOWER CURTAIN
US $29.99

Martha Stewart Everyday Blue Floral Ivory Curtains 2 Panels 80x84 Shabby Nice
US $13.00

Plain Floral Dandelion Design Waterproof Bath Fabric Shower Curtain as049
US $19.60

Green Floral Damask Pattern Bathroom Shower Curtain Bath Contour Rug 15 Pc Set
US $24.99

Not only can floral curtains help to give the room a focal point they can also help to bring the room to life with a splash of color. The mere sight of these curtains can lighten the mood of the room with a fresh feeling of the garden brought indoors.

The danger with the floral design is that it is easy to overdo it. Too many different types of florals in the one room can become too busy with the eye being bombarded by the conflicting patterns and colors. It’s always a good idea to obey the less is more maxim and only choose to hang floral curtains in a more sedate room.

Generally speaking if you are putting floral curtains in the room you are making a conscious effort to use your curtains as a focal point. By their nature they are a busy design that demands attention and for that reason you’ve got to make sure you have chosen your design carefully. If they clash with anything in the room they just won’t be performing the function you want them to.