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Curtains and Blinds - Considerations Within The Home


Expert Author Graeme KnightsThe windows in your home may not be the first thing that you think about when considering furnishings or design, but they are often the first focal point that people will see and of course let in the light that shows off your designs. The way that you present your windows, from the paint decorating the frame to the drapery used around it.

So it is important to get the correct window dressing that not only suits the style that you have chosen for the room but also the purpose that it and the room itself serves. While cost is always something to consider, you can generally find a style fitting your needs across most spectrums of budgets. Here are some thoughts as to how you can use curtains and blinds within your home.

Curtains
As previously mentioned the nature of the room has to be taken into consideration, so it is a case of practicality and also style when making decisions. You should review the rooms for those you know a curtain is the only option, and then the type of impact you are looking to make. Some examples are below:
Lounge - this is where you not only entertain people, but also where you spend much of your own downtime. So you want something that pleases you and also doesn't just fade into the background. Do you want light curtains to let in light or dark ones to give you a black out for those late night movies? Strong colours to add to colour schemes within the room are often favourable. You

Dining Room - this is a room generally reserved for entertaining in most homes, so you can really choose a curtain for that single purpose. Unlike the lounge, it isn't a day to day room, so if you want to give a certain impression to guests, this is the room that can be all about presentation.

Bedrooms - in a bedroom it is a room where taste and practicality comes into account. Most bedrooms will have a colour scheme or theme and it's important that the curtains integrate well. However in a bedroom the main cause for a curtain is to black out the light. Heavy or lined curtains of course perform well here (and are a must if you want a light coloured curtain) or of course the darker coloured curtain can stop light coming through.

Of course it's not just the type of curtain that determines it's look - the curtain rail or pole can certainly add to a room. A rail can be hidden so that only the curtain displays, or you can choose bold curtain poles that will stand out as a feature themselves.

Blinds
Blinds are not only a very necessary option in many rooms; they also often offer convenience and flexibility that curtains are unable. You can easily open and close blinds or have them at any level of opening you wish. But it is true to say that in some rooms a blind cannot add the look a curtain can. For example a large blind in a lounge wouldn't compare with some thick velvety curtains. There are two main rooms for the blind:

Kitchen - Many people choose to have blinds in the kitchen for practical reasons. Curtains could be a fire hazard in a kitchen and you don't ideally want material hanging loosely around in a kitchen. Kitchen also generally face the morning sun and this could easily cause sun bleaching of the curtains over time which will of course effect their look. The kitchen also generates much heat and often steam, so drapery isn't the choice. Blinds that can be wiped and opened fully are the best option.

Bathroom - Another room where there is a lot of moisture due to baths and showers. Condensation on curtains would of course make the curtains ruin. They would start to get damp and then mould and mildew which not only ruins the curtains, but is bad for health. In the bathroom and many people choose a wooden based blind for ease of wiping / cleanliness while also looking good.

You can also have both! In a room it is possible to choose both options or even have the opposite choice to the norm. The main thing is to think of the style you want to promote and the impression you want to inspire.


Graeme is writing on behalf of Glasswells Furniture Bury St Edmunds - ready made curtains
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Graeme_Knights


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