subject: Curtains Window Coverings: Not Just Pretty Accents [print this page] Curtains Window Coverings: Not Just Pretty Accents
Curtains as window coverings are amongst the most important items in home decorating. They are not just pretty ways to accent the room, they also provide vital functions. Therefore, the choices you make may have more impact than you thought.
One of the main functions of curtains is to keep unwanted light from entering a room, especially in bedrooms at night or early morning. They can keep a room warmer, as well as cooler when the sun is quite bright. Curtains also provide a barrier to ensure privacy. The type of curtains you need, therefore, will depend on your climate as well as the room in which you are placing them.
Curtains come in a variety of materials. Which is best will depend again on the room where they are going and the function they need to provide. Also, some materials are much easier to keep clean.
So, if you want curtains for a childrens bedroom, being easy to clean will be important. These rooms also need opaque curtains that will keep light out when it is nap time or bedtime.
Climate has a lot to do with which curtains make sense. Light and cool fabrics are perfect for hot climates. Cold ones, however, require heavier and warmer materials. In colder climes, you often find windows having both drapes and curtains. The curtains can then be light for summer and daytime. The drapes will be heavier for winter and nights.
The colors and patterns of curtains one can find are staggering. This makes them a great way to add to the decor of your room. You have to buy curtains anyway, they are not a luxury like artwork. And, you can alternate them with curtains of a different style when you feel like making a change. So much simpler than having to repaint the walls!
It is true that there are a lot of other types of window treatments. However, hundreds of years later, curtains as window coverings are still every bit as much a staple of home decorating. And every year there are more and more varieties from which to choose.
