Decorate your home with dramatic floor-length drapes

When it comes to these window treatments, colour, fabric choice, design, lining, and length are what counts. FILE PHOTO |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Window treatments that meet the home’s light and privacy need also to complement existing room decor. The colour, texture, fabric, and design style should work at creating an illusion everyone will love. To make a dazzling statement, there can be no substitute to touching the fabric, feeling its heft, and asking for a sample to take home and hang in front of the window to see how it fits into the décor before making a purchase

By IMMACULATE WAIRIMU
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Appeal and style are welcoming us in homes all over Kenya, and window treatment is one factor that is contributing to this. Though they are often the last elements added to a room, captivating drapes make a perfect final addition. The current trend is in favour of floor-length, so short curtains now look nerdy and off.

When it comes to these window treatments, colour, fabric choice, design, lining, and length are what counts. Presently, there is nothing that adds character to windows like floor-length drapes.

Ceiling-to-floor curtains are in vogue for a simple reason: they offer a welcoming first impression, add more function to a space such as muffling noises, reduce the amount of light entering the room, and help to maintain a comfortable room temperature. Oh, and they also look stylish and elegant.

Below are some ideas to consider when using a floor-length drape.

Length: Floor-length drapes create the illusion of a larger window, especially when hung as close to the ceiling as possible and extending several inches beyond the window width. This makes a window appear larger and a ceiling higher than reflected in their actual dimensions. Convey an upscale, high-end look by allowing draperies to pool a few inches on the floor for that posh, luxurious appeal.

For families with much activity, younger children and playful house pets, the drapery’s length should just touch the floor or hover half an inch above it while, for formal rooms, panels that extend to the floor by one to three inches are the most stylish options as they provide a cosier and romantic feel — even though they are high maintenance and will need constant re-buffing every time the room is vacuumed or the cat rests on them.

Patterns and prints: The rule of thumb with any interior decoration is, if you have patterned furniture or a very elaborate rug, you should stick with solid drapes. The opposite stands true; if you have solid-colour furniture, patterned drapes would suffice. For subtle style and energy, opt for a small, neutral print such as dots or paisley.

Width: For a look that is ample and drapes well when closed, have a width that is twice that of the window. If you want to just frame a window and not shut it, round down to one-and-a-half times the width. Pleated panels have fullness built in them, so their width should more or less match the span you are covering. For kitchens and bathrooms, though, short panels that cover only the lower portion of a window and hit the sill would work well as long drapes would not be practical.

Colour: This is what will make or break the look. One may decide to have a colour that blends with the rest of the decor or one that will pop out. If you opt to blend, pick hues that are the same as the wall but a few shades darker or a non-dominant subtle colour.

Drapery fabrics complement a variety of decorating styles to enhance the mood in a room. For instance, one may consider fabrics with a fresh and striking palette to brighten and cheer up a space.

Timeless colour combinations of black and white, gold and brown, or even certain shades of blue and yellow will create window coverings with an enduring style. Neutral drapery palettes in shades of white, beige, and gray express a soothing, tranquil atmosphere.

The fabric: It is one of the most essential aspects when choosing this option as the ceiling-to-floor drapes should typically be made from fabrics heavier than the normal curtain so that they fall more luxuriously. However, if the curtain is too heavy, it will not fold crisply when drawn.

Since the floor length drapery is high maintenance, the more practical, often washable options would include silky rayon blends or cotton-satin fabrics. However, other options can also be used, as nearly any fabric can be interlined for a thick feel.