Top 12 tips for curtain design and care — from a woman who made it her business

Here is some basic advice for designing curtains for your home.

1. Think about light
   Some people put curtains on their windows on a purely decorative level, but really it is all about light. Curtains are all about managing and manipulating light, so this should be your starting point. Ask yourself:
   • How much light do I want to allow in, and how much do I want to block out?
   • What time of day do you want light in this particular room?
   • Do I want sheers?
   • Do I want to be able to open these curtains? If so, how frequently?

2. Function vs. decor. Depending on your answers to these questions, functional and taste decisions follow next. For example, for purely decorative curtains you will have color and texture and style to think about. If you want to use the curtains in a functional way, you still have to deal with color and texture, but you first you have to ask yourself these questions:
   • How do I want to open and close these curtains?
   • How much space do I have on either side of the window?
   • Are all the windows the same size in the room

   This is like solving any other problem. First you have to assess the problem and identify the issues, then you match the practicalities with your desire to express yourself in terms of fabric and style while doing it in harmony with the rest of your furnishings.



3. Curtain placement
   People often worry about whether they are doing the “right” thing with window treatments. Where is the correct place to hang the curtains — on, above, or at the window? The answer is that the right place is where the curtains look best in the room. It is rather like dress or skirt length — what looks right on one woman will not necessarily look right on another.

4. Curtain length
   Many people are concerned about how much curtain should be on the floor. Is it okay to puddle the curtains, to have them pooled on the floor, or should they just break? Again, this is a practical decision. Do you have small children? Do you have pets? There’s no right or wrong answer. It’s about what works for you. Similarly, whether curtains should be tied back is also a matter of personal style.
5. Keep it simple
   The longer the curtains and the less “fuss” at the top, the taller the room will seem.

6. The importance of lining
   “Real” curtains are lined and interlined. They look better and provide more insulation.
7. Focus on the fundamentals
   When decorating, start with the key components: the floors, the walls, and the windows — not the accessories. The windows are very important. Paint color is easy to change but window treatments can be expensive mistakes — unless you are shopping at The Curtain Exchange, of course, where we won’t let you make a mistake!

8. Be careful with fabric swatches
   This is one of the most common mistakes people make when choosing curtains. They buy curtains based on a swatch of fabric that’s got a big pattern on it and they don’t see the overall impact of that very large pattern until the curtains are installed in the home. Then they find that they’re overwhelmed by the curtains. This brings us to my next tip:
9. Try it on
   Choosing curtains is like buying clothes. Most people don’t go a clothing store, pick something off the rack, then walk up to the counter and pay for it. They try it on first. Curtains are like clothing for your windows — whether it’s a dark navy suit, a little black dress, or a cocktail outfit for your dining room, or a very simple curtain for your guest room — you need to try it on. This is the principle upon which my business, The Curtain Exchange, is based.

Here are my answers to three very common curtain care questions:

1. Should I dry clean my curtains?
   It is not necessary to dry clean curtains. Furthermore, at The Curtain Exchange, we recommend against dry cleaning. The chemicals in the dry cleaning process can affect our fine fabrics in ways often resulting in shrinkage or a significant change to the appearance of one or all of the three fabrics.
2. Can my curtains be machine washed?
   We recommend against this. Washing quality curtains, or getting them wet during extended periods such as wash cycles, can damage the fabric.



3. Dry cleaning and machine washing are not recommended for my curtains. Are there any other options?
   Yes, but the specific treatments depend on the curtain’s fabric. A fabric with a high cotton content, or a synthetic, will, in theory, respond to stain removal. It is always best to test the fabric first on the reverse side, perhaps on the hem. In some cases a commercial product, such as Spot Lifter, can be used, but the results vary enormously, and some products will make the stain spread. A light colored solid silk is the most difficult fabric from which to remove a stain. Try a simple solution of warm water with baking soda. If that doesn’t work, you may try following the instructions of a gentle soap such as Woolite®. If all else fails, you may resort to a high-quality dry cleaner or consult a professional. Also, you can call your local boutique, one of our specialists will be happy to help discuss the best solution.

Sections of this feature have been reprinted with permission from The Curtain Exchange’s website. Copyright 2006 The Curtain Exchange. All Rights Reserved.

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