One would think that choosing curtains for a living room is simple, but it turns out that it’s not such an easy feat. The curtains you choose can significantly affect both the look and feel of any room.
To be able to choose the right curtains for your living room, there are several factors you should consider. Factors such as the style, fabric, color, and pattern of curtains, then the height, length, hardware, and type of windows as well.
Thanks to all these elements you need to think of, choosing curtains for your living room may even seem overwhelming at one point.
To help you out and make this process much more enjoyable and less overwhelming, we decided to show you how to choose the right curtains for your living room.
1. How to pick out the right fabric
When choosing the curtain fabric there are a couple of things you should keep in mind. First, you’re choosing curtains for the living room, which means that you should think of both function and privacy.
Since there are so many fabrics to choose from, you should think about how much light you want the curtains to let in. The other element that should be taken into consideration is the kind of mood you want to set in this room.
Sheer curtains are likely to let in the most sunlight, but they also offer very little privacy. If privacy is not the issue, then sticking with sheer curtains can be a great option for minimalist living rooms.
You could also layer sheer curtains to provide a bit more privacy or you can opt for medium-weight or heavier fabrics such as brocades, cotton, polyester, or heavy velvet. Curtain fabrics can significantly affect the atmosphere in the room.
2. How to choose the right color
Once the curtain fabric has been chosen, it’s time to consider its color. A great rule of thumb is to always have your curtains and furnishings in the same color. Or, on the other hand, you could opt for an opposite curtain color from all your furnishings.
You could also choose staple white curtains and add more color with drapes. If you aren’t sure about the color, a professional team from Marlow & Finch can help you choose the right color for your living room.
The key is to create a cohesive room and that’s why the color of the curtains matters so much. The type of room also matters quite a bit, just as does your wall color as well. That’s why you should never buy curtains first. Once you have your whole living room designed, only then choose the curtain color.
3. Curtains with a pattern?
If you’re having doubts about whether to choose curtains with a pattern or stick to solid colors, you’re not the only one. Many people struggle with this particular decision. In truth, all you have to do is look around your living room and pay attention to the rest of the furnishings.
If most of your living room furnishings are solid colors then you can add a bit of texture and fun with patterned curtains. In the case of the opposite, choosing solid color curtains would be a better option.
Patterned curtains are a great way to add visual interest to an otherwise plain living room. They can be a great conversation piece, but you also need to be careful not to let them dominate the space. Pattern heavy curtains like those with colored horizontal and vertical lines, or with huge flowers can very quickly take over the whole room and make it look smaller.
4. Length and width of the curtains
Just like the fabric, color, and pattern of curtains matter so does the length as well. In fact, curtain length is often the most crucial element when choosing curtains. Why? Because it can make or break the room.
According to interior designers, longer curtains are always better than shorter ones. However, you also don’t want them too long or they’ll look messy. Some standard curtain lengths are 84, 96, and 108 inches. When measuring for curtains, position the curtain rod 4-6 inches above the window frame or simply hang the rod just below the ceiling. It’s ok if the curtains are puddling at the bottom a bit or just hovering above the floor.
The width of curtains also plays an important role. Typically, ready-made curtain panels are around 44 inches in width. If you want your curtains to sit nicely on the window and look full, the best would be for each curtain panel to be two times the size of the window.
5. How to choose hardware and rods
Believe it or not, choosing curtain rods and hardware is yet another important decision to make. There are several types of rods that you can choose from and they include decorative rods, double rods, or traverse curtain rods, to name a few.
The curtain rod type you opt for will largely depend on the room and the type of windows you have. Most people settle for a decorative single rod.
When it comes to rod and hardware materials, this is also where you’d have to make a decision. A wide range of materials makes choosing a bit difficult. You have wood, iron, brass, brushed nickel, steel, and other materials with many different finishes.
So, when choosing rod and hardware materials think about the type of curtains you have or want to purchase. For example, silky, satin drapes would look better on wrought iron or wood curtain rods, whereas linen curtains are more suited for wood rods.
Choosing the right curtains for your living room is not rocket science but it does take some thinking and planning. This is mostly because the style of curtains you opt for can significantly change the whole look and feel of the living room.
And your living room should be cohesive and for that, you need to do some planning first. Hopefully, this little guide will help you choose the right kind of curtains for your living room.