Decorative Draping

Add warmth and style to your living spaces with windows draped in these stylish fabrics.

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Curtains can make a room, but only when chosen correctly and fabric is an essential part of choosing curtains, since the material will dictate how well your curtains function and hold up over time. If they’re too heavy, they may not fold well when drawn; too light and they may not fall well. Also, remember sunlight will fade fabrics over time, so maybe avoid brighter colours in a room that gets lots of sunlight, unless you plan to change them regularly then this won’t matter.

Material Choices

When it comes to material, linen, faux silk (real silk can deteriorate quite quickly, particularly in a sunny room), and velvet are the best choices to use for window treatments since they tend to hang the best.

Heavier fabrics such as suede, velvet, tapestry or tweed can help to keep heat in, however, a good thermal and/or blackout lining will ensure whatever fabric you go for adds warmth and blocks out any intrusive light. If you opt for a sheer or voile curtain material this can help to filter out light, but in the main is hung to offer a bit more privacy and add interest to an otherwise bare window.

The Perfect Fit

When measuring for your fabric, consider how you would like your curtains to sit. For example, flush to the floor or slightly puddled. If you want a puddle effect add an extra couple of inches.

Also, you can add height to the room by hanging your curtains higher if you have the space above your window frame. Allow for approx six inches above the window, but you can go higher if you wish. When measuring the width of your window, be sure to add four to eight inches on both sides and double the total number to ensure curtain fullness.

1 This Venturi bronze fabric from