As you decorate your home, don’t forget to pay attention to your windows. Adding window treatments such as draperies is a wonderful way to complete the look of your design, while still providing a function. If you haven’t given much thought to draperies, here are 4 reasons that might make you consider their importance.
1)Â Â Â Draperies provide privacy. It doesn’t matter if you live in the country or in the city, at some point, you will desire some privacy. While draperies are great at blocking visuals, they are also good at muting sounds as well.
2)Â Â Â Draperies provide climate control. Climate control is a great energy saver and adding draperies to your home to cut back on how much you spend heating and cooling your home. Draperies offer insulation, which will help keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
3)Â Â Â Draperies keep harmful UV rays at bay. The sun can be bright and beautiful, but over time, it can damage the inside of your home. Draperies help block the sun’s rays, which will help keep your walls, floors and furniture from fading as quickly.
4)Â Â Â Draperies give your home additional style. Drapery will enhance even the more beautifully decorated home. If you want added warmth and personality, then hanging draperies is the way to do it.
If you’ve been convinced that draperies are important to your home’s decor, there are some things you should understand before you make a purchase. There are basically two categories that draperies can be broken down into: functional and non-functional. Functional drapers are used to block light, control temperature and provide privacy, while non-functional are geared more toward accenting a room.
The most common types of functional draperies are pinch pleat (draw) drapery and Roman shades. Popular non-functional types are panels, valances, swags (cascades), and cornices.
While you can find most, if not all of these styles in a department store, going custom will provide you long-lasting quality. Yes, they do cost more, but when taken care of properly, they will look more like new than off the rack ones will 10 to 20 years down the road. Furthermore, you will be able to get exactly what you want.
Often times, you can buy fabric wholesale or even at discount prices from a fabric supplier, in store and online. Most places also provide a wide selection of drapery hardware, which is also something that should be carefully selected. Hardware can sometimes be overlooked, but it shouldn’t be. Not only does it provide a strong architectural element to the room, it also finalizes the look or theme you wish to convey.
Draperies come in such a wide variety that there’s sure to be something perfectly suited for your home. To protect your home’s furnishings and to add style to your home, draperies are definitely worth the investment.
