Selecting the perfect curtains for your living room can be a difficult task. Finding a style, color, and pattern that complement your existing decor and match your personal taste is a whole lot more than it seems.
Don’t feel overwhelmed, though; this article will provide all the tips you need to make the perfect selection for your living room curtains.
We’ll cover the types of curtain fabrics and styles available, tips on picking the right color, pattern, and length of curtains, and how to achieve the perfect aesthetic.
So, if you’re looking for the perfect curtains for modern spaces, keep reading to get all the guidance you need.
What to Consider When Selecting Curtains for Your Living Room
When selecting curtains for the living room, there are several important factors to consider. For one, you must consider the type of fabric that’d be fitting, considering the setup of your living space.
You should also consider the color scheme, style, and design; the room’s natural light, the size of the windows, and the overall aesthetic of the room, as well as the size and color.
Quality fabrics are paramount to ensuring that your curtains keep their shape and last longer. Natural fibers such as cotton, linen, or silk may prove useful in this regard. Choosing the right fabric and pattern can add texture and depth to the room while also providing privacy and light control.
Additionally, thicker fabrics can provide better insulation from heat or cold during seasons like summer or winter, respectively. With a little bit of thought and planning, you can find the perfect curtains to complement your living room.
Types of Curtains
Curtains come in an array of styles, colors, and fabrics, so finding the perfect option for any room can be daunting. From blackout curtains to embellished sheers, there are numerous choices available to suit any taste and decor. Here are some noteworthy ones;
Austrian Curtains
You can identify these curtains by the scalloped pattern that they form. They have these sections that form a scalloped pattern horizontally but also a striped pattern vertically.
Blackout Curtains
As the name suggests, these curtains are meant to completely block natural light from penetrating your space. They’re great for bedrooms and media rooms.
Curtain Panels
That’s just a term used to describe a single drape that you can purchase separately as opposed to a set of two, which is known as a “curtain pair.”
Grommet Panels
You probably already know about them, but you might not be aware they’re called this. These are curtains suspended from metal rings fed through a curtain rod. The metal rings look like they’re embedded into the curtains.
Pinch Pleat-Draped
These curtains have numerous pleats or evenly-spaced folds with pinches at the top and either make use of rings or pin hooks to be attached to curtain rods.
Priscilla Curtains
This is not really a popular type, but it does have a very distinctive look. The curtains in this case are ruffled, and they’re mounted on two separate rods, which allows them to overlap.
Sheer Curtains
These curtains are made from sheer fabrics, and they’re semi-transparent, which means they offer some level of privacy but also let light through and don’t block the view completely.
Thermal Curtains
In case you weren’t aware, there’s a type of curtain that provides a layer of insulation and can also dampen sound. They have a layer of acrylic foam between layers of fabric, and they’re excellent if you have drafty windows or live near a noisy road.
Choosing the Right Curtains
When it comes to designing or dressing up a living room, the curtains play an important role. Whatever curtains you choose will greatly affect the total outlook of your living space, so you have to get the right style, material, and colors when choosing your curtains
To determine the optimal choice for yourself, you must consider various factors, including your budget, personal preference, climate and lighting conditions, safety issues like fire protection or child safety, and durability requirements.
Material
When picking the material for your curtains, you should consider how well it blocks light and sound, and how easy it is to clean. For instance, sheer, gauzy fabrics are perfect for creating a romantic atmosphere while helping to block out excess sun exposure, but they require regular laundering due to dust accumulation.
On the other hand, heavier blackout materials are often more suitable in terms of privacy control but require robust tab tops instead of back-tapered loops due to the weight difference between the top and bottom ends.
Colour
The color of your curtain designs for windows and doors should ideally be in sync with the rest of the furnishings. You could choose drapes for the entire window section that match the decor or that stand out from it.
You can opt for a pleasing look by going for drapes in a color that complements the shade of your walls. Alternatively, if you want the curtain design to be the focus, you can pick a bold color that contrasts with the furniture and walls.
Pattern
Before picking out a curtain, you should envisage the kind of pattern you would prefer; whether prints or otherwise. If all the other soft furnishings in the room are a solid color, going with printed curtain designs for your home can be a favorable choice.
The opposite holds true as well. One thing to remember while deciding how to choose curtains for the living room and other rooms is that prints add visual weight to any element. Therefore, one way to work with printed curtain designs for windows is to pair them with solid-colored furniture accessorized with printed cushions and area rugs.
You could use quirky prints and geometric patterns in a contemporary space, while florals would suit a classic or traditional decor.
Length
Usually, curtains come in five lengths – 63 inches, 84 inches, 95 inches, 108 inches, and 120 inches. The height of your door or window plays a major role in determining the curtain length to go for.
The style you aim to achieve is another determinant of your curtain length. For instance, if you want curtains that float above the floor or end around the window sill, 63 inches would be preferable.
You may also decide on floor length curtains, in which case it would barely kiss the floor and measure about half an inch from the floor.
Curtain lengths can likewise hit the floor and bend, but not puddle. This will typically be 1 to 3 inches longer than the measurement of the floor. If you want a pooling effect from your curtains, you should consider ones that puddle on the floor. These ones are usually around 12 to 15 inches longer than the measurement of the floor.
How to Take Measurements and Install Your Curtains Properly
Taking accurate measurements before hanging curtains is key to achieving a professional, polished look. Here are some top tips for taking measurements
- Start by taking three measurements of the window’s width — top, middle, and bottom and writing down these figures; take note that the curtain width should be determined by the shortest measurement.
- Next, measure from your window frame or molding to your desired length, either floor length or just below — recording the readings from the left-, center-, and right-hand side of your window frame. Choose whichever measurement yields the longest number.
- Check all manufacturer specs against your measurements carefully before buying ready-made curtains, paying special attention to windows with unusual sizes.
Installation
To get started, assemble all the tools and equipment that you will need to install the curtain rod and brackets, such as a tape measure, pencil, klevel, stud finder, screws, screwdriver, drill, and drywall anchors. When you have the equipments at hand, these are the steps to follow;
- Measure the length and height of your window, as well as the height of your window frame to the floor.
- Measure where the brackets for the curtain rod will go. First, mark a two-inch distance in pencil from each of the top corners of the window molding. (Or the corner of the window if there is no molding.) Next, measure 4 to six inches above these marks for the locations of the brackets.
- Use a stud finder to see if the marks match up with the location of a wall stud. If they do, you can just drill into the wall and screw in the bracket. If not, you will need to drill pilot holes and use wall anchors. This is necessary to make sure that the bracket will support the weight of the drapes and hardware.
- A third bracket might need to be put in the middle of the window if it is particularly large.
- Use a level to make sure the brackets are even.
- Put the curtain panels on the rod. How you do this will depend on the type of curtain panels you have, such as whether they are grommet holes, a pocket or whether they clip onto rings.
- Put the rod into the brackets and secure it. Add the finals on the ends, if you have them.
- Finish off by including tie backs or other decorative options that can enhance both the look and practicality of a given installation project.
Benefits of Using Custom Curtains for Your Living Room
There is a long list of advantages to using custom curtains in modern living rooms. Whether you’re furnishing an entire home or jazzing up living room windows, these versatile and aesthetically pleasing window treatments offer five (5) main benefits;
Fosters a Sense of Privacy
Custom curtains can help foster a sense of privacy in the living room by physically blocking out light and noise and providing a barrier between you and the outside world. They can also help create an intimate, cozy space that feels separate from the rest of the house. If you choose curtains that are made from thick, heavy fabrics, they will also help to insulate your room against heat loss in the winter.
Provides Insulation from Sound, Light and Heat
Heavy curtains can help block out a lot of sound, and even lighter ones can provide some level of insulation. If you’re looking for maximum sound reduction, you may want to consider using curtains that are specifically designed for this purpose. Otherwise, any good quality curtain will do a decent job of keeping noise out.
It is a known fact that curtains make a house look more beautiful. But what many people do not know is that curtains can also help regulate the temperature in a room. Curtains can either keep heat in or keep heat out, depending on the season.
Element of Design
Custom curtains can bring an element of design to your living room that you may have never considered before. By choosing the right fabric, color, and style of curtains, you can really change the entire look and feel of your space. If you want a more modern look, consider using light colors or patterns.
If you prefer a more traditional aesthetic, then go for heavier fabrics in solid colors. No matter what your taste is, there are endless possibilities when it comes to incorporating custom-made or premade curtains into your living room design.
It Adds a Touch of Softness
Pre-made or custom curtains, like silk curtains, add a touch of softness to your living room. Curtains are available in a wide range of colors, patterns, and materials; choosing the perfect one for your space gives it a more personalized look that will match your specific décor and taste.
It Adds a Perfect Complementary Look
Custom or premade curtains bring a perfect complementary look to a living room if the design, color, and fabric of the curtains go well with the wall color, furniture, and carpet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should Curtains in the Living Room Touch the Floor?
Yes. To achieve an aesthetically pleasing outlook, the curtains in your living room should be floor-length.
Should Curtains be Lighter or Darker than Walls?
A general rule of thumb is for curtains and walls to be one shade lighter or darker than each other or complementary colors to each other. Although light or dark curtains can influence the mood of a room, provided they match the hues, colors, and shades of the walls, it would be a good choice.
How Do I Choose a Curtain Colour for My Living Room?
In choosing curtains for your space, consider your preference like color, length, fabric etc. You should also consider what would complement your living space.
What Colour of Curtains Make a Room Look Bigger?
Choosing light-colored paint for the walls and custom drapes can make any room look bigger. Since colorful curtains are more reflective, the room looks airier and more open because it contains more natural light. Dark colors do just the opposite because they absorb light and make a space look smaller.
Final Thought
Choosing the perfect curtains for your living room can be a daunting task. With so many styles, fabrics, and colors to choose from, it’s important to take into account factors such as light control, privacy needs, and personal taste in order to make an informed decision.
While there may not be one “perfect” solution that will work for everyone, these tips should help you narrow down your choices and find a style of curtain that would give your space a refined appearance.
Do not forget that choosing curtains is about more than just aesthetics; it’s also about creating an environment where you feel comfortable spending time with family or entertaining guests. So take some time to consider what would best suit both yours and your home’s needs before making any final decisions!
