Bare windows can look super chic in a minimalist interior – but we think it’s best left to the magazines. Curtains are great: they make your home cosier, offer much valued privacy (of course), and can help you introduce wonderful textile patterns and colours into your space! If you want to upgrade your boring blinds, or you’ve just moved into a new home – let us how to guide you through the types of rods, as well as a few tips and tricks for hanging!
Hang them well
Right from the start, you should know what kind of curtain you want to hang. Will it be made of a lightweight fabric such as muslin, cotton or linen? Or do you want a heavy velvet curtain for a luxury boudoir vibe? Well, whatever you choose – make sure to think about your curtain rod. It will need to be able to take the weight of whatever you put on it. Also worth thinking about is whether you’ll be pulling the curtains every day, or whether they’ll serve mainly as decoration.
Then you have a choice:
- Conventional rods – where the rod goes through the curtain itself. Get them in iron, wood, PVC, acrylic… the possibilities are endless! We recommend iron or wood for a sophisticated, and sturdy, finish.
- Traverse rods – this is when the curtain is clipped below the rod, rather than going through it. Looks super stylish, and you can choose from an interesting variety of clip styles!
- Dauphine rods – flat faced, and therefore hidden from view. More suited to lightweight materials. Good for curved windows!
- Electrical rods – yes, thanks to technology, you don’t even need to get out of bed to shut these curtains. Neat!
It’s always best to get experienced people to fit the rod, as with anything. We don’t want it wonky. or to fall down after 2 weeks! If you’re braving it alone, remember to get the proper measurements, as well as triple checking everything is level, and you’re not drilling through studs in the walls! Stud-finders and good quality electric drills are easy to get online, or you can borrow one from a handy friend.
Get to work!
With the rod in place, all that’s left to do is hang them!
Classic rods don’t need much work – you simply thread the curtain through the rod via the sewn-in holes or tab-tops.
For traverse rods, you can try ring attachments, which can be metal, wooden or plastic. They make the curtain easier to pull when you’re closing it, and look really nice. You can choose from a variety of decors to match both the curtain itself and the rod. The rings come with hooks that attach directly to the curtains.
Dauphine rods are hooked simply with little fastenings on the back of the fabric. Remember to get curtains that have the right attachments.
It’s always best to get a small stepladder, and always have a friend or partner to help you.
Keep ‘em clean
There is no sense in going to all this effort and letting your new curtains gather dust! Remember to keep them as clean as possible. We recommend getting a dust glove for weekly cleans, and washing them once or twice a quarter. Put them on a cold, gentle wash (we don’t want any shrinkage) and use a specialist detergent. If they are made of a heavy duty, luxury material such as thick velvet or silk – get them dry cleaned. When hung, steam them to remove any creases. Voila! Perfect curtains, for a perfect home!
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