Hi,
Previously, I was talking about different simple ways to decorate your rented living space [https://boc2018.blogspot.com/2018/09/true-life-hacks-5-easy-ways-to-decorate.html].
In continuation with that, here I will mention how curtains can be chosen wisely. This is applicable to your home whether rented or yours.
As often as we see curtains in homes, they are mostly not enhancing the look of the rooms. I have observed that we have a tendency to buy something that is either cheap or something that looks good while we are shopping. Definitely not everybody is an interior decorator, but we can think like one. I tried and it works!! :D I am sharing my story here...
The Story of my Curtains
Like I mentioned in my previous blog, curtains are your floating walls. Putting a little bit of thought to it will give you better results. As everyone does, first I checked the number of windows in each room and their dimensions.
Previously, I was talking about different simple ways to decorate your rented living space [https://boc2018.blogspot.com/2018/09/true-life-hacks-5-easy-ways-to-decorate.html].
In continuation with that, here I will mention how curtains can be chosen wisely. This is applicable to your home whether rented or yours.
As often as we see curtains in homes, they are mostly not enhancing the look of the rooms. I have observed that we have a tendency to buy something that is either cheap or something that looks good while we are shopping. Definitely not everybody is an interior decorator, but we can think like one. I tried and it works!! :D I am sharing my story here...
The Story of my Curtains
Like I mentioned in my previous blog, curtains are your floating walls. Putting a little bit of thought to it will give you better results. As everyone does, first I checked the number of windows in each room and their dimensions.
Living room
There are 2 windows. One is a normal window with 4 splits and the other is of full length covering half a wall. It is not a french window through which I can walk out into the beautiful meadows.. because had it been so, I would be walking straight down to the ground floor, hit and die! :D Moreover, we have pigeons nesting everywhere, so its better we stay in and they stay out. :D :D
Bedrooms
There are 2 bedrooms with one window each. They are also 4 splits. By split I mean how many separate window glasses are there.
Bedrooms
There are 2 bedrooms with one window each. They are also 4 splits. By split I mean how many separate window glasses are there.
So..yes.. the curtains! My thought process was like this.. In the living room, if the curtains cover half a wall, it is more or less like painting half a wall. Right?? So I did a research on the different possibilities. This took many days and I am sure there are still many things to explore. Here we go with what I found..
1) Material
Some people like the silky flowy look. It can be actual silk but usually its polyester. These curtains come inexpensive to moderately expensive. Another advantage is they are available as light weight to a little heavy ones, based on the mix of material and quality. Good ones can make the room look rich.
Then there is cotton. Its thick and dense. It is heavy. It is not silky but those who like the feel of cotton more than polyester, like me, will love them. They can be comparatively expensive to very expensive.
Then there is cotton. Its thick and dense. It is heavy. It is not silky but those who like the feel of cotton more than polyester, like me, will love them. They can be comparatively expensive to very expensive.
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| Polyester curtain set |
Third is polycotton. It is a light weight material with cotton feel. They are better with self-design and texture. They come in all price ranges based on the quality.
The last is voile. It is the extremely light ones and comes in very decorative prints. They can be often seen with self-designs too. They also come in all price ranges based on the design of the net.
2) Transparency
- Most transparent would be the voile ones looking like nets which allow 100% light. There are variants with a little more closely woven patterns.
- Second, would be polycotton. They allow light to enter like 70%.
- Thirdly, cotton blocks light but still the room will not become fully dark. So there will be a glow.
- Fourthly, polyester has two types,one which allows the glow and one which creates pitch dark.
3) Pattern
The most important decision is the pattern. Will you simply look at the curtain and go,''Yep! I want this??''. That's one way to go. Nothing wrong if you are sure. But I thought a lot. I usually do that a lot..with everything!:D Basically I was thinking if it is something that I will grow to like more everyday or I would ignore after sometime. Hmm.. its like reading the future. That's why I spent a lot of time exploring. From my point of view, the patterns can be vaguely classified as :-
1. No patterns :D - smooth plain with one color or shading of many colors
2. Textured - if you touch the material you can feel the cloth is not smooth, you may see also
3. Self-designed - on close watch you can see designs of the same color but slightly lighter or darker
4. Geometrical - you can figure our some shapes like circles, squares, hexagons
5. Floral - could be flowers, leaves or both
6. Random - cannot figure out what the design means, it has many things going on
1. No patterns :D - smooth plain with one color or shading of many colors
2. Textured - if you touch the material you can feel the cloth is not smooth, you may see also
3. Self-designed - on close watch you can see designs of the same color but slightly lighter or darker
4. Geometrical - you can figure our some shapes like circles, squares, hexagons
5. Floral - could be flowers, leaves or both
6. Random - cannot figure out what the design means, it has many things going on
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| Plain |
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| Self-designed |
Step 1. Material
Given a choice in any object, I like matt finish over smooth. So I wanted cotton or polycotton. Nothing wrong with polyester. It is your choice.
Given a choice in any object, I like matt finish over smooth. So I wanted cotton or polycotton. Nothing wrong with polyester. It is your choice.
Step 2. Pattern
Initially I was open to experimenting. After much review and scrutiny, I decided the pattern will be floral - either flowers or leaves or both, nothing bizarre. I was okay with big or small designs if it looked neat. I also decided the base must be a light color because our rooms are already dark.
Initially I was open to experimenting. After much review and scrutiny, I decided the pattern will be floral - either flowers or leaves or both, nothing bizarre. I was okay with big or small designs if it looked neat. I also decided the base must be a light color because our rooms are already dark.
Step 3. Online or Offline
I went to the market once to check the options. I was seeing polyester everywhere. So I decided to buy online. One thing is I get to read people's reviews. Moreover, I can return if not satisfying.
I went to the market once to check the options. I was seeing polyester everywhere. So I decided to buy online. One thing is I get to read people's reviews. Moreover, I can return if not satisfying.
Step 4. Check options and fix price range
I simultaneously checked in 5 websites - Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Myntra, Jabong. I narrowed down the search with cotton and polycotton. I was not willing to pay too much but since curtains are an investment and cotton ones are slightly expensive, I thought I would keep a max limit of 1500Rs for a set of 2 door length curtains. So window curtains must cost me less than that.
I simultaneously checked in 5 websites - Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Myntra, Jabong. I narrowed down the search with cotton and polycotton. I was not willing to pay too much but since curtains are an investment and cotton ones are slightly expensive, I thought I would keep a max limit of 1500Rs for a set of 2 door length curtains. So window curtains must cost me less than that.
Step 5. Shortlist the likeable ones
I created wishlists in every website with the ones I like. It took some time but it was worth it. I did it in a span of a week. I spent my leisure time looking through the websites and cutting down or adding to my wishlists.
Step 6. Matching with the existing 👫
Step 6. Matching with the existing 👫
This the core part. The curtains must be chosen such that:-
1. it is not clashing with the wall, sofa, furniture etc - if they are dark, curtains can be lighter
2. it is not too much of a complex pattern to look at - curtains cover a lot of space so beware
3. it has a theme if possible - I chose nature so went with floral
4. it lets in light or cuts off light as you require within the room - if you want the room brighter go for lighter and slightly transparent
Side note : In my case, as I already decided to go for patterned curtains, there were a few more things to take care of. Since the full-length windows covered half the wall, I didn't want same pattern to be on the other window in the living room. Think about it!! Won't it be too much of pattern on the walls?? So I decided to go simpler with the smaller window of that room; plain curtains but with texture or self-designs.
Ultimately, I must say, there are no fixed rules. You don't need to sit down and think hard. It should not be a nerve-wracking process, not even a process for that matter. It must be you having fun decorating your home.
So, have fun with curtains!! :D
1. it is not clashing with the wall, sofa, furniture etc - if they are dark, curtains can be lighter
2. it is not too much of a complex pattern to look at - curtains cover a lot of space so beware
3. it has a theme if possible - I chose nature so went with floral
4. it lets in light or cuts off light as you require within the room - if you want the room brighter go for lighter and slightly transparent
Side note : In my case, as I already decided to go for patterned curtains, there were a few more things to take care of. Since the full-length windows covered half the wall, I didn't want same pattern to be on the other window in the living room. Think about it!! Won't it be too much of pattern on the walls?? So I decided to go simpler with the smaller window of that room; plain curtains but with texture or self-designs.
Ultimately, I must say, there are no fixed rules. You don't need to sit down and think hard. It should not be a nerve-wracking process, not even a process for that matter. It must be you having fun decorating your home.
So, have fun with curtains!! :D
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