How to Pick Curtains

Curtains are a functional part of a decor plan but should also be a decorative element in the room. Well-chosen curtains will complement and enhance the decor and provide the finishing touches that can elevate a room from ho-hum to spectacular. Because they can be an expensive component in the design, a savvy homeowner will research and plan her curtains with the same attention to detail as she does with the rest of the room.


List the attributes the curtains must have. Block or eliminate light, provide total privacy, control heat loss or heat entering the room, cover blinds or correct an out-of-balance window placement are issues your curtains can address and potential problems they can solve. How the curtains function is also a prime concern. Consider the option of a traversing cord system where the curtains operate on cords and pulleys, or they may operate as hand-drawn drapes. Look at the window wall and determine the amount of space on each side of the window available for the curtains to stack when in the open position.

Mood and Harmony

The style of the room suggests the style of the curtains, and if the curtains match the mood of the room, the room will be in harmony. A formal dining room requires a formal curtain such as swags and jabots over full drapery. A modern room requires curtains with few embellishments such as grommet panels over shades or blinds. The curtain fabric should also reflect the mood of the room, brocades and rich fabrics in traditional rooms, prints and lighter-weight striped fabric in contemporary rooms. Look at decorator magazines in the style of the room for curtain design suggestions.


Consider the hardware available, and determine the placement of that hardware on the window wall. Buy the hardware and install it before measuring for curtain construction. This ensures there is enough room to mount the hardware above and beside the window.


The budget should be established because it will affect the curtains and the hardware. A small budget will require more bargain-hunting for sale fabrics, or for sales on ready-made curtains. If the homeowner is making the curtains herself, she can apply the cost saving to the hardware component. A typical allowance for window treatments in a new home is about 10 percent of the home purchase price.

A Specialist

The smaller the budget, the more useful it is to hire a window treatment specialist. Small budgets cannot accommodate mistakes; the job must be done right the first time. A well-versed specialist can advise on the type of curtains best suited to the home, and can provide costs for the different solutions. Find a specialist through friends, colleagues, local women’s business associations and on-line through national organizations.