Custom Window Drapes: Designing your Home like a Pro

You just bought a new house, and you’re excited about a new beginning. As you step into this newly-bought living space, it looks so dull and bare. The lack of upholstery and window treatments leaves you feeling a bit lost. You want your current home to look fabulous, but you just don’t know how to do it. Creating an opulent look with aesthetically lush fabrics strategically placed on your windows to block out light and provide privacy when needed seems out of reach. No worries, you’re in the right place. You can be your own window stylist by following these 8 style guides that every window expert follows when adding custom window drapes.

Design your Home Like a Pro: 8 Style-guides when adding Custom Window Drapes

1. Purpose

First, think about the purpose of the window drapery. Do you want it to be a mere backdrop for your wall decor? Do you want it to add a burst of color to your interior design theme? Or is it mainly for blocking the outside world from seeing the inside? Understanding their purpose narrows your options and makes it easier to decide.

2. Color

Next is the color. Are you looking for a solid-hued fabric? Or do you prefer a patterned textile? The color you choose should be consistent with your theme or palette. You wouldn’t want to buy drapes that don’t blend well with your upholstery and decor.

3. Texture

Most people don’t think about texture when they decorate, but your window coverings become boring if all your fabrics are the same. Textured draperies add extra depth and warmth to your space without overwhelming your senses. Remember to add textured drapery that fits the room, mix it up, to create something new and stylish that speaks to you.

4. Coverage

Drapes are not just window coverings. They can also extend well beyond and above the window frame to be part of your wall covering. They add a dramatic look to any room. When choosing your drapes, be sure to consider how much coverage you want to achieve.

5. Fabric

From cotton and silk to velvet and polyester - you have plenty of options when it comes to drapery fabrics. Deciding on the perfect material depends on the look you’re creating. In general, you want to search for graceful fabrics that maintain a sense of movement to elevate your windows.

6. Design

Various architectural window styles require different decor elements to enhance them. Choose a more formal drapery design in your living room and a slightly casual tone in your dining area. The drapes you favor must fit the room's motif and flow seamlessly with your home’s overall theme.

7. Length

Drapes come in varying lengths, floating, grazing, breaking, and puddling. Floating drapes stop just above the floor but don’t touch it. Grazing drapes end grazing the floor, but there is no break in the hemline. Breaking draperies extend 1 to 2 inches onto the floor, creating a “break’’ or buckling in the hemline. Puddling window drapes stretch approximately 6 inches onto the floor to form a “puddle’’ of fabric. When choosing the length of your drapes, consider your purpose and where you would like them placed. In addition, it’s also a good idea to avoid puddling drapes if you have pets and toddlers.

8. Styles

The style of its draperies greatly influences a room’s overall aesthetic. Choose a type that fits your personality and your interior design theme.

Here are the various styles of window drapes.

What are the different types of drapery pleats?

2-Finger Pinch Pleat

Classic but elegant. This drape opens into a flower-like fashion with its two pleats squeezed together three or four inches from the top.

Butterfly Pleat

Bringing a sophisticated touch to any room, butterfly pleats are an improved softer variation of the pinch pleat. The created look resembles that of a butterfly's wings, hence the name.

French Pleat

Adored by interior designers worldwide, the French Pleat delivers a flowy and luxurious look that will amplify the natural elegance of every room in your house.

3-Finger Pinch Pleat

A floral shape is created by pinching three together from the top of the drape. This one is a perfect choice if you want both volume and formality for your windows.

4-Finger Pinch Pleat

Four pleats are pinched together three or four inches from the top of the drape, and they open to what looks like a flower. This look creates more volume and depth than both the 2 and 3 Finger Pinch Pleats.

Goblet Pleat

Goblet drapes have a very sophisticated shape, with huge goblet pleats along the top of the panels. It’s best for decorative purposes and is ideal as a stationary covering to frame your window.

Cartridge Pleat

Flaunting smooth and beautiful cylindrical-shaped pleats, this window treatment runs seamlessly from the drape's header through its main body. This style is an ideal option for homeowners who want a sleek and simple look for their windows.

Inverted Pleat

Inverted pleat drapes deliver a casual and relaxed vibe. This style is not recommended for frequent opening and closing and is only suited for decoration.

Conclusion

Window drapes enhance the atmosphere and style of your living space. They provide protection from sunlight, filter out particulates from the air, and maintain privacy.

Deciding on what drapery to hang in your newly-bought property can be challenging. To come up with ideas, you need to know which factors to consider when choosing them. With the proper knowledge of how window designers do it, you too can beautify your home. For more ideas on designing your windows, book a complimentary consultation with your window design experts in Colorado today.