Types of Curtain and Drapery Panels Unsure if you want a transparent curtain or one that blocks out light and weather? Find the type that best meets your needs. Sheers are wispy panels of semi-transparent fabric that soften views and provide moderate privacy. They look best in living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms. Sheers should be layered with other window treatments if privacy is a concern. The kind of fabric you select depends on the look you want to achieve and the level of care you're willing to provide. Polyester sheers have a slight sheen and create a more formal look. They're also easy to launder and require little ironing. Cotton sheers offer a casual, contemporary look. Lace sheers feel romantic and traditional. Both cotton and lace sheers may need to be cleaned professionally. For generous waves of fabric, select sheers two or three times the width of the window. You may need to use multiple sheers to achieve this effect. Sheers are usually light enough to hang from spring-loaded tension rods, but any type of drapery rod will work.

Providing more privacy than sheers, panels are solid pieces of fabric that hang from wall-mounted rods or clips. They're a great option for media rooms, bedrooms or any room that you want to block light and enjoy complete privacy. Choose from simple cotton and printed polyester to lush velvet, silk, wool and woven tapestry. Plan to purchase panels one-and-a-half to two times the width of your windows for a stylish effect. Unlined panels are cheaper but may become semi-transparent at night when interior lights are on. Check that you're comfortable with the level of privacy any panel provides. If intense sun is an issue, as with a west-facing window, look for panels specially lined to block light completely. Most panels require a sturdy hanging rod. Choose from a simple café rod to a more decorative drapery rod with decorative finials. Remember to consider hardware costs when planning a window treatment purchase. Blackout panels help block nearly 99% of sunlight.

They also reduce energy costs by blocking heat in the summer and cold in the winter. Use blackout panels in living rooms and bedrooms for added comfort. Blackout panels don’t sacrifice on style. Most come in a variety of colors and prints and are machine washable. Blackout panels need a sturdy drapery rod just like standard drapery panels. Good to KnowCheck the packaging to find out what size drapery rod your curtain panel will fit. To give your windows extra flair, cap them with top treatments. They add a stylish touch to the kitchen, living room, dining room and bedroom. A valance is a narrow strip of fabric that runs along the top width of a window. A scarf is a long piece of fabric that you drape over hooks or the rod itself to embellish the window and frame. Top treatments can pair with blinds or shades for light control and privacy. Top treatments often require special mounting hardware. Choose from rod-pocket, grommet, back-tab or tab-top drapery panels to get a look that works with your decor.

The most common type of curtain, rod pocket drapes have a sleeve that runs across the top of the panel for the drapery rod to slide through. Many have two pockets at the top. Feed the drapery rod through the lower one to create a ruffle-top drapery panel. Feed the drapery rod through the top pocket for a clean look and to add extra length. These drapery panels have metal rings stamped along the top of the curtain for the curtain rod to feed through. ikea matilda pair curtainsCoordinate the grommet finish with the finish of the drapery rod.waters and noble stone blackout curtains These drapery panels have hidden tabs on the back of the curtain that allow you to slightly bunch your curtains for a pleated look.pottery barn red ticking stripe shower curtain

These drapery panels have individual tabs of fabric that the drapery rod feeds through so the rod is exposed. Drapery Rod – Drapery rods come in both single and double. Use a double rod to hang sheers on the lower rod and drapery panels on the upper rod. Clips and Rings – Use these if you don’t want the curtains to hang directly on the drapery rod, or if you need added length. Holdbacks – These allow you to draw curtains away from the window and let light in, or to create a formal look. curtains llansamletMount holdbacks beyond the edge of the window frame. Holdbacks look good in a formal dining room or living room. Popular drapery hardware finishes include: Finials – The end cap of a drapery rod is the finial. The finial prevents the curtain from sliding off the drapery rod, and also provides an element of style. Popular drapery finials include: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to install your drapery rod.

As far as placement, mount hardware close to the ceiling to elongate windows. To make your windows appear wider, install hardware well outside the window (up to 1 foot). Double up the panels for an extravagant look. Print out Lowe's Window Treatment Worksheet to record your window measurements. Take this with you when purchasing your curtains and drapes. Use the placement guidelines to help you mount your new drapes.Today I am finishing up my curtains for the bedroom. What a difference well placed curtains can make. I will be sharing a post on how to hang curtains in the future but for this post I want to talk about how to make them. Below you can see my before (the curtains that were here when I moved in) and after photo of the window. Look how much larger the window looks with this simple placement of curtains. I purchased a roll of natural linen quite a few months ago knowing that I would use it for this room when the time came. The room is not so large, so I did not want to hang too much fabric, but just enough to add the fabric softness the room needed.

I measured my curtain to go all the way from ceiling and puddle slightly onto the floor. I chose to make them in two panels to frame the window and giving just enough fabric to fully cover the window. Once I knew my curtain finished size, from rod to floor, I added six inches to the top that would allow me to give the top detail above the tabs. Once you have the right size for your panels, you can follow the step-by-step instructions below to make these back tab curtains. They are so simple to make and give a very polished look once done. Once I hung these new curtains, the room felt amazingly taller and roomier. This is why I love to hang my curtains high. Stay tuned for my full bedroom tour later this week. This download requires a membership. Tell me more › This video is for members only. You are now a premium member and have access to exclusive content and project downloads. We're glad to have you on board! Go to My Craft Room › Get the downloads for this project with a membership.