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Do’s & Don’ts of Selecting & Installing Curtains - Our Guide

Curtains are a multipurpose fixture in homes and institutions. They can be decorative, functional, or both. Some curtains are sheer and embroidered for visual effect, while others are heavy and used for insulation or sound control. Still, items made of other materials (like roman shades and blinds) take the function of curtains. 

Despite the relatively straightforward nature of curtains, installing a set involves more steps than you’d think. Here are some things to remember when buying and putting up these fixtures:

Do: Measure the space where you will hang your drapes.

Using short curtains can be awkward and tells guests that you neglected to measure the height of the wall or window you’re covering. Aside from aesthetics, you also impact the functionality when you don’t measure well. For instance, it is important to measure where you will hang flame retardant curtains—otherwise, they won’t work. Or worse, these will cause what they are supposed to prevent. For window curtains, a good rule of thumb is measuring above the moulding. This makes your room appear as tall as possible.

Don’t: Choose materials that impede your daily activities.

If you are shopping for curtains for home, take your circumstances into consideration. If you work the night shift, consider getting some in blackout material. Using more permeable material will not give you the rest you need. Likewise, if you need to speak into a microphone for work, you should get acoustic curtains to help reduce the reverberations and echoes in a room. When sourcing contract curtains for places like schools and hospitals, it is easier to start with why you’re getting these. We tend to think of curtains as mere decor at home.

Do: Inspect the curtain rod for durability.

If a curtain rod sags, it is definitely not made to last. A rod is the most important part of installing curtains, so invest in a sturdy one made of metal or wood. Cheap plastic rods often break after prolonged use; the only area these can be used long-term is in the bathroom, for shower curtains. Curtain rods for home use are easy enough to install. However, if you have something like ceiling curtain tracks, room dividing curtains, or an Alexa curtain track, you might need to have these installed by a reputable supplier.

Don’t: Hang brackets haphazardly.

Measure the space between your brackets while constantly checking for alignment. Make sure you put a suitable distance between them; most packages would have three or four brackets depending on the window size. It won’t do to bore a hole in your wall only to have the brackets sit on different heights. When you’re cleaning your curtains, or are moving homes, make sure you have all the screws in one place. It will be hard to source these later on, especially when you’ve had your window treatments for a while.

Do: Iron or steam your curtains.

This is a must for stage curtains or cubicle curtains. Pressed drapes convey professionalism. After taking pains to source the proper materials, measuring where these will hang, and choosing sturdy rods or tracks, you should ensure your curtains are presentable. When you have unpressed curtains it looks like they have just come out of the box or package, which gives the impression that your institution does not care about details—a worrying thing to convey especially for fields like medicine or the theatre.

In closing

When choosing curtains for your space, it’s important to consider more than whether or not it looks attractive on the wall. You have to consider how these fixtures can contribute to or prevent you from doing your job. Invest in sturdy fabrics and durable rods and tracks, and you will have one less thing to attend to at home or at work.

Direct Fabrics is a supplier of contract furnishings in the UK. We have a variety of curtains from ones for backdrops or the stage, to privacy screens for hospitals. We also have fabrics that are suitable for the home. Browse our selections today, or contact us for more information.

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