Curtains and Fabrics for Your Home

When it comes to decorating a home, curtains andfabrics that are the most common for homes is the
drapes are the finishing touch to the rest of the hard70% cotton and 30% polyester blend. From faux silk to
work you put in. Using curtains to accent thelinen, the curtain fabrics of today are much nicer than
undertones of color in your room or to play up certainour great grandparents had.
furniture by using particular designs will make the roomThe width of curtain fabrics will vary. This is due to the
more aesthetically pleasing.type of fabric used as well as the colors and styles
Curtains can be considered medium weight fabricschosen. For curtains that have a small but repeating
that are used to decorate a window or otherwisedesign such as hounds tooth or pebbles, even small
cover a window. Curtain fabrics do not include drapes,flowers; these curtains will normally be 54 inches wide
which are heavier fabrics than curtains; nor do curtainslike all standard curtains, but will also have anywhere
include sheers, which are simple panels of thin fabricsfrom a 13 ½ inch to 18 inch repeat. This means that
hung like curtains that offer no light blocking properties.the original design is found on the first 13 ½ to 18
Curtains are heavier than sheers and lighter thaninches of width of the curtain, and is simply repeated
drapes, which makes them perfect year round forthroughout the rest of the curtain fabrics.
blocking light and helping to keep the windowsMost curtains are made of a light enough material like
weatherproofed.cotton, that easy movement can be seen in the panel.
When using curtains, some people will pair a windowHowever, there are cotton and poly blends that create
with a shade or set of blinds as well. This is nota stiffer appearance, and linen can be used for a very
necessary, but can be done to help filter out more ofstiff panel. Linen is commonly used for simple flat
the incoming light. The sunlight shining in the windowpanels with no valances or swags. For valances or
through your curtains can be damaging to the darkerswags that are offered in balloon form, cotton and
colored curtains, as this will bleach them over time. Thispoly blends are the most common. This type of fabric
can be prevented by using drapes that have rubberis used for its ease of design use and versatility. From
backed fabrics, or simply install blinds to keep shutvalances to swags and panels, there are many fabrics
behind the curtains.and designs available.
Fabrics used for drapes are a heavier, more opaqueCustom made curtains can be created from any
quality than those used for general curtains. Curtainfabric, design or color you choose. Many fabric stores
fabrics are lighter fabrics and are able to admit lightoffer designs and instructions on how to create your
through, whereas drapes are created to block light andown custom made curtains. These packages will give
weather. Curtain fabrics consist mainly of cottonyou all the information needed to create them on your
blends and polyester blends, while drapes use mostlyown, but there are many seamstresses that will
rubber backing on these same blends to create thecreate them for you. The prices for custom made
opacity of the panel.curtains will vary based on the sizes and materials
Curtain fabrics come in every color of the rainbow,used.
and in many different styles. Curtain fabrics bearingRicky Pitcher is the author of this article on Curtains.
names of your favorite cartoon character, sportsFind more information about Fabrics here.
team, room motif or plants can be found. The curtain