CURTAIN
A curtain (sometimes known as a drape, mainly in the United States) is a piece of cloth intended to block or obscure light, or drafts, or (in the case of a shower curtain) water A curtain is also the movable screen or drape in a theatre that separates the stage from the auditorium or that serves as a backdrop.
Curtains are often hung on the inside of a building’s windows to block the passage of light, for instance at night to aid sleeping, or to stop light from escaping outside the building (stopping people outside from being able to see inside, often for privacy reasons). In this application, they are also known as “draperies”. Curtains hung over a doorway are known as portieres. Curtains come in a variety of shapes, materials, sizes, colors, and patterns. They often have their own sections within department stores, while some shops are completely dedicated to selling curtains.
Curtains vary according to cleanability, ultraviolet light deterioration, oil and dust retention, noise absorption, fire resistance, and life span. Curtains may be moved by hand, with cords, by press-button pads or remote-controlled computers. They are held out of the way of the window by means of curtain tie-backs. Measuring curtain sizes needed for each window varies greatly according to the type of curtain needed, window size, and type and weight of curtain.
Curtains are a form of window treatment and complete the overall appearance of the house. Window treatment helps control the ambiance and flow of natural light into the room. The effect of drapery or curtains is best seen in daylight, and with proper indoor light positioning, it can look attractive even at night.
THE 4 THINKS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE BUYING CURTAINS
- The fit
The curtains or drapes need to be a perfect fit for the space you’re looking to cover, so you’re required to be careful when taking measurements. Take a pause though and think of the height above the window or door frames at which you’d like the curtains to begin. 5-6 inches above the frames is a common practice but you can opt to go even higher if you’re looking to make the room seem taller than it is. If you’re interested in that classic ‘puddled look’ at the bottom, be sure to add a couple of inches to the curtain’s length. Widthwise, adding 4-8 inches on either side will give you that ‘full look’. This will also prevent any light peering from the window corners.
- Material and colour
The material of your drapes should be chosen for its efficacy in achieving the desired objective, and not solely on how it looks or feels. Consider the conditions. If you’re looking for drapery to counter the wind, you should be looking into heavier fabrics. Faux silk, linen, and velvet are some of the best and most popular window treatment fabrics of the day. Suede and velvet are great at preventing heat loss and a great choice if you’re looking to fight the cold. When it comes to color, the conditions, again have a telling effect. If it’s too hot and the curtains are going to be subjected to plenty of direct suns, it’s advisable you pick neutral colors as sunlight can cause the brighter hues to fade away more quickly.
- Practicality
Before buying curtains for your home, make sure you’re investing in something you can properly manage. For instance, if you aren’t keen on spending money on dry-cleaning, steer clear of the materials labeled ‘dry-clean only’ and look for the ones you can yourself clean using a washing machine.
- Aesthetics
Does the style of curtains you saw online and are mooning over compliment the color and dimensions of your living space, the furniture and the running theme? If it doesn’t, make the hard choice, and get over them. Consider the location of the windows or doors you’re looking to cover. For a window that lies behind a piece of furniture, for instance, you should focus on curtains that complement the colour, texture, and outline of the furniture instead of thinking about how they touch the floor. The best curtains for your house won’t just blend in, they’ll add to the aesthetics. Remember the times you walk into a room, the curtains aren’t even the first thing you look at, and yet when you do notice them, it’s like they’ve perfected the picture?! That’s the effect you should be going for!
WINDOW BLIND
A window blind is a type of window covering. There are many different kinds of window blinds which use a variety of control systems. A typical window blind is made up of several long horizontal or vertical slats of various types of hard material, including wood, plastic or metal which are held together by cords that run through the blind slats. Window blinds can be maneuverer with either a manual or remote control by rotating them from an open position, with slats spaced out, to a closed position where slats overlap and block out most of the light. There are also several types of window coverings, called shades that use a single piece of soft material instead of slats.
The term window blinds can also be used to describe window coverings generically—in this context window blinds include almost every type of window covering, i.e. shutters, roller blinds, cellular shades (also called homey comb shades), wood blinds (also called 2-inch horizontals), Roman blinds and standard vertical and horizontal blinds (also called Venetians).
USES OF WINDOW BLINDS
Protection against the sun Window blinds control the light entering the room and protect your skin and furniture from the sun’s radiation. They enable you to control the amount of light entering the room according to your own needs.
They enable you to ensure your own privacy while when you are at home. By using window blinds, you increase your sense of privacy and security because there is no need to peek out the window when it is dark outside, you only lower your blinds by pulling the cord or twisting the wand, and anyone can not watch you from outside. You experience a level of privacy that you cannot get from many other window treatment options and with the right set of blinds, you can have complete privacy in your home because they provide you with safety against the prying eyes of intruders