How to choose curtains for living room

Curtains are a wise investment for your house because they completely alter the look and feel of a space and act as the finishing touch. Choosing the appropriate curtains can be stressful if your living room has numerous windows or a window that serves as the space’s focal point. 

The function is the first consideration when selecting curtains for the living room. If the only objective is cosmetic, then the style will be everything. Additionally, significant justifications exist for using living room curtains. They primarily offer seclusion and regulate the amount of light that enters the room. 

Factors like your mood, room decor, and sunlight will influence your decision on drapes. For instance, heavier materials are appropriate for more traditional interiors, whereas sheer fabrics are ideal for modern spaces.

 

Standard curtain sizes

Curtain length	Measurement in inches
Extra Small	63 inches
Small	84 inches
Medium	95 inches
Long	108 inches
Extra Long	120 inches

 

Criteria to consider while choosing the perfect curtain

To select one perfect curtain to match the aesthetic of your room, you must consider the following criteria. 

 

Match the theme

Your window and door curtain designs should match the colour of the other furniture in the room. Select window coverings that blend in with the decor or appropriately contrast it. 

By choosing curtains that are complementary to the hue of your walls, you can choose to get an appealing appearance. Choose a colour contrasting with the furniture and walls if you want the curtain design to take centre stage.

 

Select a pattern

One thing to remember when selecting curtains for living rooms and other spaces is that prints give any feature more visual weight. You must look at the rest of the decor to decide whether to use patterns or solids. Printed curtain designs for the living room can be a good decision if all the other soft furnishings are solid colours. The inverse is also accurate. 

As a result, pairing printed window treatments with solid-coloured furniture and adding printed area rugs and cushions is one way to make them work. You may utilise eccentric prints and geometric designs in a modern setting.

Source: Pinterest 

 

Select a curtain material 

There is a large selection of fabrics for curtains, from plush velvet to casual linen. It would help if you considered the appearance you want to achieve with the curtains and their practical use when picking the fabric. For instance, there are better options than sheers if you wish to drapes that will block out early morning light or help you darken the room for a summer movie night. 

Each fabric will have a different appearance when pleated and drawn back since each material falls differently from height. There are two categories. 

 

Room darkening curtain

Heavier opaque materials, like velvet, are an excellent choice if you are searching for drapes that will block morning light and help control room temperature. Blackout curtains are an excellent option for completely light-blocking window treatments since they are lined with a material that will keep the sun out.

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Light curtains

Choose thinner, lighter materials like cotton or polyester sheers for drapes that allow a lot of natural light. Lace curtains are a fantastic example of light-filtering window coverings for smaller windows. 

Sheer materials are ideal if you love a lot of natural light. They are suitable for little places where you want to be sunny. Additionally, sheers offer natural ventilation. Consider sheer textiles if you suffer from allergies. They work well at keeping pollen out of open windows. Sheers are available in many materials, such as cotton, silk, and synthetics. Cotton is the most economical material.

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Decide the length of the curtain 

There are three options available for how the curtains should end up on the floor:

Hover

This is the most typical approach to hanging floor-length curtains since it makes them look tidy, stylish, and simple to open and close.

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Break

Curtain panels with a one-inch break are break designers, indicating that for your curtains to hang flat against the ground, you will need to increase their length by one inch. Although it has a high-end designer vibe, this appearance is not stuffy or overly formal.

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Puddle

Choose the puddle appearance for a more carefree, romantic, and gentler atmosphere. A puddle will feel cosier when paired with thinner, softer textiles, while stiffer, bolder-coloured curtains will give your room a bit of drama and sophistication.

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Choose the appropriate hardware

Extendable curtain rods allow you to change their length. Measure the size of your window and add one foot on either side to get the needed rod size. This will give the curtain panels adequate room to hang. 

Popular materials include brushed nickel, iron, brass, and wood. Finials assist in specifying the rod’s style and come in both opulent, more conventional shapes and svelte, contemporary designs.

 

FAQs

Which curtain style is ideal for a living room?

Silk and linen are good choices, as they hang beautifully and are natural materials. Velvet is a fantastic option if you want comfortable living room ideas.

Which colour curtain is considered good, as per Vastu?

As per Vastu, neutral colour curtains are considered the best.

What is the general rule for hanging curtains?

The basic rule is a curtain should be hung two-thirds of the space above the window.

Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at [email protected]