furniture and decor blog

If you live in a hot climate or are blessed with southern exposure, consider the simplest drapery in the world. Hang plain, unlined swaths of inexpensive linen at the windows. Yes, the linen rumples. (Let it.) Yes, it eventually yellows in the sun, and must be replaced. But it has an easy elegance.

Hang the linen from a dark-stained wooden pole using wooden rings (from any fabric shop) that you sew to the top of the draperies.

Tip: Wash the curtain and let dry in the sun before hemming. Do not iron.

Draperies, when parted, should not cover the sides of the window itself-they should pull back farther and cover the wall alongside it. That way the window itself looks bigger and you won’t block the light or view. Allows draperies to overlap the sides of the window by only 3 inches, and he extends them an extra 12 inches onto the wall on each side. (Your rod, therefore, must he 24 inches longer than the width of the window and trim combined.) This opens up the window tremendously.

Start curtains as close to the ceiling or crown molding as possible, and make sure they kiss the floor, as designers delicately put it. Your windows and your ceiling will both appear taller. This works best when you allow for shrinkage-wash or dry-clean the fabric before curtains are made.

The same principle applies to valances that run across the tops of windows: hang them high, so they cover the wood trim without obscuring the sky.