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Thinking about getting a new home security system? Deliberating over adopting a guard dog? According to new research by Rightmove and Dr Beckmann, there’s no longer any need. Apparently, people are now turning to a simpler and more cost-effective way to hide their valuables from prying eyes – hanging net curtains.

Net curtains tend to fit into more traditional settings and are definitely not a friend of the modern and contemporary home. As a result, until recently, the sale of net curtains has been in steady decline.

As revealed by the Conservative Party, the rate of domestic burglaries has increased for the first time in six years. This coincides with information from Dr Beckmann, the company that makes Net Curtain Whitener, saying that sales of their product have increased by almost 20% in the UK – leading us to believe that net curtains have similarly grown in popularity.

Good old fashioned net curtains are in fact a great way to keep whatever you’ve got in your home hidden, whilst still letting plenty of light through. As mentioned before however, net curtains just aren’t suitable for homes decorated with a modern theme in mind. Luckily, there is another option – voiles.

Voiles are very lightweight materials that can be made from linen, cotton or synthetic fabrics. They hang beautifully, look great and offer the privacy you need. They tend to suit more modern homes, so are perfect for new-age security enthusiasts.

When choosing a pair of voile curtains, certain curtain headings look better than most. Some of these include: tie-top, tab top, slot top. These tend to look slightly better because they don’t require a tape to be sewn to the top, meaning the curtains usually look neater.

Another useful tip when buying voiles is to go for floor-length curtains, adding another couple of centimetres to the length so that they hang nicely on the floor.

The most wonderful thing about custom drapery is that you can select virtually any fabric, any pattern, any look you want. The possibilities are endless. Of course this means that the hardest thing about custom drapery is the endless possibilities! How do you decide? Nothing’s going to have more impact on the quality, appearance, and durability of your curtains or drapes than the type of fiber they are made from and the density of their weave.

Fabrics fall into two basic camps: synthetic and natural fibers. The synthetics most often used in curtains are polyester and acetate. Natural fibers are a better choice when you have concerns about chemical sensitivities or just want the satisfaction of buying a renewable resource. Cotton, silk, linen, hemp and other plant fibers are typical natural fibers used for curtains and drapery. Linen and hemp linens are a particularly fine choice for lightweight draperies because they drape so beautifully and are naturally resistant to ultraviolet (UV) damage from sunlight. They can be lined for a heavier, more sumptuous look. Cotton curtains should usually be lined for greater durability, and silk must be lined, because unprotected silk hanging in a sunny window might not last six months! As a rule, the tighter the weave, the higher the thread count of a fabric, and the stronger it is—and, usually, the more beautifully it drapes, the longer it lasts, and the more it costs.

Keep in mind, though, there are times you might want a looser weave. A lightweight open weave can work well for a curtain where you want to let in light but need more privacy than an uncovered window affords. The lighter the weight and looser the weave of the fabric you choose, the more you will have to be tolerant of slight variations in length. A looser weave will tend to sag slightly, especially with humidity.

Pick your fabric with care, based on utilitarian factors such as how much light your curtains will have to filter, and how easy they will be to clean. And then…have some fun with atmosphere! Really look at your room, think about the way it’s used, what kind of personality the other furnishings convey. Layer cotton or silk sheers for romance. Favor linens for the crisp, tailored look. Get lavish with cotton chintzes and sateens for cozy comfort. Hang hemp or ramie for a clean contemporary feel. Truly the possibilities are endless!

Having trouble paying your nightly visit to the land of nod, now that the sunny season has arrived? Don’t worry; you’re not on your own! The summer sun comes at a price for many of us, when morning time begins to arrive before its welcome, and the moon starts to feel like a long lost friend.

Help is indeed at hand however, in the form of blackout curtains and blinds. The blackout lining option that you can choose with most made-to-measure curtain and blind companies can be a godsend for rooms that are east-facing, for example, because they completely block out the sunlight to give you the good nights sleep you deserve.

As an added bonus, all types of blackout lining have thermal retention properties, meaning that they keep the heat in during winter. Blackout lining will typically cost a little bit more than standard cotton lining would, but the added benefits – both short term with regards to the light, and long term when you inevitably start saving money on your energy bills – are going to be well worth the investment.

Blackout lining is made using a poly/cotton mix (blackout lining made from 100% natural materials doesn’t yet exist). The fabric is then coated in an acrylic layer to increase its light-blocking properties. Manufacturers of blackout lining normally offer a range of colours, but curtain makers, like the Natural Curtain Company, mostly offer white and off-white colours.

Choosing the best curtains that complement your interior decor will create a finished look that expresses your personal style. Before making the final decision on design, fabric and size, it is important to evaluate the effect that you want to achieve in the room. Draperies and curtains are an expensive investment to your home and the choice that you make may remain for many years. A little research and careful planning will ensure that the window coverings enhance the decor and are appropriate for your home.

Sizes and Styles

The first step in choosing a window covering is to consider the size of the window and the style of the room. In a kitchen, breakfast nook or casual room, a window length curtain looks chic. In a formal room such as a dining room or living room, floor length styles add elegance.

Valances are the icing on the cake and add dimension to a wall. They can be used alone, layered or coordinated with matching curtains. Scalloped edges, swag styles with fringe and tassels or gathered valances dress up a window.

Decorative curtain rods made of wood, polished or flat metal finishes can be exposed if panel style curtains are used. Tiebacks made from the same fabric, tasseled and beaded can be hidden or exposed with decorative hardware.

Curtain Fabrics

The fun begins with choosing a fabric that coordinates with the interior design. Casual areas look best with cotton blends, canvas, and synthetic blends. Sheer fabrics can be used as an inner layer or in combination with blinds to soften a window. If the curtains are for privacy, fabrics that close easily are preferred. If the purpose is strictly decorative, lacy or dressy fabrics that softly drape the window add style.

Colour selection is a vital criterion. The curtains should blend with other fabrics in the room and agree with the wall colour palette. Contrasting fabrics can be used if the accessories pick up the colour decor.

Custom Made Curtains

If you want to match other fabrics such as bedspreads or sofas, it may be necessary to purchase custom styles. Whether you choose a curtain or drapery style that makes a statement or blends with the room, the effect will be stunning if it coordinates with the interior decor. Taking the time to consider the existing furnishings, the wall colours and accessories before making the final decision will ensure that the room will have a finished and well decorated ambiance.

Embrace your inner Bill Gates with these curtains…

1) For the Internet Obsessed…

If the internet is like your second shadow, your Siamese twin, your Ying and your Yang.

And if you can’t live without your YouTube, Google or Flickr and the mere thought of going a day without logging onto your Facebook account gives you the absolute jitters…

…. then this one’s for you, you beautiful crazy geeky person, you.

Apparently, someone had 9 wooden window blinds designed for them with a range of those logos printed on them including one for Digg, Flickr, Google, Facebook and Firefox.

Now that’s dedication.

(img src: nets2go.co.uk)

2) This One Produces Electricity…

You definitely can’t blow your nose with this one (or rather, you can, but it might be the last time you do).

The brainchild of Sheila Kennedy, this (prototype) curtain has thin flexi solar panels built into it. The idea is that any energy the curtain derives from the sun is stored and funnelled through to other electrical equipment throughout the home.

Really good (and cool) idea.

However, on a health and safety tip: how safe would it be around children?

And on a style tip: Would a range of different textiles be available? Or would a choice have to be made by the consumer between style and being environmentally friendly?

(img src: inhabitat.com)

3) Aaaand This One’s ‘Wiimotely’ Controlled…

It’s highly debatable as to whether this gadget’s really needed …unless ones room is SO big, the curtains are a 100 miles away but…anyway…

The ‘Wiimote’ is a remote that opens and closes your curtains for you. Looking at the video, it does look like a lot of wrist action just to do that. Wouldn’t it take the same amount of energy (or slightly more) to just get up and do it manually?

Hmm.

4) This One’s Made Out of Computer Punch cards…

Yep, you heard. Someone fashioned a blind out of a humble needle and thread plus the piers de resistance itself… computer punch cards.

Looking at the photo, they don’t look like punch cards at all. It looks more like some sort of calligraphy or creative pattern.

What an amazing way to use waste considering much of that was probably initially destined for the dumpster.

(img src: flickr.com/photos/jeffreygarman)

5) And This One’s a Tree…(but not as you know it)…

Aaaah, nature. It’s so, erm, natural, isn’t it?

I mean, look at that tree outside - and the way the curtain brings out its sheer beauty. All it needs is a couple of birds and voila, Mother Nature at her best.

Except that…ahem…the tree is inside not outside. And, erm, it’s not a real tree actually, but rather a profile of a tree …intricately printed on fabric…using ASCII characters.

Cool or what?!

Eat your heart out, Ikea.

(img src: nsybrandy.nl)

6) Don’t Walk Past This One if You’re, Erm, a Magnet…

The designer of this magnetic curtain, Florian Krautli, who is now my bestest friend in the whole world (but doesn’t know it), created it by incorporating itty bitty magnets to the fabric so that it could be bent/shaped any which way the user chooses.

Where do these designers get their ideas from? Did the Tooth Fairy give them more than a gold coin when they were little?

Not only is this design idea overly-fab, it’s such a simple idea in a “why-didn’t-I-think-of-that” way that it’s a tad frustrating (in a good way, of course).

(img src: nets2go.co.uk)

7) A Shower Curtain that Could Teach You a Thing or Two…

I personally prefer to sing my little tonsils out in the shower, but these shower curtains are pretty cool though. With lots of useful information printed on them, you can kick your sleepy brain into gear in the morning while lathering up in the bathroom.

A range of ‘educational’ shower curtains are available for your grey matter’s absorbing delight including Maths, French and Spanish Vocabulary, Geography and The Periodic Table.

Bathroom showers will never be the same (unless you don’t buy this particular shower curtain, that is. Ahem.)

(img src: nets2go.co.uk)

8) Plastic, Liquid-Crystal Curtain, Anyone?

If a curtain can be fashioned from magnets and computer punch-cards, then why not from plastic and liquid crystal?

This curtain consists of 2 pieces of plastic that switch from clear to opaque when the user presses a button. It’s made possible through the liquid-crystal that’s positioned between both pieces. As energy passes through it, it imbues an interesting dream-like impression onto the plastic.

(img src: nets2go.co.uk/)

With the economy in a slump, buying a new home seems to be out of the question. However, there are ways you can brighten up your home and give it a new feeling without having to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Buy new curtains or roman blinds.
You can control the amount of light you want in the room with blinds and curtains. The right color and size curtains will make any room pleasant and brighter. Too heavy of curtains will not allow much light to pass through.

Buy a new sofa from sofa.com.
Sofa.com allows you to build your own furniture so that it is right for your space. The furniture that you choose should have lighter fabrics so that vistors will feel welcome to sit down.

Build an extension.
If you can’t afford a new house, why not just add on to the one you have now? Building extensions not only add more square footage to your living space, they also add more value to your home.

Re-paint the house - interior and exterior.
Psychologists often say that color influences our emotions. Dark colors makes a room dismal and too bright a color can make a room not tranquil. Light blues and greens are generally most suitable. Light colors, like white and off-white, reflect light. Regardless of the color you prefer, a different coat of paint will certainly freshen any room up.

Bring the garden inside.
If you enjoy planting and the beauty it can bring to a home, bring the garden inside! Flowers can adorn any home if the colors match and accentuate the space.

Use different lighting fixtures.
Often, people have no idea what kind of lighting works best for certain rooms. Install new lights or replace old lighting fixtures to brighten up a space. Light fixtures that sit upon the wall or ceiling are more long-lasting. They have the convenience of functioning from wall switches, and they supply light from overhead and don’t take up table or floor elbowroom. Flourescent bulbs are great and environmentally friendly because they provide ample amount of lighting yet require less electricity.

Install a skylight.
Skylights bring in natural light - and a lot of it. Some skylights can be accessable for ventilation. Of course, they’re not an option for a building you don’t own or a first-floor room in a multi-story residence.

Use more mirrors.
Mirrors open up space and bring in light. Correctly adorning mirrors will make the room seem copious and they’ll reproduce the light you already have with no further electricity.

Spring cleaning more often than just in the Spring.
In case you haven’t noticed, cob webs make a room seem unapproachable and dirty. Clutter and dust make any space dark and undersized. Light cleaning once a week will make a world of a difference in making any home brighter and inviting. Also, clean your windows frequently. Clean windows will let more light in!

Use bright colors when decorating.
Bright colors are great for gloomy times. Dark spaces are very uninviting. In such bleak times, why not surround yourself and your loved ones with bright and cheery colors?

You don’t have to milk your bank dry or buy a new house in order to have a place that you love. Don’t allow the slump in the economy to darken your home; brighten it up inexpensively with new colors and new furniture.

In all likelihood, somewhere in a Neanderthal cave, the lady of house figured out that the elements posed a problem and used animal hide to cover open portals of light. Animal hide, fur and membrane are the ancestors of today’s curtains used in numerous window treatments.

Over time, curtains on windows, doors and showers areas became a necessity. Curtains have been used on old sailing ships, covered wagons and log cabins. Colorfully painted wooden Gypsy wagons were adorned with small windows covered in dainty curtains.

North American native Indians stretched hide for tents. Doors of these tents were fashioned into a curtain flap for entering and exiting. But, the flap also served the purpose of keeping out dust, insects and bad weather elements.

With the advancement of cultures and elevation of societies, curtains evolved into an ornamental window treatment. Long cross pane windows in castles and homes of lesser royalty were adorned with exquisite drapery in elegant fabric like velvet, organdy or finest lace. Belgium and Ireland produced the finest handcrafted lace for curtains.

Even in the bedroom, curtains had their function. Bed curtains attached by rings to a square or round frame high above the bed were considered a necessity for centuries in Scandinavian and European countries. Most bed curtains were made from more serviceable materials like cotton or dimity. In tropical climates, curtains were used as a protection from sudden dust storms and insects. In the Orient, seductive beaded curtains, made from colored glass and hung vertically, or those made from bamboo cane added to the mystique and allure of a room. In other Oriental countries, gossamer materials in brilliant fuschia, purple or green served as curtains for harems, throne rooms and bedrooms.

Curtains had been designed with a pocket sewn on the inner side through which a rod could then be inserted. Often, a cornice, a decorative wood covering was added to a window above the curtain rod. Europeans preferred a combination of curtain and drape, no doubt as a hedge against the cold and damp weather. Certain styles of curtains were identified with social status as well as by the costly materials brought by traders in the Far East or other exotic areas. Huge bolts of finest materials were brought aboard ships and sent across the seas to be sold.

As time passed, curtains diversified into various styles such as pinch-pleated draperies, tab-pleated, swag and smocked, until the present time that has as many styles in curtains, rods, valances and ornamental cornices and accessories such as curtain tie-backs with tassles and fringe. In primitive times, curtains were simply attached to a window using sticky sap. As curtain sophistication grew, curtain rods were made from hand-hewn wood, usually oak, birch or similar hardwoods. Some rods are still constructed of wood, although most are metal or synthetic material. Beaded curtains are still quite popular for special room accents. Bed curtains have been replaced by four-poster beds with an overhead canopy. Bamboo curtains are another popular window treatment used in many enclosed patios, sun rooms, conservatories and for special effects in bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens.

Down through history, curtains have remained singularly useful for any decor. Though curtain styles change through trends and new innovations in design, curtains still serve the purpose for which they were originally intended: protection from overexposure to sun and drafts. Yet, curtains also give any room a finishing touch. The Neanderthal lady of the cave would certainly be pleased with such a wide range of styles, designs and materials from which to choose.

This wartime advert made me smile. Curtains aren’t just pretty, they have their practical uses too, such as protecting us from A-bomb blasts! The ad text reads - Heavy canvas window curtains, specially treated, are designed to give partial protection from the effects of an A-bomb blast. The curtains are metalized with aluminum and lead. They will help protect persons inside a building from flying glass, radioactive dust and flash burns, according to the manufacturer. They are said to be effective at distances beyond 2600 feet of the explosion. When not in use, the curtain rolls against the upper part of the casement like a window shade.

Using interlined or thermally lined curtains or Roman blinds is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to insulate your home. They cut your energy bills significantly, even during the long, cold winter months. They also reduce your electric bills in the summer by keeping out excessive heat. In addition, they keep out more light, as well as noise, than conventional window coverings with their extra “wadding”. Finally, they do all this, yet still look elegant on your windows.

The interlining is usually an extra padding that lies between the facing material and the inner lining. Thermal lining uses a special thermal layer specifically designed to restrict the flow of cold air into the room through the window, in the winter, and out the window, during the summer.

Roman blinds, by design, create a modern, elegant look to your house or apartment. Curtains create a classic look that brings dignity to your living space. When they are thermally lined, functionality and elegance come together to create a comfortably warm yet sophisticated interior environment. You can proudly entertain even the finickiest guests on the coldest evenings.

As with regular curtains and Roman blinds, you can request any type of fabric for the facing material of your custom sewn thermally lined curtains and Roman blinds. And when made and cared for properly, they can last from ten to twenty years, thus further paying for themselves in addition to reducing your energy bills.

You can buy factory made interlined or thermally lined curtains and Roman blinds for less, while still being assured of the highest quality lined items on the market. However, custom designed Roman blinds assure that any window, regardless of proportion, will be precisely covered, corner to corner, with no embarassing gaps between the window frames and the blinds, or sloppy overlap because they are too wide for a particular window.

Additionally, a professional window attachments company will be aware that if you wish to have both the thermally lined curtains as well as the thermally lined Roman blinds, the latter cannot simply be hung on a rod over the window. Their professionals will know that if the curtain rod is placed above the Roman blinds rod over the window, it will not provide the necessary space between the two that would otherwise further help to trap cold air. And, of course, it will look extremely sloppy, which is not what you want for your interior environment.

Thermal lining for curtains and Roman blinds usually runs anywhere from 60 centimeters to 140 centimeters, but again, you can request whatever thickness suits your particular needs. So if you have windows facing north or northeast, you will probably want the curtains and Roman blinds that will be placed over them to be somewhat thicker than those facing south or southwest. In addition, if you have windows that are not on the first or second floor, but rather on a third, fourth, or higher floor, then again, you will want a thicker lining.

And despite the extra lining, Roman blinds can also still be designed with either narrow or wider pleats, depending on your taste. So, if you prefer wider pleats for the dining or living rooms, and narrower pleats for the bathrooms or kitchen, they work equally as well. You do not have to sacrifice warmth for beauty.

It is impressive that interlined or thermally lined curtains and Roman blinds can be so practical and cost effective, while at the same time be so sophisticated and unique. Speak with your window attachments professional to see what exciting creations they can design for you.