The choice of a curtain rod can affect not only the perception of the interior of a room, but also its size: a well-chosen curtain rod can visually «to lift» ceiling, «to expand» too narrow wall, give volume to a small room.
Curtains should always match the chosen interior style, match the color scheme and complement the overall picture. They play an important role in the decor of the room, but cornices are no less important. In addition to the fact that the cornice carries a constructive task – to hold the curtains, ensure their reliable operation, easy closing and opening, it should also match stylistically and harmoniously fit into the interior.
Recommendations for choosing a curtain rod
In order to choose the right curtain rod for curtains, the following factors must be taken into account:
- Each cornice is designed for certain loads, so roughly estimate the weight of the curtains, and select the cornices in such a way that they correspond to this indicator.
- Decide on your curtain bindings. They must match the selected fabric, move along the cornice easily, without clinging or «stuck», there should be no sounds.
- For light curtains, any type of eaves attachment, both ceiling and wall, is suitable. For heavy materials it is better to opt for a ceiling mount – it can handle more weight.
- The choice of the cornice is influenced by the location of the battery, heating pipes, as well as the size and width of the window sill. Nothing should interfere with the free hanging of the curtains, therefore, when attaching the cornice, you will have to take these elements into account.
Council. Remember that a correctly selected cornice can visually change the perception of a room, correct flaws and emphasize advantages:
- Narrow window. If the window has a small width, you can «to enlarge» – to do this, choose a long cornice so that the curtains hanging on it cover not only the window, but also part of the wall near it.
- Low ceilings. The ceiling can be visually «to lift», if you choose a ceiling-mounted cornice: a curtain hanging from the ceiling to the floor will help «lengthen» distance between them.
- The window is too large. To correct the perception of the window, select a cornice with a length exactly the width of the window opening.
Cornice and room style
Choose from the many curtain rod options on the market that best match your style.
- Baguette cornices are offered for decoration of premises in classical style. Round cornices also look good, especially if they are wooden..
- Minimalism or hi-tech, popular today, can be supplemented with a string cornice or round metal cornices.
- Almost all «village» styles, whether it be American country or French Provence, use forged products as decorative elements. Forged cornices are suitable for them – both natural metal color and painted.
- Japanese and Roman blinds go well with aluminum curtain rods.
Curtain rod length
The total length of the curtain rod includes the length of the bar and two decorative caps. But before you start measuring the length of the cornice, you need to determine where it will be located and how to attach it..
- When choosing a curtain rod for curtains that cover the entire wall with a window as a whole, the length of the curtain rod itself should be two to three centimeters less than the distance from the wall to the wall. At the same time, please note that there should be at least three attachment points for such a long cornice!
- If the cornice is located exactly above the window, then the brackets on which it is attached must be behind the window opening, otherwise you will not be able to fully open the window, and the drawn curtains will cover part of the glazing. In this case, the length of the cornice should be thirty to forty centimeters more than the width of the window opening..
Brackets
Please note that the brackets are of different lengths. If this length is greater than the distance from the window opening to the ceiling, the bracket above the window will not fit. Sometimes in such cases they are fixed below the level of the window opening, such an arrangement is called «partially above the window». If the cornice has a length of more than two meters, then it must be fastened to three brackets, if less, two.
The distance between the brackets should ideally not be less than one and a half and more than two meters. In this case, the cornice will hold on tightly, its rods will not deform, and the curtain will not sag.
Cornice dimensions
In order to choose the right curtain rod for curtains, its design and position, the following measurements must be taken (in cm):
- The length of the wall with a window from one side wall to the other.
- The width of the window itself.
- The distance the curtains will be away from the wall.
- Height from window opening to ceiling.
Types of fasteners
Each type of window curtain rod has its own attachments for hanging curtains. Let’s consider the most common options.
Profile systems
The aluminum profile has guides, one or more, along which the hooks slide – curtains cling to them.
Pros. Aluminum is strong enough, but at the same time plastic, it is possible to make rounded cornices from it for decorating niches, bay windows, lancet or other non-standard windows. In addition, it is the profile cornices that are usually supplied with automatic control systems for the position of the curtains, which is very convenient, especially if the room has high ceilings.
There are also profile systems made of plastic, which attract a low price. They are only suitable for light fabrics, as heavy curtains cause their deformation by their weight..
The hooks for profile systems are made of transparent plastic, so they are less visible. For decorative purposes, strips are usually attached to the top of the system. «under the tree», «under the stone», «under the skin». Installation and installation of such structures is simple and does not require much time..
If you need multi-row options for curtain rods, profile ones are the best choice. They can consist of curtains in two, three, and even four rows. For example, on the profile closest to the window, a transparent tulle is attached, the next one carries a dense curtain, and the extreme one – a lambrequin. Or, you can fix transparent tulle of different colors on all rows, which will make it possible to vary the density of the luminous flux and its shade according to the mood.
Today, roller blinds, Japanese curtains, Roman curtains and blinds, which are popular today, belong precisely to the profile systems, and have a common basis, although there are structural differences between them..
Classic cornice
The most traditional type of window cornice is tubular structures. They can be made from wood or metal pipes. The larger the diameter of the eaves, the heavier curtains it can withstand.
Mounts for such curtains can be as follows:
- Magnetic clips that serve not only as fasteners, but also as decoration. Can be of various shapes and colors.
- Cloth loops.
- Eyelets (holes in fabric, edged with metal or plastic).
- Rings made of wood or metal, to which the curtains are attached with hooks. Tulle and organza can tear against fasteners, but it will not hold dense fabrics, this option is only suitable for fabrics of medium density.
When choosing eyelets or rings as a fastener when choosing a curtain rod for curtains, check the diameter of the curtain rod – it must be less than the diameter of the fastening ring, otherwise the curtain will not slide along the guide.
Usually, classic cornices have one or two tubular structures – you can hang tulle and a blackout curtain on them. It is also possible to replace one of the designs with a string – the most suitable fastening for tulle and cutting. Classic curtain rods are suitable for any interior, it is only important to choose the right material from which they are made.
Forged cornices
If you want to choose a curtain rod that will decorate a room in baroque, rococo, empire, country or provence styles, stop your attention on forged products. Depending on what tips they end with and what fabrics are used for curtains, such curtain rods look completely different..
Graceful empire curls and velvet or satin curtains will create an atmosphere of luxury in the Baroque style, and plant elements of forging and «calico» curtains in a small flower will be transferred to the sultry summer of Provence.
Forged cornice brackets are interior decorations in themselves. The ideal option is to order them individually in order to maximize your personal preferences and create a unique look for your home. Forged curtain rods use metal pipes or rods as guides, and in this they are similar to classical ones. There can also be several guides, usually no more than three.
String cornices
String curtain rods use a stretched metal wire as guides – «string». Fasteners for curtains – the same as in the classic curtain rod, but smaller in size. Magnetic clips look best on this design. Plastic strings are also used – they are suitable for light curtains made of tulle or organza. Such a cornice is practically invisible and there is a feeling that the tulle is floating in the air without any support..
Of all the options for curtain rods, this option is the most “lightweight” – he will not hold heavy curtains. More than others, it is suitable for decorating rooms in high-tech, minimalism, modern and combined styles. Such cornices, with the correct selection of accompanying elements, are most suitable for masking room imperfections.
Baguette cornices
Baguette cornices are similar in design to profile ones, but in them the fasteners are always covered with a decorative strip – a baguette. The baguette can be wide or narrow, of various shapes, sizes, colors.
Curtain profiles can have from one to three rows. There is often a strip in the first row-«Velcro» to fix the lambrequin. When choosing a baguette cornice, be guided by the color and shape of the baguette itself – after all, it is the main decorative element, and should organically fit into your interior.
