How to choose curtains for your living room
Lounges or living rooms are one of the most used rooms in the home, so it’s important to get your window furnishings right! Curtains in this room need to be both practical and beautiful, as you’ll be seeing a lot of them, so here are some of the main things to consider before deciding on your living room curtains.
1. The size of the room
A larger room is often more flexible in the style of curtain you choose, however, floor-length curtains in a light colour can make a small room feel bigger, while thick, full curtains in deeper tones will make a large room feel cosy. Make sure to consider the size of the window and the room if you’re choosing patterns as well. A large pattern on a small window isn’t usually very nice, while a small pattern on a very large window can just get lost.
2. How much light the room gets
The living room is often where you watch TV and just hang out, so if it gets a lot of direct sunlight, you’ll want to consider sheers. Sheer curtains will help diffuse the light to reduce glare and protect your furniture from some UV rays. Sheers also allow a breeze to pass through from open windows for a more comfortable room through the warm summer months. However, if your living room is shaded by trees outside or doesn’t get much direct sunlight, sheers may not be worthwhile.
3. The type of windows you have
Whether your windows are single or double-paned will also impact what kind of curtains you choose for your living areas. Adding a thermal lining to curtains on single-paned windows will help keep your home warmer in the winter months.
4. How the curtains open and close
Curtains in living areas get plenty of use and are usually opened and closed several times a day, so you’ll want to make sure they are easy to access and easy to operate. If they’re going to be behind furniture, make sure there is still enough room for the curtains to glide easily without the furniture getting in the way. And remember, some heading styles are more fluid than others. For example, tab top curtains tend to stick a little.
5. How the curtains will look during the day and at night
Be sure to choose colours and patterns that look good in your room with both natural light and artificial light. Also, remember to consider privacy at night. When indoor lights are on, it makes it easier to see in from the outside so adding a blockout curtain is a popular choice, especially for windows facing the street or neighbours.
