How to Select Designer Valances

A window valance is a type of window treatment that serves to cover the upper part of the window. Valances may be hung by themselves or they may be combined with curtains, blinds or shades.

Designer valances were something of a craze some time back as these added a certain grace and decorum to the room. On the practical side, beautiful designer valances also serve to hide aging window rods or window tops that are damaged or crumbling with age. Designer valances are a common feature in large sun-facing rooms.

How to choose designer valances for your room:
To be attractive, window valances must match the style and color of the rest of the room. As valances are by nature rather heavy and ostentatious, they must be paired with a décor that is subdued and simple. Heavy window treatments in a room that already has too many stylistic elements is a fashion faux pas. If you already have a room that is stylish, then, it would be better to use simple designer valances that are subdued in color and muted in their design.

For designer valances to work their magic, it is necessary that the window occupies a place of pride in the décor of the room. For example, small decorative windows, bay windows and French windows are built so they can become the focus of attention. Dressing up such windows with the right designer valance and combining this with an equally good curtain or blind is a great way of giving visual appeal to the room.

Designer valances are great for a children’s room, particularly if the décor follows a certain theme. For instance, a room that looks like a sky can do with cloud valances. Kitchens and bathrooms too can get a facelift if you fit them with excellent designer valances. However, care must be taken to keep the design simple since any window treatments in kitchens and bathrooms are likely to attract dirt, grime and moisture.

One of the most important things to keep in mind when ordering curtain valances is the measurement. Before you order, you will have to take the right measurement since these valances are made for your individual use. Therefore, they cannot be returned to the manufacturer. In case of doubts, it is advisable to approach an expert for measuring the designer valance.

The good thing about valances is that they can be combined with any kind of window treatment to give some additional zing to a room. They are a wonderful way of dressing up a room that is used for formal entertainment as they impart stateliness to the room. When selected carefully, they can also add an element of fun and cheerfulness. The irregular shapes, intricate designs and the color combinations can turn any room into a stunner.

Tips and Tricks for Custom Drapes That Make You Proud

Sometimes, a room requires something special. You have visited the stores, seen everything they have and still felt unsatisfied by what you see. Your only option is to go for custom drapes.

Custom drapes are generally exclusive combinations made in-house. You can select the fabric, prints and color that suit the design and décor of your room. You can select from different lengths and widths. Therefore, custom drapes are excellent for windows that are slightly bigger or smaller than regular windows.

While choosing the fabric for the custom drapes, keep in mind that the fabric is responsible for the atmosphere or the aura you create in that room. The correct blending of atmosphere and practical use will dictate the final effect of the room. It will also have a huge impact on how people perceive and use the room. For instance, a room that uses heavy fabric will let in little light. Therefore, such fabric may not do so well as a sitting room but will be great for a bedroom.

Printed fabric looks great in a room where the rest of the décor is muted. Otherwise, it will result in a cluttered look. You must use busy prints in custom drapes very sparingly and carefully.

Next is the style. Often, custom drapes will offer you an opportunity to go for styles that are off the beaten track. You can choose from pleated, gathered or grommet tops, for example. So, which style will you choose? Before you even visit the store to select custom drapes, sit in the room and get a feel of the style elements. Does the room look conventional or is it modernistic? Browse through pictures in magazines and the internet. This will give you a clear idea of what will look good in the room.

You might want to consult a designer for the style and color of your custom drapes. But, do not leave it all on the designer. After all, you will be living in the room and no one is interested in the house as much as you are. If you make use of the services of an interior designer for your custom drapes, make sure that your own likes and dislikes play a pivotal role.

Hint: even though there are a variety of styles to choose from, surveys have repeatedly shown that most people generally opt for simple designs. Fancier designs not only cost more but people tire of them easily too.

Finally, make use of professional installers if you are even a little unsure of your own skills. If you have spent a lot of time and money selecting the right fabric and choosing the best style, it makes sense to choose someone who can do a good job of hanging the custom drapes.

Give a New Look to Your Windows

Every homemaker wants to make her house look beautiful with the best furnishings and household accessories. But most often we end up neglecting the windows which play an integral part in the look and design of the interior of your house. Traditional window frames with clumsy curtains are outdated. They have given way to more stylish panes and frames that express the home maker's sense of decoration.

Window treatment is the latest innovation in the field of home interior decoration. The right kind of window treatment can give a refreshing makeover to your windows, making them appear more beautiful and trendy.

Wooden shades, vinyl blinds and shutters comprise hard window treatments whereas soft treatments includes valances, swags, curtains, sheers and drapes, tailored out of soft fabrics. Make your choice of hard or soft treatment for your windows.

Generally the size and structure of the window are the main factors that determine the appropriate kind of window treatment. You can give your windows a totally different look with designer shades, sheers, blinds, valance, shutters and honeycombs. Valance, shades and blinds are best-suited for covering a small window. Curtains and draperies are preferred for embellishing large windows. Draperies add grandeur to the room and also make it appear more spacious.

Shades, shutters and blinds are less expensive than draperies. Pleated and roman shades look great when contrasted with the color of the wall. Now, you can pep up the look of your room with textured shades too. One can also select shades made from of eco-friendly materials that give an earthy feel to your home. Honeycomb shades have insulating properties that help to filter light. Faux wood blinds are tailored out of a combination of vinyl and hardwood. If your room gets excess sunlight, then think of using blinds to ward off unwanted heat.

Feel free to seek assistance from a host of leading home décor manufacturers. Some of them provide quality window treatment solutions. There are companies that offer window treatment, customized to your needs and choices.

Window treatment will help you to create an inviting ambience for yourself and your visitors. It is also the best way to maintain privacy of your dwelling place as well as reveal your taste of fashion and elegance. Window treatment is nowadays a must have for all those homemakers who have the desire to bestow an aesthetic appearance to the overall look of their homes.

Pleated Draperies – A Symbol of Elegance

Long hanging curtains are called drapes. Curtains where a series of folds formed by doubling the fabric back on itself are made permanent through stitches at the top are known as pleated draperies. This is a kind of window decoration that makes rooms look stylish. Pleated drapes are also well suited to ward off unwanted heat or excess moisture.

This unique type of curtain is available in the market. You may choose to customize it according to your needs and preferences. Pleated draperies are available in a myriad variety of colors, styles and textures. There are numerous brands that manufacture good pleated drapes. Browse through their websites and take your pick from a wide range of varieties such as French pleat curtains, goblet pleat drapes, Parisian and inverted pleat drapes.

Vacuum cleaning on a weekly basis is good enough to keep your pleated drapes clean and attractive. But it is advisable to have pleated drapes washed once in every six months.

Different varieties of pleated drapes

Pinch Pleat Drapes: This is the most popular variety of pleated drapes. Pinch pleat drapes come in a variety of styles such as Two Finger Pinch Pleats, Three Finger Pleat, Four Finger Pleat and Five Finger Pleats. Buttons and bows can be attached to inch pleat drapes as embellishments to augment its beauty. Pinch pleat draperies are also well suited to provide optimum insulation.

Silk Pleat Drapes: In the case of pleated drapes, both style and material that the drapes are made of are important. Those tailored out of velvet are thick and heavy while drapes made from silk are comparatively lighter. Silk drapes maintain privacy while ensuring a chic look that turns your abode into a refreshing niche.

Patio Door Pleat Drapes: This kind of pleated drapes are apposite to cover the entire length and width of your patio door. While it allows adequate ventilation, it provides enough privacy.

Thermal Pleat Drapes: Thermal pleat draperies are used to maintain optimum temperature within rooms. These pleat draperies come with a thick liner and hence it can be used as blackout curtains. This type of draperies saves energy by making your room naturally cooler and makes your stay at home even more comfortable.

So the next time you plan to revamp your house, make sure that you don’t neglect your windows. Make your windows both trendy and beautiful with the lush luxury of pleated drapes.

The Shimmering World of Dupioni Silk

In the world of fabric and textile, Dupioni silk is a name that is pretty well known. This is a silk woven fabric that is also known as douppioni or dupion. Dupioni silk is an excellent fabric to consider if you are looking for a wrinkle-free and crisp fabric for your drapes and tapestry. The fabric is a glistening silk material that is made out of silk threads of dual colors. Silk threads of two colors are interwoven to form a fabric that has a dual toned sheen to it. The interplay of light and dark gives a magical effect to the fabric making it seem to change colors.

Dupioni Silk is made from rough silk fiber threads. Vibrant colors are generally used in Dupioni silk weaving. The merging of bright colored crude fiber gives the finished product a shimmering effect along with a crisp texture. When used as a drapery, Dupioni silk changes the entire ambience of your hall, living room or dining area. The backdrop it creates has an elegant and sophisticated look. The fabric resists creases and is a fully reversible fabric. In this way, you drapery will look perfect no matter which side shows.

Dupioni silks are available in solid colors of the Indian and Italian variety. You will also find them in stripes of contrasted colors and designs. A popular form of Dupioni silk is the embroidered variety. This material is chiefly used for tapestry and drapery. The beaded form of Dupioni silk fabric is also available in the market. Silk as a fabric is considered to be one of the best fabrics among natural and synthetic ones. It is a fabric that keeps warm in winter and cool in summers. Mildew and dampness does not affect silk easily. The luster and strength of the fabric makes it a favorite choice for drapery.

As far as taking care of Dupioni silk drapes is concerned, the best way to clean the fabric is by dry cleaning. If the fabric is washed by hand it might result in loss of sheen and crispness. In any case, washing large drapes by hand is a very cumbersome task. You should also be careful not to attach any pins or other metal fixtures to the drapes. If it rusts, the drape may be permanently stained. The fabric is an expensive one and once it gets tainted, it loses its beauty.

Pleated Draperies: Classically Stylish

All of us have read fairytales about beautiful princess and elegant castles and have craved sometime or the other, to own a castle of that style. Don’t you think that an effervescent flower-printed or a plain bright colored pleated drapery can convert your ordinary house into a fairy tale castle. However, to make a pleated drapery is one tedious job. No problems! Here we are to guide you to get yourself the most gorgeous pleated draperies at a reasonable cost.

The internet provides you with a facility of sitting at home and shopping online. You may buy luxurious pinch pleated draperies through the internet as well. In this way, you may compare the draperies provided by various brands and buy the one that suits your space the most. Most brands will offer you pleated draperies in 50" W x 84" L, 150" W x 84" L, 50" W x 90" L, and 75" W x 63" L sizes. You can also go for pleated drapery with floral motif all over. Some brands would give you one pair of tiebacks with every pair of pleated draperies. 4-point handkerchief valance are also available. These are trimmed with bullion fringe.

A drapery from a good brand will have heavy weight washable woven jacquard fabric. The better the fabric the easier it would be for you to maintain your drapery. The most desirable are the ones with 100% polyester. A 100% polyester material can be washed in cold water. Machine wash in gentle cycles is recommended. However, it is better to avoid bleaching the drape. You may iron it in a mild temperature if necessary. Line dry is also suggested for your pleated draperies.

Another option is the insulated thermal foam back, pinch-pleated drapes. These are energy saving drapes. The foam thermal backing of these drapes keeps cold and heat out of the room. If you get fascinated by a darker ambiance, then these pleated drapes with thermal foam backing are most suitable for you as they are excellent room darkener. These drapes are available in a wide range of contemporary shades. The fiber comprises cotton and polyester. The maintenance is also a cake walk. You may simply hand wash them and line dry. These drapes come in sizes like 48" W x 63" L and 48" W x 84" L.

The pleated draperies come in a price range of $6.99 to $12.99. You may also avail of attractive discounts of 53 percent to 78 percent from you online shopping.

Know More about Fabric Valances

A simple window can be immediately transformed into something more ornate and stylish by the addition of a valance. Windows of your home can definitely be made to look more outstanding with the use of beautiful tapestry. Fabric valances add that extra touch to the glamour quotient of your home. A valance is an ornamental piece of fabric attachment that is used to cover the top half of a window. Valances come in varying lengths and are used to camouflage curtain rods. They are excellent pieces of home décor and can be used individually or as a part of a window treatment.

Types of decorative valances

Pleated valances: Pleated fabric valances are attached to a board along with brackets at the top of a window. The shape of pleated valances is cut in a particular manner and a lining is given so that the pleats are maintained. The pleats may be stitched in various styles. You may use box pleats, pinched pleats or spaced pleats. Pleated valances look very neat especially if they are made with embossed or printed fabrics.

Swag valances: Swag valances are cascading valances made with light and free flowing fabrics. There are two kinds of swag valances. The first variety is raised in the middle and longer at the ends. The jabot variety of swag valances has a drape-like effect. Sheer fabrics made a good material for swag valances.

Balloon Valances: Balloon valances are made out of fabric that is closely gathered and stuffed to give it a ballooned look. The valances have layers of fabric with filling inside to create a dimensioned effect. Balloon valances have a very elegant look and exude richness and class.

Valances should complement the décor of your room. Correct placement of fabric valances is very important. You can give a shorter effect to a long window by arranging the valance at a lower height. Valances placed higher up give an effect of extended height to a shorter window. Fabric valences are available in different shapes, sizes, designs, colors and fabrics. If your drapery is simple and light it could be paired with a soft and free flowing fabric valance. A heavier, crisp valance could do well if want a formal look to your home décor. Valances look fine with shades, shutters and Venetian blinds as well. A variety of readymade valances are available in the market. You could also get them custom-made according to your personal preference.