Beautiful window decoration is usually the finishing touch to decorate the entire interior. It is important to choose the right textile, cornice, decoration. Curtains are hung both in private and in apartment buildings. The modern variety of textile materials allows you to choose a decor for almost any existing interior style.
When decorating window openings, it is advisable to be guided by the following principles:
if the wall covering is matte, curtains fit satin, silk, matte curtains are hung on the background of embossed, shiny wallpaper, photo wallpaper;
when colorful walls, bright, multi-color prints, curtains are preferred on the walls, plain, pastel, neutral tones;
draperies with vertical stripes, patterns, visually make the room taller, horizontal wider;
when the ceiling is very low, hanging lambrequins is not recommended;
a cornice mounted directly in the ceiling also visually increases the height of the latter;
in cramped rooms it is advisable to avoid bulky, multilayer curtains.
The choice of curtains, height, mounting method
Curtains for curtains are mounted to the wall above the window opening or directly to the ceiling. The latter option allows the curtain to completely cover the entire wall - from the ceiling to the floor, without gaps, without dividing the space horizontally. Ceiling curtains are made of:
metal (usually aluminum, less commonly stainless steel);
polyurethane (if the cornice needs flexible).
This kind of cornices can be easily completely hidden in the ceiling, making it almost invisible, which looks especially good. Wall cornices are made:
strings;
baguette;
specialized;
barbell;
under Japanese curtains;
for role curtains.
The acceptable width of the cornice is 30-50 cm larger than the size of the window, at least five to seven cm are left from the top of the opening to the curtains. The curtain should not “lie” on the windowsill, heating radiator, therefore the distance from the wall to the curtain itself should be at least 10 -12 cm. The optimal distance from the ceiling to the wall cornice is 3-9 cm.
Suspension of the cornice is carried out using brackets, anchors, you must first take all necessary measurements - the extreme fastenings are located 15-20 cm from the perimeter of the window so that the curtains, when fully open, do not obscure it.
Fabric Type Selection
As a material for window draperies, many different types of textiles are used, made of natural, artificial, synthetic or mixed fibers. When choosing the right textile, consider:
practicality - it is easy to clean a drapery, to clear of pollution at home;
the degree of combustibility is especially important for kitchens, public institutions;
durability - the ability to sufficiently obscure a room without fading, without losing a beautiful appearance;
compliance - important for curtains that are creased;
absorbency - balcony curtains should not absorb dust, kitchen curtains should not absorb water, odors;
compatibility with existing interior styling.
The following materials are best suited for sewing curtains:
jacquard - dense, embossed, very durable, looks beautiful on both sides;
velvet - fleecy, heavy, soft, suitable for "solemn" interiors;
atlas - “pours”, gently shines, relatively soft, is smooth or patterned;
brocade - a fabric with a metallic sheen, shimmers, does not require additional decoration;
blackout - three-layer, perfectly protects the room from street light, cold, noise;
satin - thin, has an attractive appearance, shines, resembles silk;
organza - the thinnest, but strong enough, opaque or brilliant;
shenill - similar to velvet, but slightly lighter, it is solid or with a pattern, such as jacquard;
tulle - thin, translucent, has the appearance of a patterned fabric, mesh;
taffeta - forms “brittle” folds, therefore it is used to perform unusual elements of complex texture;
Kisei - is used to create thread curtains, well letting in air, slightly dimming the light;
flock - on a textile basis with a nap-pattern sprayed onto it, sometimes covered with powder “under gilding”, “under silver”;
the veil is a soft, translucent, rather dark material, if several layers are applied.
Length, width of curtains
The dimensions of the curtains are made about 15-30 cm wider than the window opening in each direction, if you just need to drape a window of the same width as the opening to visually narrow it, expand the window by 35-50 cm more.
First of all, measurements are made using a long ruler, tape measure: from the cornice to the window sill, from the floor to the cornice, the length of the cornice itself. The length of the curtains is usually selected from three options:
short - barely reach the surface of the windowsill;
ordinary - one to three cm. do not reach the floor;
elongated - equal to the distance from the floor plane to the cornice plus 15-30 cm.
Fastening to the cornice is made on loops or eyelets - this is also important to consider when choosing the length. The width is calculated based on the density of the fabric: the length of the cornice is multiplied by the coefficient of splendor. For heavy textiles, it is equal to two, medium - 2.5, light - 3.
How to choose a textile color
The color of the textile material selected for window decoration is:
coinciding with the basic tone of the walls;
combined with other textiles in the room (upholstery, carpets, tablecloths, valances, etc.);
suitable for the color of the largest furniture elements;
differing from the color of the walls by two to four tones;
in stark contrast to the general background.
It should be remembered that bright and dark colors visually reduce the size of the room, light - on the contrary, increase.
What style says about window decoration
The stylistic design of window openings is selected for a specific interior:
classic - curtains reach the floor, are decorated with intricate floral patterns, fringe, tassels;
Provence - light natural fabrics with floral prints are preferred, the curtains are made mostly short;
minimalism - straight monophonic (most often white, yellow, black, red) curtains on grommets or a cornice hidden in a stretch ceiling;
Baroque - forged cornice is decorated with peaks, balls, spears, leaves at the ends, lush luxurious curtains with lambrequins, pickups;
loft - curtains are undesirable here, but if you can not do without them, transparent, translucent options are acceptable;
country - checkered curtains of fine wool or linen, up to the windowsill or floor;
hi-tech - straight silver, bluish, dark blue satin fabric curtains or the same color blinds.
Examples, tips for decorating windows in different rooms
Professional designers give the following recommendations for windows located in different rooms:
if the living room has more than one window and all of them are tall, narrow, it makes sense to use a common curtain for them, including covering the entire wall;
in a small bedroom, the color curtains are often made the same with the walls;
on a curtain with a bright textured pattern, it is undesirable to create many folds;
in a cramped room, lush curtains will take up a lot of space;
curtains of neutral tones (gray, white, beige, etc.) are suitable for almost any interior;
voluminous curtains with ruffles and lambrequins are unacceptable in the loft, minimalism, high-tech, Japanese interiors.
How to get a bay window
The peculiarity of the decoration of the bay windows is that there are several curtains for them, but they are placed on a common ledge - a special bent or consisting of several parts.
The bay window is draped with curtains such as:
Japanese - almost do not let in light, occupy a minimum of space;
Roman - in the omitted form they are almost straight, in the "assembled" - consist of beautiful horizontal folds,
Austrian - luxurious, have many heavy textured folds;
French - decorated with folds, scallops, other similar elements;
curtains with tulle - a "classic" version of window decor.
It is important to take into account the purpose of the room: in the kitchen, especially when the cooking zone is located in the bay window, they are easily washed and do not absorb water. In the nursery - they are made of fabric that is difficult to mash, tear.
If this architectural ledge is separated from the main room by textile drapery, it is desirable that it matches or is combined with the window in color, design.
Window decoration in the kitchen, in the dining room
The kitchen, especially the cooking area, is often exposed to dirt, grease, drops of food and drinks. Therefore, the curtains selected here should be easy to clean, not to lose their beautiful appearance, even with frequent washing. The curtains in this room are combined in color with the carpet, tablecloth, upholstery of the dining room furniture or a suite, kitchen apron, small textile elements located in the cooking zone. Lush, textured products are acceptable if they are located at a sufficient (more than two meters) distance from the stove, sink, and cutting table.
Bedroom window decor
The bedroom is a place for rest and sleep, therefore it is recommended to drape here in calm colors, sharp contrasts with walls, furniture are avoided. The exception is the newlyweds' bedrooms, where red-white, red-pink curtains, symbolizing passion, are permissible. People with problems falling asleep, it is advisable to pick up curtains in black and blue, brown-green colors. Dense materials, such as blackout, are preferable for a bedroom: they do not let in light, which is especially important in summer, when darkness comes late, dawn - early. Looks good options that cover the entire wall.
Window decoration in the living room
The living room often has several windows - it is advisable to decorate them all with the same curtains. Since the hall is usually the most spacious room in the house, it is made out:
curtains with many folds - ideally they cover the entire wall, in the corner room - two adjacent ones;
the curtains are slightly wider than the window itself;
fabrics that do not fade or fade slowly - taffeta, polyester, linen, but silk is undesirable;
multilayer options from two to three layers of different fabrics;
for very large, including combined spaces, dark curtains are suitable;
a comparatively cramped, dark space is draped with intricately arranged tulle of neutral or warm, bright colors.
Window decor in the nursery
The nursery is decorated with curtains sewn from non-brand, preferably natural fabric. The safety issue is no less important - the curtain rod, like the curtains on it, must be fixed so that the child with all the desire to tear them away. Too long, "lying on the floor" options are unacceptable - it is easy to catch on them, slip, fall. Excessively lush curtains are impractical, and they take up a lot of free space, which is better to use for games. The dyes used to color the curtain fabric should be environmentally friendly, not fade, not “smear” when touched with wet hands. Ideal for curtains made of bamboo, cotton, linen. The room of a calm child is decorated with bright drapery, the active one - with curtains of calm colors. Unobtrusive prints with cute little animals, heroes of fairy tales, cartoons are also suitable.
The design of panoramic windows
Apertures of panoramic windows are decorated with rolled, Roman, glass curtains, tulle curtains. If the openings face south, southeast, then blackout can not be done without curtains, it is permissible to decorate the north and northwest with translucent curtains with a large print, embroidery.
Panoramic windows are sometimes an element of the "French balcony" - in fact, these are two or three or more, completely glass doors, partially protected by an elegant wrought-iron grille on the outside. If possible, the curtains are placed here so that the glazing can be opened or closed completely. It is advisable to hang a separate drapery for each section.
For large, high panoramic elements, it is recommended to purchase a special system that allows you to "control" the closing-opening using the remote control, smartphone.
Window decor with arch
Arched windows themselves look luxurious, expensive. Drapery on them select the appropriate. The cornice is mounted here:
above the bend of the arch;
below the bend of the arch;
around the perimeter of the arch.
Another convenient option is lifting curtains. These include rolled, Roman, English, Austrian. If the windows are too tall, there are several in the same room, the easiest way to control their closing and opening will be with the help of a special remote control.
Sometimes the upper part of the arched window is decorated with stained glass, its imitation.
Window decoration on the stairs
On the stairs, nothing should interfere with free movement - volumetric, multi-layer options are unacceptable, especially if the width of the stairwell is less than 1.5 meters, as well as when people with poor traffic coordination, small children live in the house. For the same reason, the edges of the curtains should not “lie” on the floor. Small windows, the task of which is to illuminate the stairs during the day, are draped with tulle and other transparent fabrics. The big ones are roller blinds, horizontal or vertical blinds, classic curtains.
Sometimes stair windows are covered with self-adhesive films, decorated with tinted or stained glass. An interesting, very stylish option - electrochromatic glass materials.Such an object is controlled from the remote control, allowing you to instantly make the transparent window completely opaque.
Decoration of roof windows
Attic is now a very fashionable element, both private and urban multi-apartment buildings. For dormer-windows, located on an inclined surface, two cornices are made - upper and lower. The shape of the windows here is quadrangular, curly - the latter are more difficult to decorate, especially when it is not planned to hide their original shape.
The attic room in private housing construction is usually made completely wooden, and window frames too. Such rooms are preferably decorated with curtains made from natural, not too bright fabrics, stretched between the upper and lower cornices. If the space is large enough, the curtains are allowed to sag slightly. Cramped rooms are recommended roll pastel colors, plastic blinds.
Window decoration for different holidays
Festive window decor is placed not only on draperies - they are decorated with frames, glass, slopes. This place will be beautifully decorated with the use of very different objects: small soft toys, stickers, watercolors, vytinanka, etc. Especially often, such decor is done in kindergartens, schools, and rooms where relevant celebrations are held.
When the distance between the window panes is large, which is often found in old public buildings, the decor in the form of balloons with inscriptions and other voluminous details is placed there.
Spring Holidays Ideas
Spring holidays - Valentine's Day, February 23rd, March 8th, May 1 and 9. Suitable options:
on February 14th the windows are decorated with hearts, inscriptions “LOVE”, angels;
on Defender of the Fatherland Day - with inscriptions “February 23”, figures of tanks, stars;
on International Women's Day - they stick to the window, depict the inscription “March 8”, a lot of flower bouquets;
for the “May Day” holiday, such as “Labor Day”, “Peace, Labor, May”, figures of pigeons as a symbol of peace;
on Victory Day - the inscriptions "May 9", pictures with fireworks, flags, flowers, stars.
If space allows, all the described elements are made voluminous, including fixed not only on the window itself, but also on the curtains. Spring flowers (tulips, daffodils) are placed in vases on the windowsill.
Decorate the window for Easter
Easter symbols are colorful eggs, images of chickens and chickens, pussy-willow twigs. Such pictures are applied directly to the glass using a stencil, embroidered on the curtain itself. Decor Options:
garlands of colored eggshells, which must first be freed from the contents, carefully punctured on both sides;
eggs of different sizes are molded from polymer clay, a wreath is hung from them, suspended from a window handle;
if there is enough space on the windowsill, wicker baskets are placed on it. In which the moss is laid, and on it is a toy chicken, as if it were hatching eggs;
a wreath of real or artificial tulips is also quite appropriate;
cardboard, textile figures of bunnies, especially placed among indoor plants, remind of the awakening of nature;
in pots from eggshells plant spring greens, cat grass.
New Year's decoration
By Christmas, New Year, the windows are decorated with paper snowflakes, snowmen, figures of Santa Claus, Christmas trees, whole plot pictures on a winter theme. Original decor for the New Year celebration:
intricate vytinka, "instructions" for the manufacture of which are easy to find on the Internet;
LED strip laid in the form of snowflakes, Christmas trees, stars, etc .;
spruce branch with balls fixed on a cornice.
Window decoration with flowers
Flowers for window decor are suitable living, dry or artificial - made of paper, textile, plastic.Using these elements, the windows are designed to:
birthdays, anniversaries - those flowers that the birthday boy loves are selected;
solemn dates in various institutions - it is advisable to use lush, expensive (at least in appearance) bouquets;
for spring holidays - “seasonal” flowers;
to winter - plants in cold tones.
Potted flowers are most often placed on window sills. But some species (cacti, succulents) feel good only on the southern windows, while others, having thin, delicate leaves that quickly lose moisture, are placed on the northwestern, northeastern windows.
In summer, window openings are decorated with plants from the outside - for this, plastic, wooden, ceramic boxes of small width are purchased, as well as fastenings to them. In order for the “living decor” to maintain a beautiful appearance from spring to late autumn, several species of plants blooming at different times are selected.
Conclusion
The decoration of large and small windows is carried out using thick or thin curtains, blinds, multi-colored tulle, thread curtains, all kinds of stickers, and other decorations. The most interesting design options for windows of an apartment are invented “out of my head”, spied on the Internet, specialized glossy magazines or turned to professional designers.
Beautiful window decoration is usually the finishing touch to decorate the entire interior. It is important to choose the right textile, cornice, decoration. Curtains are hung both in private and in apartment buildings. The modern variety of textile materials allows you to choose a decor for almost any existing interior style.
Content
Rules for window decoration curtains
When decorating window openings, it is advisable to be guided by the following principles:
The choice of curtains, height, mounting method
Curtains for curtains are mounted to the wall above the window opening or directly to the ceiling. The latter option allows the curtain to completely cover the entire wall - from the ceiling to the floor, without gaps, without dividing the space horizontally. Ceiling curtains are made of:
This kind of cornices can be easily completely hidden in the ceiling, making it almost invisible, which looks especially good. Wall cornices are made:
The acceptable width of the cornice is 30-50 cm larger than the size of the window, at least five to seven cm are left from the top of the opening to the curtains. The curtain should not “lie” on the windowsill, heating radiator, therefore the distance from the wall to the curtain itself should be at least 10 -12 cm. The optimal distance from the ceiling to the wall cornice is 3-9 cm.
Suspension of the cornice is carried out using brackets, anchors, you must first take all necessary measurements - the extreme fastenings are located 15-20 cm from the perimeter of the window so that the curtains, when fully open, do not obscure it.
Fabric Type Selection
As a material for window draperies, many different types of textiles are used, made of natural, artificial, synthetic or mixed fibers. When choosing the right textile, consider:
The following materials are best suited for sewing curtains:
Length, width of curtains
The dimensions of the curtains are made about 15-30 cm wider than the window opening in each direction, if you just need to drape a window of the same width as the opening to visually narrow it, expand the window by 35-50 cm more.
First of all, measurements are made using a long ruler, tape measure: from the cornice to the window sill, from the floor to the cornice, the length of the cornice itself. The length of the curtains is usually selected from three options:
Fastening to the cornice is made on loops or eyelets - this is also important to consider when choosing the length. The width is calculated based on the density of the fabric: the length of the cornice is multiplied by the coefficient of splendor. For heavy textiles, it is equal to two, medium - 2.5, light - 3.
How to choose a textile color
The color of the textile material selected for window decoration is:
It should be remembered that bright and dark colors visually reduce the size of the room, light - on the contrary, increase.
What style says about window decoration
The stylistic design of window openings is selected for a specific interior:
Examples, tips for decorating windows in different rooms
Professional designers give the following recommendations for windows located in different rooms:
How to get a bay window
The peculiarity of the decoration of the bay windows is that there are several curtains for them, but they are placed on a common ledge - a special bent or consisting of several parts.
The bay window is draped with curtains such as:
It is important to take into account the purpose of the room: in the kitchen, especially when the cooking zone is located in the bay window, they are easily washed and do not absorb water. In the nursery - they are made of fabric that is difficult to mash, tear.
Window decoration in the kitchen, in the dining room
The kitchen, especially the cooking area, is often exposed to dirt, grease, drops of food and drinks. Therefore, the curtains selected here should be easy to clean, not to lose their beautiful appearance, even with frequent washing. The curtains in this room are combined in color with the carpet, tablecloth, upholstery of the dining room furniture or a suite, kitchen apron, small textile elements located in the cooking zone. Lush, textured products are acceptable if they are located at a sufficient (more than two meters) distance from the stove, sink, and cutting table.
Bedroom window decor
The bedroom is a place for rest and sleep, therefore it is recommended to drape here in calm colors, sharp contrasts with walls, furniture are avoided. The exception is the newlyweds' bedrooms, where red-white, red-pink curtains, symbolizing passion, are permissible. People with problems falling asleep, it is advisable to pick up curtains in black and blue, brown-green colors. Dense materials, such as blackout, are preferable for a bedroom: they do not let in light, which is especially important in summer, when darkness comes late, dawn - early. Looks good options that cover the entire wall.
Window decoration in the living room
The living room often has several windows - it is advisable to decorate them all with the same curtains. Since the hall is usually the most spacious room in the house, it is made out:
Window decor in the nursery
The nursery is decorated with curtains sewn from non-brand, preferably natural fabric. The safety issue is no less important - the curtain rod, like the curtains on it, must be fixed so that the child with all the desire to tear them away. Too long, "lying on the floor" options are unacceptable - it is easy to catch on them, slip, fall. Excessively lush curtains are impractical, and they take up a lot of free space, which is better to use for games. The dyes used to color the curtain fabric should be environmentally friendly, not fade, not “smear” when touched with wet hands. Ideal for curtains made of bamboo, cotton, linen. The room of a calm child is decorated with bright drapery, the active one - with curtains of calm colors. Unobtrusive prints with cute little animals, heroes of fairy tales, cartoons are also suitable.
The design of panoramic windows
Apertures of panoramic windows are decorated with rolled, Roman, glass curtains, tulle curtains. If the openings face south, southeast, then blackout can not be done without curtains, it is permissible to decorate the north and northwest with translucent curtains with a large print, embroidery.
Panoramic windows are sometimes an element of the "French balcony" - in fact, these are two or three or more, completely glass doors, partially protected by an elegant wrought-iron grille on the outside. If possible, the curtains are placed here so that the glazing can be opened or closed completely. It is advisable to hang a separate drapery for each section.
Window decor with arch
Arched windows themselves look luxurious, expensive. Drapery on them select the appropriate. The cornice is mounted here:
Another convenient option is lifting curtains. These include rolled, Roman, English, Austrian. If the windows are too tall, there are several in the same room, the easiest way to control their closing and opening will be with the help of a special remote control.
Window decoration on the stairs
On the stairs, nothing should interfere with free movement - volumetric, multi-layer options are unacceptable, especially if the width of the stairwell is less than 1.5 meters, as well as when people with poor traffic coordination, small children live in the house. For the same reason, the edges of the curtains should not “lie” on the floor. Small windows, the task of which is to illuminate the stairs during the day, are draped with tulle and other transparent fabrics. The big ones are roller blinds, horizontal or vertical blinds, classic curtains.
Sometimes stair windows are covered with self-adhesive films, decorated with tinted or stained glass. An interesting, very stylish option - electrochromatic glass materials.Such an object is controlled from the remote control, allowing you to instantly make the transparent window completely opaque.
Decoration of roof windows
Attic is now a very fashionable element, both private and urban multi-apartment buildings. For dormer-windows, located on an inclined surface, two cornices are made - upper and lower. The shape of the windows here is quadrangular, curly - the latter are more difficult to decorate, especially when it is not planned to hide their original shape.
The attic room in private housing construction is usually made completely wooden, and window frames too. Such rooms are preferably decorated with curtains made from natural, not too bright fabrics, stretched between the upper and lower cornices. If the space is large enough, the curtains are allowed to sag slightly. Cramped rooms are recommended roll pastel colors, plastic blinds.
Window decoration for different holidays
Festive window decor is placed not only on draperies - they are decorated with frames, glass, slopes. This place will be beautifully decorated with the use of very different objects: small soft toys, stickers, watercolors, vytinanka, etc. Especially often, such decor is done in kindergartens, schools, and rooms where relevant celebrations are held.
Spring Holidays Ideas
Spring holidays - Valentine's Day, February 23rd, March 8th, May 1 and 9. Suitable options:
Decorate the window for Easter
Easter symbols are colorful eggs, images of chickens and chickens, pussy-willow twigs. Such pictures are applied directly to the glass using a stencil, embroidered on the curtain itself. Decor Options:
New Year's decoration
By Christmas, New Year, the windows are decorated with paper snowflakes, snowmen, figures of Santa Claus, Christmas trees, whole plot pictures on a winter theme. Original decor for the New Year celebration:
Window decoration with flowers
Flowers for window decor are suitable living, dry or artificial - made of paper, textile, plastic.Using these elements, the windows are designed to:
Potted flowers are most often placed on window sills. But some species (cacti, succulents) feel good only on the southern windows, while others, having thin, delicate leaves that quickly lose moisture, are placed on the northwestern, northeastern windows.
In summer, window openings are decorated with plants from the outside - for this, plastic, wooden, ceramic boxes of small width are purchased, as well as fastenings to them. In order for the “living decor” to maintain a beautiful appearance from spring to late autumn, several species of plants blooming at different times are selected.
Conclusion
The decoration of large and small windows is carried out using thick or thin curtains, blinds, multi-colored tulle, thread curtains, all kinds of stickers, and other decorations. The most interesting design options for windows of an apartment are invented “out of my head”, spied on the Internet, specialized glossy magazines or turned to professional designers.