Gingham Curtains – Give Your Home a Country Feel
For years, gingham curtains have been the go-to choice for home decorators whenever they want to give a room a light, airy, country look. Gingham itself has been around for hundreds of years and there are so many patterns by now that you'll have an almost dazzling array of choices. Not only that, because it is so popular, gingham is widely available in both brick-and-mortar stores and online. Let me go over what gingham is as well as some popular ways to use it.
Gingham is simply a type of striped fabric that was imported from Indonesia by the Dutch. I say striped, but the truth is there are many variations. You might find fabric with checks, stripes, or even plaid patterns - and it's all gingham. Just think Dorothy's dress from the Wizard of Oz - that should give you a pretty clear picture of what I mean. This type of fabric is usually used to cover soft furnishings for a sort of farm or country look. It's springlike, casual appeal means that it's a great choice for kitchens or any other room that you want to look homey and comfortable.
In kitchens, two panel curtains are often used together with a valance - this lets light in and gives you privacy to boot. If you're doing a full kitchen renovation, you could match the fabric exactly, or you could choose a pattern with the same overall color scheme. Either way, this is a great look. Gingham also works well in bathrooms, for much the same reasons. Here, you might want to think about pulling one of the colors from your curtains and getting a whole set of towels, etc. to go with them.
There are many different types of curtains available in gingham. Eyelet curtains are easy to install and easy to adjust - you'll never have to worry about them bunching up in the middle again! Tab top curtains are also a popular choice - I see a lot of these aimed at college students. Again, they're easy to use so that's a plus in their favor. Also be sure to think about whether you would like a valance or not. Either way looks great! Though gingham is most commonly used in the kitchen, it also adds some homey comfort to your living room so don't rule that out if you're shying away from long curtains.
Checked, striped, or plaid - gingham has something for everyone. From your kitchen to your bathroom to your living room it's sure to give your home a bit of cozy, country flair!
Eyelet Curtains Defined
In the past, the only types of curtains available were difficult to adjust - they were heavy and often bunched up or got stuck when you tried to open them. Luckily for us, some kind soul thought of a great solution - putting holes in the fabric with grommets attached so that the curtain rod could slid through freely. These became what we now call eyelet curtains - a two-paneled curtain style with eyelets all along the top.
Eyelet curtains are very popular due to their ease of use. In fact, these days you may see eyelet curtains in the shower as well as in your living room. The eyelets let them hang neatly from the curtain rod, so they never bunch up. They also give a room a light, clean, airy feeling.
These curtains are usually made of lightweight fabrics so as to avoid stressing the fabric and causing tears around the eyelets. The good news is that they let in a lot of sunlight! You can also choose heavier fabrics if you wish to hang eyelet curtains in a more formal setting, but you will need to check them every now and then to make sure there is no damage to the fabric.
One disadvantage is that the eyelets are clearly visible and may or may not (depending on personal preference) detract from your decor. However, there's a solution for this too! These days you can often find (or make) valances called "eyelet headers" which are specifically designed to hide the eyelets from public view. Eyelet headers are available in many different styles and colors, so no matter what, you are sure to find something that works for you.
The most common locations for eyelet curtains are bathrooms, little girl's rooms, and nurseries. In a bathroom, they let in some much needed light, provide a more airy, open feel, and still give the privacy that you need. In a girl's room, eyelet curtains lend a delicate, feminine touch. They are often used in nurseries for similar reasons.
This is not to say that they can't be used to decorate a dining room or living room - it all depends on what look you want for your house or apartment. Just keep in mind that formal fabrics may mean more maintenance and lighter fabrics may look more feminine.
I, for one, am thankful that eyelet curtains are around to make life just a tiny bit easier. They are one of my favorite curtain styles because they let in so much light, are lightweight, and versatile. Try them out and see if they work for you!
Curtain Styles: A Guide to Types of Curtains
I don't know about you, but whenever I move someplace I unpack my curtains first. Realistically speaking, they may not be the most important but they are one of the many little touches that make a space into a home. The type of curtain you choose is one way to express your personality and design vision. However, there are so many curtain styles out there that it can be a little daunting. Leave it to me - I'll break them down for you!
There are many different ways to categorize curtains. I generally think of them as first of all, overarching types of window treatments (curtains, blinds, etc.) then curtains that are categorized by the type of material used (lace, net, gingham), then curtains named after some detail in their construction such as eyelet curtains or pinch pleat curtains. I'll move through each group fairly quickly so you can get an idea of what they're all about.
Types of Window Treatments
The first decision you have to make here is whether or not you want curtains, blinds, or something else. Curtains, as we know them today, are for the most part a decorative item. Originally they were supposed to block out light and keep heat in (or cold out, if you'd rather think of it that way). During the middle ages they were a luxury but as the world gradually modernized curtains gained in popularity. Textile mills grew more common, fabric prices dropped, and so curtains became inexpensive and available to everyone. What we think of as curtains would have at one point been referred to as 'sash curtains' and were primarily used to filter out light. Draperies (or drapes - same thing) are another type of curtain, but they are purely decorative.
Blinds are a common window treatment, especially in apartments. These generally consist of wooden slats which may lie either vertically or horizontally and are controlled via a string. Blinds do a great job of blocking out light but also provide some much needed privacy. Unlike curtains, blinds can also be adjusted to let light in while keeping prying eyes out. Types of blinds include conservatory blinds, office blinds, and roman blinds, among others.
Shades are yet another option. Like blinds, shades are controlled by a string and can be adjusted to let in more or less light. However, they are different in that they are solid (so they only roll up instead of adjusting the angle of the slats like blinds would) and do not have any slats at all. They also come in many different materials, from wood, to bamboo, to even various types of fabric.
Curtains by Material
Many curtains are named for the material used in their creation. This category includes curtains made of bamboo, lace, gingham, net, and more.
Gingham curtains are very popular in kitchens. Gingham is a type of fabric that has stripes, checks, or plaid. The most common type has small checks with darker stripes running vertically or horizontally as well as light stripes of the same color running in the opposite direction. (Think Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.) These curtains create a very light, casual feel and work very well in a country-themed room.
Bamboo curtains are very different in that, like beaded curtains, they offer privacy while also being permeable. The reason for that is the hundreds of bamboo strips that hang vertically (again, like beads). Because you can walk through them easily, bamboo curtains are often used in doorways. Some types have designs on them and are perfect for mounting on the wall.
Voile curtains are lightweight curtains that are often made of cotton. Their airy feel makes them perfect for tropical climates where you wouldn't want to keep heat in. They let in tons of light while still providing privacy and style. As a bonus, they are easy to wash!
Curtains by Construction
I apologize if this is confusing - this is simply how I group curtains in my head. This group of curtains includes those which are named for some element in their design that makes them unique, whether that be eyelets or pleats. Tab tops are also included in this category.
The first type of curtain that comes to mind here are eyelet curtains. An eyelet is simply a hole with a metal grommet attached. Some clever soul came up with the idea to add eyelets to the top of these to prevent their curtains from bunching up. These are easy to adjust and easy to take down and wash if you need to. The fabric used is often light to prevent damage to the area around the eyelets; however, you may choose to use heavier fabrics in a more formal setting.
Pinch pleat curtains are also fairly common. The pleat at the top of these curtains is pinched, much as the name suggests. One thing to know about pleats is that they can be either pressed or unpressed. The pressed version is like a pleated skirt, with pleats that stay put no matter what you do and require little to no ironing. Unpressed is much softer, and that is what is used here. The result is a curtain that falls from the pleats at the top in a soft fashion that is very eye-pleasing.
Tab tops provide yet another solution to curtains that bunch up. Instead of eyelets at the top, these curtains have sewn in tabs that slide easily onto a curtain rod. They are easy to find lined or unlined and very versatile. On top of that, they are easy to make on your own! Some tab top curtains have buttons at the top to add some flair; you may also be able to find some curtains that are box pleated or gathered in addition to having tabs.
No matter which curtain you end up choosing, there are several factors to consider. First of all, think about the function your curtains will serve. Do you need them to completely block out light? Try black out curtains. Maybe you just want to filter light a little bit? In that case, try curtains or blinds. If you need more privacy then choose blinds, shades, or heavy weight curtains. Finally, think about style - what kind fits best with your decor? That's a question only you can answer!
I hope that I've answered some of your questions about curtain styles and happy decorating!