Curtains have been used in window decoration since medieval times. At first, they were sewn from coarse fabric and served to preserve heat, isolate from prying eyes and the hot sun, and prevent insects from entering the room. Later, more advanced, beautiful, dense and light fabrics appeared, which enabled owners to demonstrate their wealth and use them as a decorative element of the interior. Over the years, fabric production technologies have improved, new original methods of attaching curtains have been invented, but drawstring curtains have remained the simplest, easily accessible option.
Decor
Since drawstring curtains are designed to create coziness in a room, they are most often used when decorating bedrooms or living rooms. The following styles are popular.
Baroque
In this style, drawstring curtains are especially popular. As a rule, this is a canvas made of such expensive materials as satin, damask, velvet, silk. According to the design, the curtains should be solemn and majestic in order to fully complete the composition of the room and create a pleasant, elegant atmosphere filled with comfort. It is especially important that the curtains have a scallop - it creates the necessary additional effect and visually makes the curtains more complex, interesting and large-scale. The color palette of such curtains can be such deep shades as blue, green, brown, red, or brighter ones - gold, silver.
Provence
The style combines comfort and convenience. It is preferable to decorate the interior with drawstring curtains made of airy and light fabrics. Designers advise combining two primary colors in curtains that predominate in the interior of the house. So, for a neutral white canvas, you can choose a ribbon as a decoration, which will be the same color as the walls or furniture in the room. The presence of prints is also acceptable, however, only if they are not too pretentious and voluminous. It is worth giving preference to small and smooth patterns.
In terms of color, the most attention should be paid to pastel shades of blue, beige, white, green and yellow.
Minimalism and hi-tech
These styles do not accept excessive pretentiousness. When choosing curtains, you should pay attention to light, plain and lightweight fabrics. Floor-length options without a scallop are especially popular. They will optimally complement the interior without overloading it.
Attaching fabric curtains
You don't need a specialist to attach curtains. You can easily do it yourself
At first glance, there is nothing wrong with fastening fabric curtains. All textile curtains are mounted on a cornice.
But! There are a huge number of options for how you can attach curtains to the curtain rod:
- eyelets;
- hooks;
- metal rings;
- loops;
- clamps;
- drawstrings;
- curtain tape.
Perhaps you didn’t even suspect that using different mounting options you can create an interesting window design and add zest to the interior of any room.
Installation of cornice
There are several types of cornices:
- stained glass telescopic (round in shape, available in metal and plastic. Attached to the window frame. Curtains are placed on the cornice through special holes in them);
- round (such a cornice is not covered with a curtain and additionally performs a decorative function. There are metal, plastic, wooden. Mounted to the wall);
- busbar (is a structure with grooves into which hooks for curtains are installed. Plastic. Can consist of two or three rows. Attached to the wall or ceiling. You can also purchase such a cornice with an additional baguette or plastic strip, laminated to look like rare types of wood).
Before attaching the cornice to the ceiling, it is necessary to calculate the sufficient distance to the top of the window, which should be at least five centimeters so that it does not interfere with the opening of the window. The distance from the cornice to the wall should be at least 10 centimeters.
The cornice can also be attached between two walls.
First you need to install the brackets (on the wall or ceiling, depending on the type of cornice). Then mount the cornice on them. Before installation, pay attention to whether you have maintained the required distance so that the curtains and cornice do not interfere in the future.
Additionally, there are a variety of curtain rod finials available to give your curtain rods a beautiful look.
Advantages and disadvantages of drawstring curtains
These models are suitable for any interior; they can decorate almost any room. These curtains are very practical, comfortable, and look great.
To sew such a curtain of any model, you do not need to go to a studio; you just need to be able to hold a needle and thread in your hands or have a sewing machine.
Almost any material can be used to make such curtains, from light tulle and mesh to heavy curtain fabrics.
The only drawback of such curtains is that they are quite difficult to move along the curtain rod . But for curtains with a poorly moving top, you can use side ribbons to catch the fabric during the daytime.
Decorating rooms in ethnic styles with such curtains very favorably emphasizes the decor, hides and decorates the cornice, and improves the design of the room.
String cornices
String cornices have become very popular today. The basis for the cornice is a thin steel string.
To fasten the strings, special brackets in the form of brackets are used. Curtains are attached to the string using hooks or clips.
The string may seem very simple and inconspicuous at first glance, but in fact it will help create a very beautiful drapery.
The cornice is secured with brackets. The string is pulled through the holes in the mount in both directions. Adjust the bolt to the desired length, and cut off the remaining length.
Eyelets
This is a very popular type of curtain fastening today. They are metal, plastic or wooden rings through which the cornice is threaded.
They look very neat and elegant. Although they are not cheap. Eyelets are best suited for heavy curtains made of thick fabrics and drapes. But they don’t go very well with light, airy fabrics: tulle, organza, silk.
They are easy to use and will help create beautiful drapery and smooth, voluminous folds.
Used only for tubular cornices.
The photo shows how to attach curtains using eyelets
Hooks
This is perhaps the cheapest way to attach curtains. But they need to be used with clamps so that the hooks do not jump off the base of the cornice.
Hooks by themselves do not look very aesthetically pleasing, so curtain tape is often used together with them, which will add elegance to the curtains and help create beautiful folds.
Hooks are not suitable for heavy fabrics and curtains.
Rings
This is also a fairly popular type of fastening. The difference between rings and eyelets is that rings are installed on the outer part of the curtain towards its top edge, and eyelets are installed on the inside.
The advantages of rings are that they are strong, durable, help create beautiful voluminous drapery, and are much cheaper.
The fastenings can also be decorated with additional decorative elements, such as ties, as in the photo
Loops
Hinges are a very convenient and practical type of curtain fastening. They can be of different types:
- invoices;
- in the form of bows;
- tie loops;
- Velcro loops;
- button loops.
Using loops, curtains can be attached to any shaped cornice.
Loops can also be made by yourself. They are made from any available material - threads, ropes, pieces of fabric.
Tie loops will give the windows a very original and unique design. It doesn't take much effort to make them yourself. The material for the loops is cut to the same length and threaded through the holes in the curtain, tied on the curtain rod in the form of knots and bows. The ends of the ties can be decorated with various tucks, beads, rhinestones, and stones.
Tie loops are great for attaching lightweight and medium-weight fabrics.
Using tie loops you can create a very beautiful design.
Clamps
This type of fastening is very well suited for curtains - curtains made of medium-density fabric. They will not hold heavy curtains, and they will look bulky on thin tulle.
Clips can have a wide variety of designs - in the shape of flowers, animals, fruits. They will help you create an interesting and original design.
Kuliski
Drawstrings are a “sleeve” at the top of the curtains. They are suitable for any type of fabric.
You can make a drawstring with your own hands. The top of the curtain is rolled up to the required length, forming a kind of sleeve through which the cornice strip is threaded.
This type of fastening is suitable for any type of fabric.
True, the drawstrings may not be very convenient to use. It happens that with their help it is difficult to open and move curtains.
Drawstrings are the most economical and simplest way to attach curtains to a curtain rod.
Curtain tape
Using tape, curtains are attached very easily to both wall and ceiling curtain rods.
You buy curtain tape, sew it to the curtains and attach them to the curtain rod.
Ribbons can be either transparent or thick, and have either one or two rows of loops. A cord is sewn along its entire length, with the help of which the fabric is pulled together and a beautiful drapery is formed, like strings. The number and volume of folds are easily adjusted using a cord.
Curtain tape is an excellent assistant in creating voluminous drapery.
You can also make curtain tape yourself.
Textile
How to sew curtains with a drawstring and not make a mistake in choosing the material? After all, in addition to decorative properties, there is also composition, density, elasticity, direction of the lobe, etc. What should you pay attention to?
When purchasing fabric, look through it and hold it up to the light to determine transparency. Crunch it into your fist and let it go - it will become clear how much it crumples. Study the composition: not all fabrics (mainly natural and textured ones) can be washed, and dry cleaning (especially frequent) is not a cheap pleasure.
Long curtains with drawstring in the interior
And further. The more formal the room (living room, office, library), the more solid the material required (velvet, jacquard, heavy silk, linen, wool). If you create a cozy, relaxed atmosphere, choose cotton, satin, chintz, viscose, tulle, organza. If you are decorating a room with problematic temperature conditions and humidity changes, use synthetic materials that do not require special care.
We attach blinds to plastic windows
There are several ways to attach blinds:
- outside the window;
- inside the opening;
- on the doors.
Depending on the method, the required length of the blinds is selected.
In the first option, you need to add 10 cm in width and height to the size of the opening. Be sure to check if you can open the window with the blinds raised.
The photo shows how to attach the blinds to the ceiling.
In the second option, minus 4 cm from the width of the opening, and 2 cm from the height.
In the third option - the width of the glass plus three centimeters. In this case, the blinds should not interfere with turning the window handle.
Blinds are attached using dowels and screws. Can be mounted to the ceiling.
First, drill into the wall and insert a dowel into it. Then screw the mount with screws. Using a level on the opposite side, mount the mount in the same way.
To install blinds more than half a meter wide to the ceiling, you must use three mounting brackets.
How to sew curtains with drawstring yourself
Making such curtains is very easy. You can practice on a short version that is good for the kitchen.
To do this, you need to measure the width of the window, add 15-20 cm to it, and make the length half the opening and add 2-3 cm for bending at the top and 3-4 cm for processing the bottom.
The upper part must be folded and stitched on a sewing machine or carefully stitched by hand. Then the edges and bottom of the canvas are processed. You can trim it with lace, ruffles, frills. Now it is enough to stretch a braid or fishing line through the resulting tunnel and secure the curtain on the window.
Having learned from kitchen curtains, you can decorate your entire home this way. For an original fashion design, you will have to do a little calculations. First, the width of the cornice is measured, then it is multiplied by 1.5-3 times, the resulting result is the width of the future curtain.
If crumbling materials are selected, be sure to add 2-3 cm on each side so that you can carefully bend them.
Every housewife wants to sew curtains with drawstrings that can be pulled back well. To do this, you need to multiply the diameter of the steel or wooden rod being threaded by 2, the resulting result will be the width of the tunnel.
You can also leave a few centimeters for the scallop. Now the stitching is done, the cornice is threaded through and installed in place. You can use contrasting colors when decorating with such curtains or drapes.
, which will give the interior some originality and sophistication.
A window will look exclusive if it combines different materials, for example, tulle.
Roller blinds
A roller blind is a sheet of fabric wound on a shaft.
Methods for attaching curtains:
- open type (outside the opening);
- closed type (inside the opening).
It is better to install roller blinds with a closed type of fastening on wide window and door openings. If the opening is not large or there are no window sills, curtains are installed above the opening.
Fastening roller blinds depends on their system:
- using metal or plastic brackets in the opening;
- free hanging;
- on spring brackets without fastening to frames;
- on double-sided tape;
- self-tapping screws on the frame.
Roller blinds are very easy to install. Anyone can do this!
Before attaching it with tape, it is heated with a hairdryer, then the protective film is removed and glued to the surface. Further installation is carried out according to the usual scheme.
Classic option for fastening roller blinds:
- installation of brackets using dowels;
- installation of curtains in brackets on the control side;
- installation of chains with which curtains are controlled;
- mounting the bracket cover.
Curtains are mounted on opening sashes using hanging brackets that are installed on the top of the sashes.
Colors
The advice is standard: in a calm interior, curtains can be a bold dominant feature (in color and pattern). If there are already bright spots in the room (furniture upholstery, carpet, walls, bed linen, pillows, bedspreads, etc.), drawstring curtains should in no case “shout out” them. Let them support (duplicate) existing textiles or be neutral.
Plain curtains with drawstring
Please note: the color of the fabric on the window will not be as rich as on the counter. The looser the fabric and the less draped it is, the more washed out the tone of the hanging item will be.
Bamboo curtains
Bamboo blinds, like roller blinds, are attached using brackets in the same way.
First, using a pencil and a level, mark the fastening points on both sides. We make holes, then using dowels we mount the brackets into which the curtain is installed.
When installing bamboo curtains, it is necessary to take into account that they should not open completely; it is necessary that at least one spread remains on the shaft. The brackets are installed exclusively in a horizontal position.
A couple more ideas
Drawstring curtains consisting of several tiers (ruffles) will look surprisingly gentle, romantic and interesting. The upper “floor” of such a design will be smooth, and each subsequent one will be a little more gathered.
It will be aerobatics if you can choose harmonizing colors and make all the stripes multi-colored. These can be either close tones or completely contrasting ones. And the fabric ranges from the most transparent and light to dense (but not too heavy).
It all depends on the style and function of the room. Making such a curtain with a drawstring with your own hands requires a simple preliminary calculation. Divide the total length of the future product by the number of planned tiers and add 2 cm for stitching seams. This is the height of each stripe. The exception is the upper tier. Here, to create a drawstring, add 2 cm to the seams and the girth of the cornice + 1-2 cm. Remember: the upper part is without gathering! Its width should just fill the cornice. To determine the width of each subsequent stripe, multiply the width of the previous one by 1.5. Sew the tiers according to the frill principle, trim the bottom and side edges. That's all.
Then carefully stretch the folds, leaving clear fold lines. The length of this tape will give a clear answer to how much material is needed, and the creases in the paper can be used to transfer marks directly onto the fabric.
Moving on to sewing, first process the top and bottom edges of the fabric. Place and press the folds along the top edge. Secure them with two or three lines, slightly departing from the top edge. At the same level, stitch an additional strip on the back side (this will be the drawstring). As a result, you will get a slightly more strict and discreet solution, suitable even for solid interiors.
Now it's up to you. Choose and decide!
In the next video you can see a selection of country-style curtains with drawstrings.
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Initially, curtains were a way to preserve and retain heat in the house and had an exclusively practical purpose. Over time, they began to be decorated with additional elements and used as the main decorative accent of the room. Currently, drawstring curtains are gaining popularity again, which ideally emphasize the elegance and comfort of the room.
Thanks to the wide variety of assortment, it will not be difficult to choose the best option for a home of any style.
Roman blinds
Roman blinds are usually mounted on a special curtain rod, which consists of an aluminum profile, a lifting mechanism and a control unit.
If for one reason or another you were unable to purchase a special cornice, do not worry. The curtain can be secured with Velcro, which is sold in sewing supply and headset stores. One part of the Velcro is glued to a regular curtain rod, the other to the curtain.
But it is still more practical to use a special cornice.
Curtains are an ideal assistant in creating coziness and comfort in your home!
Length
What influences the choice of length when creating drawstring curtains with your own hands? There are few factors:
Interior style
Functional purpose of the curtain Amount you are willing to pay for the fabric Level of skill of the author. If you don’t have a lot of sewing experience, you shouldn’t try long fabrics. The smaller the cut, the easier it is to process. Start with an economical and democratic, but very relevant option - a shortened curtain for the lower part of the window. This idea is often called "granny window" or "cafe style". This solution is perfect for a kitchen, nursery, living room in Provence style and any not too formal room. In operation, this curtain is much more convenient and mobile than a long one, since its cornice (rod or string) is located at an accessible height.
Drawstring curtains in the interior of a children's room
More “advanced” craftswomen can afford drawstring curtains for a full window (the length of the window sill), and virtuosos of sewing art can easily cope not only with the classic “floor-length” curtains, but also with the fashionable trend of elongated (“creeping”) curtains. Their length, as a rule, is 5-15 cm longer than usual. It looks very elegant and sophisticated, but requires constant care and attention. Of course, flowing fabric will perfectly hide uneven floors and add charm to the interior. But consider whether you're willing to re-decorate the drapery every time you vacuum, get too close to a window, or have your pet use the edge of the curtain as a bedding area.
Design of drapery curtains on the drawstring
