Pleated curtains are an excellent option for decorating windows in a modern interior. At first glance, they resemble ordinary blinds due to their folds and lifting cornice, but in fact they are very different from them. Pleated curtains are easily installed on plastic windows; they rise and fall to the desired level, and when raised they remain almost invisible. This article contains material about them, their advantages, types, and even presents the procedure for making pleated curtains with your own hands.
Kinds
In the photo there are pleated curtains in three versions: tensioned, free-hanging and fixed.
The main advantage of pleated frames is that they can be made for frames of varying complexity and arrangement: triangular, semicircular, square, round and broken. Depending on the type of structure and fasteners, systems are divided into several types: tensioned, free-hanging and fixed.
- 1The tension system can be successfully used for inclined windows. In addition, this system can be equipped with side guides to avoid gaps and sagging, as well as a tighter fit to the glass. It is available in two mounting options:
- tension threads fix each profile, which allows you to adjust the lighting in the room; Thus, you can open the lower or upper edge of the glass unit by moving one or two profiles at the same time;
- the second scenario involves attaching one of the profiles to the frame; Thus, only one profile is held together by tension threads and can move along them parallel to the glass.
- 2 Free-hanging has a canvas with a permanently fixed upper edge and a lower edge that flows along the frame, which can freely move up and down. It makes sense to mount the system on vertical blind and opening sashes.
- 3 Fixed is suitable for decorating irregularly shaped windows. It continuously closes the window and is not adjustable at all.
What are pleated curtains?
A distinctive feature of pleated curtains is their simplicity and a huge number of color options. We can say that pleated curtains are something between regular blinds and roller shutters. Take a look at this photo to see their design in more detail.
They have a fairly simple system. It is based on several guides (from two) made of aluminum alloy. They are very light, so they do not exert much load. Between the guides there is specially treated paper or fabric, which acts as protection from the sun's rays. Due to additional processing, the fabric has folds like an accordion. When open, the canvas is almost flat, and when closed it rises, folding like an accordion. Due to their structure, pleated curtains can be popularly called corrugated.
Controlling pleated curtains is similar to roller shutters or blinds. There are several variations: using a cord, a chain or in automatic mode. For an automatic system, a remote control with buttons is used. You can raise or lower the canvas to any height. Pleated curtains will not bounce because there is a weight strip at the bottom.
Note! Some automatic systems have light sensors, thanks to which they themselves regulate the flow of sunlight into the room. The curtains move on their own.
Many people prefer to buy not blinds, but pleated curtains. Why? It's all about simplicity and the possibilities that open up to you in the interior. There are three more reasons:
- wide range of goods and diversity. So, you can choose pleated curtains for any window and fit them into any interior, as shown in the photo;
- high degree of decorativeness and practicality. They look beautiful, come in a variety of colors, and are quite easy to care for;
- ease of installation. You can install pleated curtains yourself, without the help of specialists.
Mounting and control methods
Pleated curtains are attached not only to modern plastic windows, but also to wooden, panoramic and attic ones. Adjustment of the light flux is carried out in several ways.
Electrically driven systems exist. You can also raise and lower the canvas by a rope, chain or leash manually.
Sizes and shape of pleated curtains
Many people choose pleated curtains due to the fact that they can be suitable for window frames of a wide variety of designs. Round windows, standard rectangular, trapezoidal, elongated or square - they are suitable for all canvases. Moreover, the use of curtains in the interior is also possible for inclined surfaces of terraces, attics, gazebos or attics.
The width of the fold of the canvas is selected depending on the area of the glass. If you have small windows, then you can be content with curtains with two-centimeter pleats, which will do the job. As for a high and wide opening (up to 5 m), the width of the folds should be larger, approximately 5 cm.
Day-night systems
The photo shows pleated curtains with a day-night system. This model allows you to easily adjust the level of illumination in the room.
This look is noticeably different in the use of two canvases at once: translucent and dense. 3-4 profiles are used in parallel. The system assumes several control scenarios.
- 1 You can completely lower both curtains, thick and transparent. So, in the daytime there will be a pleasant twilight in the room, suitable for daytime sleep.
- 2 The impenetrable canvas is lifted, leaving the luminous one as window decor. This option is convenient during the day, limiting outside attention and letting in light.
Kitchen ideas
Since the kitchen is a specific room, with an atmosphere filled with the smells of cooking food and humid fumes floating in the air, you should choose pleated curtains for it, guided by certain rules.
The material for making pleated curtains can be anything. The most budget options are even made from thick paper. But for the kitchen you need to choose models made of polyester or mixed fabrics treated with a special antibacterial impregnation. Such curtains not only hardly get dirty, but are also fireproof.
The most convenient option for the kitchen is tension curtains, attached directly to the doors and tightly adjacent to them. This fastening allows you to use all elements of the window structure without restrictions and leaves the window sill free.
To decorate a kitchen, pleated pleats with horizontal folds are traditionally used, but vertical models are not inferior to them in functionality and look no less interesting. An additional bonus is that vertical folds visually raise the ceilings.
The door leading to the balcony or loggia combined with the kitchen also needs to be decorated. It can be decorated either with a short pleated curtain that covers only its glass part, or with a long one stretched across the entire height of the door. A set consisting of a long pleated curtain on the door and the same curtains on the windows, but short to the window sill, looks very stylish and modern.
Metallic pleated skirts
The trend for 2020 is metallic fabrics. Combine a shiny skirt with a plain matte sweater or top:
- Silver with gray
A silver pleated skirt can be worn not only with a gray sweater. Almost any top will suit it:
- Silver with black
Silver pleating looks beautiful with white sneakers and a black biker jacket. The warm skirt model is suitable for the off-season; it can be worn in winter with high boots and a short jacket:
- Golden with black
A gold skirt is a festive option, but no one forbids wearing it every day with elegant pumps:
- Golden with white
Casual looks with a light golden pleated skirt:
Living room ideas
At their core, pleated curtains are another type of blinds. Therefore, at first glance, they may seem too laconic for the living room - a room that simply must be cozy and conducive to a pleasant pastime. In fact, a living room with pleated fabric blinds looks no less cozy than with classic curtains. Let's look at some features of their use in the living room:
Pleated curtains go well with drapes and curtains. In the living room and hall, such curtain ensembles look especially relevant.
For the living room, it is better to buy pleated curtains, the height of which is adjustable at both the top and bottom. They are more convenient to control natural daylight.
It is better that they are plain. In the living room, as a rule, you have to place many different decorative and functional items, and colorful curtains with a large number of small horizontal folds will make the interior too rich.
Such naive “rustic” styles as shabby chic and Provence are difficult to imagine without delicate floral prints on curtains. Therefore, it is permissible to make an exception for them and choose a pleated fabric with a romantic floral pattern.
The direction of pleated folds can be not only horizontal, but also vertical. It is believed that curtains with horizontal folds visually expand the walls and are suitable for decorating narrow windows, while vertical models visually raise ceilings and are more appropriate in small rooms.
If you want to add status to the atmosphere of the room, decorate the window with lifting and sliding curtains in a deep rich color (wet asphalt, dark blue, burgundy, olive) made of thick silk or satin. If the emphasis is on the airiness of the interior, hang pleated curtains and transparent organza in pastel colors on the window.
In rooms decorated in minimalist or avant-garde styles, pleated curtains can be used as an independent “creative unit”. The main condition is that their color should echo the key colors of the interior.
Bedroom ideas
Providing comfortable shading for sleep and relaxation is the main requirement for curtains in the bedroom, and pleated curtains fully meet it. Let's look at the basic ideas for decorating a bedroom with their help.
Bedrooms, especially in country houses, are often located in attics, which are characterized by non-standard windows. Pleated curtains are the only curtains that can fit into both a wall and ceiling window opening of the most bizarre configuration and not hide, but, on the contrary, emphasize its geometric shape.
One hundred percent darkening can be achieved with pleated fabric blinds made of blackout material. To prevent the windows from appearing bare during the daytime when the curtains are raised, they can be additionally decorated with a translucent curtain.
It is most convenient to regulate the illumination with day-night curtains. They don't need partner curtains. During the day, the window is covered with a translucent canvas, and at night with a dense one, which can also be made of blackout fabric.
An interesting solution for any bedroom is pleated curtains with photo printing. An image of a starry sky, a seascape or a forest clearing will help create a cozy, relaxing atmosphere in the bedroom.
Balcony ideas
The main task of curtains on a balcony is to protect it from bright sunlight and at the same time not to overload the rather modest-sized space. Pleated curtains cope with it perfectly. Although it is impossible to spoil the interior of a balcony or loggia with such curtains, when choosing them it would not hurt to use a few simple tips.
If the balcony faces the sunny side, then pay attention to the pleated fabric with mother-of-pearl or metallized coating. This fabric not only shades the room, but also reflects sunlight. It does not allow the air to heat up and, even in the summer heat, keeps both the balcony and the room adjacent to it cool.
The width of standard balconies does not exceed 1.5 meters, so it is preferable to install pleated curtains on its windows separately on each sash. This mount is the most compact and does not “eat up” space.
For balconies and loggias, it is better to choose pleated curtains that open and close both at the bottom and at the top. This design allows you to protect the room from prying eyes without darkening the space
The illumination of the room adjacent to the balcony directly depends on the type of curtains on it. Therefore, they should not be too dark and dense.
Pleated curtains fit well into modern interior styles, thanks to the ability to apply various patterns to the surface of the fabric and the abundance of colors. They are comfortable, practical and easy to care for. To top it all off, they go well with many types of curtains and curtains.
Curtains and tulle for the kitchen - easy to care for, beautiful in the interior
Most kitchens are not spacious. Keep in mind that the entire space will be used to the maximum, and the main lighting will be natural light.
The length to choose is up to the window sill. A floor-length model will interfere with the functional use of the kitchen.
The curtain for the kitchen window should:
- be simple and easy to care for;
- allow sufficient sunlight to pass through;
- completely match the overall color and style.
The selected model has not only a decorative function, but also a practical one. Therefore, in addition to lightness and airiness, it should hide the presence of any finishing defects.
Room design with gray tulle
Beautiful room design with tulle
The most common types of tulle for the kitchen are:
- for a classic style, products with floral patterns are suitable;
- oriental style will be complemented by tulle made with metal threads;
- for minimalism, choose options with geometric patterns;
- Baroque or Rococo is perfectly complemented by a model combined with lace and guipure.
