IN THIS POST
– Styles of curtains
– Types of curtains
– Lengths of curtains
– Opacity of curtain
– Curtain header styles
Window curtains can add texture and depth to your décor. Apart from covering your windows and protecting your home from the harsh rays of the sun as well as air pollution, curtains also add a bit of flair and personality to your room. Since we have already talked at length about the best types of curtain fabrics and their prices in Pakistan, it’s about time we brought you a detailed style guide to discuss different types of curtains along with their lengths, levels of opacity and header styles you have the option from.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s begin.
Popular Styles of Curtains
There are several different curtain styles that you can choose for your home depending on your home décor and theme. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular options used in homes across the country.
Casual Curtains
Want a pair of simple curtains for your bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen? Casual curtains can be made from a variety of materials, though they are free of any embellishments or accessories. These curtains usually have a tab top or eyelet header.
Traditional Curtains
Classic or traditional curtains are available in a wide array of designs and materials. Due to their timeless appeal, this style of curtains can be used in any part of your home. These curtains are used with a lot of accessories and valances, which is a type of window treatment that is draped across the uppermost part of the window to screen the curtain fittings.
Moreover, these are among the most popular curtain styles for living rooms.
Modern Curtains
If you are a fan of minimalism but want to incorporate some design and pattern into your room, you should consider buying modern curtains for your home. These curtains are usually made from eco-friendly materials and feature bold designs with geometric patterns, crisp lines and abstract elements.
Modern curtain designs are available in a wide range of colours and can become the focal point of any room.
Contemporary Curtains
This curtain style focuses heavily on simple and sophisticated designs that make your space look open and less visually cramped. Contemporary curtains are usually made from eco-friendly materials and are available in warm or cool earthy tones. These window treatments are also rich in texture but they rarely have any accessories.
Depending on your colour palette, you can also find these types of curtain styles in brighter and darker tones to add a splash of colour to your décor.
Before we discuss different types of curtains, here are some tips on how to keep your curtains clean that you may find helpful.
Different Types of Curtains
Your room can never look complete without window treatments. Here are the most popular types of curtains that all homeowners should know about.
Single Panel Curtains
Single panel curtains comprise a singular piece of fabric that is hung from a rod installed above a window or door frame. These types of curtains are usually installed atop sliding and regular glass doors to add some privacy. They are also easy to use, as you only need to gather and pull the fabric to either side of the frame to open and close the door. Moreover, single panel curtains are usually available in casual and modern styles.
Panel Pair Curtains
As the name suggests, panel pair curtains feature two matching pieces of fabric that are hung next to each other on a window. You can simply push both panels to either side of the window frame and then tie them back to create a symmetrical look. These types of curtains are more popular in homes across Pakistan as they allow plenty of natural light and fresh air to come into your house.
You can easily find panel pair curtains in classic, modern and contemporary styles.
Liner Curtains
Liner curtains can be found in both single panel and panel pair varieties. Usually, a liner fabric is added to sheer or semi-sheer curtains to stop harsh sunlight from flooding into your room while adding more privacy. For this purpose, you can either hook a lining material right behind your curtains in front of the window or attach it to the back of your window treatments for a more polished look.
People who live in northern areas can invest in curtain liners with thermal properties to keep their homes warm through the winter months.
Now that we’ve discussed different types of curtains, let’s move on to the next part of our curtain style guide.
Ideal Lengths of Curtains
Are you wondering how long should curtains hang below the window sill? Well, it mostly depends on your personal style.
Here are the most popular lengths of curtains in Pakistan.
Sill-length Curtains
When it comes to kitchens, bathrooms and small windows, sill length curtains are usually considered a perfect option. These curtains end just above or below the window sill and are usually found in casual and contemporary styles.
Apron-length Curtains
Do you want to make your window appear larger than it actually is? Apron length curtains can create an illusion of elongated windows.
To achieve this look, you will have to install your curtain rod a few inches higher than the window. Also, the end of your curtain should hang at least two to three inches below your window sill. Once you close your curtains, your window will look bigger than they are.
You can use apron length curtains in your bathrooms, kitchen and even bedrooms.
Floor-length Curtains
Floor-length curtains can make your home look posh and extravagant. These curtains end just above the floor and are one of the most popular types of curtains for the living room, drawing rooms and bedrooms. You can also hang floor-length curtains a slightly closer to the ceiling above the window frame to make your room look taller.
Whether you opt for casual, classic, modern or contemporary styles, floor-length curtains work perfectly with all of them.
The Opacity of Curtains
The opacity or sheerness of curtains decides how much natural light and noise can filter inside a room. They also have a huge effect on the privacy of your space.
Sheer Curtains
Sheer curtains are made from semi-transparent, see-through fabrics, which means they provide the least amount of privacy. They also allow the most amount of natural light to enter your space. However, sheer curtains are much more than mere decorations. These curtains can add a light and breezy look to your living room and effectively reduce the glare on your furniture and TV screen.
Semi-Sheer Curtains
As the name suggests, semi-sheer curtains are less thin and see-through compared to the sheer variety. They also provide relatively better privacy and keep the sunlight from flooding your home to a greater extent.
Blackout Curtains
When closed, the blackout curtains do not allow much light or noise to enter your room. These types of curtains are made of heavier and thicker materials with built-in linings to provide utmost privacy. You can use blackout curtains in bedrooms, drawing rooms, home theatres, or any other part of the home.
However, blackout curtains usually have a simple appearance and are mostly available in solid, neutral colours. Therefore, some people prefer hanging these curtains right behind the sheer ones to create a more polished look.
Common Curtain Header Styles
As you may already know, there are different types of curtain hooks available in the market to match with your chosen header style.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common window curtain headers and attachments that you can add to your home.
Rod Pocket Curtains
This header style is not only formal but essentially timeless. If you don’t open your curtains too often or tie them back to create a symmetrical look, rod pocket headers might be your best option. For rod pocket curtains, small pockets are sewn into the top of the curtain usually with embellishments for decorative purposes. The curtain material is then fed through the rod using these small pockets. Most people prefer this type of curtain style with a valance.
Pinch Pleat Curtains
Remember the old-school curtains in your grandparent’s home with lots of pleats and embellishments? Well, this was probably it. Pinch pleat curtains are known for their distinct appearance and comprise multiple pieces of fabric sewn together to create pleats for a more gathered look.
Depending on the design of your pinch pleat curtains, you can hang them with hooks, rings or rod pockets.
Tab Top Curtains
This type of header consists of tabs or loops of fabric sewn at the top of the curtain that make it easier for the material to slide through the rod. These tabs are usually adorned with buttons, ribbons and other decorative embellishments.
Unlike pinch pleat curtains, tab top curtains do not have the gathering effect and generally lie flat against the windows. However, they go pretty well with contemporary and modern home decors.
Eyelet Curtains
Eyelet headers feature a circular opening at the top of the curtains that are enforced with grommets. To hang these curtains, you only need to thread these grommets through the rod and voila!
In contrast to other types of curtain header, eyelet or grommet curtains keep the rod mostly exposed. They also go very well with contemporary and modern styles of curtains, adding a unique charm to your décor.
So, which type of curtain style do you think will work best in your home? Let us know your thoughts and comments by dropping an email at blog@zameen.com.
Meanwhile, if you are still on the fence about different types of window treatments, check out our comprehensive guide on choosing blinds vs curtains to reach a well-informed decision.
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