5 Expert Tips for Ordering Custom Draperies

A good set of draperies can take your room from boring to beautiful. Aside from blocking sunlight and maintaining privacy, curtains add colour, warmth and vibrancy to your home interiors. With readymade drapery, it can be difficult to find what you’re exactly looking for. You may find the colour you want, but you may not like the fabric. Or the fabric may be perfect, but the style isn’t what you expected.

Fortunately, with custom drapery, you don’t have to settle for anything. Your curtains are made exclusively for you, using the fabric you need and the design you prefer. While seemingly simple, several factors go into ordering the perfect set of draperies. To help you out, we asked some of the top drapery specialists to share with us their valuable tips on ordering custom drapery.

Keep the Following in Mind

Measurement is a Must

Measuring the window panel is the most important, and (probably also) the most critical part of the entire process. What exactly should you measure and how would you do it? Unless you have good knowledge about window measurement and interior designing, it’s better to take the help from a professional who deals in custom drapery in Toronto. Hiring an expert window drapery professional is the best way to get the measurements right. If you choose the DIY method and your measurements are incorrect, everything will go wrong. Trust the professionals who know the fundamentals of window measurement and drapery installation. Several drapery stores offer full measuring services, and come to your house to do the hard part for you.

Fabric is Key

The fabric of your curtain decides how well they’ll blend with the interiors and how long they’ll last. Natural fabrics like cotton, linen and silk are rich in texture, easy to clean and drape well. While linen and cotton match contemporary interiors, silk goes well with traditional and formal spaces. When choosing fabric for window draperies, pay attention to the texture and weight. Hold the fabric by its corner and notice how it falls.  If it’s too thick, the drapes will look bulky and the pleats won’t fall right. A material, which is thick yet flowy in texture, will be perfect for both modern and traditional interiors. Polyester is a good example.

Focus on Function

Before you get puzzled by the numerous styles, designs and patterns, decide what you need. When it comes to choosing the best window treatment, think about looks and utility (privacy, light control and ease of use).  Do you want a simple and clean look, or something dramatic?  What are your functional needs for these custom draperies? When you have a clear idea about your requirements of design and functionality, it’ll be easier for you to narrow down your choices.

Also consider the light and space aspects of a place when ordering custom drapes. If your room is small in size, choose a neutral shaded cotton fabric with small prints, rather than a dark material with large prints. This will give an illusion of a bigger space to your room, while allowing sufficient sunlight to come in. For rooms that don’t need much light, select heavier fabrics like velvet in rich shades of blue, red and fuchsia. Use high and pulled back draperies for high traffic areas, since they’re safe and easy to operate.

Don’t Forget the Hardware

Hardware for draperies are as important s the fabric.  Generally, chrome and nickel are used in modern interiors, while wood and iron antique pieces blend well with traditional settings. Heavier materials like velvet and chenille should be hung on large, sturdy rods, and light fabrics like cotton and voile can be mounted on lightweight rods.

Always choose drapery hardware in a similar style/finish to other metal pieces in the room. For example, if you have bronze coloured hardware in your room, go for a similar coloured curtain rod.  Also consider the finials of your curtain rod. Finials are decorative pieces at each end of a drapery rod, which keep curtain rings from falling off. Consider their size when placing order for your custom draperies. If they’re too small or too big, it may a lot of inconvenience.

Lining is Important

Custom curtains cost more than the readymade ones, and need protection for an extended life. With constant exposure to sunlight, draperies start losing their colour and shine. Considering the amount of money you spend on high-end draperies, you’ll want to keep them protected with linings. They prevent the UV rays from damaging the fabric, and provide a clean look from the outside. Linen blackout linings are generally used for bedrooms, whereas simple cotton linings go perfectly with other rooms in the house.

While it’s good to keep the above-mentioned tips in mind when ordering custom drapery in Toronto, they aren’t a rulebook to determine what’s best for you. Trust your instinct or consult a drapery professional who’ll understand your specific needs and tailor draperies accordingly. They’ll also provide you with custom curtains cost estimate, so you can plan everything according to your budget.