Drapery and curtains are pieces of tailored cloth hung on windows, doors or walls used as interior furnishings. Draperies and curtains are used by people interchangeably but actually these two words are not synonymous. Draperies are stationary and may perform no function while curtains are not. They have the ability to be opened and closed and can also be used to make a curtain room divider.
Curtains help create impressions about the interior of a particular room. You can create a personalized feeling using the color, texture and cut of different fabrics for your curtains. Usually, curtains serve many functions: they shut off or hide something; can be used as room divider or give protection from cold or heat.
In earlier times, curtains were ordinarily used in areas with cold climates. For wealthy households, curtains were hung to their canopy beds. Even during Renaissance times, curtains were especially splendid. Rich materials like Italian velvets and silk brocades were occasionally hung on walls and windows. Curtains also were hung over doors. Use of curtains during the Victorian period and other furnishings were exaggerated. Today, curtains are made in a variety of fabrics and styles and are often designed to add life in our homes.
There are three basic types of curtains: sheer, unlined nontransparent and lined. Sheers are usually made from materials like cotton, linen, silk, or nylon in a variety of weaves in plain or prints. Sheer curtains are often used with heavy curtains but may be also used alone to provide a feminine atmosphere and to soften the light.
Unlined nontransparent curtains are commonly made of cotton, linen or synthetic fiber. This type of curtain is used with sheer curtains for more dramatic look. They are cheaper, practical and easier to wash compared to lined curtains. Commonly, this type is used on large windows or walls in rooms of contemporary design.
The third type is heavy lined curtains which are the most frequently used. Materials used for this type are fine lined linen known for its rich material and texture. Heavy lined curtains are ideal to cover a view or absorb sound thus, very appropriate for formal rooms.
In contrast to older times, the present use of curtains is tended towards functionalism and utility which makes use of simpler materials and styles. Much more, people want to choose machine-washable fabrics because it is a lot easier to maintain and will not take a lot of your time wiping the curtains with hot soapy rags manually.
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