How To Pick Curtains For Your Bedroom

Curtains are one of the most important aspects that make or break the design of the room. A well-placed set of curtains turns an ordinary room into a masterpiece where you’d want to settle down. But choosing the correct curtains for your bedroom requires more than taking a look and feel for the fabric, it actually involves a lot more aspects that you don’t normally think about. Do they provide the right level of privacy? How is the natural lighting of the room going to look like? Are they high enough to hang the right way and make the room look homey? 

These and a lot more are some questions that interior designers ask themselves when picking the right curtain for a client’s or their own bedroom. To help you find the best set of curtains for your bedroom, here are some tips you can consider when going to your local store.

Purchase Within Your Budget

You wouldn’t want to break the bank just to pick curtains for your bedroom. Curtains are notorious for placing strain on a budget but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use it to cover your windows. It’s best to contemplate what look you are aiming for in your space and consider the scale and placement of the windows before moving on to the budget. If your window is large, or if it requires a continuous drape, or you have very tall ceilings, investing in custom-made curtains is recommended. While the price tag will be higher, you will receive a finished look that is exclusive to your space and style. 

Check Out Other Bedrooms For Inspiration

Selecting the best curtains for your bedroom means recognizing what you are personally drawn to when it comes to home décor. One thing you can do is to go to Pinterest and look around for bedrooms that match your tastes before diving into the window treatment world. With so many options available, it’s no surprise that the majority of consumers default to white curtains. While white curtains do look really clean, there are many options available for windows waiting to be utilized. Step outside of your comfort zone and try a little color or pattern on your window. You might be surprised how variety can personalize a room and change how it feels.

Select A Fabric That Matches Your Desired Level of Privacy

One of the main considerations when choosing a curtain fabric is the purpose you'll need your window treatments to serve in a specific room: Do you need blackout curtains for the bedroom? Are you looking for your curtains to let natural light through? Do you need privacy from neighbors? Once you've figured this part out, you can start narrowing down your choices.

Most linen and cotton curtains come in varying degrees of opacity ranging from sheer, which will feel breezy and let natural light through while still providing a mild amount of privacy, to opaque, which provides more privacy and doesn't allow as much natural light to shine through. Velvet curtains are great to provide a natural blackout option, but most opaque curtains can also be doubled with a blackout lining for complete darkness.

There are four types of thickness to consider when curtain shopping: sheer, opaque, lined, and blackout. You need to find out what your bedroom really needs. Sheer curtains are ideal for layering on top of existing blinds or shades as well as standing alone for an ethereal, soft look. The most common type of ready-to-hang curtains available on the market are opaque and are excellent for filtering light and providing enough privacy that only shadows are visible at night. Lined and blackout curtains are the best option for privacy, light-blocking, and energy efficiency and are the preferred choice for entertainment rooms and bedrooms

Check The Length 

​​The length of the curtain will depend on the size of your bedroom window, as well as the decor. There are three types of curtain lengths; which include apron, puddle, and floor. In case you open your windows frequently, apron curtain lengths are more suitable. The apron length curtains measure 84 inches and are ideal for preventing dust and dirt from accumulating on the floor.

The floor-length curtains typically measure 96 inches and make it possible for you to hang the curtain rod a bit higher than the window. By using such curtains, you get the chance to give your ceiling a taller appearance. In the case of puddle-length curtains, they measure up to 108 inches and are ideal for a master bedroom with no pets, or children.

Curtain height and width are something many people struggle with. While the natural instinct when hanging curtains is to hang them right above the window frame, hanging them just below the ceiling will make your windows appear taller. Similarly, hanging the rod a few inches wider than the window will allow your open curtains to sit outside of the window frame, not blocking natural light and also making your windows appear larger.

Another crucial thing to consider when hanging curtains is where they should hit on the floor. Typically, they should either hit right at where the floor begins, but some prefer having their pool on the floor for a more romantic look. They should never hang any higher than the floor—if a radiator or furniture is in the way, consider hanging window shades instead.

Select A Color That’s Perfect For Your Bedroom

While neutral solid curtains in a linen or velvet will always be the most timeless and classic, it's possible to introduce color and pattern if done well. For instance, a soft tone-on-tone stripe or floral pattern can add visual interest and romantic vibes to a sheer curtain. You can also go with a bold pattern, but only if you want this to become the focus of your room.

Another strategy favored by interior designers is to have the color of the curtains match the wall color. This works especially well with darker rooms with heavy velvet curtains. Remember, simpler and more seamless is always better when it comes to curtains. 

One of the most suitable ways to pick curtain colors is to match them with the bedroom surroundings. You can create a cohesive look, and coordinate your bedroom’s aesthetic with the curtains if you choose the right color. If your walls, bedding, and objects in the room have a vivid color, it is best to choose curtains with a neutral tone. The opposite can be done if the bedroom and walls have a neutral shade.

Choose Your Curtain Header

Another big decision you have to make when customizing your curtains is on which header style you’d like them to hang from. The best header style for bedroom curtains is French or double pleats. These header styles create easy-to-maintain curtains that fall in full waves that are easy to gather. Their fullness not only shows off the color and patterns of your fabric but also gives your room a nice and cozy feeling.

If you want to indulge a bit, give your regular curtain tracks an upgrade! Motorized curtains (also known as Smart Curtains) are the controllable, stylish, and modern addition to your home. You can schedule them to open and close as you please on a remote controller or even on an easy-to-use mobile app. 

Imagine this, you can set your professional curtains to close according to how bright or hot the sun is throughout the day, as well as glide slowly open in the morning as it rises. On top of getting a blackout-with-sheer curtain set, you can have a dark bedroom at night and a beautiful naturally-lit morning by just commanding your curtains open with their voice-control option!