When it comes to a living room decorating plan, shopping for furniture and soft furnishings may be a top priority, but curtains should never be overlooked. The best living room curtains provide privacy and style to the décor without detracting from the overall design of the room.
Today, I want to share something about how to choose perfect curtains for the living room.
Choosing the Right Curtain Fabric
Curtain fabrics play a key role in both decorative style and functionality. Here are the characteristics of various fabrics:
Cotton curtains: soft, breathable, and easy to clean.
Linen curtains: Natural looking, environmentally friendly material.
Polyester curtains: Durable, wrinkle-resistant, very affordable
Lace curtains: Delicate openwork fabric that lets in light.
Velvet curtains: Luxurious look and soft touch for warmth.
Your choice of different curtain fabrics can affect the style and character of your living room décor.
Lighter fabrics such as cotton or linen are casual and lightweight. Combined with a characteristic bohemian pattern, they can add visual interest and harmonize with other elements of your living room. Velvet heavy fabrics, on the other hand, create a formal and luxurious feel. Sheer fabrics let in light and create a soft, romantic atmosphere.
So, you need to choose the best fabric based on the look of the curtains, the purpose of the curtains and your budget.
Choosing the Right Style of Curtains
When choosing new living room curtains, keep the style of your living room in mind, as you want the curtains to be a continuation of the style the room already has, rather than a stand-alone decoration.
If your living room style is more traditional/classic, choose floral curtains, prints or striped curtains. On the other hand, if your living room is bright and modern, you can choose curtains with geometric patterned curtains, solid colors with interesting textures, or abstract.
By the same token, you can choose mandala patterns with boho style and choose solid color curtains to go with minimalism.
Once you have decided on the curtain fabric as well as the style of the curtain, you can start thinking about if you choose the best size and how you will hang it.
Choosing the Right Size of Curtains
Before choosing the size of curtains, we need to measure the size of the window. Window measurement is a simple process that involves determining the height and width of the curtain rod. Here are the steps to get accurate measurements:
Curtain Rod Width:
Measure the width of the window or the area you want the curtains to cover. We recommend that your curtain rod be 10 inches wider than the width of the window. This will add five inches on either side of the window and minimize the amount of fabric covering the window when the curtains are open. This measurement will give you the desired width of your curtain rod.
Curtain Width Considerations：
Your curtains should be 1.5 to 3 times wider than your window. This allows them to:
- Close fully without gaps
- Look full and luxurious, not stretched out
The general rule is that if your window is 40 inches wide (window width x 2 = 80 inches), you need curtains with a minimum width of 80 inches or 2 panels for that window. In this case, 2 panels will provide a width of approximately 120 inches to 150 inches, which looks both beautiful and full.
Curtain Length Options：
Here are three types of curtain lengths, each creating a different look and feel in your living room.
Sill Length:
Curtains hang 3 inch or more below the bottom of the sash. At this length, curtains won't collect dust or dirt on the floor, and they are easy to open and close. They are ideal for use in living rooms for radiators or windows where furniture would block full length curtains.
Floor Length:
This is the most common style of curtain length. You can simply measure from curtain rod height to the floor. There are advantages to choosing floor length curtains that do not touch the floor. They maintain a straight and clean look because they do not touch the floor. Often used in high-traffic areas such as living rooms, these curtain lengths are both practical and aesthetically pleasing. In fact, it's the most chosen drape length due to its versatility and attractiveness.
Puddle Length:
For those who want a romantic and luxurious living room, puddle length curtains are our top choice. These curtains drop about 5 to 8 inches extra on the floor, creating a beautiful, lush puddle effect. Velvet is recommended, though it can be relatively expensive.
At Magicclothlife, we offer custom size for all curtains, no matter you need sill length, floor length or puddle length.
Choosing The Hardware
Curtain Rods:
Choose a tension rod for drill-free installation, ideal for renters or temporary solutions. Decorative rods are sized to extend 3-4 inches beyond the window frame on each side for complete coverage when the curtains are closed.
If you want to install both tulle curtains and blackout curtains, you may want to consider a double curtain rod.
Metal Curtain Hooks:
Best suited for heavy curtains and draperies such as velvet curtains as they provide strong support. They work well with most curtain styles and curtain heads. Just because they are metal, they are strong and durable, so take care of them to avoid rusting.
Grommet:
Ideal for medium to heavy duty curtains such as blackout curtains with pleated or gathered headers. The grommets are available in black, white, or matte gold depending on your needs to match your home décor.
Curtain Care
To keep your curtains looking great, take good care of them. Remove dust regularly with a hoover or duster. Remove any stains with a mild soap.
Follow the care instructions on the label when cleaning your curtains. Some curtains are machine washable. Some may need to be dry cleaned or hand washed.
If the curtains are wrinkled, you can use a steamer or iron and turn the temperature down. Test it on a small area first to make sure the fabric can handle the heat.
How to quickly order the best curtains for your living room
At Magicclothlife we have a wide selection of styles, colours, fabrics and patterns. We also offer custom sizes to suit any of your needs. Right now, you can get 30% off storewide and free delivery at Magicclothlife.
