About Drapery
Drapery, also known as curtains or drapes, is a term for decorative cloth window treatments. Available in a variety of fabrics, lengths and colors, drapery is considered a must for rooms by most schools of interior decorating. The term drapery does not encompass all types of curtains, including curtains that are used as room separators and shower curtains. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Drapery has been a staple of interior design since the Middle Ages, though trends have changed over time. Through the 18th century, long drapes made of decadent fabric were very popular and a sign of affluence. Velvets, brocades and silks were used in voluminous yards to frame a window and add drama to the parlors, salons and dining areas of the wealthy members of society. In the 1940s, a minimalist style became popular in America as a response to the war effort, and drapes needed to be more practical than decorative. However, the 1960s and 1970s brought bright patterns, interesting fabrics and sweeping shapes back to drapery design, and now modern drape style offers a range of looks, from voluminous to minimalist.
Significance
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Drapes are made from a variety of fabrics, ranging from sheer, gauzy linen to thick, multilayered velvet. Both cotton and polyester are also popular for drapery production. Lace fabrics, while popular in the 19th century and 1950s for their delicate charm, are considered dated and old in modern drapery design. Not many drapes are now available in lace. Drapes may be held together against the window though tie-backs or may hang free from a curtain rod, depending on the designer's desire.
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Features
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Drapes may serve a practical purpose as well as a decorative purpose, though it is important to note that a drape that is mostly practical and hardly decorative is actually called a curtain. Drapes my help shield or dull bright sunlight, protect the privacy of people in a room from outside onlookers, insulate a room by keeping heat either in or out and help shield a room from drafts around windows.
Considerations
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To increase their functionality, some decorative drapes are coated with a thin, rubber back layer that increases insulation and sun protection. This layer is applied to the side of the drape that faces out the window and is meant to be unseen by the observer inside the room.
Potential
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Drapes have played a large role in popular culture, most notably as stage curtains in the theater. While many small and local theaters use plain, insulated curtains to separate the public from the stage, several of the larger or wealthier stages use intensely decorated drapes to form the theater curtain. For example, in the private court of Louis XIV in Versailles, France, the royal theater curtain is a rich purple velvet with golden fleur de lis brocaded into the fabric.
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