How to : Decorative Drapery Hardware Tips
Choosing drapery hardware used to be simple because choices were limited. However today, many choices are available, making it possible to choose hardware to complement your room's decor. In some cases, the hardware may have some eye-catching features like fancy finials but it is rarely the focal point in a room. The drapes add color, style and interest to the room while the hardware is mostly functional and shouldn't detract from the overall look of the space. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Narrow down your hardware choices to the ones that suit your style of drapes. Use traverse-style rods for pinch-pleated drapes, combination rods to handle more than one set of drapes on a window, curtain rods for pocket drapes and decorative poles for rod-pocket and tab-top drapes.
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Choose the material that suits the room's decor. For example, wooden hardware goes well in traditional or rustic homes whereas brushed nickel or cast iron are more common in modern homes. Use the same material for all of the hardware in a single room.
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Choose finials -- the rod's end pieces -- that are decorative or plain, whichever complements the decor. Traditional finials were once just basic round balls but are now available in many shapes including spirals, crosses and arrows. When hanging the hardware, line up the finials so they are even with the outside of the window's mouldings.
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Ensure the poles are strong enough to hold the weight of the curtain. Wide poles are stronger than thinner ones and also provide a more elegant look, while slim poles work well with lightweight curtains or sheers.
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Buy enough brackets to support the rod. All curtains need two brackets but those on wider windows will need at least one more bracket in the center to support the weight of the window treatments.
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Choose accessories that provide continuity with the rest of the hardware. Use rings and pull backs that are in the same material so they don't clash with the rest of the hardware. Buy rings that are large enough to fit over the curtain rod and hold the curtains without pinching them and causing them to become misshapen.
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Install hardware and window treatments at various heights and lengths to achieve a certain look. Hang the rod at least six inches past the window frame to make the room look wider. This also leaves room to tie the curtains back beyond the window. Leave four to six inches between the window top and the curtain rod to make the room look taller. Don't install the rod so high that the drapery heading doesn't fit between the rod and ceiling. Install all the rods in the room at the same height for a unified look.
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References
- Photo Credit Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images
