Decorating With Tulle for Windows

Tulle is commonly used in bridal gowns.

Tulle, originating from a South Western city in France that bears the same name, is a lightweight and sheer material. It was invented in this area around 1700, but was made popular in fashion by Queen Victoria in 1840. Though it is still commonly seen in wedding dresses and ballet tutus, the netted fabric also is used for mosquito netting and window curtains. Soft and flowing or stiffly starched, tulle window treatments vary from a simple window shade to more elaborate draping.

Things You'll Need

• Sewing machine
• Curtain rods, depending on the length of the window
• Weight tape, length of window's base

Instructions

1. Choose a fabric that has the fiber and finish that best suits the décor. Silk- and polyester-blended tulles can be elegant, as these fibers tend to have a lustrous finish. Cotton and wool blends are still transparent, but could have a less refined feeling. Additionally, sometimes the sheer fabric can be embroidered with colorful or metallic thread. Depending on the décor, an embroidered silk tulle can be used for a more elegant room, whereas a low-key cotton tulle could work well in a more casual setting.

2. Create a simple window treatment by making a tulle window shade. Tulle's translucent properties make it a prime fabric candidate for window shades. Because a shade is a flat piece of material, it is best to choose tulle that is decorated with a print or embroidery. Cut the tulle the length and width of the window, allowing 2 inches on the top and bottom for the hem. Fold the top and bottom of the fabric in 1 inch and sew along the fold's edge -- this should create two tunnels for the curtain rods and the weight tape. Insert the weight tape through the bottom tunnel before hanging the shade on the curtain rod. Once hung, distribute any bunching, as the shade should lie flat.

3. Layer the curtain rod with tulle shades, which can give the room very dream-like feel. Four to six tulle panels can be layered together on a single rod, as featured in Karla Nielson's book "Interior textiles: fabrics, applications, & historical styles." Shades of white can give the room an airy mood, while layering earth tones like saffron and burnt sienna can help set a Moroccan theme. Construct these panels using regular shade techniques, excluding for the weight tape -- this way, the shades can move more freely. The chosen tulle fabric can be accentuated with scalloping, embroidery or prints, depending on the designer's theme.

4. Drape yards of tulle over the window to create a romantic valance. In "New Decorating Book," Denise L. Caringer highlights a popular trend in sheer window treatments. Long pieces of tulle fabric are gathered and draped along a curtain rod at the top of the window, with the fullness creating a crescent shape in the middle of the window. The most important thing about creating this look is the yardage, as there must be enough fabric to flow loosely across the top of the window and hang to the floor. Also, tulle that has a width of 60 inches can help allow the drapes to be fuller.

5. Gather the bottom of the curtain to give it a more Italian look. In Marianne Rohrlich's article "Personal Shopper; Worth a Second Look," she chooses a tulle shade that is scrunched at the bottom. This can be recreated by sewing four 12-inch vertical lines on a tulle shade, each starting from the hem of the shade, using a loose stitch. Then, gather the shade by pulling the loose string, creating deep vertical puckers, which will help give it the scrunched appearance on the bottom.

References

• "Interior textiles: fabrics, applications, & historical styles"; Karla J. Nielson; 2007
• "New Decorating Book"; Denise L. Caringer; 2003
• "The Cambridge history of Western textiles: Volume 1 - Page 850"; D. T. Jenkins; 2003
• The New York Times": Personal Shopper; Worth a Second Look; Marianne Rohrlich; Feb. 14, 2008
• "Home File: A Realistic Decorating Guide for Real Life"; Christine Dimmick; 1998