Ideas for Kitchen Window Curtains
When it comes to choosing curtains, the kitchen is the room where you have the most flexibility. You can opt for just a simple valance or a full set of drapes with a liner or sheer underneath. It just depends on your taste, the location and size of your windows, and your overall kitchen decor.
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Purpose
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Decide what you need your kitchen curtains to do. If you have a window with a southern exposure, you may want to block light at certain times of the day. If your kitchen window faces the street or another public location, you will want privacy, especially at night. You want your curtains to coordinate with the rest of the kitchen's decor, and that depends on the location of the windows and whether your kitchen is a separate room or opens up to other parts of the house. The size of the window and how it opens are also considerations. Sliding glass doors in the kitchen present a different challenge altogether. Start looking for ideas and looks you like. You can do this.
Fabric
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Kitchen curtains should be washable and non-flammable, especially on windows near the stove. If you want to block light or get privacy, check the thickness of the fabric by holding it up to the light. If you purchase curtains online, check the return policy in case you are not satisfied. Consider getting a shade to go under your curtains or installing shutters for added privacy and light-filtering capability.
Type
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Many curtains designed for kitchens are tiered or cafe style, with a rod going across the middle of the window, and another rod with a valance above the window. This usually leaves the top center of the window completely uncovered. Kitchen curtains are also often made from a patterned or plaid material, and may have ruffles and a more casual look than curtains for other rooms. Choose a style and color that suits your decor, gives you the benefits you need and fits the type of windows you have in your room. If you have a row of windows that are side by side, simplify the room by giving them one single set of curtains, or accentuate each window by framing them separately with cafe curtains.
Custom or Ready-Made
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Generally, ready-made curtains are less expensive than those made to order. Stock-sized curtains are often designed to fit a range of measurements by incorporating gathers and pleats that can accommodate varying widths. You should be able to find ready-made curtains that will fit most kitchen windows. If you have an odd-sized window or need to match a specific color or pattern, custom curtains may be your best choice.
Style
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Pick a style that matches your decor. You may want a country look, with a ruffled valance and a lower tier that ties back. Or maybe you want lace curtains with a frilly swag valance. Opt for window blinds and a decorative valance to get the privacy offered by window treatments that completely cover the windows. Order custom-made lined drapes that will cover your entire sliding glass door when you close them. Choose curtains with tab tops for a casual, modern look, or pinch pleat drapes for a more traditional look.
Color
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Draw attention to your windows with a solid color curtain that contrasts with the walls, or a unique pattern that ties in with your room decor. Give your windows an understated look that keeps them in the background by choosing a solid, neutral color and a sleek look without ruffles. Balance the treatment of your windows with the decor of the rest of the kitchen: If you have a busy wallpaper, choose solid-colored curtains, or make the windows stand out against neutral walls by choosing patterned curtains.
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