6 things to consider when choosing window dressings

With so many styles and fabrics available, choosing window dressings can be tricky to navigate but it’s worth finding the perfect fit to enhance your room’s design.

To help you make the right choice, our trading director Tina Barkway shares six important considerations when choosing curtains and blinds for your home.

1. Blinds vs curtains

Choosing between curtains and blinds depends on the room you’re decorating, the design of the window, and your personal preference. Blinds are more practical and suited to kitchens and bathrooms, or areas of the home that require more privacy and light control. Curtains, on the other hand, are ideal for bringing warmth, pattern and texture into living rooms and bedrooms.

Another option is to combine curtains and blinds and to create a feature window. Plain curtains paired with a patterned Roman blind complement each other beautifully.

2. Made to measure vs ready-made

If you want your window dressing to be unique and fit perfectly in your window, made to measure curtains and blinds are the best option. As part of our bespoke service at Aldiss, you can choose from over 1,000 fabrics and a range of styles and linings to suit your specific requirements.

Our ready-made curtains and blinds are a convenient option if you want to quickly transform a room, and there’s a variety of high-quality fabrics, styles and accessories to pick from online.

3. Lining

The lining can add to the overall effect and functionality of your window dressings, so it's important to give it some careful thought. Blackout blinds work well in bedrooms where you need to block out light completely, whereas thermal lining helps to create warm, cosy spaces. Sheer drapes let in lots of natural light, and can be paired with heavier fabrics for temperature control.

For a look that is both stylish and practical, velvet curtains create a bold statement while providing additional insulation thanks to their weight.

4. Style

There are two main style options for curtains: eyelet or pencil pleat. Eyelet curtains feature hoops to hang the curtains and create long, elegant folds, whereas pencil pleats create tightly gathered folds near to the header. Although eyelet curtains have become fashionable in recent years, pencil pleat is gaining popularity again, and both are great choices for a modern home.

The main options for blinds are roller and Roman styles. Roller blinds feature a single piece of fabric wrapped around a casing to let in the maximum amount of light, whereas bespoke Roman blinds create pleats when raised and have more fabric on show.

5. Colour and pattern

Deep jewel shades are very on-trend for 2021 – think rich greens and teals mixed with pinks and rustic tones, or plum colours combined with greys, pinks and nudes. Dark blue also remains a popular choice, as are deep reds and nature-themed patterns.

If you’re working with a bold décor scheme, neutral window dressings with a subtle stripe or a textured weave can create a simple canvas to add to.

6. Length and hanging style

The final consideration is how you want your window dressings to hang. For example, do you want short curtains to sit level with the window sill, full-length drapes that touch the floor or extra-long curtains, where the material puddles on the floor?

When dressing patio or French doors, fixing the curtain track or pole higher than the window will allow the material to be pulled back to make the most of the outside view. Hanging floor-length curtains can also give the illusion of higher ceilings.

If you don’t feel confident hanging your curtains or blinds yourself, our expert team can do it for you for an extra cost.

Browse our range of ready-made curtains online or visit our stores in Norwich and Fakenham to find out more about our made to measure service.

17th September 2021

Back to news