5 Ways to Choose the Perfect Curtain Hardware
How do you dress and style your windows to accent the aesthetics of your interior space? The treatments you choose should please the eye — and fit the room. Bespoke drapes and custom blinds can give your home a classic or modern look. Choosing the window-treatment style that works best with your home involves considering different colors, textures, and patterns. But what about hardware?
Curtain hardware — which includes curtain rods, holdbacks and rings — is an important aspect of your overall window treatment choice. Hardware is what keeps drapes in position, and can add appeal to the room. The design of window-treatment hardware also determines the type of window treatment you can choose.
Discover Different Options for Curtain Hardware
Curtain rods might not be the first thing you think of when considering the texture of your room. While the hardware that accompanies your drapery doesn't receive as much attention as blinds or curtains, it does make a subtle statement. Proper selection of finials, tiebacks, and curtain rods can take your decor from good to great.
Before making your choice, you have to understand the different parts of curtain rods and their accessories — including rings and holdbacks. Read on to find out about the different types and parts of drapery hardware and their respective functions.
Various Types of Curtain Rods
Choosing the right curtain rod for your panels is essential. Installation of curtain hardware takes place after you decide on the style you want for your window treatments. The rods you choose depend on how you want to style and operate your draperies.
Drapery hardware is like jewelry for your room: the elegant designs, colors, and metallic finishes add glamour and drama to your drapes. When thinking about the statement you want to make, first consider all the possibilities. Do you want something warm, bold, modern, or traditional? Let's take a look at the different types of curtain rods.
Single Curtain Rods
Single curtain rods support light to medium draping panels. This rod is a lone bar installed at the top of the window. It threads through curtain tabs, grommets, or rings. You can find single curtain rods in a range of wooden or metallic materials, with finishes such as stainless steel and brass. These rods can be straight or curved back to the wall at either end.
Double Curtain Rods
Double curtain rods allow you to layer two types of draperies. They come as a set of two rods. Two rods mean you can layer thicker curtains over sheer curtains. Combining curtains and blinds can add elegance and depth to your interior decor — but remember to select materials and styles that work well together.
Traverse Rods
Traverse rods are ideal for those who want curtains that can open and close. Unlike regular rods with rings, these rods have wands that make the experience of opening and closing curtains seamless. Traverse rods are suitable for large windows, patio sliders, or any other large opening.
Other Curtain Accessories
When you've chosen your curtains and curtain rods, it's time to match them to the right accessories. For a functional, stylish design, it’s good to understand which accessories best complement your drapes and rod design.
The Top 5 Types of Curtain Accessories to Consider:
- Finials: These are the decorative ornaments or knobs on the ends of drapery rods. The style of finial you choose should correspond to the room's design and color scheme. Finials not only prevent your drapery from slipping off the rod — they also add a statement to your window treatments.
- Tiebacks: These are fabric bands that attach to a hook on the wall. They wrap around and gather a curtain in the middle. Tiebacks are designed to blend in with your curtains, and are essential if you’d like your curtains to swag back out of the way of the window opening..
- Holdbacks: These are U-shaped pieces of wood or metallic hardware that attach to the wall near the window frame. Holdbacks have a simple fixing plate at one end and a decorative finial on the other. You remove the curtain from the fixed holdback instead of untying a cord or unhooking tiebacks.
- Rings and clips: These come in metallic finishes and work with light- to medium-weight drapes or panels. Rings or clips are essential if you don't want curtains with grommets or pockets.
- Brackets: These are used to hold curtain rods. Your choice of bracket or holder depends on whether you’d like your curtains or drapery functional or decorative. You can choose between single, double, or adjustable brackets depending on the type of trim around the window. Adjustable brackets work well in most cases. A double or single bracket can depend on the functionality and design of the draperies.
How to Choose the Perfect Curtain Hardware
Your window treatments can make or break your room's aesthetics. An ideal combination of curtains, sheers, rods, holdbacks, or tiebacks can enhance the overall style of your room. From traditional holdbacks to modern finials, there are a plethora of curtain-hardware design options to choose from.
How do you choose the right hardware for your home's interior?
- Pick the right color: When selecting rods, rings, and other curtain accessories, choose colors that complement the color of your drapes or curtains. These accessories usually come in standard colors, like brass, bronze, gold, silver, black, or white.
- Reveal or conceal your hardware: Depending on your style, you can either conceal or reveal your hardware. If you want functional curtains, consider concealing your hardware. But if you’d like your window treatments to serve as functional décor pieces, reveal them. Use the right combination of rods, finials, and tiebacks to enhance the look.
- Consider the location of your windows: When dressing kitchen windows, use adjustable and lightweight rods. It’s usually a good idea to install valances in your bathroom or kitchen because of the small size of these windows. For the living room, choose sturdy rods with finishes that match your furniture, lighting, or cabinet hardware.
- Pick the right style: You can find many styles of finials, rings, tiebacks, holdbacks, brackets, and other curtain hardware. If your room has flowery wallpaper, consider using hardware with a modern or geometric design for contrast.
Drapery hardware not only supports your curtains and blinds — it also adds aesthetic value to your room. Study your furniture, wallpaper, room arrangement, and other features in your space, and coordinate your curtain hardware to these features to increase interest and enhance style.
To better understand different hardware possibilities, request a free consultation with your local Budget Blinds expert today!
