Selecting Curtains for Bedrooms, Kitchens & Sliding Doors

Deciding what type of curtain or window treatment to put up in your home is not always the easiest decision, especially with all the choice out there these days! Many things need to be considered before making your choice. Factors such as sun exposure, type of room and interior styling all play a part in choosing what will be the best treatment for your windows. Remember that you may need different requirements for each room of your house.

When a room faces East or West it gets most of the direct sun exposure in your home. East facing windows get harsh morning sun, west facing windows get the strong afternoon sun whilst north facing windows get sun for most of the day. If you live in an area that is very hot in the summer, you should choose a Curtain that will block out a lot of these rays so that you wont heat up the room so much. There are curtains specifically designed to deflect the suns rays rather than absorb the heat. These curtains are called 100% Blockout curtains

In bedrooms, most people choose to use what I called room darkening or Blockout curtains. These can come in a variety of fabrics and styles. These Blockout blinds or curtains are also ideally suited for East facing windows as it will keep out the maximum amount of morning sun. Blockout curtains and blinds are available in the widest array of colours and textures as this is what we need for our harsh Australian climate. As this kind of curtain Blockout out all of the light, some people still prefer to add a sheer curtain or voile underneath the Blockout curtains to filter the light when the curtain is open.

Kitchen windows are traditionally rooms that are full of natural light and warmth. However, you may also have concerns about privacy. One suggestion is to have a translucent roller blind to give you the privacy but still allow light to filter through. The other alternative is to use a timber venetian to adjust the light and privacy and then hang a decorative curtain or sheer voile over the top to give the room a homely feel.

Sliding doors are one of the most important doors in the house as they are used quite frequently so the best solution may be not be a full length curtain that will get in the way. Why not look at Roller Blinds or Vertical Blinds to cover these style of doors. If you do have a 3 panel sliding door and the doorway access is in the middle, a centre opening vertical blind is perfect for you. If you opt for the vertical blind option, why not update the look with a stylish valance to cover the vertical blind track. Have a look at a Quantum Valance at Blinds on the Net. If the door is not used very often, you can choose to hang a curtain so long as it can be moved out of the way when you need access to the door.

Curtains can give your home the ultimate look and also give it your own personal touch. They can also provide you with privacy and excellent energy savings. Many governments in Australia even offer rebates for houses that have energy efficient window coverings so why not investigate if your state offers a rebate scheme! Choosing Curtains should be a matter of carful consideration but we try to make it as easy as possible with a free samples service so you can create until your hearts content!