Cover Up This Summer!

Window coverings are an essential design element to be considered as a part of an overall interior design scheme but are often overlooked until the end of a job.

This can limit your options, especially in a new build, and you may miss out on achieving the ideal solution. For example, curtain tracks and roller blinds can be hidden in bulkheads, or curtains can seem to disappear into a cavity, or they can be motorised and wired in before walls go up. These little tweaks at the construction stage can have a significant impact on the finished product both visually and for you, the end-user.

Consider the overall aesthetic and how they will feature in the space. Will they be a highlight and stand out, or will they blend in? What are you trying to achieve with them – softening of the room, day privacy, night privacy, insulation, sun protection, complete light block out, or a combination? To find the best solutions, the functionality of not only the products but also the window or door opening must be taken into account. The combination of the right products can help achieve all of the above requirements.

If you have wall to wall glass windows or doors and are wanting curtains, consider where the stack will be when the curtains are open. If a track is the width of the opening, the stack of a curtain will be covering a portion of the glass, reducing your view and the light that can get in, effectively making the space within feel smaller. Here at Tailored HQ, we take curtain tracks past window or door openings where possible to get the stack off the glass and utilise the light to its fullest potential by making the opening feel larger. Also, in these cases, consider the view from the outside in. The colour showing to the outside can change the aesthetic of the façade of a property or look messy from a balcony, so don’t forget the exterior aspect when selecting colours in the interior.

Have a corner or angle to work with? Not a problem! The bending or curving of curtain tracks is an easy solution, allowing a free flow of the curtain in the space – we also utilise the bent tracks in situations where the glass is wall to wall. The tracks are bent around the corner back into the room, allowing the stack to be over walls instead of the glass, clearing the view. Most people are none the wiser of the use of this visual trick.

Roller blinds can also be used in corners or angled windows. There are angled brackets that are used and can also allow the blinds to move up and down on one chain, so you do not have to reach over things to get to the chains. Up to three blinds can be ‘linked’ on the one control with these brackets. One thing to remember with blinds is that there is always a gap between each blind to allow for the brackets above.

Fabric selection (the fun bit!) should be both an aesthetic and practical decision. Being located near the ocean in Newcastle, means there is salt in the air which can deteriorate natural fibre fabrics faster. An element of polyester in the mix will help stabilise natural fibres (such as linen), and this generally allows the product to be washed and stand up to direct sunlight better than a product which has 100% natural fibre content.

Fabric selection, whether for blinds or curtains, is where you can help keep the finished product within your budget. With such a wide range of products available at a multitude of price points, there is an option for everyone.