The main room in the house is the living room. The whole family gathers here to relax; people they don’t know (and even strangers) are invited here. The living room can double as a dining room, and in small apartments even a bedroom.
The general decoration of the living room is determined by its purpose: if this is a place of collective relaxation, then bright, cheerful, lively interior solutions are acceptable and desirable, and if it is a living room, it is better to settle on an intermediate option, not as pastel-relaxing as a real bedroom, but not as as invigorating as a guest space can be. This is also appropriate for curtains.
What are classic curtains
Classic curtains for the living room are curtains made of dense, heavy material that forms folds, with various lambrequins at the top and transparent tulle. The length of the curtains varies from slightly shortened to those that lie on the floor. They are gathered on the sides with ribbons, cords with tassels or fringes, and special clips. The curtains are decorated with various beads, fringe, and embroidery with gilded thread. All decorative elements are selected in accordance with the design.
Curtain design for the living room
There is no fashion for curtains as such, but fashion for various interiors has always existed and changed. Curtains have always been considered a detail of fashionable interiors, on par with furniture, wall color or wallpaper. If you are an avid fashionista or fashionista, and follow the latest designer fads not only in clothes, but also in the interior of your living room, be prepared to buy new curtains every few years. If you don’t have this opportunity, then give preference to the classics. With a huge selection of colors and styles in our photo gallery, you can always follow fashion. When creating an individual interior for your living room, choose curtains that you and your household will like.
If you love lush folds, ruffles and lace, give preference to French or Austrian curtains.
For a sophisticated but austere interior, Italian or English curtains are suitable. Usually they are made of good expensive materials and are not replete with decorations and accessories.
If the living room is designed in a “minimal” style, the ideal choice would be Japanese or Roman curtain panels. These curtains have everything you need and nothing you don't.
The main criterion when choosing curtains is beauty and convenience. It should be easy for you to install and handle your curtains, that is, to open or close, raise or lower, open and clean windows.
Which fabric to choose
Classic curtains came to us from the era of Baroque and Classicism, when wealth and luxury were in fashion, which means the material for them was refined and noble.
To make choosing fabric easier, follow these tips:
The material must be chosen dense enough so that the curtains look elegant, forming a beautiful drapery.
You can give preference to both natural fibers: lye, cotton, linen; and artificial: corduroy, velvet, jacquard, brocade. Natural fabrics look beautiful and sophisticated, but they fade very quickly in the sun and wrinkle easily, which means they will require frequent care. Artificial materials look no worse than natural ones and will last at least longer.
Curtains made of velvet, corduroy and brocade look very rich, complemented by lush lambrequins and decorations.
The fabric for tulle is light and transparent (permeable to sunlight). Usually this is a white or beige nylon or veil. At the top the tulle gathers into even folds.
If the living room is made in light colors, then curtains a little brighter than the base color with an unobtrusive pattern will do. Or vice versa, in a dim living room you can play with contrast, then you can hang bright curtains.
It is more appropriate to hang curtains in a living room with colorful wallpaper and furniture that are lighter; they will give it lightness and visually expand the walls.
Designers advise not to use more than three tones when decorating a living room, as this will overload the room.
A living room in cold colors will be warmed by “warm” curtains, and curtains in cold colors will add freshness to warm colors.
In modern design, you can increasingly see monochromatic colors of furniture, walls and other surfaces. Curtains with a pattern will bring an atmosphere of celebration and comfort to such a living room. The ornament can be very different: floral, horizontal and vertical lines, geometric patterns.
If your living room has patterned wallpaper, then it is better to choose plain curtains, otherwise they will overload the room and visually reduce its size.
General recommendations
Classic is a demanding style. Therefore, I would like to remind you of the general points that apply to any type of curtains:
- Natural colors. Avoid bright neon colors - they are more suitable for modern types of interior.
- Materials. Non-synthetic fabrics (linen, silk, satin, velvet) and wood are best suited. If you like blinds, buy ones with wood or veneer slats.
- Avoid complex textures. There is no need to try to hang a curtain in 5-7 layers - this is clearly overkill.
- Symmetry - no torn edges, sharp level transitions, and so on. Leave it for high-tech or loft.
As you can see, the list cannot be called a set of strict rules. More like a set of tips that will help you not make mistakes. This is important, since in many ways it is the design of curtains for the kitchen that shapes the overall final perception of the room’s interior.
We have identified 8 main types - in each of them you can find an option ideal for a kitchen in a classic style.
Mounting options
You can attach curtains to the curtain rod in different ways:
- Hooks
- Eyelets
- Backstage
- Fabric loops
Hooks are the simplest and most primitive method, suitable for ceiling cornices. The eyelets are attached to the fabric itself and through them the curtain is put on the curtain rod. The curtain is a tunnel in the curtain where the cornice is “hidden”. The ties and loops are sewn together with a curtain made of the same or similar fabric.
Classic curtains with drawstring
Classic curtains with eyelets
Classic hinges
Classic curtains with loops
With lambrequins
If we talk about stereotypes in the classical style, the first thing that comes to mind are curtains with lambrequins. It's beautiful and elegant - although in a small kitchen it will look overkill.
Interesting fact: Modern lambrequins are not always made of fabric. How do you like this option? Thin plastic looks like a bright accent, which sometimes rooms literally need.
In a more traditional sense, it is a fabric drapery along the top of the curtain. We recommend not to get carried away with complex options. It is better to choose something more elegant, for example, like here.
An interesting choice is bright translucent curtains with a lambrequin. If the whole kitchen is in pastel colors, then why not add some color this way?
Let's sum it up? There are many types of curtains that are suitable for a classic-style kitchen. Which one to choose is up to you. The main thing is not to deviate from the basic design rules and consider several options. We hope that our photos and tips helped in this matter.
Changing the visual perception of the living room with curtains
It's no secret that curtains can transform or distort the entire idea of a living room. Properly selected curtains and patterns on them can visually enlarge a room, raise ceilings, and change the shape and size of a window. So, to visually enlarge the window, hang curtains across the entire width of the wall, extending beyond the window opening. To change the height of the window, use grab bars. Picking up the curtains below the center of the height of the curtain will reduce the height of the window, and vice versa, picking up the curtains above the middle will lengthen the windows.
Without using tiebacks, the living room will look more spacious and the windows higher.
In a narrow room it is better to hang wide curtains; an option with horizontal stripes is possible. Low ceilings will be raised by vertical stripes and curtains suspended from the ceiling cornice.
Features of choosing curtains
Today, everyone who is decorating their home has to choose between several options for curtains, among which they differ not only in color or length, but also in the design method.
Such a design of curtains for the living room, as a rule, depends on the personal preferences of the owner of the house. Despite this, some standards in the design of curtains still exist:
- if you have a small house, plain curtains in the living room interior are suitable, because they can create the effect of additional space;
- for dark living rooms, the optimal solution would be to choose curtains made from light fabrics that add some simplicity;
- Those who prefer options for curtains with a pattern should choose a larger one.
Read here: Lambrequins in the living room - step-by-step instructions for decor + 75 photos in the interior
The most popular design options for any new curtains for the living room in 2020 are:
