The traditional method of decorating window openings in a room is curtains. They help to put the finishing touch on the interior of the apartment and create comfort in the house.
Before choosing a curtain, you need to decide on the style. It can be decorative. This type is used in various formal and assembly halls, often in large living rooms. It implies that the curtains will be decorated once: they represent an interior item. This type of curtain provides only aesthetic pleasure, but is not a functional item.
The next option for curtains are curtains in living rooms, which help hide residents from prying eyes, and during sleep they hold back excess light from the window. They are laconic and sewn from dense fabrics.
The most common type is mixed. Then the curtains have a practical benefit - they hide what is happening from prying eyes and at the same time look beautiful and expensive. This is a win-win for any living space.
Dependence of length on opening width and fabric for curtains
Most designers consider it blasphemous to choose a cornice whose size is equal to the width of the opening. Sometimes you can argue with them. In some cases, purchasing a product of a different length is unrealistic. The window can be located, for example, between a wall and a semi-column. Any other size simply will not fit into the opening.
This footage helps to adjust the size of the opening. Indeed, in this case, when the curtains are opened, the opening will partially open. They remain on the window and do not go to the wall. This technique can visually make windows smaller.
This length is appropriate if there are no thick night curtains. The opening is draped with tulle or other lightweight material. The light will flow in the proper amount, and there is no need to move the textiles. Roman blinds also dictate the fashion for curtain rods according to the size of the window.
Listening to the advice of designers, you should choose the length based on the width of the opening plus 10-25 cm on each side. The length will allow the curtains to be moved back onto the wall, and the light will penetrate in full. The curtains will hang in spectacular flounces, which will allow you to create beautiful drapery during the daytime. Such a mount will demonstrate the window in full size without distorting the size.
But if the existing dimensions are not enough, then they resort to increasing the length by 25 cm or more. It is better to calculate the size of the increase with the help of a seamstress. She will tell you exactly how much space is needed to effectively arrange the curtains. In this case, it is necessary to have wide partitions, so that the size of the room is not distorted. With such a cornice, the flounces will be smooth, and the drapery can be moved apart much more.
If you choose thick and heavy fabric for sewing curtains, you should increase the length by another 10-15 cm on each side. Otherwise, the material will simply wrinkle and lose its original attractive appearance.
An example of curtain calculation if the length of the curtain rod is 3 or 4 meters
When the curtains are 4 meters wide or even more, then the designer bears a considerable responsibility. After all, large windows become the central part of the interior; it is important to design them correctly, taking into account the rules and wishes of the owner. Therefore, for such cases, the path of self-tailoring is usually chosen.
How long a wall or ceiling holder for curtains should be is up to everyone to choose for themselves.
To do this, you must first measure a 3 or 4 meter curtain mount to understand what the exact base figure will be, which you will then need to multiply with the drapery coefficient (DR).
Correctly selected curtain rod sizes will not only create a cozy atmosphere, but will also facilitate various manipulations with curtains.
Instructions:
- We determine how many parts will need to be sewn.
- Then cut them out taking into account the pattern and seam allowances.
- In some cases, when the fabric has a large part of natural composition, it is necessary to give a centimeter or two for the fabric to shrink after washing and ironing.
By correctly choosing the size of the cornice and setting it to a certain height, you can visually expand or narrow the room, increase or decrease (again visually) the height of the ceiling.
Advice. Often, after sewing long original curtains (especially with a pattern that was selected), there are leftover fabrics. They are good for making garters or pillowcases for decorative pillows. This will add harmony to the interior and look stylish.
Window decoration
The size of tulle and curtains directly depends on:
- curtain type (Roman or curtains);
- cornice lengths;
- parameters and features of the window opening;
- the general idea of the designer.
In order to avoid annoying mistakes when purchasing curtain fabric, you need to correctly calculate the size of the curtains.
If one of these factors is not taken into account, it will be difficult to correctly calculate the sides and area of the product. Accordingly, the aesthetic part of the enterprise is at risk.
If the tulle is too short, it will not be able to fulfill its direct function - to diffuse sunlight and complement the design of the room. This is especially true for the living room, because a flaw catches the eye and spoils the overall impression and mood.
The choice of cornice depends on the design of the room, the size of the surface to be decorated, the style of the curtains, the weight and texture of the fabric, and the method of its fastening, on the wall or ceiling.
If the curtains in the bedroom are not long enough, they will not be able to fully darken the space. And excessively large dimensions look untidy, and besides, it is unsafe. They are inconvenient to handle in everyday life, and they also get dirty quickly.
Manufacturers of home accessories have taken into account all the nuances; today you can buy products of standard sizes that are suitable for all typical rooms.
It’s the same story if the width for the curtains is chosen incorrectly: functionality is impaired, aesthetics are absent, and the overall impression is reduced. And curtains that are too wide usually just mean an untidy look.
When designing exclusive interiors, you can order a fastening system based on an individual project.
Calculating the width of the curtain with a long cornice
Curtains with an aspect ratio of one to three or more are usually more suitable for heavy drapery. Therefore, it makes sense to use its coefficient - CD. For example, for this we take a curtain fabric, the cornice is three meters long, with CD = two and a half. This means we multiply these numbers and get a curtain width of seven and a half meters.
If you want the cornice to be invisible, choose an aluminum profile cornice or a plastic rail (cornice).
But the width of the piece of fabric will have to be made larger by at least two to three centimeters for processed seams and for shrinkage. And if the edges have bias tape or other decorative elements, then such additions are not necessary. The same goes for artificial materials that do not shrink.
Cornices are most often installed in one, two and three rows.
Learning to correctly calculate the length of the cornice in relation to the window
When making measurements and calculations, you should be guided by the following principles:
- The length of the cornice can be 100-400 mm wider than the window opening;
- Its wall-to-wall fastenings should be located 2-3 cm narrower than the window opening;
- Every one and a half to two meters it is necessary to provide fastening. This will help the curtain rod to stay firmly on the wall, because curtains are not a light thing, and they are also subject to constant outside interference. When installing a ceiling cornice, it is worth installing fastenings every 50 cm.
This means that in order to choose the correct length of the cornice, use a tape measure or measuring tape to measure the width of the window opening. Add from 100 to 400 mm to the resulting figure. The parameter will depend on the density of the fabric and the size of the room. Wide curtain rods are suitable for massive draped fabrics and will also make the room visually larger. Divide the length obtained during the calculation by two. This way you will get the required number of fasteners. It is important to understand that if the length of the cornice is less than 3 meters, 2 support points will be enough, for other cases it is necessary to secure it in 3 places.
There are rooms in which there are several windows on one wall. In this case, you can get by with one cornice for both openings, provided that the distance between the windows does not exceed half a meter. However, there are no strict regulations or requirements in this regard. Separate curtains will also look harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
Conclusion
The width of the curtains and cornice is an important component when calculating the tailoring and installation of the product, because it should look presentable and allow the interior to look complete. If the window is large, it automatically becomes the center of attention, so it is important to make it flawless, which is why designers are often invited to carry out the project. They know how to take into account the nuances of the material, furnishings and dimensions of the room, as well as accurately calculate the drapery coefficients of the material.
If you need to visually increase the width of the entire room, use a wall-to-wall cornice.
Refining the width parameters to perfection
The width of the curtain is not only the distance from the first to the last hook, but also takes into account the drapery that the owner wants to make. The splendor and volume of the folds also depends on the area and decor of the room. If the window is located in a spacious room, there is no furniture close to it, then a large amount of drape will look impressive.
Less noticeable folds fit better into modest sizes.
The most accurate measurements are obtained by using a metal tape measure rather than the usual measuring tape.
This means that the following must be taken into account.
- A large bedroom or living room often has small windows, so a lot of drapery is inappropriate there. The same goes for the doorway.
- If the window design is characterized by two layers, then the top panel should be 15 cm longer to achieve a more impressive result.
- If the room is not spacious, but not too modest, then you can use standards based on the length of the cornice. Its duration (if there are two or three leaves) is usually multiplied by a factor of one and a half. And long fastenings for curtains from two to four meters are multiplied with values of two and three, respectively.
- If the sizes of the window and the room are not proportional and not standardized, then you can start from the type of material. The values of curtain sections are usually multiplied by one point and seven tenths, and the veil, organza with print - by two. If the last fabric is without a pattern, then you can safely multiply it by three.
The use of ceiling cornices allows you to beautifully decorate windows, as well as separate part of the room with a curtain.
Important: the lambrequin is not counted in the same way as the curtains; their duration is equal to the length of the fastening pipe.
How to calculate the length of the cornice
The length of the cornice in relation to the window either exceeds the width of the window opening, or is equal to it, but never less.
Equal width is used in several cases:
- Panoramic window on the entire wall. In this case, there is no choice; the cornice will repeat the outline of the walls;
- There is only light tulle on the windows, no curtains. The fabric perfectly transmits daylight;
- Roman curtains. A special type of curtain that follows not so much the width of the window opening as the width of the glazed part.
In other cases, the length of the cornice must be greater than the width of the window, so it must be calculated.
Russian standards
Domestic manufacturers have long known how long curtain rods should be. Thanks to Russian GOSTs and other standards, manufacturers traditionally produce curtain rods of three meters. This is due to the ergonomics of the premises and the design characteristics of the windows. In recent years, the assortment has begun to expand; stores increasingly offer products of other lengths, although they are also fixed.
Choosing a three-meter cornice is as easy as choosing any other type. It is worth paying attention to what material it is made of. The diameter of the pipe plays an important role. To begin with, it is worth deciding on the general concept of window design. The diameter will be important if the curtains that are chosen are very massive and large. Thick cornices will not be able to bend and ruin the view.
How to choose the right cornice?
It is necessary to decide on their types. Depending on the materials they are:
- Metal;
- Wooden;
- Plastic.
Thus, metal cornices are distinguished by their sophistication and durability, while wooden ones will add naturalness and freshness to the image. Plastic products are used in modern or complex interiors. This is because this material can take any form.
