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Every Room Should Have A View

10/19/2014

You only get one chance to make a first impression, so getting your decor just right is essential when designing and decorating your new office space. Sometimes your budget is stretched and vertical blinds seem the fast, economical way to go. BORING! Don't skimp on your commercial window treatments: done right, they help paint an image of your business and its personality – formal, relaxed, or somewhere in between. Windows not only determine how you look out into the world, they also set the mood for how you feel within a room, and how your customers will feel about you before they've ever met you. The moldings, the view, the shape and the way light filters through – all of these elements are affected by the window treatments you choose. So let's learn how to DIY some window treatments. Ready? Let's go!

In this guide you’ll find some helpful hints, a quick lesson in drapery terminology and a handy worksheet to let you create the windows you’ve always imagined. Drapes of rich velvet or luxurious silk will frame a window in softness. Breezy voile or layers of sheer organdy will set a more casual, airy tone. Oversized drapes will pool on the floor for added drama. A sheer drape layered beneath a more substantial one will add dimension, filter light and increase privacy. Functional, decorative and architectural elements all play into your choice of fabrics and finishes. Proper measurements and hardware are also essential.

Find Your Style: Formal, Understated, or Somewhere in Between?

Dark, rich fabrics like velvet and silk tend to drape in lustrous folds with a structured shape. Lighter weight, subtly-colored fabrics, such as voile and organdy, complement a relaxed atmosphere and add fresh, free-flowing feel of spaciousness. For a tailored look, use the exact amount of fabric needed to cover the width of the window frame. For a fuller, more dramatic presentation, use additional panels to create generous gathers. You can layer drapes to mix textures, fabrics and colors to great effect. For example, silk and voile make a distinctive pairing.Try deep-colored velvet with an airy, neutral-colored sheer or use coordinating colors for a tone-on-tone look. Even the way the drape attaches to the rod plays a part in the overall feel.

Top treatments include:

POLE POCKET WITH RINGS – For the most formal option,pole pocket drapes have a fabric casing along the top that can be slipped over a rod without the need for hooks or rings.
RING TOP – Less formal than a pole pocket, rings are sewn directly into the fabric or can be attached with clips.The rod slides through the rings.
TIE TOP – For a breezy look, tie top drapes have fabric ties spaced along the top of the curtain.They can be tied directly to a rod or rings.
TAB TOP – Relaxed and understated, tab top drapes have flat loops (tabs) that are spaced along the top of the drape.The rod slips through the tabs.

Light & Privacy: Choosing the Right Fabric

The amount of light and privacy you desire makes a difference when choosing fabrics. Think about how the room is used and how sunlight filters in throughout the day. If you’d like to block light, protect artwork and furnishings from sun damage, or conserve heat, heavier fabrics work well. To brighten your room, choose a lighter weight fabric.

In general, the following categories describe which fabrics suit varying light filtration and privacy considerations:

VELVET AND SILK – Work best for rooms in which less light and maximum privacy are preferred.These fabrics also preserve heat and block drafts. If low-light filtration is your prime objective,mount the curtain rod above the trim and allow the drapes to extend beyond the width of the window.

COTTON, CANVAS AND LINEN – Provide moderate levels of privacy and light filtration.

VOILE, ORGANDY AND LIGHTWEIGHT SHEERS – Allow the most light to filter through and are suited to rooms where privacy is not needed.They also work well layered under a heavier drape to give you additional options for light filtration.

Drapery Hardware: The Basics

Rods, finials and holdbacks are the finishing touches for your windows. Wooden finishes give your window a classic look and pair well with heavier drapes. Metal finishes are a bit more contemporary, making a versatile match for a wide range of drapery. To finish the look, add coordinating holdbacks. RODS – are usually mounted 4" above the window.To add height to a room, mount the rod closer to the ceiling. If you want a layered look for your drapes, choose a double rod or convert an existing single rod into a double with a conversion kit.

HANGING DRAPES – There are three different ways to hang pole pocket drapes: pole pocket, clip ring and round ring. Please refer to the illustrations below to ensure drapes are properly hung from the rod.

POLE POCKET - A standard pole pocket construction has a fabric casing along the top that can be slipped over a rod without the need for hooks or rings.
CLIP & ROUND RINGS - A more refined and elegant look is accomplished by attaching round or clip rings to the plastic loops on the back of the drape.

Hardware for Hanging: Clips versus Rounds

DRAPERY RINGS are easy to use and help panels slide smoothly along a rod. Types of rings include:

CLIP RING – Attach the clip ring behind the drape. The clip should not be visible from the front of the drape. The clip should be attached to the plastic loop on the back of the drape, not to the drape itself.
Please note: use the same number of clip rings as swift tacks on the back of each drape.
ROUND RING – Attach the round ring behind the drape using the drapery hooks included with the drape.
Please note: use the same number of round rings as plastic loops on the back of each drape.

HOLDBACKS, used to keep drapes open, also affect the look of your window treatment. A low-mounted holdback covers more of the window, giving the drape a fuller look; a high-mounted holdback allows added light and appears more tailored.

There are different types of drapery holdbacks to choose from:

FABRIC TIEBACKS – Seamless and quietly functional, they are constructed from the same fabric as the drapes.
METAL & WOOD HOLDBACKS – From simple to ornate, metal and wood holdbacks usually coordinate with the drapery rod. For an eclectic effect, try mixing and matching rods and holdbacks.

How to Measure for Draperies

Now that you’ve chosen the style, fabric and hardware, you’re ready to begin measuring:

Measure the width of your window treatments, taking into account whether you’d like a wall mount (A) or a trim mount (B).

Allow 1-3" on each side of the window for when the drapes are completely open.
Be sure to consider the extra wall space needed for decorative finials, as the rod dimensions do not include the length of the finial.
For low light-filtration, mount the curtain rod 6" above the trim and allow the rod width to extend 3" beyond the window’s actual width.

More on Measuring

Drapery lengths are measured from the top of the fabric to the bottom. For example, pole pocket and tab top drapes are measured from the top of the pole pocket or tab to the bottom of the hem. Drapes with decorative tops, such as rings, tie tops or
grommets are measured from the top of the panel, not including the decorative element. Consider the length of the top treatment when determining the length needed. For example, grommet drapes will hang 1" shorter than the top to bottom measured length of the drape since the drape is hung from grommets that sit 1" down from the top of the drape. When double & clip rings are used with pole pocket drapes, the drapes will hang 1 1/2" longer than the measured length of the drape.

MEASURING DRAPES

Measure the length of your window, deciding whether you want the drape to fall above the sill (measure from A or B to C), below the sill (from A or B to D) or to the floor (from A or B to E). If you’d like longer drapes that pool on the floor in luxurious folds, add 6-8'' to the height measurement.

To determine how many panels you need to achieve the desired fullness, take the window’s width measurement and multiply it by 1 (tailored), 1.5 (standard) or 3 (full). For example, if you like a gathered look and the window is 70" wide, you’ll need 210" of panel width (70" x 3).

Care and Longevity of your Draperies

When cared for properly, your window treatments will be a lasting investment.

Dry cleaning is recommended for most drapery fabrics. In between cleanings, you can use a soft-bristle brush to dust.
Always refer to the specific care instructions included with each drape.
To store and protect from dust, hang drapery in a breathable covering away from light and moisture.
Rods, finials and holdbacks can be cleaned with a soft, dry cloth.

Do It Yourself

So are you ready to start decorating your office space? We've included a handy downloadable worksheet for the project! And of course, if you decide your time is too limited to embark on this project, we can do it for you -- click here for details!