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Curtains Make a Big Difference!
by Jennifer LB Leese

Description: Tips for changing the look of any room of your home with curtains.

Changing the curtains in your house can make a big difference in the outlook and the feel of your rooms. On the other hand, even just taking the ones you have down, cleaning them and re-hanging them in a different manner can also make a big difference.

Changing the window curtains is something you can do yourself and in little time at all. The visual changes you will notice immediately. Decorating your windows can be quick and easy! If you are handy with the sewing machine, you can easily make curtains out of almost any kind of fabric. Personally, I have found that bed-sheets have worked the best. With bed-sheets, there are tons of different prints and non-prints of sheets you can buy affordably to add character to any room. Using fabric as a curtain will soften the angled lines of your windows and it will decrease the noise density in a room. They don't only look brilliant but they also control the light that enters the room.

There are so many different styles, colors and textures of window treatments and accessories today, that you can easily and quickly change the look of your room or rooms in a flash. The sheer look presents the room in a personal, pleasant, and inviting atmosphere. When decorating the windows of a room that is used often, such as the playroom or family room. You would want them to be durable, long lasting and at the same time look great.

By adding blinds of any sort, texture, and color, you will also enhance the look of any window. If you do not want the attention to be drawn to you're windows in first entering a room, then it would be best to use plain colored window curtains. Neutral colors work best for this situation. Then again, some people prefer the attention be drawn first to their window treats. If this is the case, then possibly adding more color will work best.

Full-length curtains aren't always best in every room. I have found that hanging just valances with blinds or even hanging a curtain on the lower half of your windows is quite appealing.

There are many different items at your local store that you can tie back the curtains with and it also gives the window and the treatments a whole new look. Here I have listed a few ideas that may catch your attention in decorating and the tying back of window curtains:

1) Flowers,
2) Ties matching in color and fabric textures,
3) Vines,
4) Bows of any size,
5) Trinkets and/or,
6) Ribbon or lace.

Below is an example of hanging a window treatment:

1) Start by measuring about 6 to 7 inches from the top of your window frame. Mark that area for hanging the rods. Do this on both sides. Then when ready to hang the rods, make sure that you have measured evenly so they hang level.

2) Then from there, measure from the rod to the bottom of the window frame. When buying or making curtains for this particular window, get the lengths you have measured.

3) Hang three curtains; the one in the middle should be completely different or plain in color than the two hanging on either side of it. Hang them on one rod.

4) When finished, grab each curtain, one at a time, just below half way down to the window frame and tie back with a bow, flowers, matching ties or even a trinket you have previously picked out.

5) Finally, stand back and admire your window. Immediately you should notice the whole feeling of the room change for the better.

Choose the right color:

When choosing the right color for the room is substantial and should not be over looked. Colors that reflect warmness are yellows, reds, and often times pink. Using these colors will bring a tranquil type room to life. On the reverse side, if you want to give a room a serene look then using grays, whites and light blues will give you the result you are looking for. Brown, Greens, and mauves are earth tones and are very pleasing to the eye and very comforting to the soul. The main thing is to pick the colors that compliment other things in the room, such as: furniture, pillows, and rugs. You want to feel good and peaceful when you walk into that room.

Decrease the light or increase the light in the room:

If you want to soften and filtrate light coming in through the room, use lace or sheer material. This will create the outcome you are looking for. To deter the light from the room, you should think about a thick fabric, insulated curtain, and dark fabric colors for the shades or buying dark blinds.

Hanging the curtains:

Make sure you have all the hardware and rods needed to hang your curtains. Have fun! Use your imagination in creating the look you are striving for.

About the author: Jennifer LB Leese is the author of children's fiction. Beetle Bug Adventures, Beetle Bug Adventures: The Cave, Mason Goes to the Dentist, Mason Goes to the Doctor, and Sounds I Hear from Wordbeams.com. Michael's Drawing from Saxco Publishing.