Ideas to Dress Your Apartment Windows

Photo by: rainspoo

There are a lot of great things about moving to a new apartment with new surroundings to discover and new people to meet. However, one of the most depressing things about a new apartment is the bare, white walls. Your apartment manager may discourage painting the walls, but there are other ways to spruce up that white space, and one of the best ways is hanging some window treatments and curtains.

Curtains may be the solution to breaking up the boredom, but with so many curtain styles out there, making a decision about what will look best in your Denver apartment can be a challenge. Here’s a list of curtain designs and how they can add some color or flair to your space.

Tab Top Panels – These are usually meant to hang at the edges of a window and can be drawn closed to keep the light out. They come in different lengths that reach the edge of the window sill or the floor. You can also get thermal panel curtains that help keep out the draft.

Photo by: Stitch/Experiment 626

Sheers – These can be used like panel curtains to add a little color or body to a window. Or, they can be used to cover the window working like blinds but allowing more light to come through.

Valance – This type of curtain only covers the top part of a window and is usually used to cover the exposed portions of a curtain rod between to panel curtains. These also work well on windows over the kitchen sink because they are high and less likely to get wet.

Hourglass Curtain – Hourglass curtains work well on doors with windows. Instead of putting up blinds, this type of curtain fits on a rod at the top and bottom and is cinched in the middle by a tie or bow to create an hourglass shape.

Swag Valance – This is different from a regular valance in the fact that it doesn’t have pockets. This is more scarf-like and is draped or wrapped around the curtain rod. These are also good for hiding exposed portions of the curtain rod while adding a more dramatic feel.

Cafe Curtains – These unique window treatments are hung halfway up the window and offer more privacy for windows without blinds. They are usually hung in the kitchen but could be hung in other rooms to create a different feel.

Now that you know the varieties of curtains you’ll come across in the store, don’t forget to measure your windows and take a sample piece of fabric or pillow to match your decor with the color of the curtains before you buy them. Also, if you’re feeling a little adventurous, you can try and make your own.

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