Curtain Poles – How To Install Them
Filed Under Tips And Tricks | Leave a Comment
Any well thought off and planned activity saves you from a lot embarrassment and waste of time and materials. The same is true for fitting of curtains. Don’t be in a rush and take your time to read the instructions that are provided by the manufacturer. Gather all the tools that you are going to need in the process. The tips mentioned here would prove to be of great help in your plan. So, go ahead with the planned activities to get a good and desired output.
Pole Length
This may vary, being influenced by obstructions around the window area. But the thumb rule is that the curtain pole should extend by about 15-20cm (6-8in) beyond the window recess on both the sides and it should sit symmetrically with respect to the window opening. In exceptional cases one should seek help from a professional. Double check the position that the end brackets are going to occupy and be cautious of electric sockets or light switches that may be within 30cm (1 foot) of the window.
Positioning
Usually poles are fitted about 15cm(6″) above the aperture of a window, but at times you need to compromise because of insufficient space or if coving gets in the way. The pole has to be placed at the correct height above the floor to allow the drapes to hang appropriately. Take your time for accurate measurements and using a pencil mark positions on the wall. Keep in mind that there is no way to adjust the height of a drape except by moving the pole up or down. So you will have to be extra careful with you measurements and markings if the curtains are eyelet headed. Making use of a spirit level you should level the position of the drape pole even if the top of the window or the ceiling is not truly horizontal.
Walls and Fixings
As curtain poles need to be fixed into walls, window frames or doors, you will be required to drill holes, many a time into unknown materials. That calls for a good drill, preferably with hammer action for concrete, along with the drill bits of suitable size. Most of the modern houses have plasterboard. While drilling through that you may come across a steel lintel (particularly for the center support over a wide window). You might come across stone, wood or concrete, or any mix!. As bathrooms are generally provided with ceramic tiles, you’ll have to be very careful while drilling thru these to reach the wall, lest the tile should crack. The process may require special dill bits, depending on the material of the tiles. You should be extra careful and avoid drilling into electric wiring or pipe work.
Poles in two halves
Of course it is understood that if a pole comes in two pieces, the joint should remain in the middle to maintain uniformity, unless you have a good reason for putting the join in another place to accommodate a bespoke solution. Generally a pole comprising of two pieces would need a support bracket at the center. This will automatically conceal the joint. Using a doubled-ended screw joins the two halves of a wooden pole. At times metal poles require a wooden dowel for joining the two halves.
When working on a long pole with a central support, fit it first and then take levels of the left and right for the end brackets. This will give you a better level of the finished pole than if you start at one end and work across.
How to cut a curtain pole down to size
For wooden curtain poles we use a mitre box and a pull saw. But any wood saw would do and if you get stuck you may use a straight block of wood as a guide. A miter box gives a straight finish and you will notice that the pull saw gives a cleaner and smoother finish with less chances of chipping than a conventional wood saw.
For rods of small diameter we use a pipe cutter whereas large poles will need a high quality metal saw with 28 teeth per inch. You can use a junior hacksaw, but it tends to go offline. Stainless steel poles will require a sharp saw.
Remember that with poles in two pieces, you will need to shorten both parts by equal amounts so that the joint remains at the center of the finished pole.
Tools
Power drill with hammer capability; drill bits; masonry for brick etc; titanium for steel lintels; wall plugs and screws; spirit level; screwdrivers; pencil for marking up; spirit level; saw, pipe cutter & mitre block and a vacuum cleaner for final clean up.
Finally – safety first
Fitting a curtain rod is not such an arduous task, but if you are not confident please don’t hesitate to seek the help of a professional to get the job done. It is difficult to install heavier draperies or those, which are going to have a drop length of three meters or more.
Similarly, a hindrance in approaching the fitting space makes the job a bit difficult. If you are not aware a good curtain fitter your local curtain shop or interior design shop should generally be able to help.
Roller Blinds – Buying Tips
Filed Under Window Blinds | Leave a Comment
Roller blinds make a very practical choice for window decoration on many different rooms in any type of home. They offer such a large choice of fabrics, materials and designs that you are sure to find a cheap roller blind to suit your decor.
These window treatments comprise of a large piece of fabric that rolls on and off a tube. The tube is held fixed above the window so that the blind can be pulled down over the window. The tube is kept in place by two brackets positioned at each end of the blind, one to its left side and the other to its right. These brackets allow the user to either top fix the blind into the recess top, or face fix the blind into the window frame. Top fixing a roller blind permits it to be positioned away from the window, bypassing the window handle when operated. Face fixing a enclosed blind would generally not provide the required space for the blind to pass any handles. However, there is an alternative if you prefer this system of fixing. The blind offers the function of reversed roll, meaning the fabric runs off of the front of the tube providing about an extra inch (25mm) of space between the fabric and the window handle.
There are two ways of operating blackout blinds that roll. One is known as a spring action. This is operated by a pull that is attached to the bottom of the shutter and pulls the fabric down. The spring is housed within the tube and has a small ball bearing that is functional in locking the blind into position when the shutters stop. This style of window treatment could be difficult to use as the spring is very tightly wound to ensure utmost tension. However, if the blind is left to go without locking into its place, there will be no resistance and the blind would shoot up towards the tube. This could possibly damage the blind.
The other method that is often preferred is called a sidewinder action custom blind. Here pulling of the sidewinder cord, which may be positioned on the left or right hand side, provides complete control over the blind .
It’s possible to use roller blinds at a lot of different locations. However, windows of larger sizes will need more of material and thus will weigh more. That adds to the weight of the blind. This puts pressure on the tube, which may bend and get curved over long use. That’s why it’s important to support a large enclosed shutter on an aluminum tube instead of cheaper and not so sturdy cardboard tubes that are available in the market.
You get a very wide choice of fabrics for roller blinds. There are a mind-blowing variety of fabrics and colors. You may opt for natural fabrics, blackout fabrics or some translucent materials. These are available in very vibrant colors. Blackout fabrics are particularly popular as they help to avert light coming into the room when the sun gets brighter.
Hookless Shower Curtains
Filed Under Shower Curtains | Leave a Comment
We can all agree on one thing when it comes to hanging shower curtains – the hooks are the biggest hassle there is. Is there a more painful thing to do in the bathroom then trying to set up shower curtains with hooks? Once we get the first side right, other gets unhooked. And when we come back to fix it, the other side loses several hooks. After that, it all goes downhill. We lose our patience, drop things, fumble in the bathroom, trying to hold our composure. I know many people who couldn’t bear the process and throw the shower curtain down, while the hooks were flying all over. Of course, they had to come back and find the hooks and do it all over again.
But there is easier way to do all this. Have you ever heard of hookless shower curtains? They have some interesting advantages you might wanna consider. I am almost certain you would like to use them as your new bathroom accessory.
Their biggest advantage is that they are convenient, which is exactly what we need. We want this to be simple, we all got tired from standard drapes and the hooks they have. And with a hookless drapes, you won’t have to buy another hook again. You won’t have to think how many of them you have to hang and how many you need to buy. Nor will there be any attaching involved whatsoever. That is what I call freedom.
What we are used to is losing the hooks. Sometimes the children are to blame, other times it is we who torn the shower curtain and lost the hooks. It is easy to pull it all off, and then we have to visit the store again.
With a hookless shower curtain, we will not have to buy anything at all and there won’t be time loss. Once you set them up, they will stay in that condition. They can’t be damaged by simply pulling them off. This is a great answer if you are tired of dealing with these small problems all the time.
Another fine advantage is that the appearance will always be the same. There won’t be any overlapping, bunching or similar issues. No matter how hard we try to set our shower curtains, they just won’t stay in the desired position. The hooks usually move and create a different look then the one we want. On the other side, going hookless will make all these problems go away, just like that.
If you are tired of all these hassles, then you will b happy to know there is a simple solution. Simply buy hookless shower curtain and you will be satisfied for a long time.
There are different variations, since the method of attachment is different. And they will all go well with the standard shower curtain rod. First one has a flexible spilt ring system, that will go over your shower curtain rod. Second one uses ties. You will have to tie each one of them, but there won’t be any rings to fumble with. Once you are finished with this, you will have peace for a long time. You will also find some hookless solutions that use snaps, buttons or Velcro. These are all different methods, with their own strengths and weaknesses. But one thins is sure, they beat the hooks.
There are many places to find these products. Visit your department store, WalMart has them for sure. And home improvement stores will also offer you different solutions. If you are lazy to go out, check some online stores and find the type of hookless shower curtains that suits you best. Compare the prices and find the one that best fits your budget. Then you only have to wait for home delivery and enjoy the freedom.
Curtain Patterns And How To Find Them
Filed Under Tips And Tricks | Leave a Comment
If you are Do It Yourself type of person and want to sew your own curtains, you are probably looking for a suitable curtain patterns. And it is quite understandable that you are looking for them because it is easier to work with a pattern and the entire curtain making process will be smoother.
The first thing you will notice when looking for good solutions is that there are many different styles to choose from, which can be a bit overwhelming. There are many choices, from valances to panels, and they really do offer intriguing styles. And the places that are selling these drape patterns are many. You just have to learn where to look for them. This is where we will try to help you.
In case there is a fabric store near your home, you should look there first. It is most likely that they have drape patterns and all sorts of draperies to decorate your windows with. You will also find some useful curtain accessories and other hardware that will help you with sewing and with ideas. Browsing through different patterns, you may actually find the one that is perfect for your needs. We all have different tastes, so what one person may like, other won’t. This is why advices are not useful in this matter. You simply have to look for the best pattern by yourself. After all, you are the one that will be looking at your window and decoration every day.
Better stores will have several books that you can browse through to find the pattern you want. After you find the one you may like, you will go to the filing cabinet and find out is that pattern there or not. That will all be easy to do because they are placed in numerical order. You won’t lose much time here, so you should pick several samples to see if they are there. Some may not be available, so it’s best to have a backup, right?
If you found the one that you like, I suggest you go back home and sew your new draperies. But if you are still not satisfied, then I suggest you invest some time in searching for them online. Just do a search in Google and you will find many websites that are selling patterns. They will definitely help you, with full instruction on how to make curtains as well.
One thing I want to mention with the website stores and online ordering and buying is that you need to check for the shipping prices. Since patterns are very light, the price should be very low. Also, make sure you check all the details like the measurements and the picture presented. You want to have it all good, so you do not have to return the order and lose time.
There is another solution, in case you really want to save money and do the hard work. It is possible to make a curtain pattern from a muslin material. You can play with it until you get the look you want. This is usually used for dresses, among other things. When you learn how to do this, you won’t have to buy a single pattern anymore. This is the best advantage, I would say.
Now you know that there are many places to find patterns from, whether you want to buy them in a store, order online or make your own. I want to suggest you few stores, in case you want to check them out.
First one is Hass Design, that has curtain making classes that will help you create great crocheted lace drapes. They also have many pattern books and a lot of different tools that are quite useful. Delta crochet, bistro, regular drapes and valances are all there. I think you should check this site, no matter are you going to buy something or no. It’s great for digging up some ideas and learning.
Another one is Fabric, it is also reach with different types of window treatments and I recommend you to browse it to find all sorts of sewing supplies.
I think many of you know for Joann, a popular website for decorations. There are many tab top curtains, shades, no sew drapes, valances and other window treatments you can search patterns for. With the instructions presented there, you will surely be able to make great things in your home.
I believe I presented you with enough resources when it comes to curtain pattern finding. Now you need to find some time to check all these and the image of the perfect window treatment will come to you by itself. Remember, creation is not an easy process and ideas do not come so easy. But once they do come, it really is easy to put them into work.
Blinds Or Curtains?
Filed Under Window Blinds | Leave a Comment
There is a huge number of choices when it comes to decorating your windows, which can be a trouble when it comes to decision making. It is a good thing to have so many designs and styles on your disposition, don’t get me wrong, but it does confuse people and takes our precious time when we are making the decision. But at the start of our decision process, there is always a question: Blinds or curtains? Should we choose window blinds as a better solution? Is that really a better solution? Let’s try to figure this out.
We can start with something a bit different today. Not to mention the looks and attractiveness of these two choices, we will mention how they are related to our health. First, there are several types of window treatments you should not use because they are very friendly with allergens. If you are concerned about your health or even have someone in your family that is allergy sufferer, this should be an important question for you. A plastic mini blinds would not be a good choice for you, and a wooden venetian blind goes in that basket too. They are attracting dust in huge quantities and you will have a lot of hassle with cleaning. And if you never cleaned blinds before, let me tell you, it’s a tough and time consuming job. You simply don’t have enough time to clean them daily. You are better with light curtains that won’t attract dust mites and dust.
The second thing which is important here is that you choose drapes or blinds that are going to have a purpose. Do you need the sunlight? If you want to block the sunlight, then blinds would be perfect. Of course, blackout curtains will be good for that task too. But window blinds do the job better and I suggest them in bedrooms. On the other side, a kitchen or a living room needs light, so you shouldn’t choose blinds over curtains there. You want to have a good, shiny and healthy atmosphere in those rooms. At least, that is what most of us do.
And last, but not least, is the decor you want to have. You have to find a material that will blend in with the rest of the furniture and decorations you have in your home. Heavy draperies are better with tall ceiling rooms and period furniture. While bungalows and shorter ceiling rooms are great with blinds and their design. Especially if they are made out of wood.
When you take those three different factors in the account, you will be able to reach your final decision when it comes to curtains and blinds. Also, your own taste will be a big factor in determining the winner here. Some of us love functionality, others want minimal maintenance and so on. It is important to realize that blinds and curtains are attractive depending on the ambiance of the room they are in. Your taste and functional needs will make the choice, and I know you will be happy with it.
keep looking »