10 Tips For A Window Covering Makeover

A simple swag. A wisp of sheer fabric. Some of the most eye-catching ‘ windowscapes’ are wonderfully simple. What a bare window should wear is one of the most common decorating dilemmas. Luckily, the latest way to treat your window is to simplify the job.

Instead of layers of draperies with elaborate pleats, one generous drape or graceful swag can do it all. Unlined panels of natural-hued fabric work well in almost any room, with any color scheme. And if you swag fabric from brackets and let it puddle gracefully on the floor, you won’t need to sew a stitch!

These simple tips on how to dress up your window will help a lot:

1. Use good-quality fabric. It doesn’t mean you have to buy expensive fabrics, just learn to hunt for quality bargains.

2. Make sure your drapes diffuses light in the room.

3. Try brushed cotton, muslin, even gauze or mosquito netting. It looks far more luxurious to use a large quantity of an inexpensive fabric than to scrimp on a pricey one.

4. Double the width of the window and an extra 4 to 12 inches in length if you want curtains to puddle on the floor.

5. Choose a bright brass or rustic wrought-iron rod capped with interesting finials.

6. Add tie-backs in whimsical shapes. Simple brackets ( you can use coat hooks ) will help you fashion a swagged drape.

7. To attach curtain to rods, consider curtain clips, which save sewing on hooks, or try fabric tabs, self-ties or cord.

8. If you are making curtains from a washable fabric, make sure it is preshrunk or wash it first before sewing.

9. Use a color-safe bleach in washing your curtains.

10. Steam-press your curtains after washing.