When choosing curtains for your cottage or the type of curtains that fit well with cottage interior design, you need to take a slightly different approach. The choice shouldn’t be made solely on what you like and dislike, you need to consider the style, the purpose and the visual appeal. If you’re looking for some guidance on how to choose curtains for your country or home, here are some things to keep in mind.
The style can either make or break a room
Consider this first – the right cottage window treatment can either add to your interior design or ruin it. It can make or break the room and the style you wish to achieve. So, picking the right style of window treatment is a must. So, what is it that you want to avoid?
Formal style – anything that is too formal, too lacey with elegant details, does not go well with a cottage style. In particular, if you’re choosing curtains for a wooden cabin, anything that is too formal can be a wrong decision.
Choose the right length
When it comes to styling your cottage home, you can choose between three options. The first one is the so-called apron length of the curtain. This type of curtain covers the entire window lengthen and is just a tad longer than the sill length. These are great because they won’t dust the floors and collect dirt and they can be easily maneuvered, opened or closed.
The second type is the smallest of three and it’s known as the valance length and it usually covers just the window top or the curtain rod. These can be combined with the longer type to create a layered look.
This brings us to the third option and that is the floor length. This type of curtain goes well with any style, but only if you choose the appropriate design. Heavy, velvety floor-length curtains might be an exaggeration, but if you fo for a floral print, it will create a relaxing atmosphere.
Unify the theme of your cabin
Window treatments can easily blend with any theme or decor style of any room. If you want to create a unifying theme in every room, consider the fabrics in the room, the pattern – is it floral or checkered, and the colours. Look for unifying elements and make sure the curtains blend in nicely.
Consider the purpose of the room
The type of curtains you will use in each room is impacted by the purpose of the room. You won’t use the same type of curtains in the living room, the kitchen and the bedroom, because each of these rooms has a different purpose. If you’re looking for curtains for your cottage living room, match the type of curtains to the overall style of the room. You should also consider privacy factors, whether you want to block curious neighbours or not.
For a living room, you can go for a classic check or stripes or even a floral design. These can also be floor length or apron length. For a bedroom, you should also take into account the amount of light, and whether you want to block it or filter it. For a blocking effect, choose block-out curtains. Whereas, for a filtering effect, look for light filtering curtains. When it comes to the best curtains for the kitchen, you can go for apron length or valance to add some charm and joyful vibes.
The fabric
We’ve already mentioned that anything that is too formal, lacey or sheer won’t be an ideal fit. This is because classic cottage charm is enhanced by a classic design that can withstand the test of time. The best fabric for a cottage-style home is cotton, linen or blends. These can be monochromatic or printed with floral elements, stripes or checked curtain design. However, if you don’t want to limit the amount of light, but you still want to have some window coverage, you can go for curtains with a light filtering effect.
Consider fixtures as well
You can be caught up in choosing the right length, colour, and print and forget about the fixtures and other curtain accessories. French poles can enhance the entire design and create a more relaxed feel. French poles or French return rods return to the wall and close the window completely, so you won’t have any light coming on the side. You can tie the curtains to the rod with a simple tie-top system or use curtain rings to freely slide curtains over the rod to keep them open or closed.
Energy efficiency
Another important factor to take in when choosing curtains for cottages is energy efficiency. Do you need to preserve energy and maintain room temperature? This factor is something people easily overlook because they get so caught up with the best colour and the design. But, energy-efficient curtains provide additional insulation and can help keep your cooling or heating costs normal and prevent them from soaring.
So, if you want to keep your home cooler during the summer months, choose light-colored fabrics and keep the curtains closed. This will prevent heat from seeping in and block it to a certain degree. During the colder months, you can keep the curtains open when the sun shines directly through your windows and close them to prevent drought or cold air from seeping in through windows.
Ready-made or custom-made?
Well, this last step depends on your budget. If you want to make a well-thought-of investment, go for custom-made blinds. This way you’ll specify the type of fabric, length and pattern you desire. You can even mix and match several options until you get the perfect curtains for every room.
However, even ready-made curtains can work well for any decor or purpose. The only difference here is that you’ll have to visit several stores until you find the type of curtains that work for you. But, it can be a fun experience, especially if you don’t go shopping that often.
These eight tips can work for any type of home, because all of these factors are necessary when you’re getting new window treatments for your home.
