Backyard Wonderland: Creating a Kids Play Space In Your BackyardBackyard Wonderland: Creating a Kids Play Space In Your Backyard

Indoor drapes serve a number of functional and aesthetic purposes. Like any design choice, though, you should understand the basics. Here are four tips for making the best possible use of drapes in your house.

What Drapes Are

There is a fine distinction between curtains and drapes, but it matters. Drapes are distinguished by the use of thicker materials. Generally, a curtain uses thinner fabric, and a set of curtains will let in a decent amount of light even if you keep them closed.

The thickness of drapes tends to block most light when closed so be aware of their potential impact on available natural light. Even when parted, the dense material will let through little light.

Form Beats Fabric

Most of the time, you won't want to have a sheet of fabric just hanging flatly from a rod. It just isn't a very appealing look, even if the fabric is quite ornate.

Drapes work best when you bunch them to create a sense of form. Fortunately, this also can serve to frame the window. If you have a relatively boring wall in a room, adding indoor drapes that are tied to create a curved shape can break up the space's uninspiring lines.

Use with Curtains and Blinds

Yes, drapes and curtains aren't the same things. However, an indoor drapes services provider will often tell you that's a good thing because you can use curtains and drapes together.

Placing a curtain behind a set of drapes allows you to achieve finer control of the natural light in a room. If you want to completely block out bright light coming through the window late on a winter day, for example, close the drapes. Conversely, you can open the drapes and leave the curtains closed to let some light in. This strategy usually works best with thinner curtains.

Blinds will also usually play nicely with drapes. The strategy is the same, but you may find blinds offer very fine control of natural light. This can be especially useful if you get blinding light through a particular window.

Size Matters

Due to the use of heavy fabrics, drapes get heavier quickly as they go up in size. If you want to have a single pair of drapes cover a wide window, for example, be aware that an indoor drapes services company will have to install some support. Heavier fixtures can provide more support to longer and heavier rails, and that will allow you to hang heavier and larger sets of drapes.

For more information, contact a company like Miniblinds & More - Window Fashions.