Custom Draperies: What Style Works For You?
bwsit • Jul 25, 2017

Dressing your windows with store-bought, ready-made draperies can be a guessing game. In the opinion of many designers, you’re better off leaving them bare or making due with a shade for privacy until you can afford the “real deal” — custom draperies, which will fit your window the way they’re supposed to, hang correctly and look like no store-bought version ever could. But before you open up your checkbook, it pays to know what your options are, so we’ve put together a little primer on custom draperies to help you decide on the best style for your tastes, your window type, and your budget.

Before you decide on a style, you’ll need to consider a few basics …

Stationary or Moving?

If you use shades or blinds to provide privacy when needed, a  stationery drapery  may be perfect for a layered look. However, if you’re using draperies alone, you’ll probably want a pair that moves, either manually or via a motor and a remote control, in order to open and close them at will.

Where Do You Want Them to Break?

This is custom-drapery lingo for “How long do you want them to be?” You may want them to stop at the point where the floor meets the wall, or you may prefer a  “puddled”  look, which is decidedly elegant, but probably not practical if you have a shedding pet!

Full or Tailored?

One of the advantages of ordering custom draperies is that you can opt for a fuller, more luxurious look. (Store-bought draperies are typically only twice the width of a window, whereas a custom drapery can be three or even four times wider for a richer, more voluminous appearance. Or, if you prefer a more modern or minimalist approach to decorating, you can have a more tailored drapery made in the fabric of your choice.

Once you’ve narrowed down your functional and general preferences, you can decide what type of draperies will best fit your design style …

Inverted Box Pleats

This is a great style for a couple, since inverted box pleats are neither too feminine nor too masculine. They have a nice,  tailored look when closed , and stack nicely when opened, allowing beautiful hardware to take center stage!

Tie-Backs

Tie-Back draperies are a traditional style, so if you’re a lover of modern spaces, you probably won’t love them. If, on the other hand, you love all things classic and elegant, a nice pair of custom tie-backs may be just the thing for  elegantly dressing a beautiful window  while allowing you to take in a great view at the same time.

Romantic

Do you love a romantic, ethereal look? Opt for flowing gauzy draperies that  puddle  on the floor or  billow with the breeze  through an open window.

Casual

Is your home more casual than formal? There’s no law that says your custom draperies must be long. Options such as  roman shades  offer the pattern and lining choices of custom-made draperies, but impart a decidedly relaxed look to a room. Another casual option is  tab-top  or tie-top draperies.

Benefits of Custom Draperies

Not only will custom draperies fit your windows perfectly, but you’ll have your choice of fabrics, colors, patterns and hardware. You’ll also be able to customize the lining, adding a blackout or thermal lining in lieu of a standard cotton or synthetic lining. You can even opt to forgo manually operated cords and have your custom draperies motorized, an option that’s not only more convenient, particularly with tall or expansive windows, but also safer in households with children or pets.

You’ll also have the benefit of professional installation by a drapery expert who knows all of the little “tricks” to make your new custom draperies look and function the way they should! (For example, did you know that it’s a good idea to leave one ring outside the bracket when installing ringed draperies? That little trick helps hold your draperies in place as you open and close them!)

If you’re looking for the best custom draperies for your Central Alabama home, you won’t find a better place to get them than  Just Blinds . We’ve been serving the region for more than 30 years, offering the finest fabrics, the best selection, and a team of professionals with a desire to meet your every need!

Contact us  today to learn more about how  Just Blinds  can help you choose a style that fits your taste and your budget!

By Autumn Hooper 07 Feb, 2024
Each year, styles in window treatments come and go. Trends that were hot last year may carry over to the new interior decor season or may be replaced by something new. In 2024, we are looking at a delightful set of trends in blinds, shades, and curtains that embrace the developing attitudes and popular colors that are already giving the year a unique stylistic personality. At Just Blinds, we are delighted to keep up with the trends, helping homeowners, designers, and property managers to create stunning spaces that align with the latest in window treatment trends. The Hot Trends of 2023 Blinds and Shades Last year in 2023, we saw a great collection of trends, many of which have evolved and strengthened with the new year. 2023 explored the innovations of cell shades and honeycomb shades for the benefits of insulation and light control. Motorization gained a prominant place in both home and office design, and decorators discovered the dynamic possibilities of shades that operate from both the bottom and the top on floor-to-ceiling tracks. Texture saw a real debut with natural colors like wood finishes, linen, dusty rose, and moss green. Though bold patterns also had their day in the sun. The Trending 2024 Window Treatments In 2024, you may recognize a few trends still going strong from the year before, which is good news for those who decorated last year because your style is likely still right on-trend. But we are also seeing new trends developing with elegant enthusiasm. Smart Home Blinds The trend for motorized shades has naturally evolved to favor smart home controls. With a simple voice command, you can take control of all the motorized shades in a room, in your entire home, or set each shade to exactly the height and opacity you desire. Warm Neutrals and Bold Natural Colors Color trends favor a more natural palette. Neutral colors are warmer, even the grays and charcoals have a honey undertone, while natural colors like mossy and forest green are growing stronger in hue paired with a jewelbox of flower petal colors. If you're following the Colors of the Year, you may have also noticed an adoration of ocean blues, and you can match those blues with slightly darker or lighter blinds for beautiful effect. Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Materials Natural materials and textures were popular in 2023, and 2024 takes this trend even further. Blinds made out of recycled materials are now on the rise alongside the growing popularity of blinds made from super-sustainable plants like bamboo, hemp, jute, and grass cloth. These offer natural colors, dynamic textures, and the delight of eco-friendly design. Gauzy Sheer Elegance Sheer curtains and semi-sheer blinds are also in fashion; a classic style that has been floating near the top of popularity for literal centuries. Sheer curtains and blinds maintain privacy while allowing sunlight into the room in a gently diffused glow. They also layer excellently with more robust window treatments. Creative Window Treatment Layering Speaking of layering, we are seeing an enthusiastic embrace of creatively layered styles. Wooden shutters, gauzy curtains, and black-out blinds are among the most popular layers, but decorators are getting creative with how they choose to to layer their window treatments, using both multiple fabrics and structures at the same time. Find the Blinds that Best Suit Your Needs How can you choose fantastic and on-trend blinds that perfectly suit your design needs? Fortunately, the diversity of this year's trends leave room for almost any personal sense of style and the individual needs of each room's windows. Start with the size of your windows and your room's existing color palette. Decide if you want to match, accent, or contrast the colors of the room. Then choose the opacity, privacy, and level of motorized control you desire. This should guide you toward a specific selection that will work well for your room. From there, it's a matter of specific features and your personal sense of style. Reach Out for Expert and On-Trend Advice If you are getting ready to decorate a room and want the perfect window treatments for 2024, we are only a phonecall or a visit away. Give us a call for expert advice in the right blinds or shades for each window in your home. Our on-trend window treatment experts will be glad to help tailor your window treatment design to your personal tastes, the latest trends, and the style of each of your rooms.
20 Jul, 2023
Is your AC bill keeping you down this summer? Is your home too hot? Window treatments can help cool your home, but you need to choose the right ones and use them correctly. Not all window coverings are made equal. Here are some of the best options to help keep your home comfortable and reduce costs this summer: Cellular or honeycomb shades. These are specifically designed to provide a high level of insulation that keeps the heat out of your home. They also don't block the view when completely drawn. As a bonus, you can get them in a wide variety of colors and patterns to match your home and in both top-down and bottom-up configurations. Drapery. Old-fashioned curtains can be surprisingly effective. Choose a medium color and have us add a white plastic backing to reflect heat out of your home. You can also use drapes to block some of the heat without excluding much light, allowing you to enjoy natural light flowing through your drapes. Fabric Roman shades. These are a distinctive option that really dresses up a room, and if you choose the kind with several layers they will definitely help keep the heat out. We have light filtering and blackout options and everything in between. Why Should You Use These Types of Shades or Blinds? The two reasons are to save money and help protect the environment. Good shades keep your home cooler and this means your air conditioning systems don't have to work as hard and use as much energy. In the northern hemisphere, it's most important to have heat-reducing treatments on your southern windows and you can allow more light in through windows that face north. Both cellular and Roman shades can also be motorized and even put on timers to close the shades when you are not there and then let light in when you return. The small amount of energy used by motorized shades is much less than that lost through naked windows. All of these shades can also add to the aesthetics of your room. Cellular shades are great to add a pop of color or a subtle pattern. Both drapery and Roman shades give a soft feel to your windows that then spreads to the rest of your room. What is the Best Choice? The best choice of the three depends on your personal aesthetics. Our designers can help you make the right choice. If you want motorized shades, cellular shades are the lightest and thus use the least energy, and can roll all the way up and down, leaving your windows completely unrestricted. Roman shades are more visible, but can be used to add fabric and color to a room. Many people still love the look of traditional window drapes. Note that you can also combine shades and drapes for the effect you want, both in terms of reducing heat loss and in terms of aesthetics. How Much Can I Actually Save? The amount you save depends on the kind of window covering you use and how much thermal gain your house typically experiences. The larger your windows, in general, the larger the benefit, especially south-facing windows. For example, medium-colored draperies with a white plastic backing can reduce heat gain by as much as 33% for that window. Most window treatments, though, reduce overall heat gain by about 10%. This can significantly reduce your bills, by $100 to $200 a month during the summer. Using the right window treatment can make your home more comfortable in the summer and save money while preserving the environment. For advise on which window treatments to choose for your home and to see our selection of blinds and shades, contact Just Blinds today.
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