Curtains are a soft furnishing cornerstone – creating a sense of completion and bringing warmth and depth to a home. And when it comes to choosing window coverings, there’s now a galaxy of designs on offer, from designer print curtains to crisp sheers. But there are still a few core rules we shouldn’t ignore.

Design Expert Neale Whitaker takes us through his top tips for choosing curtains.

For example, there’s really no need to have the same window furnishings in each room. It all depends on the location of the room and the types of windows. Houses with a south-facing facade will need different window furnishings to those facing west – or if you’re furnishing sliding or french doors, your choice will be very different to a window.

Is your room style formal or relaxed, is it a media room or a bedroom? These are all considerations, and the main reason why you don’t need to be consistent in your window furnishings throughout your home.

The importance of form, function and feel

Luxaflex Brand Partner and Interior Design Expert, Neale Whitaker has shared some of his top tips when it comes to selecting the perfect curtains for your home.

“When planning window coverings, you need to consider the style of the room and what function the window covering needs to perform,” Neale says. “People rarely consider how a space should feel. It’s one thing to choose an interior style, but if your space doesn’t suit that style in terms of light or proportion, it simply won’t feel right. By all means seek inspiration, but don’t be afraid to create your own style. Bring your own personality to a space and don’t be afraid to express different styles in your home.”

“Curtains are a great way to transform the interior design of your home as well as delivering on functional benefits such as light blocking and thermal insulation.”

Neale Whitaker

Neale also explains how curtains help create the illusion of more space and add depth and focus to a room.

Neale Whitaker’s Top Tips When It Comes To Choosing Curtains

Whether your style is bold and brash or more muted and calming, there’s a curtain to suit your space. And it’s not necessarily the most obvious choice!

Classic Style

The beauty of a classic style of curtain is that they suit both traditional and more modern interiors. If you have timber furniture, such as an oak dinner table, go for curtains that include softer tones like ivory, yellows,  browns, blues and greens. These will work with lighter and darker-toned timber. Of course, it’s hard to go wrong with white, and off-white continues to be a super popular choice for traditional homes. And more contemporary abodes look fabulous with crisp, cool-white window furnishings.

If you’re after a layered look, Neale Whitaker suggests a woven linen fabric. Because linen has more variations and less of a uniform look, it lends itself to adding texture.

Contemporary Style

Modern styling is pared-back and minimalist. So when you’re looking at curtains for a contemporary home it’s all about clean lines and texture.

It’s hard to go past linen and linen-look fabrics for capturing this clean look. And if your style changes, they’ll still blend seamlessly.

Opulent Style

This is where heavier fabrics with loads of texture are best at home. Jacquards and embroidered curtains add a touch of luxe.

Hanging Tips

After narrowing down your style of curtain, it’s time to choose the best way to hang them, and what length they should be. This all helps create the mood that you’re after.

According to Neale, curtains are all about helping create an illusion of height, so wider and higher is always best. You can achieve this really easily but extending the track as close to the ceiling as possible and past the window width.

Choosing wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling curtains or sheers can add visual luxury and dramatic impact to a room, says Neale.

There are a few different lengths that work with curtains and each lends itself to a different style. They may hang just below the window, they may skim the floor, or they may puddle at the bottom creating a relaxed style. Usually, longer curtains suit a more traditional style, while shorter and more streamlined curtains are great for a contemporary edge.

Check out the Making HOME Renovation Series and see how we chose the perfect curtains and blinds for one Sydney home.