Choosing window coverings on a budget
If you are tired of your room, if you find it boring and something just isn't right, one of the easiest ways to give your room a makeover is just by changing your window coverings. Whether you decide to go with blinds, curtains, swags, valances, or whatever, just a few easy steps can update your look and give your room a whole new lease on life. The best news is that window coverings don't have to break your bank--you can have chic, easy window coverings that give you that much needed style update and that can fit within your budget.
1. What kind of windows do you have?
First of all, decide what kind of look you want and what kind of window covering will work best for your room and for the windows that you have. Look at how your windows work--how they open and close. You will choose your window covering style based on how your windows work. Does your window slide horizontally? Then you might want to rethink that plan to get vertical blinds.
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2. Choose the right fabric
Think about how much light your window treatments will be getting. The sun will fade your material, so if you want to save money and not have to replace your window treatments all the time, choose the right material. Silk will go first and fastest. The strongest fabrics that can best resist the sun are polyester, acrylic, modacrylic, and glass fibers. You can find great patterns to fit any style in all of these fabrics.
3. Fabric panels and valances
Some window treatments that work well for all windows and for all budgets are just hanging panels of fabric on a rod. Another window covering that works well for most windows is valances, whether box valances or otherwise. Valances are easy to create by just using bars and fabric. Make sure when you are choosing your window covering treatment that it works well with the colors in your room and the style of your furniture. You can use raffia to tie up your panels for that shabby-chic look. You can also create a napkin valance, a hanging box valance, or a basket weave valance. While these are standard shapes, you can use unique and interesting fabric for a style infusion.
4. Customize your curtain rod
There are a number of different things that you can do with your curtain rod in order to have a customized look at a much lower price. For example, you can cover up that flimsy tension rod with some PVC pipe. You can spray paint the pipe any color you want--black to give it the appearance of wrought iron, brown will make it look like wood, you can go for verdigris with copper and dark green. You can also buy a wooden closet dowel instead of expensive drapery rods. If you want a metallic look, just pick up a piece of copper pipe.
5. Tie back your curtains
There are a lot of different things that you can use to tie back your curtains without splurging for those little, but essential, finishing touches. You can use fishing wire if you have really delicate fabric panels. Use your easily available, and inexpensive, Christmas tree tassel decorations. Find interesting old hardware for the tieback holders. If it works, then it doesn't matter what it was originally for. Just go look up in your closet, or visit the local antique shop. Just think outside the box, and you can have a great looking room for a great price.
