Window Drapery Panels   

Reap the many benefits from a suitable window dressing that adds interest, colour and functionality to any room.  With so many options to choose from it can be difficult to determine what’s best for your personal style and needs.  Whether you choose blinds or shades to block out natural light, window drapery panels decorate a room with an added creative appeal.

A good reason drapery or curtains are commonly used, even if it’s to accent blinds, is that fabric has a comforting and inviting quality to it.  Using any type of fabric will be more visually appealing than any hard surfaced window dressing.  The softness of fabrics relax any room for a more lived in and homey feel.  Another appeal is that with fabric offerings there are a lot more options to be able to express your personality and individually design your drapery or curtains to any style of room.

The terms ‘curtains’ and ‘drapery’ are often used to refer to the same kind of window dressing and vaguely describe fabric hanging over a window.  However, there are distinctions between a curtain panel and a drapery panel.  A curtain is generally lightweight or a common type of fabric and hangs from a rod using rings, tabs or a rod pocket that extends the length of the panel.  They also will not be lined and open and close by manually pushing aside and pulling in the panels. 

Drapery panels will always have a lining (and sometimes an interlining if the fabric calls for it) and are often made with more specialized fabrics like silk, jacquards, linens and velvet.  They will have hooks attached to the fabric, which would be attached to a traverse rod and open and close with the use of a pull cord.  Draperies are also usually stiffened at the top with crinoline or buckram to provide a more tailored look.  The fabric for drapery panels are usually pleated using either pinch pleat, where a three finger grouping of fabric is pinched below the top of the fabric about 3” down, or an inverted pleat in which the pleats are at the top of the drapes.

A gorgeous looking fabric to use for drapery is silk.  It’s light airy qualities and shiny look make it an intriguing addition for a dining room, sitting room, or elegance for a bedroom.  Gossamer sheers can be made out of silk, there are silk dupioni drapery panels and silk taffeta panels and a few different silk blends.  If you’re really not interested in paying the higher price for silk but like the sheen of silk then you might want to check out the faux-silk options.  They are generally made with cheap polyester blends, so don’t expect quality but that may just be the right fit at the right price.

Choosing the most suitable style for your window coverings may take a bit of consideration, but for something that can have a dramatic effect on a room you’ll want to think over your desires for functionality and design to have your window drapery panels be an investment you’re proud of.