Sheer Curtains

Gorgeous Sheer Curtains On A Budget

2008-12-12T23:10:00.000-08:00

Of course you can get the really cheap sheer curtains at stores like Walmart, Kmart and the like. But more often than not they are very plane and boring. If you are willing to do some basic sewing (or know someone who can do it for you), it all becomes about finding the right sheer fabric that would frame your windows.

And here is a seriously under-tapped resource that I would love to share with you. For the truly great bargains (and I mean it literally, as in many of these stores you are expected to bargain), check out ethnic South Asian stores. They frequently sell fabric by rolls, but even if they don’t officially sell fabric the way a specialty store would, they often have sets specifically for sarees and costumes (I’ll elaborate on these below).

Some sheer fabrics you can expect to see at a South Asian store are organza, chiffon, georgette and net/tulle.

Sarees also can be used for the fabric. However, be careful when buying a saree for sewing purposes – some sarees have very different pattern at the end then in the rest of the fabric, so unroll and examine.

There are also fabric sets. They can range in price from under $20 to over $100 and usually include three different, but coordinating fabrics. They are called Salwar Kameez (traditional tunic/pants/scarf) set. Typically one piece of fabric is patterned or embroidered, a second one is plain, and a third piece is very sheer and heavily decorated (as it meant for the scarf). Since the fabrics already coordinate very well, one set can provide endless home-décor possibilities as well – Bed throws, cushions, layered curtains, etc… If you are willing to make a stitch here and there, you’d get the highest quality products for a fraction of the price. And the selections in these stores are much more colorful, vibrant and varied than I’ve seen in the mainstream.

Some simple ideas for sheer curtains once you’ve got your gorgeous fabric:

Curtains can be decoratively thrown over (draped) the curtain rod. Or tied in at the corners. Or you can buy simple clip-on hooks and just trim the fabric on both ends.

A piece of sheer gorgeous fabric thrown over a simple curtain rode can be used in combination with blinds – if you already have blinds, but want to have less of an industrial look, light sheer curtains will create just the right touch of freshness.

And don’t be intimidated to make your own curtains. There are many sites online that provide free tips and patters. Just type “free curtain patterns” or “how to sew curtains” in Google, and you’ll get lots of ideas. Warning – designing and making your own sheer curtains can be addictive, just like home décor in general. So it’s a good time to take notes on places to get cheep but high quality raw materials…

Why Choose Sheer Curtains?

2008-10-05T15:01:00.000-07:00

Now seriously, why sheer curtains? Isn’t the whole point of curtains to block the view?

Well, yes and no. Some time the point of curtains is to block the view, the sun and the world. But sometimes curtains are just there as a decoration factor. Haven’t you noticed how bland a room without any window coverings looks? To me it usually resembles some kind of construction zone. The effect of unfinishness is just there. And it is not that easily dispelled by simple blinds.

Just like our hair frames our faces, the curtains frame our windows. Sheer curtains come into the picture when we need to decorate the window but do not want to block the view. Let’s say your house is facing a beautiful park, or a lake. You want to see them, and yet you need to do something about the boring looking windows. What to do? Sheer curtains to the rescue! They will add the beauty, yet you can see outside no problem!

Incidentally, sheer curtains are also called “privacy curtains” because during day time they will block others from looking in. That’s right. You can look out and see everything, but they can’t see you. But be warned that that only works during day time. Some basic drop-down blinds at night will help you keep your privacy then…

I find that when searching for the design of sheer curtains you should take out the outside view into account as well. After all, if transparency is your main goal, then the image you see outside should work well with the curtains. Think of the outside as a picture on your wall. The curtains naturally have to work with the inside and the outside décor. So if your window is backing into a serine nature scene, perhaps curtains with warm natural tones would do the trick.

If your outside view is relatively monotone (a lake, sky, etc), then try sheer curtains with printed (or hand embroidered) patterns. If the view outside is dynamic (maybe a forest or some other natural setting) try more monochrome curtains, but with colors that work with the view.

Curtains should be a tool that links the inside world with the outside.

But sometimes curtains are needed to updates the outside. For example, I find that if the look outside is too industrial (a city, a factory, etc…), sheer curtains with nature patterns on them fade the background just enough to make you feel that your outside view is not as dull as it really is. Which is actually another popular reason for sheer curtains – day curtains to trick you into thinking that your window view is better than it actually is.

Welcome to Sheer Curtains

2008-10-04T22:47:00.000-07:00

Sheer curtains are beautiful. They can serve many purposes. They can give just the right amount of wistfulness to the room to make it romantic. Or the right amount of covering to keep the bugs away, and yet let the fresh air inside. In a room where you already have blinds, but find the industrial look boring, simple sheer curtains can bring in a warm touch of coziness.

Sheer curtains refer to the type of fabric that is used. Light and simple fabric allowing the light to come in. But when it comes to design, you can have myriads of traditional and more modern designs.

Some people like the look of layered sheer curtains. For example, a layered valance over floor-length drapes looks incredibly elegant, yet light. Especially beautiful are pleated curtains, because the light fabric drapes in a very breezy-wispy flow. Excellent for a sun room.

Some of the typical fabrics used to make transparent “privacy curtains” (as these are also known) are polyester voile and cotton lace. Various chiffon fabrics (cotton, silk and polyester) can also be used because of their lightness and see-through quality.

You can buy ready-made curtains, or you can buy light transparent fabric and have them made for you (or make them yourselves). Generally buying the fabric gives more choice and easier coordination with the rest of room design.

When shopping for fabric for sheer curtains, expand your horizons. Frequently ethnic fabric stores (especially Indian décor) carry beautiful hand embroidered laces that would add unique splash of inspiration to any room.