Decorating Ideas For The Room With Bamboo Curtains

If you're thinking of giving a room a new look, here's an idea that requires only one change that “makes over” an entire room's look, regardless of style of existing decor. What is this silver bullet of decorating? Bamboo curtains. With their warm tones and sleek lines, this window treatment creates a natural sophisticated feel that fits right in with a variety of furnishings and brings unity in a very special way.

Bamboo has been used as a decorative accent for centuries, as window coverings and as living plants in the garden. Bamboo has special and positive symbolism in different cultures. In China, bamboo connotes longevity, while in Japan, it's used at shrines to warn off evil spirits. In India, bamboo signifies friendship. With such pleasant associations, these curtains can add an exotic spicing to your decorating with the additional benefit of being very durable, good-looking and easy to maintain.

As a window treatment, bamboo curtains, shades and blinds are very popular today in both home and office environments, due in large part to the natural beauty in combination with their sturdy characteristics.

Bamboo curtains are still made in the traditional manner, with a little help from new technologies. Bamboo curtains are made by cutting thin strips of the cane, followed by boiling and then drying of the strips. The prepared bamboo is then woven together with thin wire and fitted to a top piece of wood to form the finished bamboo curtains. Simple screw hooks secure the curtains in place at the top of the window. You'll find various mechanisms used to raise and lower the curtains, from a simple roll up to the more sophisticated Roman fold.

Ease of maintenance cinches the case for bamboo curtains. Unlike conventional drapes, these curtains don't require periodic visits to the cleaners. Using your vacuum's brush attachment or a feather duster sprayed with a dust-attracting spray, a quick going over once a week will keep your curtains clean and attractive. You may also use regular furniture polish on a damp cloth to impart a sheen to the surface.

Some styles of bamboo curtains are made with exotic grasses and reeds interwoven with the bamboo, producing striking combinations of colors and textures, lending a natural yet sophisticated look to their surroundings. Currently a favorite of the interior designer, with good reason, bamboo curtains are in demand with their clients. As a home decorator, you should take the hint!

Although comparatively inexpensive when matched against conventional drapes, prices of these curtains vary with complexity of design and the rolling mechanism the curtain employs.

Bamboo curtains are sometimes decorated with murals which can make a stunning display in a room with modern furnishings. Other, plainer styles can be perfect for a lanai or enclosed porch.

With all of these aesthetic and functional qualities, the popularity of bamboo curtains is no wonder. If you want to make over a room, look into the possibilities of these curtains for your home or office.

Country Style Curtains And Furnishing

A quaint home in a country setting is the American dream of millions of people. While the country home image is dreamed of, not all of us have the opportunity of owning a country home. However, you can create a country style decor in a condo in the city, with comfortable country style furnishings reminiscent of the look you love.

When you imagine that charming country home, with pies cooling on the windowsill, what does your mind's eye see on the windows? Country style curtains are certainly the window treatment of choice! Cheerfully checkered or plaid curtains are the epitome of country style curtains. Lace and patterned fabrics also convey a genteel country warmth. Fruits, flowers, and fishing motifs are closely associated with the country lifestyle, making good choices for patterned country style curtains.

For the warmer months of spring and summer, choose a fabric thin enough to flutter in the breeze, but not so transparent as to compromise your privacy. Muslin, all cotton and lace fabrics have a quality of down-home goodness. Fabrics in checkered or plaid patterns are the quintessential country style curtains, with their bright squares of color and cheerful, comfortable look in keeping with a country look. If choosing plain muslin, try trimming the hems with tassels or pompoms of a bright color.

During the cooler weather of fall and winter, you may want a change, using a heavier fabric, both for added insulation and colors more suited to the season. Having two sets of country style curtains also helps avoid becoming tired of the scheme, giving your rooms a fresh look.

Fruit motifs are popular, with apples and pears suited to most seasons. Darker floral patterns can give a cozy feeling to your cool season country style curtains. The farmhouse and barnyard motifs may lend just the look you want. Do you have a fisherman in the house? There are fabrics emblazoned with jumping fish and rod and reel designs.

Still other possibilities include fabrics printed in large panels of one complete scene per panel,much like a mural. These fabrics come in window-sized panels, creating the look of a wall hanging.

When choosing your fabrics for country style curtains, consider your furnishings. If your sofa and chairs have an elaborate pattern, go for a smaller pattern with a unifying background color that complements your furniture. For example, with sofa and chairs in a blue background with an ornate floral pattern, a simple, small pattern with a large background area of a coordinating color will produce a unified and uncluttered look.

In this scenario, plaid country style curtains are a good bet. Simply choose a plaid which picks up the colors in your furnishings with the dominating color which best coordinates to create a balanced mix of light and dark shades.

So if your dream is a country look, but your home is in the city, you can still have the country look, with just a trained eye for the mood.