ALM Curtains

Curtain styles

How your curtain looks once it is hanging depends largely on the fabric that you select at the beginning.

Soft and draped back

If you would like your curtain to drape beautifully onto the floor with tiebacks for example, then choosing a thick chunky fabric will not give you that look. A silky fabric, voile or a light weight fabric would be a better choice.

Straight Hang

Most fabrics suit this look, whatever heading you choose (see below for headings). Fabrics with a strong horizontal weave may try to straighten out and start to spread into the room and need a tieback to keep them in check! This sometimes occurs with short hang curtains (sill length) if a thick fabric is used.

Working or Dress curtains

There are four main options at a window; working curtains, dress curtains, curtains and blinds combination and blinds only. Working curtains open and close and are the main way of blocking out the light at the window. Dress curtains sit at either side of the window and look pretty but never get used and aren't wide enough to work. You can add a blind to either option to use instead of the curtain and of course you can have just a blind if you like the modern, simple look. Go to www.almblinds.co.uk to order blinds.

Lining

There are three types of lining available; normal curtain lining, interlining and blackout lining. Normal lining is made of cotton sateen, which is a cotton fabric with a little bit of polyester in it to help it drape well. Interlining is a thicker lining which is placed in between the lining and your fabric to bump up the thickness of the curtain and improve draft and sound exclusion. It also helps thin fabrics to look thicker if that's the look you want but have fallen in love with a thin fabric. Good for old draughty windows. Blackout Lining is generally used in bedrooms where complete darkness is required, i.e. children's bedrooms for that afternoon nap, teenager's bedrooms for that morning nap or those of us who just need it really dark! We have a super soft blackout lining, which is the same weight as our lining so none of that stiff old blackout cardboard of old!