Drapery 101: A Complete Guide to the Perfect Window Treatments

Draperies can transform a room, adding elegance, texture, and functionality. They frame your windows, control light, and contribute significantly to your space’s overall aesthetic. This guide will walk you through the basics of selecting and styling the perfect draperies for your home.

Header styles

The header of your draperies refers to the top of the panels, such as some of the popular styles shown below.

Fabrics

Selecting the right fabric is crucial for both appearance and longevity. Consider the room's function and traffic when making your choice. For high-traffic areas or homes with children and pets, durable, easy-to-clean fabrics like polyester or performance fabrics are ideal. More delicate fabrics like silk may be better suited for formal spaces with less wear and tear. Depending on the type of fabric you choose, drapery can help buffer sounds, making it an especially important consideration for large rooms with hard surfaces like tile.

Pro tip: Consider your header style when choosing fabric. Lightweight fabrics work well for soft pleats, medium weight for structured pleats, and heavier fabrics for a heavily structured look.

Cotton

Versatile and widely available, cotton is all-natural and comes in a variety of colors and patterns to suit any aesthetic. It’s a great all-purpose choice for many rooms.

Linen

Linen offers natural texture and warmth, perfect for creating a relaxed atmosphere. While it wrinkles easily, many find this part of its charm. Linen also stretches over time, so it’s not the best choice if you’re looking for a long-term solution.

Silk

Luxurious and known for its drapability, silk is high-maintenance and prone to sun damage and water spots. It’s best reserved for formal living and dining rooms where it won’t face excessive wear.

Velvet

With excellent light-blocking properties, velvet is ideal for cozy, intimate spaces like bedrooms and home theaters.

SHeer

Lightweight and translucent, sheers allow plenty of light filtration. It’s perfect for spaces where you want to prioritize light exposure or pair it with heavier drapes for layered window treatments.

Polyester

Durable, easy to maintain, and budget-friendly, polyester resists wrinkles and fading. It’s a practical choice for high-traffic areas and homes with pets and children.

Pro tip: You can find polyester copycats for high-maintenance fabrics such as linen or silk- these will save money and peace of mind!

Linings

Lining your draperies is often required, but also offers multiple benefits. If your room receives abundant light, consider blackout lining to block light and improve insulation. Linings also (1) protect your fabric from fading, helping your draperies maintain their appearance over time (2) enhance the drape of thinner fabrics, giving them a fuller, more luxurious look and (3) provide a clean white appearance from street view.

Hanging Your draperies

For a designer’s touch, hang your draperies high and wide. Avoid hanging your drapery directly above the window! Elevate your style (literally) by hanging those beauties at or closer to the ceiling. This technique elongates the window and draws the eye upward, making the room feel taller. A good rule of thumb is to divide the space between the ceiling and window into thirds, then hang your rod in the uppermost portion.  

Choose a rod that extends 10 to 12 inches beyond the window width on each side. This allows draperies to be pulled back fully without blocking the natural light. As for length, aim for draperies that barely graze the floor for a polished look.

Stationary versus functional

Stationary draperies are purely decorative and don’t cover the window when closed. They’re a great option if you don’t need privacy or if you have another layer providing privacy or light control, such as blinds or shades.

Functional draperies are designed to cover the windows when pulled closed. For a full look when closed, ensure you have at least 1.5 times the fabric width of your window.

Pro tip: Don’t forget about the ability to motorize your window treatments! You can do so with either direct wiring or battery power. Imagine being able to open your drapery with just the touch of a button. It’s like having a mini home upgrade that makes your life a tiny bit easier every day.

The details

The right hardware and embellishments can elevate your drapery design. Here are the key components:

Drapery rods

Available in various styles and materials like wood, metal, or acrylic, drapery rods can be straight or curved (French rods), with the latter connecting back to the wall for enhanced light blocking.

Brackets

Brackets secure the rod to the wall. For large windows, you may need multiple brackets spaced evenly to support the weight of the draperies.

Finials

These decorative end pieces prevent rings from sliding off and provide an opportunity to further style your windows.

Tiebacks

Tiebacks allow you to elegantly hold your draperies open, adding another decorative element to your window treatment. These can be made from metal, wood, tassels, and cording trim to coordinate with your room’s décor.

TRIM

Drapery trim is a great way to add visual interest and a tailored look to your window treatments. There is a wide array of trims available, from decorative tapes and cords to braids, fringe, and tassels. These trims can coordinate with the drapery fabric for a cohesive aesthetic or provide a striking contrast. Trim can be applied along the leading edge, bottom hem, or header of the drapery panel.

Pro tip: Consider carrying the trim motif to other textiles in the room, such as a throw pillow or upholstered piece of furniture, for a harmonious, designer-curated look.

Cornices

A cornice is a box-like structure mounted above the window, typically adorned with paint, wallpaper, or fabric. This versatile design element can be artfully paired with soft window treatments or shades to create a layered look. Alternatively, a cornice can stand alone, offering a cost-effective yet stylish way to elevate the space and add architectural interest to the room.

Pro tip: Using a cornice to hide shades provides an aesthetically appealing option that is often more cost-effective than installing room-darkening draperies.