Curtains

New curtains or blinds can complete a room, or totally transform it.

Choosing what type of window dressing

Before you get to the point of choosing the red curtains over the wood blinds, there are a few important things you need to consider.

• What are the requirements of the room? Dark for sleeping? Good at keeping the heat in?
• Do you want the window dressing to be a focus in the room by injecting colour? Or do you need the solution to be neutral so you can change your furniture without having to change the curtains?
• Are blinds the answer? Or curtains?
• Do you want a summer solution and a winter solution? Or something that will work equally well for both?

Argos sells a wide range of window dressing solutions:.

• Blinds – roll-ups, roller, venetian, wooden and black-out
• Ready made curtains
• Curtain lining
• Net curtains
• As well as all the accessories you require – poles, holdbacks, hooks, rods and clips

Measuring Up

Remember – for both curtains and blinds, you need to determine the required drop and width.

BLINDS – you need to decide whether you want your blinds to fit within the window frame, or sit outside the frame. Measure based on your preference.

CURTAINS – Drop is measured from the pole or track down to the required length. As a general rule, pencil pleat curtains should be 1.5 times your window width. Tab-top curtains though, normally just need to lay flat when pulled across the window – so only need to be the coverage width.

And the accessories

Whether you are wanting to put-up and go, or want to spend a little more time getting a co-ordinated look, we have all the accessories you need.

Simply choose your pole (remembering to allow 12-15cm on each side for the curtains to be pulled back and still let in light), then choose your co-ordinating pole end. Lastly pick the matching holdbacks and you are set.

Jargon buster

Drop - The height of the curtain, measured from the pole or track down to the required length.

Holdback/Tieback - Used to literally hold or tie back your curtains when they are not in use. Pulls the curtains back to better frame the window. If matching tiebacks are available, they are generally included with the curtains. Holdbacks are sold separately as co-ordinating accessories.