7 curtain mistakes to avoid

I know people who will go to a fundi, estimate the size of their windows using the walls at the tailor’s workshop. They will then sit and wait as the tailor quickly makes the curtains, which they happily take home and hang. The results...

Your guess is as good as mine. Curtains play a big role on the look of your home. To get the best out of them, avoid the following mistakes. Otherwise, I will soon start a campaign ‘operation nunua curtains’.

Many accessories: There are many curtain accessories available in the market such as tie-backs, tassels and fringes. They do not always make curtains more appealing. Instead, they can be an indicator of bad taste. Why, for instance, should flowered, shiny curtains, which already have a pelmet and elaborate tiebacks, have bows, made from the same fabric, attached to the pelmet? Instead of making your home more beautiful, it becomes an eyesore.

Wrong length/size: Whether too long or too short, the curtains will look ugly. Ensure they are of the right length. Other than looking ugly on the kitchen window, long curtains are also difficult to work with, especially if it hangs above the kitchen sink. Short curtains are a big no for the living room or bedroom. Then some windows have curtains that hardly cover them simply because the fabric was not enough. Curtains look great when they have sufficient gathers.

Wrong shade: The curtain shade should complement other items in the room. Our mothers had similar curtains in all the rooms. Not anymore; different shades suit different rooms. Dark shades work best for bedrooms, while light shades are suitable for living rooms. You need more light in the living room than in the bedroom. Ensure, however, that the shade complements everything else in the room.If your room is bright, avoid colourful curtains. Otherwise, your interior will only offer a visual ‘congestion’. Colourful curtains work best if your home is decorated in neutral and monochrome colours.

Professionalism: The fact that one owns a sewing machine does not mean they can make curtains. Go for best services and quality curtains. A reputable interior decorator or a shop that deals with making and selling curtains has sold many curtains to satisfied customers.

Cheap fabric: The market is flooded with cheap curtain fabric. I know of shops that sell fabric for as cheap as Sh200 a metre. They look beautiful but of poor quality. Within no time, the curtains start fading, especially on the side that faces the sun or the thread pulls off any time a sharp object comes into contact with it.

Poor installation: Never hang heavy curtains on a curtain wire. Get a fundi to fix curtain rails so that you hang your curtains well. Otherwise, you end up with sagging curtains, which is the worst curtain mistake. Whenever a curtain hook falls off, fix it immediately; otherwise, they will keep falling and you end up with curtains that are falling out of the window. However elegant or stylish they are, they will never look good. If you can’t install them by yourself, get a professional to do it.

Wrinkled curtains: You can get beautiful curtains from secondhand shops. Just like the secondhand clothes, it would be wise to wash and iron them first before hanging them up. Some people get the curtains straight from Gikomba to the window.

Do not make your space look disheveled.