Window DrapesWindow drapes come
in a variety of sizes and shapes. Drapes are similar to
curtains in that they help to regulate the amount of light
that enters the room and also helps to insulate the room.
There are many types of window drapes including thermal, silk
and blackout drapes. |
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Typically drapes are used both for shielding out light and
decoration. Unlike thinner curtains, drapes are usually thicker with
more attention paid to the material and color. Thinner silk drapes
offer a beautiful solution to window coverings. Thicker, thermal
insulated drapes can shield out the cold of winter nights to make
your room feel cozy and warm. Drapes are usually placed on the outer
side of other thinner window coverings such as shades or thin
curtains. The reason is that during the day, you probably don¡¯t want
to have your drapes closed as this will most likely shield out most
of the light. Of course, if you want your room darker you can close
the drapes. However, most of the time during the day, you want to
have some light to come through your windows to brighten up your
room. In this case, you want to put some translucent shades or
curtains so that you can still have your privacy while allowing some
light to shine through. During hot summer afternoons, you way want
to draw your drapes closed as well so that you can shield out the
glaring sunlight.
Sometimes the term drapes and curtains can
be used interchangeably. In general, think of drapes as more for
decoration and shielding out light completely. Therefore, many
drapes are actually called blackout drapes. Usually, there are no
other window coverings outside of drapes. Curtains, on the other
hand, are used more for regulating light. They are opened and closed
several times a day depending on how much light you want to let in
your room.
Taking care of drapes is similar to taking care
of any good clothing that you have. Drapes are usually dry cleaned
as they are delicate and washing them in water would destroy most
drapes. When choosing drapes, make sure that you go look and feel
the materials. Ask about the light shielding and thermal properties
of the material. Be especially careful if you are looking for drapes
to shield out light to test out the drapes. Some dark colored drapes
may look like they will darken a room when in fact light will shine
through them. If you want to be sure of the blackout feature, you
can always buy a blackout lining in addition to the drapes.
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