Picking out curtains or any window coverings is not the easiest part of decorating your home. Do you want them to stand out and be a focal point or just to accentuate your beautiful windows? Do you need them to plt out the light like you would in the bedroom or do you want them light and airy? Once you have that figured out now it is time to go shopping. But before you put done your hard earned cash there are a few more things you need to decide on first.

Color

First, what color do you want? You need to select a set of curtains that go with the rest of your room. First, match the color to the walls since that’s what you’ll see the curtains up against. Go with something that either compliments the walls or contrasts with them if you want to make a bold statement. If you’re going with a contrasting color, you may want to match your curtains more to your furniture or to your carpet. Selecting a contrasting curtain color that goes with your furniture can create a very interesting combination and look really good.  Here is some help picking the right colored curtains.

If you select curtains that have a pattern to them, make sure that pattern looks good in the room. If you have wallpaper with a pattern in it, you’ll want the curtains to match or, at the very least, not clash horribly. Again, look for patterns that go with your furniture, rugs, and other décor so that your curtains won’t look out of place.

Thickness

Thickness is something else you’ll want to consider. If you want the room to look light and airy but don’t want to have to open the curtains every day, you might want curtains that are somewhat see-through. If you’re going to open and close the curtains each day, then you might want heavier curtains. Likewise, if you are looking for curtains for your bedroom and you’re a late sleeper, you’re going to want very heavy curtains that block out the sunlight. Lighter curtains will let in light, waking you up earlier.

Functionality

But do you want functional curtains? Some people buy curtains with decoration in mind, not actual use. For these people, the curtains may always be open or tied off to the side. If you want decorative curtains, you don’t need to really consider use. Instead, you’ll just want to keep color and pattern in mind. If you’re not going to close the curtains or need them to block out light, you have many more options.

You also need to take into account the current hardware you have up on the walls. If you don’t want to replace curtain rods and other mounting items, you will want to select curtains that can use the same rods that you already have up.