In any room, some of the most noticeable pieces of decoration are the window treatments. They instantly stand out against the wall color of most rooms, drawing the attention of the eyes to them as they frame the view through the window similar to framing a picture. Although people go through great pains to select the perfect drapes, many people do not spend a lot of time thinking about their curtain rods. These pieces of hardware present the decorator with an additional opportunity to tie all the different pieces in the room together, creating a cohesive, professional looking design.
One of the first things to consider, when purchasing drapery hanging hardware, is the overall design scheme of the room. For most rooms, the choice of a brushed stainless steel or other dull colored metal pole, works well to suit most room decors. The poles will provide enough strength to hold up most fabric panels, while blending elegantly with the rest of the objects in the room. Most homeowners should consider avoiding shiny brass hardware, however. Brass fixtures are often viewed as outdated and can make a home look out of style and in some opinions tacky. A good alternative that never goes out of style is the use of wooden curtain rods. Available in a variety of stains and finishes, window curtain rods made out of wood can be tinted to match any design scheme.
One negative aspect about wooden drapery hardware is that they tend to sag under the weight of heavy drapes. In order to prevent this, brackets must be positioned not only at the two ends, but also in the center of the pole to distribute the weight of the fabric more evenly. More support brackets may be needed if the window is larger than a typical two-pane window. The diameter of the pole is also important, depending on the drapes that are used. For window treatments that use a heavier fabric, thicker poles are needed. For drapes like sheers, smaller, less obvious poles can be used or even lightweight tension curtain rods.
When choosing a rod for curtains, it’s also necessary to think about the brackets that will be used to support it. A decorator can either choose to select complimentary brackets or contrasting ones, depending on his or her preference. For a bold and contemporary look, a homeowner can choose to accentuate a wooden pole with metal brackets colored to blend in at the top of the window treatment. For a more traditional look, wooden or wrought iron brackets can be used to make a support system suitable for heavier drapes.
Once held in place with curtain rod brackets, they can be finished off with curtain rod finials. These pieces of hardware are decorative additions that can be placed at the ends of the pole. Popular designs for finials include the fleur de lis, pomegranates, pineapples, acorns, or simple ball shapes. These end pieces often come as part of a set with matching tie backs that can be used to keep the curtains held open. Used in combination, these two pieces of hardware can create a complete, designer level appearance.
Buying curtain rods is often an overlooked part of shopping for window treatments, but selecting the right one can make the difference between a room that looks professionally decorated and one that presents itself with a more amateurish appearance.
