With the help of textiles you can either transform the interior or ruin it. Therefore, you need to be extremely responsible when choosing curtains. Proper design of textiles will make the interior as cozy as possible. In addition, curtains help correct the flow of direct rays of the sun.
Soft lighting creates a comfortable atmosphere in the room and allows you to create favorable conditions for daytime sleep. And if your apartment is located on the ground floor, curtains will protect you from prying eyes from the street.
Types of curtains
Roman or roller curtains complement the design concept of the nursery, mask the windows, and also add zest to the color and finishing design.
Roman
This type of curtain is one of the most ancient ways of decorating window openings, which, thanks to modern ideas, has also become popular.
Roman curtains are a straight piece of fabric, equipped with a slatt at the bottom, and vertically stitched with ribbons with rods (to secure the shape of the curtain and the operation of the lifting mechanism). There are also rings on the cords, with which you can lift the fabric and form beautiful folds at the top.
One of the varieties of curtains for children is cascading products, which do not have rods, so when half-assembled they turn into waves rather than folds.
To complement this effect, natural thin materials (usually silk) are used in the manufacture of such curtains, which can be smooth or textured, dense (blackout curtains for completely darkening the room) or translucent, decorated with patterns or plain.
Pros:
- originality;
- ease of use;
- practicality.
Roman curtains can be additionally decorated with various accessories - feathers, cords, fringe, beads, scallops.
Rolled
These curtains are made of fabric that can be rolled at the top and hidden in a cassette box. They are attached both to the entire window opening and to individual sashes, which is very important when the window opens.
You can choose roller curtains from materials of varying degrees of permeability (from blackout to translucency) and various colors: black, white, rainbow-colored. The main difference is synthetics.
Product advantages:
- ease of operation;
- ease of cleaning;
- the ability to combine with traditional fabric curtains;
- providing access to the window sill.
Expert opinion
Olga Kovalenko
Since 2010 I have been engaged in interior design and architectural design.
The best roller blinds for the nursery window are translucent, in delicate pastel shades, as they create diffused light in the room. If an impermeable fabric is chosen, it is advisable to avoid variegated and bright colors, as they can have an irritating effect on the nervous system.
Fabric structure
Despite the importance of material safety, it is not necessary to choose natural formulations. These fabrics are not always easy to care for, and deformation is possible after washing. Natural textiles are difficult to iron, so it is very difficult to give a neat look.
The exception is fabrics made of cotton and chintz. They are easy to care for, but the coloring pigment is quickly washed out after washing and fades from the sun. Curtains mixed with natural and synthetic compositions retain color, are easy to clean and do not wrinkle.
For all their advantages, such fabrics are non-toxic and safe. Roller blinds are entirely made of polyester, but the composition fully complies with the standards and is very easy to clean.
Modern manufacturers do not use raw materials that can harm humans. And for complete peace of mind, you should give preference to materials with a quality certificate.
Choosing curtains
Even if the child has not yet matured enough to understand what design and interior design are, it is better to choose interesting curtains together with him.
For girls room
Ideas for curtains in a nursery for little princesses are more varied than for boys, so parents who are thinking about the need to decorate the room with curtains will have to work hard. You should pay attention to such aspects.
- Color. In a room with windows facing south, curtains in turquoise, lilac or purple shades will look best. For the north, east or west side, yellow, beige, coral or light green tones are more suitable. This color scheme can be chosen for girls of all ages, and as they grow older, the owner herself will make any adjustments.
- Drawing. For a girl's room, curtain fabric in a floral, star, polka dot or fine check pattern is suitable. A horizontal strip, visually expanding the space, or a vertical strip, visually lengthening the ceiling, as well as patterns in any direction, look good. If any pattern is chosen, it should be combined with the finishing of surfaces and furniture in the nursery. Little princesses will definitely like curtains with fairies, cartoon characters or animals, and older girls - with flowers.
- Style. Compositions of Roman blinds with fabric curtains or transparent tulle with curtains that will not serve as “dust collectors” are suitable for a girl’s children’s room. Another solution is short Roman or roll structures up to the window sill, supplemented with tulle if necessary.
Boys room ideas
For little men, choosing curtains for a nursery is quite simple, but it can be done according to the same principles as for girls. And the same 3 tips are relevant:
- Color. Curtains with a combination of muted shades, for example, red and blue with blue or green and purple with lavender, are well suited for boys' rooms. Light-colored curtains (orange or yellow) are suitable for children's rooms with windows facing north, dark curtains for rooms with windows facing south, east or west.
Curtains in a boy's bedroom should not match the walls in shade - if the surfaces in the room are brightly colored, it is better to choose curtains in pastel or neutral tones, and vice versa - plain walls will emphasize the richness and richness of the fabrics.
- Drawing. For children's rooms where boys live, curtains with the following patterns are most often chosen:
- cars, trains, motorcycles, planes;
- pirates and ships;
- oceans and inhabitants of the deep sea;
- geographical maps and landmarks of the world;
- sports (racing, football, hockey);
- space, images with stars;
- characters, castles;
- landscapes.
For kids, it is advisable to choose curtains with a lot of small patterns.
- Style. For active boys, curtains should not be an obstacle - it is best if they are short, not too fluffy and without unnecessary decorations. In their children's rooms, short, straight curtains or practical roller blinds look great.
For a teenagers room
Curtains for a child's room for a teenage boy or girl must be chosen based on the child's preferences. As a basic option, you can consider the classic combination: transparent tulle with thick curtains, or give preference to more modern roller blinds or Roman blinds.
If you choose a neutral color, your teen will be able to shape their design by complementing pastel or white tones with bright accessories.
Curtains in a teenager's bedroom must be:
- easy to care for;
- environmentally friendly;
- wrinkle-resistant;
- do not collect dust;
- unfading in the sun.
Design and style solutions
Has your daughter developed new preferences that scare you a little? Are there posters hanging above the bed, are the walls not cheerful, and are candles burning instead of normal lighting? This stage and self-expression of your young girl can be turned into a real adventure if you choose the interior elements wisely. For Gothic and any other informal style, a spectacular decor in purple, lilac shades interspersed with pink, black, and red is suitable.
In this case, look at the design of the curtains “to resemble a tapestry”, the unusual design of stained glass windows. In order to add “kindness” and unbridled fun to her “gloomy mansions,” use an LED garland on the cornice in cool shades of white, blue, and lilac. For curtains, you need to choose a printed fabric, which in combination with LED bulbs will give an incredible effect!
For a real princess, empire notes are included in the children's room. In this case, curtains for the room of teenage girls are selected with a shiny texture, large patterns and lurex. It would be appropriate to use lush folds, draperies, and wide tiebacks.
This style is suitable only for spacious rooms with large window openings. You can repeat the style of curtains for the canopy of the bed. The color scheme of the curtains should match the rest of the textiles in the room (upholstery, bed linen, etc.).
In an age of protests and frequent changes of mood, models in the Art Nouveau style are perfect. Modern curtains can be decorated with stylized images of animals, birds, graphic designs, and 3D flowers. The ideal color scheme for modernism is silver, muted gray, pale pink, emerald, lilac. Include asymmetry, sharp and clear lines in the design of such curtains.
Playing with a palette of bright orange, pink, ultramarine or turquoise will create an art deco style. For a young lady, he demonstrates a charming combination of lightness and grace. From the drawings you can use prints with broken lines and all kinds of abstractions. Popular today are: zigzag, Herringbone or “fishbone”, a large graphic check that resembles the interlacing of window frames.
Gentle romantic natures will definitely like curtains in vintage style. Pastel colors, the presence of ruffles, clips and tulle are the best solution to plunge headlong into the beauty of an innocent age. The decoration of the room will definitely be emphasized by avant-garde curtains. Use bold tones, layering, and fabrics with an iridescent effect. An alternative to a traditional cornice is metal wire or string.
In a teenage girl’s room, you can combine curtains with pleated blinds, all in the same color. For creative people, it's time to experiment with Mediterranean and oriental style. You can use a curtain to decorate a room that looks like the boudoir of a French queen or a Barbie doll.
Silk curtain models with an African motif will look interesting. It is also appropriate to hang bamboo products and roller shutters. Proper window design can bring the prim restraint of English decor or become a reflection of your daughter's rebellious nature.
The best option for a girl’s bedroom would be to select durable and reliable curtain rods. Your child should not feel any discomfort when opening or closing the window. Give preference to clips, decorative clothespins, magnets, and lacing. Such elements will be able to adjust the length of the curtain, exactly like tiebacks. When purchasing additional accessories for curtains, your first priority should be their environmental friendliness and safety.
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Be sure to follow the dominant color of the decor in order to “fit” the curtains and curtains into the overall interior of the room. Austrian curtains made of translucent fabrics with prints of cats, owls, birdcages, and feathers will look fashionable. Draped curtains with several soft folds and puffs along the bottom edge look nice.
The majority of curtains have original designs with loops, ties, drawstrings and lambrequins. For teenage girls, curtain models with eyelets with metal and plastic rings are also suitable. With the help of such elements, the curtains will fall in expressive folds to the hem, looking modern and unusual.
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Color and print
When evaluating curtains for a child’s room, it is worth remembering that these products must be combined with the design of surfaces and furniture. Standard recommendations:
- If the interior has bright details, the shade of the curtains should be light or neutral, without patterns. In a design with muted wall colors and discreet furniture, curtains in rich colors and large prints will look good.
- The younger the owner, the more vibrant colors should be chosen for his room. Apricot and pink, olive and soft golden, grassy green and soft blue tones have a calming effect on the child’s psyche. A slow baby, on the contrary, will be cheered up by rich blue, sunny and dotted red strokes.
- The best prints on curtains for boys are pictures with marine, natural, sports or space themes. Girls will appreciate floral and plant patterns, images of birds or animals. In a teenager's room, you can use curtains with geometric patterns, views of landmarks or cityscapes.
Curtain design for a teenage boy
For boys over 11 years old, calmer colors and less bright designs are better suited.
A guy who is passionate about military disciplines will be pleased with khaki curtains. A guitar lover will choose curtains with a pattern on a musical theme (treble clefs, sheet music, guitar, keys, piano, vinyl records). Athletes will love canvases with sports symbols. For a football or hockey fan, you can buy curtains in the color of your favorite team. They can be supplemented with club badges.
An image of a city at night, a newspaper strip or a comic strip on the curtains will decorate the room of any teenager. If the walls of the room are brightly decorated with decor or photo wallpaper, the curtains should be neutral in color, without patterns.
If you couldn’t find a suitable fabric, you can buy a plain fabric and apply your favorite design to it at a textile printing house. Curtains can be decorated with a photograph of your favorite artist or football player.
A school-age child can draw a drawing independently under parental supervision. There is a large selection of fabric dyeing products. With their help you can apply any ornaments at home.
Styles
If you choose curtains to match the style of the room, then among the products you will definitely find interesting options.
Japanese
Japanese-style curtains are products that consist of linen (most often made from natural materials - silk, linen, bamboo and rice paper), a holding element at the top and a weighting material at the bottom.
Thanks to this design, the curtains compare favorably with other varieties and are convenient to use.
On Japanese curtains, any design or pattern is always bright and rich, so they are ideal for a child's room. There are products up to the window sill and to the floor.
Classic
Classic curtains are a combination of light transparent tulle or organza with thick light-proof curtains. Thin curtains that reach the floor or just up to the window sill diffuse sunlight, while heavy curtains darken the room for comfortable relaxation at lunchtime.
Classic curtains are an excellent decorative element. Such curtains look beautiful with accessories - tiebacks, pendants, feathers, beads and fringe.
Provence
With curtains in the Provence style, the room acquires an aesthetic appearance, which is very important for small rooms. For the canvases, natural materials are used in light and pastel shades, plain or with light floral patterns.
To recreate the Provencal style, they often take classic options - two pieces of fabric with hinged fastenings. For a small window, short curtains on a rod fixed in the middle of the opening are suitable.
For the little princess
Ruffles, folds, and draperies will help create a look for a little lady.
Curtains will help not only with window decoration. Your little girl will be enchanted by the pink canopy bed. High-quality cotton fabric will look chic over any bed.
It is better to decorate a low window opening with light curtains of soft pink color just below the window sill. This technique will maintain the height of the walls. Bring bright colors through accessories, hinges, fasteners, garlands (hearts on strings, small lanterns).
A white room for a girl with a white window will be given a special charm by classic thick curtains of the same color palette with furniture and accessories. This will bring all the parts of the restrained interior into a harmonious composition.
Curtains up to the window sill are a suitable option for a small room. Thick drapery and a combination of short tulle and thick curtains will create the effect of a fairy window.
Classic curtains with a plot print along the entire length will visually increase the space. A favorite fairy-tale hero is a win-win option for a child’s room for a grown-up girl of primary school age..
Material
Fabrics for curtains are selected based on the following parameters:
- naturalness;
- aesthetics;
- environmental friendliness;
- practicality;
- fire resistance;
- resistance to the accumulation of dust and dirt.
The best materials for sewing curtains for a child’s room are:
- Polyester. Synthetic fabric practically does not wrinkle, almost does not get dirty and looks aesthetically pleasing. Suitable for both toddlers' and older children's rooms.
- Linen. Natural environmentally friendly material, pleasant to look and feel. Linen curtains are usually chosen for teenagers' rooms.
- Cotton. Natural material, lightweight, used to design Provence or classic style, as well as to create light-proof roller blinds.
- Natural silk. The fabric does not accumulate static electricity and does not allow dust to pass through.
- Viscose. The material is practical, looks noble and beautiful.
Lighting
One of the main functions of curtains is to adjust lighting. For children this moment is very important. The child's room should provide good sleep not only at night, but also during the day. When choosing curtains, you should consider the size of the room and the location of the window.
For rooms located on the north and east sides, special darkening is not necessary. And dense fabrics will cope perfectly with the sun's rays in rooms located on the south side. Roman blinds, roller blinds and blinds provide excellent protection from the sun.
The large room allows you to place the bed away from the windows. And for miniature rooms, the choice of material should be made more consciously. Sleeping, playing and studying require varying degrees of lighting. Therefore, curtains must be well adjustable, creating comfortable conditions.
Shape and size
Properly selected curtains for a children's room perform several important functions at once. The main ones are protection from the penetration of dust and dirt, turning day into night if necessary, additional ones are the decoration of space. You can choose from the following shapes and sizes:
- Classic - vertical canvases with a length usually reaching the floor. Such curtains are universal, made from any materials, can have different colors, textures, and are suitable for a wide variety of accessories.
- Italian - two canvases draped with folds. Such curtains reach the floor in length, and the junction of both parts is complemented with bows or large tassels.
- French - light straight fabrics. The fabric can be decorated with tassels, fringes, and feathers.
In order to close or decorate plastic windows, it is recommended to use roller blinds, Roman blinds, and Japanese blinds.
Types of curtains and their light transmission.
The purpose of curtains is to darken completely or partially the room from too bright sun, as well as artificial lighting. The ability of curtains to transmit sunlight may vary:
- blackout curtains – almost 100% prevent the ingress of sunlight;
- dimout curtains - do not darken the light completely (up to 80%); The fabric gently diffuses daylight creating twilight in the room, while artificial absorbs 90%.
In a children's room, it is very important to be able to adjust the brightness of the light, and for this it is best to choose a dense, light-proof material. This will help your baby fall asleep better.
In the evening, such curtains perfectly block artificial light, and during the day they prevent the penetration of daylight, allowing you to create night.
Light-proof curtains are not only dark. The material can be of various colors and shades, coffee, sand, light gray.
The transmittance of light is affected by the structure of the fabric, not its color.
Choose materials for curtains to suit your taste. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages:
- Cotton and linen. High-quality hypoallergenic fabric. You can choose any color you like. The disadvantage of this fabric is that it requires careful care and wrinkles quickly.
- Mixed fabric (cotton + elastane). Great combination. Easy to care for, they do not require additional cleaning. They are durable and do not fade in the sun.
- Organza. Lightweight synthetic material. It dries instantly and does not wrinkle, but is practically unable to protect from the sun. Organza is usually complemented with curtains.
It is not advisable to add silk curtains to a child's room. This is a very fragile material that quickly develops snags.
Silk curtains will quickly deteriorate and become unusable. You should also not choose heavy fabrics such as velvet or corduroy. Such fabrics can collect large amounts of dust, which can contribute to allergic reactions in a child.
Accessories
The choice of curtains for a nursery is not limited to canvases alone. You can decorate and sometimes completely transform curtains with numerous accessories that are in the catalog on the Ikea website or you can create them yourself.
For example:
- holders - loops that are fixed at the window and allow curtains to be folded;
- tiebacks are accessories thanks to which curtains are fixed at different heights to form waves;
- lambrequins - folds of fabric that mask the space between the curtains;
- kugels - voluminous hollow rings into which fabric is passed;
- svagi - decorative garlands that a child can make independently, for example, from a veil;
- ribbons – strips of fabric for creating bows, rosettes or ruffles on canvases;
- fringe - addition to the bottom edge of the curtains;
- tassels are a decorative element that is sewn both to the bottom of the curtains and across the entire surface.
Expert opinion
Olga Kovalenko
Since 2010 I have been engaged in interior design and architectural design.
When planning to decorate curtains with certain accessories, it is worth remembering that too many of them will lead to “overloading” the design and compromising its integrity.
Mistakes when choosing curtains for a boy's room
When choosing curtains for a boy's room, you need to avoid common mistakes:
- Excessive pretentiousness. Parents want the decor on the windows to look expensive and unusual, but the child often finds all this unnecessary and uninteresting.
- Sophistication and femininity. This error appears in a room if, when decorating it, most of the ideas belonged to the mother. The boy grows and turns into a young guy, you need to give him a chance to express his Self in his personal space.
- Sloppiness. This is the other side of the coin, when adults do not interfere at all with the decor of the room. Curtains make the interior complete, so their choice should be taken seriously.
- Gloominess. If you hang curtains that are too thick on the windows, you will end up with a cavernous room. But some teenagers love this style.
- Low quality fabric. You need to pay special attention to the material from which the curtains in the boy’s room are made. Firstly, they will have to be washed often, and secondly, during outdoor games they can be pulled and touched, they should not tear. In addition, you need to remember about environmental friendliness. Cheap fabric and paint can be toxic.
- Difficult to use. In a teenage boy’s room we hang the simplest possible curtains. Various tiebacks and lambrequins will look out of place here, and will also cause additional irritation for the child and parents, who will have to constantly remind them to close or open the curtains.
Excessive pretentiousness, sophistication and complexity of configurations should be avoided.
When buying curtains for a boy's room, use common sense, and the final word should be given to the child.
Practical advice from designers
For parents choosing curtains for their child’s room, professionals advise remembering the need for these products to comply with safety requirements:
- Curtains must be well secured to the curtain rod, and it must be securely fixed to the wall. It is unacceptable for a child to tear off the canvas by pulling on it. The same applies to accessories - fastenings must be durable, inaccessible to children 1-5 years old.
- It is ideal if the curtains are made of natural, environmentally friendly materials.
- Colors and prints should match the preferences of the owner of the room, create a comfortable atmosphere in the nursery, and have a positive effect on the child’s mood.
Designers recommend choosing curtains for a teenager's room based on another principle - giving the owner of the room the opportunity to decide for himself what he needs.
General recommendations for choosing curtains
- Curtains should be of a simple style, made of durable material and easy to wash. It is best to choose even curtains with eyelets and decorate them with tiebacks.
- Curtains should not be easily flammable (organza, voile).
- The main color of the curtains in the nursery depends on the location of the windows relative to the cardinal directions (warm shades warm the northern room, and cold shades add freshness).
- The pattern or drawing should be simple (chosen based on the age and gender of the child. To prevent the child from getting bored with the drawing with cartoon characters, it is better to choose wallpaper with a large abstraction, which will contribute to the development of thinking).
- The fastening and cornice must be strong, without sharp objects and small decor (so that the child does not collapse the structure during games and does not swallow decorative beads).
- Modern children's curtains must match the style of the interior.
- Curtains in a children's interior can be of different types, and their combination can be practical (for example, simple curtains and roller curtains let in light and hide the room from prying eyes).
The photo shows a modern design for a teenager’s children’s room, where roller blinds with ornaments fit harmoniously.
Photos of modern curtains for the nursery
To better understand what a variety of fashionable curtains for a child’s room are, it’s worth looking at the photo. This way you can visually evaluate the preferred design of curtains for the nursery and decide whether they will suit a particular interior.