Comfort in a living space is created by a harmonious selection of furniture, the color of the walls, and beautiful curtains in the window openings. Properly selected curtains and cornices play a paramount role in creating an interior.
The cornice should emphasize the beauty of the curtains and complement the interior of the room
Curtains are curtains used to decorate windows (doors). Many modern designers use them because of the possibility of functional use. Design features of curtains - the weight and design of the curtains, which are taken into account when choosing and attaching the curtain rod.
When deciding how to hang a curtain on the wall, to match the interior of the room, textile curtains, you need to choose the appropriate type of curtain rod:
- round;
- baguette;
- string;
- profile;
- rail.
Round cornice
Baguette cornice
String cornice
Profile cornice
Rail cornice
Telescopic cornice
Curtains are attached in different ways: to the ceiling/to the wall. Nowadays, suspended ceilings are in fashion, so the most popular technique is installing curtains on the wall.
Tip 1: choose the right curtain
There are two types of cornices - ceiling and wall. The former are mounted on the ceiling at any distance from the top of the window, the latter - on the wall in the immediate vicinity of the window.
The choice of curtain depends on whether a suspended ceiling is installed in the apartment and whether a niche is prepared for the cornice.
In addition, there are so-called rail and baguette cornices, which are suitable for installation on both the ceiling and the wall.
Cornice material
Several types of material are used to make cornices. All options are attractive in their own way, although debate about which one is better has not subsided since the first copies appeared. The choice of one type or another is the prerogative of the owner; it is made according to his own considerations and taste preferences. However, it is recommended to strive for maximum harmony of the interior of the room with the appearance of the cornice. It should be remembered that this element is always visible, so compliance with the overall style of the room should be ensured. Let's look at what types of curtain rods there are.
Plastic
Plastic curtain rods appeared relatively recently, but quickly gained recognition and high praise from users. They are beautiful and cheap, do not have extra weight and are not prone to corrosion or warping like metal or wooden samples. The material allows you to create different design options, from flat tires to attractive and elegant baguette strips. There is a wide selection of colors, decor and composition of plastic curtain rods. The only drawback is their relatively low strength, so it is better not to hang heavy curtains on them.
Tip 2: Take measurements
The curtain should be approximately 15 cm wider than the window opening on each side. In height - at a distance of ten centimeters from the ceiling. Also, consider whether it will be easy for you to open or close the curtains. In this case, the curtain bar should retreat from the opening by about five to seven centimeters.
The cornice should be screwed strictly parallel to the ceiling! To do this smoothly, use a building level. Mark the points for installing the bracket (this is what holds the curtain itself). They should be equally distant from the center of the window on both sides, so that later the load on the cornice from the curtains is uniform.
How to choose the right one
To answer the question “how to properly hang a curtain over a window?”, you first need to determine the way in which all the elements of the future integral structure will be installed.
- First, you need to learn about fastening methods. This depends on the density and strength of the base on which the future cornice will hang - the wall should not be too thin, otherwise the cornice may fall off and fall to the floor along with a rather large piece of the wall, forming a hole in the surface that will be difficult to repair.
- Secondly, you need to determine the load that will be constantly on the cornice - the smaller it is, the lighter the structure should be.
- Thirdly, you need to pay attention to the material from which the cornice is made. In addition to the appearance (which should serve as a separate decoration for the room), you need to remember again about the load - a light plastic cornice will not withstand dense tapestries, and therefore the material must be chosen depending on the weight of the future curtains.
- Fourthly, it is important to remember about the control of the cornice, since in the case when it has an electric drive in its design, it must be installed completely differently from ordinary cornices.
Do not forget about safety precautions when attaching curtain rods.
Design selection
The right choice of design is a very important point that simply cannot be left to chance unless you want to ruin the appearance of the room completely and irrevocably. The cornice and curtains should match the interior of the room in color and, preferably, material:
The range of curtain rods from various manufacturers is more than wide.
The cornice should be chosen to match the color of various furniture elements, for example, a coffee table or cabinet. You can also refer to the color of small decorative details on furniture - sofa legs, sofa or cabinet decorations (the color of cabinet or chest of drawers handles, for example, will look good on the cornice).
Round cornices make rooms more comfortable.
In this way, an atmosphere of harmony and comfort will be created in the room, which will be visible in the entire design of the room.
In the dining area it is appropriate to hang minimalist curtains and tulle.
It is better to choose curtains so that their color matches the main colors of the furniture in the room - the sofa and the closet. For example, if the upholstery of the sofa and armchairs is gray, then you can choose a steel color, deep blue for the curtains, so that everything together looks beautiful and harmonious, as one whole.
The tire cornice is more invisible, so it is easier to use in the interior.
Size selection
Size is also important when choosing suitable curtain and cornice models. To figure out exactly how long the curtain rod should be, you first need to decide where to attach it.
Curtain rods can enhance the beauty of curtains.
Often, curtains are simply attached to the wall as an element of room interior decor, and for this purpose there is no need to choose a cornice model that is too long.
The installation height of the cornice above the window should be taken into account taking into account the aesthetic component.
It is worth examining the walls of the room and choosing the most suitable place for beautiful curtains. Then measure the required length of the curtain rod and buy a suitable option, on which you can then hang the curtains.
Curtain rods have a wide range of materials used for their manufacture.
It is also important not to forget about the size of the curtains themselves - their length and width. If you want to cover a decent part of the wall with fabric, you can choose a length so that it reaches the floor, but usually the curtain hanging on the wall is made half as long as the one that covers the windows.
Ceiling cornices are convenient because they are invisible in the interior, therefore they are suitable for modern design.
Tip 5: if you attach the curtain to drywall, use lightweight curtain rods
If the wall on which you want to attach a plasterboard curtain, it is better that the curtain rod itself is made of lightweight plastic. It can be secured using profile screws and dowels. But only light curtains can be hung on such a curtain.
If the total weight of the curtains and curtains is more than five kilograms, be sure to reinforce the wall with a wooden beam. Otherwise, the bracket will not hold the cornice, and sooner or later the structure will fall.
Wall Mounting Bracket
It is necessary to select the size according to the width of the wall. It is advisable to leave a gap from the wall to the cornice. It should not rest closely against the wall.
When installing above a window, you will need to measure the width of the window opening and add 0.4 cm to the result. The installation cannot be carried out by a professional. You will need elements and tools for the job.
The installation method depends on the design of the cornice
Elements:
- Cornice. Dimensions are chosen according to the parameters of the room.
- 2 brackets.
- Tips.
The cornice is a decorative and functional element designed to secure curtains above the window
Cornices
They can have different lengths, shapes, and materials of manufacture. The appropriate material is selected in accordance with the interior design.
Kinds:
- Wooden;
- Metal;
- Aluminum;
- Plastic.
Wooden cornice
Metal cornice
Aluminum cornice
Plastic cornice
Shapes:
- Straight;
- Angular;
- Rounded.
Straight cornice
Corner cornice
Rounded cornice
Tools:
- Pencil, marker. Be sure to mark the measured distance. It is not recommended to build in at random. Curtains will not be able to hide errors in installation.
- Ruler, tape measure. It is recommended to measure with a margin of up to 0.5 cm.
- Fastening parts: screws, nails, brackets, self-tapping screws.
- Screwdriver. Helps to firmly fix elements.
- Drill. It is difficult to make a hole in the wall using a screwdriver. The drill remains an unchanged tool in construction work.
- Ladder. Needed when mounting at height.
Roulette
Hammer drill
Plastic dowels
Screwdriver
The final stage
After the marks have been made, you need to remove the tire, drill holes and install plastic dowels. Now all that remains is to put the cornice in place, connect the holes and screw in the screws.
If double-sided tape was used during the work, this would allow you to hold the bar, but if not, you should mount the mount first at the ends, and only then in the middle. After this you can hang the curtains.
Accessories
Metal curtain rod consists of:
- Basics. The bar is round, flat, ornate in shape, designed to accommodate the mechanism.
- Bracket. An element used to attach a rod to walls or ceilings.
- Fleronov. These are end caps that are placed along the edges of the curtain rails. They can perform an exclusively practical function and be part of a decorative design.
In addition to the cornice, curtain hooks, rings, and clips are purchased. To decorate the visor of the rod, hoods are placed.
Metal curtain rods are suitable for any room: living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms. The resistance of many types of metal to temperature and corrosion allows us to recommend strips for decoration without restrictions. It is important to avoid scratching the surface and not to use aggressive cleaning agents.
Types of cornices and their features
There are different designs of curtain rods. They all have their own advantages and disadvantages. Initially, the type of design was determined by the material of manufacture, but the development of technology has practically eliminated the difference and made it possible to manufacture samples of any shape and size. Today, the choice of design is determined by the features of the interior and the structure of the ceiling or walls of the room. Let's look at the types of curtain rods.
String
Such structures consist of two rigidly fixed brackets, between which a steel wire is stretched. A special feature of these products is the ability to adjust the length to the size of the room with an accuracy of millimeters. Typically, string cornices are attached to the ceiling slab. This somewhat limits their use due to the widespread fashion for suspended or suspended ceilings. The tension force of the string requires a strong and very rigid supporting plane, otherwise it will be deformed or completely destroyed.
The appearance of string cornices leaves much to be desired, so they are usually covered with decorative panels or hidden under the ledge of a suspended ceiling, plasterboard structure or other masking element. The cost of such products is the lowest, they will suit almost any interior, which has made string samples the most common of all alternative varieties.
Attaching to plasterboard ceilings
Above we described how to hang a cornice on drywall or plasterboard partitions. As for the ceiling, 2 methods are possible:
- Installation on a metal box base. To implement this method, it will be necessary to provide a mortgage at the stage of manufacturing the gypsum plasterboard box.
- Installation on “butterflies”, which diverge during tightening, thereby ensuring reliable fixation. This will be an ideal solution for those who do not know how to hang a curtain rod on drywall, especially if the embed has not been installed.
Safety precautions
- When fixing ceiling cornices or wall structures, do not forget about the safety rules:
- Before starting drilling, put on a respirator and safety glasses.
- Please note that working with a hammer drill involves the formation of a large amount of dust, so it is recommended to use a professional power tool with an industrial vacuum cleaner included.
- Only use stable stools or stepladders.
- Make sure that there are no wires in the drilling area that could cause an electric shock if you touch them.
If you doubt your abilities, it is better to call a master who will quickly and efficiently do all the work for you.
Installation procedure
After the holes have been made, you need to take the cornice, center it on the window, level it and make marks. Next, you need to mark on the ceiling with any writing object the points where the holes will be drilled.
If several people take part in the process, the work will be somewhat easier - while some are holding, the other is marking. If there is no one to help, you can perform this procedure alone.
To do this you will need double-sided tape. You need to cut three or four 5cm pieces and attach them to the back of the tire facing the ceiling. Two at the edges and in the middle - this is enough for a 4-5 m plank.
Now you need to remove the protective covering and secure the cornice according to the marks made. Double-sided tape holds the device quite securely, which means you can continue without fear. If necessary, it is worth adjusting the position by tearing off the adhesive tape.
