The interior will be harmonious provided that it is thought out to the smallest detail. When it comes to creating the interior of a residential building, one of the main components of an attractive design is the design of window openings. The role of curtains is difficult to overestimate. They emphasize the style of the house, protect from prying eyes and sunlight. But not all curtain elements can always fit harmoniously into the design. Most often, difficulties arise with the cornice. Often you want to hide it, make it invisible. In this case, you need to use a hidden curtain rod. It will make the functional part of the design invisible, hide some of the imperfections of the walls, and make it possible to focus all attention on the beautiful, bright curtains. How to make and install a hidden ceiling curtain rod is described in more detail in this publication.
Interior aesthetics sometimes imply the absence of unnecessary details
When the cornice is not visible, all attention is paid to the beauty of the curtains
Brief description of the design, advantages
The cornice is usually closed with a special niche. Its arrangement and design features must be planned in advance - even at the stage of finishing the ceiling. In a niche you can hide all the unwanted functional parts of the curtain, install lighting, and create the effect of a floating curtain.
The niche space does not require special finishing; it will still be hidden by curtains
For hidden fastening of curtains, a cornice of any convenient design is suitable
Note! If you do not provide a niche in advance, in the future you will have to dismantle part of the decoration, change the tension structure, or come up with a decorative element to hide the suspension.
The dimensions of the niche depend on the structure that needs to be placed in it
How to make lighting in a niche with the effect of floating curtains
To illuminate the curtains, an LED strip is glued into the niche on the side of the room. If you choose the option with a profile for two-level ceilings, purchase a baguette with special recesses.
This creates the impression of a higher room. The LED strip can be mounted independently or combined with hidden lighting around the perimeter of the entire ceiling.
Some tips:
- Tapes are available in different colors and even with the ability to change lighting, the latter option allows you to give the interior of your home a different mood;
- for curtain lighting, it is better to mount a separate switch;
- Tapes with a remote control are available for sale, which allows you not only to conveniently turn the light on and off, but also to change the color of the lighting.
When should it be used?
When do you need to place curtains behind the ceiling plinth, in a special niche? There are two objective reasons for this.
- Functional necessity. This need arises in rooms with a stretched ceiling. It is forbidden to mount rigid structures on the surface of the film; wall-mounted cornice options are also not suitable for all. The easiest way is to provide a special niche at the installation stage. Its dimensions are determined individually.
The threads of this curtain seem to flow from the stretch ceiling; you cannot achieve this effect with an open cornice. - Interior preferences. Standard cornices have long lost their popularity. They are difficult to fit into modern interior styles. Today it is fashionable to decorate windows with airy curtains flowing from the ceiling. This effective design technique is especially relevant for minimalism, modern, and loft styles.
If the cornice does not match the style of the space, you can simply hide it
Measurements
Whatever cornice you choose, it is very important to choose the right size. To do this you will need to take measurements.
There is nothing complicated about this - you can cope with the task yourself. All you need is to measure the width of the window opening. Next, proceed according to the following formula: add 30-50 centimeters to the resulting value.
But for Roman or roller blinds, the cornice should be placed strictly along the opening.
Of course, you can make a cornice exactly according to the size of the window. However, this technique is only permissible for blinds and roller blinds that are installed directly into the window opening. In other cases, it is better to leave a small gap - this way the cornice and curtain will look attractive.
Select the location and dimensions of the cornice based on the configuration of your kitchen.
The length of the cornice should vary depending on the configuration of your kitchen. For example, a narrow window can appear much wider if you hang a long curtain rod on it. Conversely, a curtain support that is not too long can visually narrow a window that is too narrow.
The right cornice will correct the perception of the kitchen.
Advantages
The most important advantage is aesthetics. The photos in our article will give everyone the opportunity to see how attractive and unusual a floating curtain looks. Closed pendants mask unattractive parts of the wall, visually adjust the height of the ceiling, and make it possible to decorate the design with light lighting.
Hidden fastening of curtains is appropriate in rooms with low ceilings
Possibility to adjust the distance from the window. Some apartments have wide window sills. In this case, the wall mounting option for curtains is absolutely not suitable. You can place the fabric on the ceiling at any distance from the opening - for any width of the window sill.
Fixing the curtains in a niche eliminates the problem of choosing the design of the cornice and accessories
Focusing on decor. Less than attractive fasteners will not distract from the beautifully flowing fabric. Even the lighting installed in a niche will not attract much attention. They will only slightly emphasize the textile composition.
Using lighting you can easily create a unique atmosphere in your bedroom
Thick curtains covering the entire wall will make a narrow room visually wider
Product operation
Even when choosing the most modern and reliable model for yourself, you must carefully follow all the rules for handling it in order to avoid future troubles. The following rules must be observed:
If the homeowner chooses a hidden baguette, designers advise thinking in advance about the model and style of the curtains. Failure to follow this recommendation will make this task significantly more difficult.
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During installation of the product, you need to take into account the size of the window, the length and width of the heating registers. These steps are necessary to ensure that the curtains do not touch the heating system, so you need to move them forward from the window sill.
If the apartment has small living spaces, and the owner plans to visually enlarge the space, he needs curtains, the length of which is equal to the wall, and the height is equal to the height from the ceiling to the floor. With this action, the owner of the home will be able to achieve the desired result.
If a choice is made in favor of a baguette, at the time of its installation it is better to measure all dimensions according to the width of the decorative part, which can easily be built into the given space.
When choosing a product, you need to pay important attention to its mechanisms - rings, hinges, sliders. They should move smoothly, freely and without all sorts of noise. In addition, when moving, they should not touch the special rails of the cornice.
Options for hidden ceiling cornices
There are two masking options:
- in a special niche;
- camouflage using baguette structures.
The first option involves constructing a recess in a suspended ceiling or in a plasterboard ceiling. The optimal niche for curtains will have individual dimensions. They depend on several criteria: the width of the window sill, the features of the curtains, the dimensions of the suspension itself (it can have several stripes). The depth of the trench is usually standard - from four to fifteen centimeters. The depth will depend on the features of the ceiling structure.
A niche can be provided when installing a suspended ceiling
You can also make a separate structure that covers only the cornice itself.
If you do not want to install curtains, you can resort to the standard mounting method - wall-mounted. At the same time, the unsightly suspension is masked with decorative baguettes. Decorative overlays can cover fasteners, decorate the interior, and do not require effort for installation. This design method is relevant for classic designs.
Making a hidden suspension yourself
The easiest way to cover the cornice is to make a trench from plasterboard. To do this, you need to know in advance the features of the curtains, the length, width of the curtain rod.
Calculation of niche width
You should also prepare some tools and materials:
- construction tape;
- sheet of drywall;
- long metal ruler;
- knife with replaceable blades;
- roughing plane;
- ceiling, guide profiles;
- screwdriver;
- self-tapping screws
First you need to prepare the drywall. We cut it into strips of the required size - from four to fifteen centimeters. We cut drywall using a knife.
Having made the blanks, you can begin installing the ceiling guide profiles. From these you need to build a metal niche frame. The profiles are attached according to the markings. It can be applied to the ceiling with a regular pencil or paint cord. When fastening, we adhere to one rule - the dowel spacing is at least 60 centimeters.
First, the first profile is installed strictly according to the markings
Then a frame of short jumpers and a lower profile is mounted
Then we form the sides of the box. To do this, we use prepared plasterboard sheets. We fasten the sheets in increments of at least fifteen centimeters. Then we mount the end sides in a similar way. We process them with a plane. At the end, the bottom of the box is sewn up.
The box is ready for putty, which is done with a reinforcing mesh
After this, you can start designing the decorative component. The box can be puttied, painted, or wallpapered.
After completing the dirty work, you can fix the cornice
Choosing a cornice
The choice of hidden curtain rods usually involves selecting a design based on three main criteria: the weight of the curtains, the length of the window opening, and the number of strips. Also, when choosing, you should take into account the material from which the suspension will be made.
First you need to decide on the design of the curtains, and then choose a cornice
A separate niche above each window is a labor-intensive solution, but very original.
Types of materials and brief characteristics of cornices are discussed in the table:
| Type of cornice according to the material used | a brief description of |
| Wood | Suitable for absolutely any room. They harmonize especially well with classic, Provence, and country styles. Most often, wooden models are installed in children's bedrooms. These rooms always have high environmental requirements. Wooden hangers can withstand high loads. |
| Plastic | Modern plastic does not turn yellow for a long time, is environmentally friendly, and durable. Affordable price is another important advantage. Plastic models are usually chosen for light curtains. |
| Metal | They are distinguished by a variety of designs, high strength, and can withstand enormous loads. Ideal for hanging heavy, multi-layer curtains. |
| String | Ideal for light, airy tulles. They are a metal string. The design of the cornice is as simple as possible and can last a long time. The main condition is not to hang heavy curtains on the strings. Due to the high load, the string will begin to bend over time. |
The most commonly used option is a plastic profile rail, which can be hidden in a niche just a few centimeters deep.
Where to start choosing
As we have already said, first of all you need to decide what kind of curtains you will hang on the curtain rod. It is necessary to take into account not only their type, but also the dimensions and type of fabric. The larger and heavier the curtains, the more powerful the curtain rod you need - a thin plastic rail is good for light tulle, but will it hold up to multiple layers of velvet?
The more complex the design of the curtains, the stronger the cornice should be.
Consider the configuration of your kitchen: in small rooms it is better to use hidden cornices, and for spacious ones you can choose carved ones with figured decorations.
The smaller the kitchen, the thinner the cornice.
In addition, do not forget about the stylistic rules of design. It is unlikely that a classic oak cornice will look good in a kitchen decorated in high-tech style.
It is very important to choose the right curtain rod for your kitchen.
Understanding which cornice is needed for your kitchen is the key to making the right choice and a beautiful interior.
Curtains, and therefore the cornice, largely determine the appearance of the kitchen.
How to hide hangers with a ceiling plinth: photos, examples
You can cover some shortcomings in wall decoration and hide the suspension using a regular ceiling plinth. However, this requires basic skills in installing skirting boards on the ceiling. First you need to choose the baseboard itself. It should be wide and have a flat surface on top so that it can be fixed to the ceiling.
If the curtains are suspended from a ceiling cornice, it is quite easy to create the illusion of a hidden cornice using an ordinary baseboard
Products made from polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam or duropolymer are suitable for this purpose.
Note! Ceiling plinth plays an important decorative role in the interior. Its design, color, and ornament must be in harmony with the overall style of the room.
In order for the baseboard to hold securely, you will need to install a vertical base in the form of a plank.
The design must completely hide the curtain fastening elements
Next, you should purchase glue for attaching polyurethane products. It must be applied to the baseboard and the canvas pressed tightly against the ceiling. The glue sets quickly enough to securely fix the product. The plinth is attached at a short distance from the cornice. The same skirting boards should be placed around the entire perimeter of the room. Then its design will look solid and harmonious.
You can see photo examples of such methods of masking suspensions below.
— NELLY MIKHAILOVA —
Hello! Not long ago I found myself an unwitting witness to another Russian interior fashion and I wanted to discuss it today. But first, a little background. As I already said, we bought an apartment under a shared participation agreement, with a fine finish from the developer. According to the standard design, there are suspended white matte ceilings. Having bitten my elbows (I’m just a fan of old-school ceilings with white water-based emulsion), I resigned myself. Dismantling, plastering and painting are clearly beyond the budget at the moment. Later, from the contractor who was involved in their direct installation, an offer was received for additional services: it was proposed to install individual embedded and built-in lamps for an additional fee. We, the shareholders, were invited to the office to sign the agreement and make adjustments.
I must say that the proposal came like a bolt from the blue, I didn’t have any sketches for the layout yet, there was a carriage ahead of time, and then suddenly there was a real time pressure, I had to urgently come up with something, at least for the bedrooms, for combining the kitchen I still haven't made a final decision about the living room. Already in the office, standing, according to the old Russian tradition, in a long line to the installers, I involuntarily heard what people ordered and this turned out to be a real discovery for me. There were about 10 future neighbors in line and the trend was this: everyone ordered additional points for built-in light, everyone ordered ceiling cornices, including hidden ones. One I asked for a mortgage for built-in furniture and did not add anything for the cornices. I have already written about the modern fashion for ceiling cornices with suspended ceilings. Once again I was convinced that this is not a joke, this is real fashion. I was also struck by the fact that people are already planning how the curtains will hang, but most likely have no idea how the furniture will be arranged. And they didn’t just order cornices, but hidden ones, which means there is already some vision of the future interior.
It is these cornices that I want to discuss today. Due to my interests, I spend a lot of time reviewing various publications and resources about modern interiors and I can say with full confidence that if in the photo you see an image of a hidden cornice, then with an accuracy of 95% this is our Russian interior. Abroad, this technique is much less common, and is limited mainly to the framework of modern minimalist interiors, some projects where the male hand of an architect is felt, or in the classics, and extremely rarely wanders into other styles. It happens, of course, but against the backdrop of the general trend, it can’t even be called a trend, it’s so rare. But for some reason this technique is really popular in Russia.
What can I say, I spent several hours finding worthy examples for illustration in AD USA, France and Germany - no result, empty. And it’s worth opening AD Russia and 2/3 of the interiors that were designed by us and our architects/designers are exactly like this. I haven’t watched the Housing Issue for a long time, I suspect that in 90% of cases the picture is the same.
I'm not saying that the interiors are bad, on the contrary, they are very beautiful.
The problem is that in ordinary, non-designer interiors the result is somewhat different.
When the renovation budget is small, the picture looks something like this.
I won’t even discuss now whether these interiors are objectively bad or good. Just wondering if they are any better because of the hidden cornice? Did you get the highlight? Was there any need for it at all? And of course I wonder whether this was the wish of the apartment owner or the opinion imposed by someone (either a designer or a foreman) that it is so fashionable now?
I can only say with absolute certainty what I personally don’t like about these hidden structures and why I won’t do this at home, given that I will most likely have suspended ceilings.
- Additional work, installation, price.
- Giving up a standard wall curtain rod is like giving up accessories on your clothing. In minimalism, the triumph of form and line is justified. And in most other cases, the image without them looks unfinished. So with the interior, in my opinion, we are simply depriving ourselves of the opportunity to add another accessory.
- I don’t like how the niches for hidden cornices look when you look at them not from afar, but close. In small apartments it is almost always close. Like a hole in the ceiling.
The main argument of the supporters of these cornices is that they are unusual. The curtains unusually hang straight from the ceiling when viewed from a few meters away. But I suspect that, like everything “unusual,” these cornices, coupled with LED lighting, may well become over time a sign by which one can determine when repairs were made. As was the case back in the day with arches and artificial stone trim.
What do you think is the reason for their popularity in Russia? My version is the Soviet past and the desire to stand out, to do something unusual. But in fact, it reminds me of a cartoon from the past in which I saw myself. There was the following story: the pioneers, who went to school in the same school uniform, were allowed by the teacher to dress in a free style. Everyone was very happy that now they would stand out so much, but in fact they came in the same thing: jeans, a T-shirt and a baseball cap. The result is a new school uniform. Don't you think that in pursuit of individuality in the interior, we often move in some wrong direction?
And to the question from the title, the answer is this: it’s very fashionable in Russia.
See you!
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Photo: Beautiful examples in the interior
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