Good curtains have been making a comeback after years of being out of fashion. To cozy snugs Sally Cullen is an interiors editor who reveals new and innovative ways of using them, from luxurious room dividers to chic bedroom dividers
Be light
You can add warmth and privacy to your bathroom by adding sheer fabric curtains.
Do you remember the great carpet rejection in the 1990s, when everyone was completely confused by hardwood flooring? It was very cold belowfoot, as I can recall. Curtains experienced
It was a very similar story, with shutters, blinds, or in most cases nothing. When Ikea told us to ‘chuck out our chintz’ we dutifully pared down, sleeked up and did away with flounces, flourishes and drapes. Modern doors and improvements in insulation and heating have contributed to their disappearance, but you can’t ignore the aesthetics.
Gathers and pleats are making a splash in fashionable homeware circles. Many stores have returned to the curtain but they’re not what we expect. The new wave of drapery doesn’t just hang at windows: it covers, hides and highlights everything from bathroom cabinets to glass partition doors and panels.
Drapes can be used to conceal many sins, and they make great storage options. Do you have messy open shelves? You can just draw a curtain around it.
When open plan reigns, curtains are a great way to divide space and create cozy corners. In short, it’s not quite time to draw the curtains on this essential soft furnishing.
Get it higher
Large windows call for floor-to-ceiling coverage, not only for privacy but to give a cosy feel on winter nights. If you want some light to pass through, choose a sheer material
Curtain fabric: Marazzi in Peacock, £107 per m. Sofa fabric: Matiko in Malachite, £189.50 per m. Cushion fabrics (from left): Ilana in Blush, £123 per m, Nuala in Rosa, £140 per m, Kivuli in Caspian, £93 per m, all blackedition.com
Stash your snug
You can make a window seat that is truly unique by using rich fabrics with striking patterns to cover the area. This will allow you to use it as a reading corner. It will become more accessible to the rest the space by drawing it back.
Curtain fabric: Morris & Co Kelmscott Tree in Russett/Forest, £195 per m, johnlewis.com. You can find a similar rug at oka.com. You can find a similar chair at sohohome.com
Hone a zone
As a method of dividing spaces, Crittall-style interior windows are becoming more and more common. Curtains can be used to divide different spaces and add texture and interest.
This site offers similar velvet curtains to dunelm.com. Similar. Loaf.com offers similar dining tables. For similar wallpaper, visit cole-andson.com
Work a study
A curtain is a great way to bring glamour into a home office. Once you’ve chosen the wall colour, don’t be afraid to carry it through to doors and radiators for a consistent look
NEED SOME EXPERT ADVICE?
If you’re thinking about buying curtains, make sure you consider size, purpose and style. Here is a roundup of the companies that can guide you…
Hillarys You can find luxury styles in many beautiful colours and different textures. For the ultimate results, expert advisors are available. The team at hillarys.co.uk fits and steams curtains to ensure they hang properly.
John Lewis You can book an appointment in your home or online with one of the experts at johnlewis.com. They will help you measure and choose from more than 500 designs. Your design will be made in seven days.
Stitched Offering curtains made to measure in the UK, this company has a passion for sustainable living and discovering the stories behind their fabrics and the fibres they’re made from. The company has an extensive network of experts and is able to provide detailed, step-by-step instructions.
Dunelm Save time by letting this homeware giant take care of the handiwork ‒ with a team of fitters that are not only affordable but promise a ‘perfect fit every time’. It offers hundreds of designs and colors, and is committed to sustainable materials.
Loom & LastMade to order curtains in the UK by specialists in handcrafted curtain making. Buyers source stunning natural materials from all over the globe and hand finish each design with one of a variety headings or linings.