Frame Your View of the Outside With the Right Drapery Hardware

Whether you just moved into a new home with bare windows or you want to change up your existing window treatments, the right drapery hardware is key to creating a beautiful look to frame and enhance your view of the outside.

The first thing to decide is the kind of window treatment you want. Will you go with blinds, curtains, valances or swags? Along with your choice of window treatment, you need to find just the right the window hardware. Just as there is a wide variety of window fabrics, there are nearly unlimited choices for the matching hardware. Drapery hardware runs the gamut from plain metal curtain rods to carved poles made of wood to intricate accessories and attachments. Metal or wooden curtain tie backs can be mounted on the walls next to the windows, or you can use tasseled fabric curtain ties and simply tie the curtains in the middle. When you choose blinds you’re presented with a whole new range of choices for materials and hardware.

Which drapery hardware to choose?

With so many different types of curtain accessories available, in stores and online, the choice can sometimes be overwhelming. Your first decision should be what kind of hardware will best complement your curtains and other window treatments. Then you should expand your vision to see how the hardware fits in with the room and into your home’s overall look. Is your interior decor formal or casual, bohemian or traditional, flashy or discreet? For a cohesive look, even do-it-yourself decorators must decide what kind of overall expression they want the room to convey.

Another factor in your decision is how long you think the hardware will stay up. If you generally like to redecorate according to season, you may have whole different looks for summer and winter, including the window treatments. If this is the case, you may want to get two sets of curtain accessories. You might use tie backs more in the summer and leave the curtains and drapes down in the winter. Or you can choose a lighter set of curtain tie backs for spring and summer and heavier-looking tie backs for winter. If you choose to switch out your curtain tie backs, make sure the two sets mount the same way.

If you’ll be remodeling and redecorating again within a few years, you can go with a trendy look without having to worry about when the hardware will go out of style. If you’re choosing window treatments that you want to stand the test of time, it’s better to go with more classic drapery hardware.

Once you make these decisions and choose the type of style for your curtain accessories, you’re ready to hit the stores and start looking for more ideas. With an overall vision of the look you want, you can let your decorating creativity take over.