The Good, Bad and Ugly of Readymade and Made to Measure Curtains

Window dressing is an imperative part of interior design. Regardless as to whether they are acting as a principal centerpiece or subtly offsetting the decor in a room, curtains are crucial to the look of an interior room.

With so much choice available, curtain shopping can often feel like a thankless task. The perfect place to start is deciding between readymade or made to measure.

Readymade

With plenty of fabric and design choices to be had readymade curtains undoubtedly are a quick and easy option in the instance that time isn’t in your favour. If you should opt for readymade curtains you are safe in the knowledge that you can head to just about any home furnishing or department store, find some curtains and be back at home hanging them before you know it.

Where readymade curtains perhaps fall short (pardon the pun) is the marriage between your perfect design and your size requirements. The key here is perseverance; quite often you will have to do a lot of searching whether it be through physical curtain packages or a few hours on the web. With a decent range of sizes readily available, curtain shopping can be a breeze…providing you remember to measure correctly!

Possibly the most attractive thing about readymade curtains though is the fact that they will be less expensive than made-to-measure alternatives. With price tags beginning at under ?20, even the most miniscule budget can be catered for.

Curtains Made to Measure

A growing number of retailers now offer made to measure services which means getting your hands on your perfect design couldn’t be easier. Allowing for even the most obscure of window dimensions, exact measurements mean that all windows, irrespective of their odd size, can be adorned with your unique curtains.

Headings offer made to measure customers extra design input and the chance to really personalise their curtains. Choices between pencil pleat, pinch pleat, tab top and eyelet headings provides different finishes to curtains meaning identical material can look utterly unique depending on your decisions.

If you find time really is of the essence then the made to measure approach could possibly impede your schedule. Then again, the majority of retailers offer a service of 5 – 10 days between ordering and shipping – a vast improvement on former timeframes.

Once before bespoke services such as this would have cost the earth, but today prices are far more reasonable. There’s no denying that made to measure curtains are more expensive, but the cost is relative; you get what you pay for and what you’re purchasing here is choice together with precision.

They are just curtains, arn’t they?

Too often people are quick to hang any old fabric up at their window yet the importance of curtains and additionally their functions really are substantial. Guarantee your curtain choice is a wise one and pay heed to the benefits below:

– Private life
Curtains stop the outside world knowing your each and every move so go with lined curtains or better yet, blackout lining to guarantee optimum privacy.

– Warm up
Rather than bumping up your heating, simply drawing your curtains will prevent heat from escaping via the windows making it one of the most effective ways to help keep warm.

– Save money
Save money on your energy bill by simply choosing heavier curtain materials. Closing your curtains at dusk when the temperature begins to drop will save you a bob or two.

– Expressionism
There is no better way to express your personality in a home environment then through your chosen decor. A fundamental element of any room, the decisions you make when choosing your curtains will definitely exhibit who you are to your visitors.

Paul Simon is a leading UK home furnishings store with 50 branches in southern England.
Check out the range of curtains and even order made to measure from the website or in your local store.

Processing your request, Please wait....