Hanging curtains is crucial to optimizing the general decor of your home and preserving your privacy, especially in a major city like Philadelphia. The right curtains can make a home look more modern, inviting, colorful — and even larger, in some cases. Use these guidelines to choose the best curtains for your home.

Types of Curtains

There are two main types of curtains: sheer, and thermal/blackout drapery (also called opaque curtains). Fabrics include linen, lace, cotton, suede, tapestry, and even denim. Curtain panels come in a variety of patterns, colors, lengths, and styles. Sheer curtains and lightweight curtains allow sunlight to enter the room, while opaque, heavy fabrics block the light and protect your privacy.

Living Room Curtains

Your living room curtains should allow some light in to illuminate your room’s decor, but when you live in a high-traffic location like Philadelphia, you’ll need more than a sheer curtain alone. For example, in many Philly row homes, the living room is located on the first floor, where you’ll want nighttime privacy. So the best type of curtain for your living room area is a heavy opaque one that you can draw open from the bottom and easily close at nightfall. Add an extra sheer curtain beneath the opaque one if you also want to give yourself some privacy during the day, while still letting in sunlight.

To optimize the look of your living room, hang your opaque curtains so that you can clearly see the paint above. The curtains you select should almost sweep the floor (without actually touching the floor) for a dramatic and finished look. An exception is where there’s a window and radiator — in that case, the bottom of the curtain should reach about halfway to the floor below the window.

Kitchen Curtains

The ideal kitchen is bright, cheerful, and full of light. You’ll want to let as much sunshine in as possible, and in most cases, privacy is not as much of a concern here as in other rooms. So in your kitchen, go with a sheer curtain that lightly dusts the top of the interior ledge or just covers the bottom of the window. The shorter the better — especially when the window is located near a stove. You might even want to go with a valance, instead of a full curtain.

Bedroom Curtains

Of course, privacy is of utmost concern in the bedroom. As such, your bedroom should already have standard or vertical blinds installed to take care of that issue, giving you the freedom to choose either sheer or thermal curtains, depending on your vision for the room. Being a seasonal city, Philadelphia can get very cold in the winter, so a thermal curtain is a smart pick to help keep your bedroom warm on chilly mornings.

Tips for Hanging Curtains

Installing a curtain could take just a few minutes once you know what you’re doing. Here are a few quick tips:

• Use a power drill. This will cut the time of installing your curtains in half.
• Position the curtain rods halfway between the ceiling and the top of the window or door.
• Measure your window or door before shopping — don’t guesstimate!

Every well-decorated Philadelphia house needs proper window treatments for both utility and aesthetic appeal. Keep these tips in mind when hanging curtains in your brand new house.

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