We have been providing custom drapes in Binghamton, NY and beyond for over 20 years.  We commonly hear from clients that they felt overwhelmed with the endless options before they met with us.  This is understandable with so many design considerations including style, fabric, color, function, and hardware.  Working with a professional will eliminate overwhelm and give you a solution that is just right for you.  A professional designer will always start with asking you the right questions.

There are several questions to contemplate when determining the best drape style. Questions like, what is the overall look of your space and what role do you want the drapes to play, is your room formal or informal, will the drapes need to serve a functional role or are they strictly aesthetic, do you need privacy or light control, how often will you open and close them?  Answering these questions along with many others will help direct your style choice.

Hardware

First, you want to consider how your custom drapes need to function?  Will they need to be opened and closed often?  Do they need to provide privacy, light control, or temperature control?  Are your drapes serving a decorative purpose, where they will never be closed? Determining function will affect the type of hardware you will want to use.

The two standard types of hardware are traversing or pole rods.  A traversing rod opens and closes a ripple fold or pleated drape via wand or cord control.   A pole rod, which has no mechanics, still allows for drapes to be moved manually across the rod.  A pole rod is typically used for custom drapes with rod pocket, hidden loop, grommet, or ring heading.  If you need to open and close your drapes on a daily basis, a traversing rod will likely work best.  Not surprisingly, in terms of cost, drapes with mechanics typically have a higher cost than the non-mechanical options, so consider this with your budget.

We have also often created solutions that include a blind or shade for function combined with stationary custom drapes in our Binghamton projects.  This can provide a better price point than traversing drapes and create a beautiful, layered look with all the function and style you need.

Heading Styles

The heading is, as it sounds, the top of the drape.  There are many style options, from more contemporary ripple fold or grommet to more traditional rod pocket or pleated styles.  The choice here is based on function, aesthetic of your space, and budget. 

Fabric

As you can imagine, there are thousands of fabric options.  You need to consider the weight, thickness, texture, color, pattern, and cost of a fabric.  The fabric you choose can completely change the look of your space, so it’s imperative to get this element right. You also can use 2 or 3 fabrics in a custom drape.  It just depends on how you want the drapes to contribute to the overall aesthetic of your space and how the fabric will coordinate with the other finishes in your room, including flooring, furniture, wall finish, artwork. 

It is also critical to look at fabric samples in your space.  Never order based on just a picture.  It will likely look totally different when you receive it. Seeing actual fabric samples in the specific light of your space and against the room’s other elements will allow you to make the best fabric choice for you.

As an interior design firm and provider of custom window treatments serving Binghamton, NY and beyond, our top objective for every project is for the client to love their space. If you are considering custom drapes, contact us to schedule your complimentary call. Our professional designers will provide custom drapes that are just right for you.

The Design Team

PKB DESIGN LLC