Bathroom Window Curtains » bathroom curtains

Installing Bathroom Window Curtains

Stacey — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:42:01 +0000

If you are taking the time to properly decorate and style your bathroom, you should go the extra step of installing proper bathroom window curtains as well. The days of tacking up an old towel as curtains are over. Investing the time and effort in proper curtain installation will pay off in the long run. Following a few tips and tricks to installing your curtains will give you long-lasting beautiful curtains to accent your bathroom.

First, think about your bathroom window for a few minutes. You can’t just drill a hole and place a curtain rod, calling it installation anymore than you can put a piece of plywood on wheels and call it a car. The person who built your room did not simply put a hole in the wall, fill it with glass and that makes it a window. It need support, so they have a very sturdy, small beam that runs along the top of the window. This is called a header and it supports the window from the weight of the building. You are supposed to drill your curtain rod directly into the header to give the bathroom window curtains proper support, but this is not always practical since you’re screwing into wood. If you can mount the curtains in the header you certainly should. It will be the easiest way and the preferred way of installing the curtains. But there can be a few setbacks to this plan.

Installing Bathroom Curtains

If your window has a wide trim, the header may actually be shorter than that trim. But you can’t really destroy the look or your trim to get to the header. But you also can’t drill into the drywall and hope it can support your curtains. So this presents a dilemma in your bathroom window curtains experience. If you can find a stud in the proper place, you can use that to mount your curtains. But often there will not be one in the place you’re hoping for. In this case you absolutely have to use hollow-wall anchors. These will keep the screws from tearing out the drywall.

Positioning of your curtains is important. Normally your window height will be about the same as your door height. In that case, mount the curtains even with top of the window. If your window is much lower than the door, the curtain will have a very heavy and depressing look. In that case you will get the best look by raising the height of the curtains to provide more balance to the room. Another bonus to this is that the higher you set the bathroom curtains the farther you can extend the width past the trim without it looking awkward.

Customizing Your Bathroom Window Curtains

Stacey — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:35:51 +0000

While your store bought, mass produced curtains are sure to be lovely you would hate to see them all over town. Your bathroom window curtains should be customized to your look, your décor and your style. There are a lot of very inexpensive ways to do so, and you might as well take advantage of it.

One easy way to make your curtains your own is to create a two-sided look. That will make them absolutely stunning when open. All you need to do is sew or otherwise secure two different colors or patterns of fabric together and hang them like normal bathroom curtains. This is especially great with a country themed bathroom. One side can be a nice plaid; the other can be a matching solid color. It will be a very unique and customized look.

Country Bathroom Curtains

Another easy and inventive way of customizing curtains is by altering the trim. For a more formal look, find a tasseled trim and sew that along the bottom edge. Of a braided trim will give a far more simple but elegant look. Another great way to alter the trim is to sew the trim along the inside edge of the curtains. This would be the part of the curtains you will handle to open them. If you are using a solid color curtain, a pattern ribbon used as the trim will give a very contrasting and interesting appearance to your bathroom window curtains. If this curtain is for a children’s bathroom then perhaps a ribbon layered with a beaded trim will delight the little ones. While this layered effect may be a bit too frilly for the boys, try just the beaded trim and forgo the ribbon.

One thing that most people would not think of when they are customizing curtains are using those old men’s ties they have lying around that never get worn. Really, ties are the perfect way to create a unique and one of a kind curtain tieback. All you need is a few ties in coordinating colors. They don’t need to be exact colors, just colors that don’t contrast too heavily. Simply get a simple metal craft ring and slide it down to the wide part of the tie, cutting off the excess. Now braid the ties and secure it with another craft ring on the other side, and you have a perfect curtain tieback. Even if you never intend to open and close the curtains, the tieback will add an elegant element to the room. And using the ties is something you probably have around the house anyway and something that no one else would ever consider.

Alternative Bathroom Window Curtains

Stacey — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:34:36 +0000

Not all bathroom windows need elaborate curtains or window treatments. Many bathrooms have rippled glass or frosted glass that preserves your privacy and lets in natural light. Spending all sorts of money on curtains for these windows would be difficult to justify the expense since they’d really never be closed. But the room still looks bare and not quite done. Using a window scarf could be your best option.

A window scarf is very similar to complete bathroom curtains but instead of having the ability to open and close them, they simply drape around the window. You have probably seen this used in decorating in conjunction with regular curtains but they are just as lovely when used alone. Basically the window scarf is a narrow strip of fabric that runs along the top and side of the window.

Bathroom Window Scarf

As an alternative to bathroom window curtains, window scarves are much simpler to purchase or to make one yourself. A window scarf can be purchased at any discount or department store in any particular length or color. If you look at several stores and can’t find what you want, just run over to your local fabric store. There you can find any color, pattern, or fabric imaginable and simply buy a handful of yards to make your own. If you have a sewing machine you can simply sew a simple hem and you have the perfect window scarf. If you don’t have a sewing machine you can use a hem that requires no sewing, both will be equally attractive.

Once you have your window scarf you will need to find and choose brackets for it. Keep in mind that unlike with traditional bathroom window curtains, the brackets will be exposed so you probably need to find a good decorative bracket to use. The wrought iron bracket is a very distinct look and ideally suited to a bathroom environment. Almost any bracket will do, though wood wouldn’t be suggest since it will likely warp because of the damp conditions.

Now that you have brackets, you have a few options for hanging the window scarf. You can use a curtain rod and gently drape it over it, or you can simply hang it between the two brackets. Another very decorative option is putting a third bracket in the middle of the window and placing the window scarf in between the three for a more draping look. If using an unhemmed fabric, be sure to pin or glue the raw ends so that they do not show. In general, window scarves are not meant to be moved or touched so you can get away with simple measures to secure it.

No-Sew Bathroom Window Curtains

Stacey — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:27:22 +0000

If you have no time or talent for sewing but want your own custom bathroom window curtains, there is no need to call your mom or aunt or someone with a sewing machine. In just a few minutes you can create your very own curtain valance with no sewing involved.

First you should gather all your supplies so that your bathroom window curtains project can be completed in the quickest time possible. You will need: scissors, a ruler, fusible webbing tape, an iron and ironing board, a hot glue gun, and cloth napkins. The number of the cloth napkins will be determined by how large the window is. Now measure your window from the outside of the frame to the outside of the other side of the frame. You should have a curtain rod purchased for that width. Lay the cloth napkins over the curtain rod. How much you want them to overlap is entirely up to you and will determine how many you need.

The pattern you want is an overlapping diamond pattern. Place the napkins on your working table and get them set up the way you want. Once they are in the position you want them, place the curtain rod over the top of them. If you are making a pocket for the valance then simple fold the napkins over the curtain rod. When secured, this will allow the curtain rod to slide in place very easily.

Be sure that you leave some room for the webbing tape by placing the edge of the tape under the fold of the napkin. By temporarily placing the tape it will allow you to test whether there is sufficient room for the curtain rod to slide. If you need to, you can adjust the size of the pocket until its perfect. Now that you know the placement of your tape, measure the area that needs to be fused. You want to cut the pieces of webbing tape to match the measurements of your napkins. This way the overlapping area will be just as securely fused together as the rest of it. In total you will likely have 7 or 8 pieces of webbing tape, all of equal length.

If you want to accent the valance by decorating the points of the napkins, you need to place those items now. Buttons or small gems are a very nice addition to your curtain valance. Use a hot glue gun to put the decorations in place, being careful not to burn yourself. Ideally, this project should involve no personal injury. Now all you have to do is slide your curtain rod into place and you are ready to hang your brand new valance. It can be almost guaranteed that no one else on the block will have seen bathroom window curtains like it.

Choosing Bathroom Window Curtains

Stacey — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:22:21 +0000

Not too many years ago, no one would have thought of putting curtains in their bathroom. But these days privacy is paramount and the look of every room in the home is very important. Bathroom curtains are ideally suited to these purposes, as long as they’re the right style. There are many styles to pick from when choosing bathroom window curtains and with a few basic guidelines you will find the perfect ones for you.

Avoid long curtains for your bathroom. While they may go great in the living room or family room, long curtains are not ideal for the bathroom. This is probably the most important factor when choosing bathroom window curtains. If the curtains touch the floor there is the chance they can get wet and then will mildew much quicker. Also, there are a lot of germ ridden places in a bathroom and long, flowing curtains are the perfect place for that to collect but will be harder to clean.

Another important factor in choosing bathroom window curtains is the color. The perfect curtains will compliment the other décor in your bathroom. Exact colors are not necessary but the colors should not contrast each other. Or, if you have a theme in your bathroom then you may want to consider curtains that match that theme. One of the great things about window curtains is the variety in fabric you can find. You could put teddy bears on your bathroom windows if it suited you.

Valances for Bathrooms

Be sure that you pick an appropriate fabric for a bathroom when choosing your curtains. For example, a fabric that is dry clean only is definitely not a good choice for a bathroom. You’ll be running to the dry cleaners every weekend. Bathrooms can be very damp and humid places, the fabric you pick when choosing bathroom window curtains should be suitable for these conditions. Cotton is probably one of the best choices. It is washable and is very durable even in damp or wet conditions.

Since most bathrooms are not very large, your curtains should now overwhelm and overpower the rest of the room and décor. To avoid this you may want to consider only top half curtains. Valances or swags are great examples of top half curtains that will look great in any bathroom or as a kitchen window treatment as well. Picking top half only will not make your bathroom look any smaller than it already is and still add the privacy and style you’re looking for.

Careful choosing of your bathroom curtains will transform any ordinary bathroom into a beautiful retreat. Keeping these few tips in mind will not only accomplish that but will save you a lot of the hassle of choosing curtains ill-suited for this purpose.