Window Treatment Hardware & How Small Details Can Make A Huge Impact
Have you ever noticed when a drapery rod is hung right along the top of the window trim? Or, the hem of a drapery panel hung 6" off the ground? You may not have noticed, but small details like these make a huge impact on the overall room. Details like these are easily avoided when you know just a few guidelines. I will explain a few of the mounting locations typically used in our drapery projects: Inside mount, outside mount, and the two types of drapery rods: stationary and traversing.
1 | The Impressively-Functional Inside Mount
By mounting a shade inside of a window frame, this results in a clean, custom finish and looks like it was installed professionally. Here are a few details to keep in mind to ensure a custom look. One, If the shade can fit inside the window frame and be flush with the trim.
If your window trim is worth showing off, we don’t like to cover it up and try to mount a shade inside the frame of the window.
Also, consider if the window has anything protruding inside the frame like a crank or lock. These could prevent the shade from operating properly. Decide how you are going to operate your shade. If it's in a child's room, then we make sure it has a cordless lift system for safety purposes. If the window is too high, a motorized system is a great idea.
2 | The Outside Mount
Vary rarely do we mount shades on top of trim. Consider the shade's headrail and make sure you give yourself enough height to allow for that mounting space. Also, the shade fabric needs to cover the trim completely from top to bottom and left to right. a non- professional shade installation is when the shade is down and trim is showing on either side. An advantage to having an outside mounted shade is when the trim is in poor condition or when the window frame is not square.
This is a great example of hanging the rod higher up toward the ceiling to give the illusion of higher ceilings and larger room.
3 | The Rod Installation Location
When hanging drapery rods, there are 2 locations which are best, however there are certain situations like an angled ceiling which prevent the rod from being installed too high. Ceiling mounted rods are a great option for a ripple fold drape - this works well when a wall of drapery is needed. Wall mounted brackets typically are hung at least 6" above the top trim or higher giving a room the illusion of taller ceilings. End mounted brackets would be used inside a window frame for a cafe curtain. Cafe Curtains are used to cover the lower portion of a window creating a little privacy.
This is a great example of mounting a rod with an angled ceiling, preventing from going too high but high enough to look professional.
4| Drapery Hardware - Stationary Vs Traversing
Stationary drapery panels are hung on rods which do not allow the panels to move on the rod - the panels stay “stationary”. A traversing drapery is made to close across the window, therefore needing a rod in which it can be operated with a wand, cord or motorized. These rods can look similar, but they have specific details which allow them to serve different purposes.
Traversing drapery can stack to the left, the right or be split in the center, stacking on both sides. This is a great option for adding both design & texture to a room but also practicality of privacy when needed.
Feeling overwhelmed by all of the options and not sure what is best for your specific window or space?
Our job is to eliminate that overwhelm and guide you through the process. We will provide you with the best options for your specific needs, place orders and professionally install your window treatments.
For more window treatment ideas, book a discovery call where we can discuss the best direction for us to work together and get you started on achieving the best results for your windows.
Warmly,
Patti
