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About Curtains and Drapes

New Zealanders take pride in their homes and want their window treatments to be functional as well as attractive. Although blinds may be more appropriate for many smaller windows, curtains are the traditional way of dressing windows and come in a variety of styles. A wide range of fabrics can give an endless number of effects to fit in with every type of décor and lifestyle.

Curtains play an aesthetic role (maybe even form a focal feature), help to keep the home warm in winter and cool in summer, protect home furnishings from UV rays, and help reduce exterior noise. They can also conceal or minimise imperfections in a room.

This page provides general information about curtains and drapes (the two words generally mean the same thing), and in particular about custom curtains manufactured by New Zealand soft furnishing businesses.

To get further professional assistance we encourage you to check out the local firms that make curtains and other soft furnishings in New Zealand.

Window treatments can visually change the look of a room. For a small window, if you prefer not to use a blind such as a roman blind, make the curtain wider and higher than the actual window and this will give the illusion of a larger window. If your room has a low ceiling, make it seem higher by installing your drapes near the ceiling. Hanging full length curtains in a short window will also make the window appear longer.

If you have different window heights in a room, it is important to mount all the tracks at the same height - this will make it appear as if these windows are at a consistent height. To hide serious architectural defects on a window, use shaped pelmets and valances with the curtains.

Light and pastel colours make a room look larger. On the other hand, if the room is large and you would like it to appear cosier, use darker colours in your soft furnishings.

Adding a lining will extend the life of curtains by protecting the face fabric from bright sunlight. Using blackout lining for bedrooms will eliminate light, while thermal lining for living rooms will cut down on draughts and heat loss.

Click here to view details of curtain heading styles. You will find further detailed information, including a glossary of soft furnishing terms, on the 'Tips and Advice' page.