Spacious, wide windows of cottages just want to be decorated with beautiful and original curtains. Currently, stores are overflowing with all sorts of textiles. From simple tulle to chic draped silk and tapestry. It seems that there is nothing to be surprised about: visiting stores or apartments of friends, you come across more and more original products designed to decorate everyday life. But there are still interesting options for decorating window openings - these are Roman blinds. Having appeared long before the construction of apartment buildings, they give their owner mystery and extravagance. But such unique products require special hanging systems. Read the article and get acquainted with all the varieties of cornices for Roman blinds.
Content
Product Features
The cornice for Roman blinds has gained great popularity relatively recently. The boring standard curtains that decorated Soviet apartments are already going out of fashion. It was necessary to somehow diversify the design of curtains for the Russian consumer. Satisfying this need, designers developed a modern concept of Roman blinds, taking the experience of past years as a basis. This is how these beautiful curtain products gained popularity, and enjoy it to this day.
When visiting a textile store, you can find the following types of cornices for Roman blinds:
- Mini cornice.
- Standard size pendant.
- Beveled main crossbar design.
- Double row curtain.
The design of each of the 4 types listed is the same. Roman blinds have a characteristic folding method, which is carried out in only one way: by pulling up the bottom edge of the curtain. To make this possible, the curtain has four main working elements. These are:
- a profile that is attached to a fixed part;
- plumb line (the place where the curtain is attached to the profile);
- lifting mechanism;
- pulling ropes.
The suspension profile can be made of plastic or aluminum. In some cases, it is made of wood. But it is worth noting that wood is present here only in the outer, decorative layer. Inside, the system is made of plastic or aluminum. The choice of material for making the profile depends on several indicators. These are the dimensions of the curtain itself, as well as the material it is made of. The greater the weight, the stronger the cornice should be.
The plumb line is usually made in the form of a Velcro tape glued (screwed) to the profile. Expensive products provide for the replacement of the Velcro tape, since over time, with frequent washing of the curtains, the Velcro fails. There are also plumb lines with ties. They are less popular, they are more difficult to install and remove, but, unlike Velcro, there is nothing to become unusable here.
The curtain rod lifting mechanism is a system of two lifting carriages and one rotation drive, connected to each other by a square section rod. The carriages are driven by a manual control chain. To move the curtain to the upper position, its edges are securely attached to the pulling tapes (cords) at the ends of which there are locking rings or hooks.
Types of lifting systems
Different manufacturers produce different types of components for Roman blinds. They are no different in purpose, but there are differences in their aesthetic qualities.
There are two types of lifting systems:
- open type;
- closed type.
From the name of each, it becomes clear that open systems have carriages that are located separately from the main body (profile). But the closed type implies the operation of the entire system, when the lifting carriages and rotation drive are enclosed in the body of the product. The movement of the curtain itself in both the first and second cases occurs similarly: the user moves the working control chain, which sets the square traction in motion. In this case, the cord cables are wound on the shaft of the traction carriage drive, lifting the curtain up.
In addition to the manual method of opening/closing the window, there is an automatic one. For the operation of this system, an electric drive with a remote control sensor is additionally located in the profile body. The system is connected to the 220 volt apartment network. The lifting system engine itself operates from a voltage of 24 volts, so the structure is equipped with a step-down voltage transformer.
The control of such a system is carried out using a remote control. The expediency of this system is justified in the case of large, long Roman blinds. The cornices of such products have an aluminum body, as well as three or more lifting cables.
Double row cornices
Double-row curtain rods for Roman blinds are a new trend that has been popular for just a couple of years. The design of this curtain rod is very similar to the single-row type. But there are still differences. Another Velcro fastener located on the back wall of the profile body is used to attach the second curtain. One working element is used to raise/lower both curtains – the same manual control chain. And to be able to separately adjust each curtain, the control system is equipped with stop plugs.
A two-row curtain rod is called day/night. It got this "nickname" for the ability to fix two curtains. One, the one closest to the window, is hung from translucent tulle, and the second acts as a curtain, so it must be made of thick fabric.
Double-row Roman curtain rods are very practical. They do not take up additional space, on the contrary, if there is a gap of 3 cm between the tulle and the curtain, they save a lot of space. Such products are attached exclusively to the wall or ceiling. Installation on a window or window opening is unacceptable, due to their significant weight.
Installing a Roman Blind
In order to hang a curtain rod for a Roman shade on the ceiling, you need to have some tools. Here's what you need:
- Impact drill or hammer drill.
- A screwdriver or a regular screwdriver.
- Dowel-nails.
- Tape measure, pencil and ruler.
First, you need to make markings. The mounting locations are indicated directly on the cornice itself. There should be holes in the profile, on its inner part. Having applied the cornice to the ceiling at the same distance along the edges, you need to mark the drilling points with a pencil. Next, you need to drill holes with a drill, insert dowels (or metal anchors) into them, and secure the crossbar.
This is where all the "difficulties" of installation end. All you have to do is hang the curtains themselves, thread the cord ropes, and enjoy using the beautiful Roman blinds.
