What is the difference between curtains, drapes, drapes and draperies? Where did the tradition of windows being decorated with long pieces of fabric come from? The answers to these questions are in history. Where all the modern models of these very curtains, drapes and drapes have come from.

Striped curtains with eyelets in the living room
Curtains are usually any fabric that covers a window or doorway. However, these fabrics vary in both material and style.

A Brief History of Different Models of Curtains

One of the ancestors of curtains can be called the invention of the first people. They hung the passages to their caves with the help of large and heavy skins of killed animals. They did this to show the advantage of the inhabitants of this cave over others or to hide from daylight - it is unknown. But the tradition of hanging holes in the wall with various materials remained with people.

Yellow curtains on large windows in the hall of a private house
A window is not only a source of light, but also a part of the room's interior.

Depending on how fashion and technical equipment changed, the curtains on the windows changed as well. That is why today a modern person would rather go to a store and buy fabrics for the home that came to us from Byzantium, Greece or France, rather than go looking for more loot to cover a hole in the wall.

Terracotta curtains in a living room with a fireplace
In modern interiors, curtains on windows play two roles – functional and decorative.

Curtains

The word "curtains" came from France during the period of the dominance of the Baroque culture in society - a tendency towards excesses. At that time, curtains were long and thick fabrics on which various ornaments and drawings were embroidered or painted. Now this technique is also used in modern interiors on jacquard curtains, but not so actively.

Thick curtains on the window of the dining room in the Baroque style
Heavy curtains are one of the most characteristic elements of the Baroque style. They are made of elite fabrics and combined with curtains

Curtains

Curtains are light, single-color curtains in the interior that practically do not hold back sunlight, but on the contrary, disperse it, unlike curtains. Due to their light structure, this type of curtains has become very popular in antique interiors. They seem to create a balance between the detailed and active environment of the room and the calm decor of the window.

White curtains on the windows of the living room in English style
Linen is most often used as a curtain fabric in antique interiors.

The opposite of the antique style is the new Scandinavian. It strives for simplicity and the creation of space. At the same time, a curtain is a fairly inexpensive version of curtains that can be installed in the hall, kitchen or bedroom. Because a thick catalog of colors and textures makes it possible to choose a suitable shade that would emphasize home comfort.

Window decoration with curtains in Scandinavian style
The Scandinavian style is imbued with the spirit of minimalism, so the curtains here should be made of simple translucent fabric without any decor.

Curtains

Curtains are practically no different from blinds. Except for the fabric. If curtains are made mainly of heavy and dense materials, which are the main focus in the interior, then curtains are the opposite. They adapt to the existing furnishings of the house and can be presented in various materials: silk, velvet, linen, cotton, etc.

Emerald curtains on the window next to the sofa
In most cases, curtains are called rather massive curtains made of high-density, light-impermeable fabric.

Curtains

Curtains are all other types of fabric that can be used to frame windows. Most often, they are decorative. They are presented as a short curtain for a kitchen window or even an ultra-thin curtain for framing a canopy for a bed. They have almost no functional value.

Light curtains on the windows of the hall with a wooden ceiling
Curtains are often a simplified version of one or another type of curtains
Short curtain in the kitchen window opening
Most often, curtains are used to decorate windows in country styles.

Differences between curtains and drapes

Based on history, we can say that curtains appeared much earlier than drapes. The latter became widespread when expensive Eastern fabrics, such as silk, began to be imported to Europe. Then the transition from one type of interior to another began. Royal bulky curtains with embroidery were replaced by thin flowing silk. And in order to somehow hold it from the wind, fabrics began to be gathered with special cords.

Double curtains on the window in the bedroom
The curtains look massive and majestic.
Combination of curtains with a cascading roman blind
In the interior of a modern room, you can often see curtains that complement roller or Roman blinds.

Curtains are not only silk, but also velvet, cotton and all other types of fabric that can be gathered on the sides. Also, a distinctive feature of curtains is that they can be supplemented with such elements as ruffles, lambrequins, eyelets, monograms, tassels, fringe to give the windows more solemnity and expensiveness.

Thick curtains in the bedroom interior
Curtains and drapes have one thing in common: they are designed to prevent light from entering the room.

Differences between curtains and drapes

If curtains and drapes can still be confused with each other, then curtains are the element of window decoration that cannot be compared with the rest due to their variety of shapes. They can be long and short, very light and, on the contrary, heavy, transparent, with a pattern or without, made in the form of fabric or mesh.

Wooden curtain rod with curtain on rings
The curtain rod on which it is fixed is important. These two elements are always selected in pairs and decorated with beautiful decor.
Hanging a curtain on a wall without a cornice
Curtains are often hung on a string rod or even a strong rope.

Also, if we take facts from history, then curtains can be compared with village curtains on windows. They were simple and made of natural materials, without unnecessary decorative elements. Such fabrics for convenience and economy were cut into two parts and hung as short curtains to cover windows from the sun's rays and prying eyes of strangers.

Decorating a doorway with a straight curtain
Quite often curtains can be found on the doorway

Combination of curtains, drapes and drapes in modern interiors

For a long time, curtains, drapes and draperies were used together: the more expensive fabric was on the windows, the richer the house was considered. Therefore, overly bright and bulky structures in the style of "excess" were the order of the day.

Decorating a bedroom window with curtains in a classic style
Nowadays, similar combinations are found in classic interiors.

But time passed, preferences and tastes of people changed. And now from active baroque the public began to gravitate more towards more simplified forms. By removing curtains with eyelets it was possible to get calmer even curtains with a translucent curtain.

Translucent curtains on the panoramic window of the living room
For a room with a lack of light, light, translucent curtains are better suited.

Or vice versa, if you leave the curtains but remove all other unnecessary elements, you can give the interior a completely different mood. It all depends on the room where the curtains will be located.
Nowadays, all three of these elements (curtain, blind and drape) can exist separately and not depend on each other. For example, short curtains in a retro cafe style are more suitable for the kitchen.

Red and White Curtains for Country House Kitchen
Short curtains in the kitchen in retro style

In the living room, it is better to leave the mood that the French once tried to create, namely: solemnity and wealth, which can be achieved with the help of curtains.

Curtains made of expensive fabric in a French style living room
Exquisite French style living room with floor-length curtains

Curtains, as an independent element for window decoration, have undergone the greatest changes. There are many options on the manufacturers' market. Therefore, it will not be difficult to choose the most suitable curtains for the bedroom. The main thing is that they are as dense as possible and do not let in the morning sun rays.

Two-color curtains in the bedroom interior
The design of the curtains should match the overall interior of the bedroom.

Recommendations for choosing curtains

  1. First of all, you need to pay attention to the quality of the fabric, and not to the design of the curtains.
  2. All fabrics consist of an unequal ratio of synthetic and natural threads. And depending on their quantity, the fabric can pass air well or poorly, hold its shape and collect dust. Therefore, it is first necessary to determine the functional characteristics of the fabric for windows in each room, and then select the design.

    Pink curtain in bedroom zoning
    Translucent curtains expand the space and create an intricate visual effect
  3. It is necessary to decide what function the curtains perform. They should attract attention or, on the contrary, shade the details in the interior.
  4. The texture and pattern of the window canvas should be related to interior elements. These could be pillows on the sofa, candlesticks, paintings, etc.

    Selecting curtains for the bedroom interior
    In the bedroom, curtains are usually linked to the textiles on the bed.
  5. In different rooms, the fabric for curtains can show its color differently depending on the location of the windows and the brightness of the lighting. Therefore, it is recommended to take several curtains and look at them directly in the room, and then make a choice in favor of one of the options.
  6. The back of the curtain often fades in the sun due to the structure of the fabric, so it is better to use a lining for it.

    Beige curtain with dark lining
    A curtain with a contrasting lining looks beautiful
  7. When buying textiles rather than ready-made curtains, it is important to correctly calculate the fabric consumption based on the width and length of the window.
  8. Depending on the nature of the fabric, the length of the curtain is determined. If the fabric is soft, it is better to make curtains, the lower part of which will lie on the floor. Thick curtains that hold their shape should be exactly to the floor and not a centimeter more.

    Long curtains on a black cornice
    The height of the walls in the room can be visually changed by using the length of the curtains.
  9. Using a universal formula: if the interior is light with a minimum of decor, then it is better to use light curtains, a strict classical style is emphasized by the shine of the curtains, and a modern one requires even and strict forms.
  10. Curtains should have only one active element: color, pattern, cornice, etc.

    Bedroom design with striped curtains
    The pattern on the curtains should echo some decorative element in the interior of the room.

Video on how to choose curtains correctly

Curtains in the interior – 50 photos