Choosing the right curtains for your French doors can add a lot to the overall look and feel of the room. Many people are surprised by the range of materials and styles that are available for use with the doors. If you are in the market for French door curtains and are not sure what to select, here are tips that will take away the confusion.
One of your first tasks is measuring the width of each French door in the set. This will help you know the length and width you need for the panels. While this seems like an obvious step, far too many people shop for curtains and do not think about the dimensions until they come across window treatments they like. Get ahead of the game and have that information at hand as you begin to shop.
There is also the need to determine if the French door curtains will be accompanied with any other elements. For example, will you also be employing blinds or shades to cover the panes in the doors? If so, you will want to make sure the style of curtains you choose allow easy access for cleaning and arranging the slats or pulling the shade up and down.
Color and texture are also two important points to consider when buying French door curtains. One of the easiest ways to dress the doors is to purchase a set of panels that pick up one of the accent colors in the room. The panels can be attached with top and bottom rods to create a clean look to the space. As an alternative, buy panels that mimic a pattern found in the room, such as a piece of artwork, an abstract print, or the sofa pattern.
Keep in mind as you look at textures that it is important the French door curtains tie in with the general décor and also the purposes for the room. Masculine looking patterns are not likely to be appropriate when the room is decorated with pastels and frills. While it is perfectly acceptable to introduce a new texture to the room, such as adding silk in a room with cotton linen and chenille, make sure the cut and style of the curtains accentuate what is going on in the space rather than disrupting the mood of the room.
Along with involving the French door curtains in the décor of the space, there is also the need to be practical in terms of the material selected. Ideally, you will look more toward fabric options that can be cleaned easily at home, either on the gentle cycle of the washer or rinsed out in the sink. This will save extra trips to the dry cleaners, and also decrease the cost of maintaining the treatment.
Fortunately, there are plenty of colors, patterns, textures, and fabric blends that are used to make French door curtains. If for some reason you cannot find what you want, there is another option. Purchase material that you find ideal for the window treatment, settle on a pattern, and have the curtains custom made. While more expensive than mass-produced sets of curtains, you will enjoy the look of the doors much more than if you settled for a commercial set that is only adequate.
