What is great about decorating one’s home is that a person can explore all promising home improvement ideas and be creative at the same time. A person may be loyal to the traditional or classic style of decorating or he may be rather daring as to try modern styling trends. In any case, according to ASID, the key to a successful home interior decoration is for the designer simply to have fun and to be, of course, open to a wide range of possibilities. While at it, one’s attention is directed towards windows and window treatments, specifically to sidelight curtains.
What are Sidelight Curtains?
By their very nature, sidelight curtains are simply window covers called by a different name. Once installed, however, these sidelight panel curtains give a striking effect on the look of the door and windows.
The sidelight curtains’ name pertains to the kind of window, known as sidelights, on which the said curtains are placed. These windows are called sidelights, which are the panel windows located on either side of a door, generally a French main or patio door.
Sidelights are placed not only to add style to the door and to the room as a whole, but especially to allow more sunlight into the room. They do not need, however, to deprive the room’s occupants of their privacy. This is one of the few things that came into the mind of the manufacturers when they thought of producing sidelight curtains.
Things to Consider in Choosing Sidelight Curtains
Materials/ Fabrics Used
In order to serve their purpose of brightening up the room but still allowing some solitude for the occupants, sidelight curtains are rarely made of thick fabrics. On the other hand, the usual materials used for sidelight curtains are laced or sheer cloths and cloths made up of slightly loosely woven fibers. Some frills and trimmings are also desired.
Complements the theme of the room
Moreover, it must be remembered that sidelight curtains can be a most effective home decorating tool when they are allowed to match the entire room’s furniture and sidelight window treatments. The match need not be an exact one. But while the owner can select a distinct style using varying types of sidelight curtains, still, it is suggested that one must be extra careful, so as not to have a totally mismatched set of curtains.
The above is true for the sidelight curtains’ color, print, design, material, texture and other details that are commonly considered when refurbishing a room.
Installation
Finally, it is worth mentioning that sidelight curtains are installed no differently from ordinary window curtains. Like the latter, these modern window curtains would also need the basic window curtain accessories like hooks and rods. The sidelight curtains can be left loosely hanging or they could also be set in place by another rod at the bottom of the sidelight window more or less similar to the one placed on top. The latter installation is more recommended because the light material of the curtain makes it easier to be blown away.
Installing Sidelight Curtains
As for the installation of sidelight curtains, methods differ depending on which surface will it be pinned to. For tips on this, read on:
Metal Doors
- First, at the sides, top, and bottom of the window or door– place magnets.
- Then after, position the top and bottom parts of the sidelight curtains to a curtain rood, this could be either metal or wood.
- Lastly, let the ends of the rods used for the curtains be attached to the magnets that are places at the sides of the window or door.
Wooden Doors
- First, prepare rod brackets that are customized for sidelight curtains.
- Then after, screw this rod brackets in the top and bottom parts of the window.
- Next, screw 2 more rod brackets on the side part of the curtains both above and below.
- In doing this, make sure that the opening of the curtain brackets are facing up. For the brackets at the bottom, make sure they are facing downwards.
- After which, attach the sidelight curtains onto the curtain rods, which will be placed in both bottom and top areas of the window.
- Lastly, place the curtain rod on the brackets positioned above the sidelight. Hook the rod of the bottom brackets below the sidelight after pulling the curtain over the window.