Do you need curtains on the balcony? And if so, which ones? What to consider when choosing curtains? Everything will be discussed in this article.
The balcony is increasingly no longer solely a place for storing unnecessary things and drying clothes. A design is developed for it in accordance with the style of the apartment, ergonomics and interior are thought through in detail. The interior of any room ends with decoration, and an important stage here is the selection of textiles. In this article we will show appropriate curtains for the balcony, ideas that can be found in designer projects. Let’s take a closer look at which curtain models are suitable, what criteria should be used to choose them, and what to pay attention to. We will also give a number of other tips and recommendations.
Requirements
The choice of window design primarily depends on the function of the balcony. How can it be used?
- Relaxation area with upholstered furniture. That is, as an extension of the living room.
- Dining room. This option is convenient if the exit is from the kitchen .
- Office or workshop. Often a workplace is placed there.
- Pantry. In small apartments, where there is not enough storage space and no separate storage room, this is almost the only solution.
- Winter garden or greenhouse. A glazed loggia is a suitable place for growing plants. And more and more city residents are using it.
ButIn all cases, several important points must be taken into account.
- Curtains should not interfere with the opening of windows. Therefore, consider the opening mechanism: swing or sliding.
- Since the balcony is always a continuation of any main interior room, it should be designed in harmony with this room.
- The presence of a balcony in itself slightly obscures the interior space of the apartment. Therefore, curtains that are too dark and thick can aggravate this situation.
- The decoration for balcony windows should be wear-resistant, easy to wash and clean, and not fade in the sun. And ideally, it should also have dust-proof properties.
Suitable types of curtains
Curtains and drapes
On the balcony, curtains and drapes will be appropriate if it is an extension of the living room or bedroom, there is a relaxation area or dining room there. Usually, these words are used as synonyms.
But in fact, curtains and drapes are not the same thing. Curtains are canvases made of light, translucent, thin fabric. Such curtains will not block street light completely. They will only make it more diffuse and muffled. Curtains can be long or short, covering the window area entirely or partially. Curtains, unlike curtains, are made of thick fabric. Their task is to protect the room from the sun as much as possible. Curtains can block light by 100%. To do this, use a special blackout fabric .
Fabric window decoration is a good choice when you need to create a cozy, intimate, private and at the same time elegant environment. It is better to choose a fabric that is unpretentious, resistant to stains, can withstand frequent washing and is not susceptible to fading in the sun. Linen is suitable for natural fabrics. True, it wrinkles quite a lot. Synthetic ones include jacquard, matting, acrylic, soft and others. As for color, monochromatic or two-color curtains of white and pastel colors, or deep, complex shades are now popular. You can also often find textiles with geometric patterns.
Ceiling and wall cornices are suitable for curtains. As fastenings, it is rational to use eyelets, rings, hooks, drawstrings – everything that will make it easy to remove and put on the fabric.
Tulle
Like thicker curtains, tulle is best chosen for spacious rooms that will be used for relaxation. Weightless, transparent tulle is not about benefits and functionality. It will not protect from the sun or prying eyes.
Why then do you need tulle? For beauty, of course. With it, an ordinary balcony can be turned into a cozy summer veranda. It will add lightness and airiness to the space. Tulle with light tiebacks looks elegant and slightly romantic.
The length of the tulle should be chosen primarily based on convenience. In different situations, short or floor-length will be suitable. Preference today is given to plain veils of white color or with a barely noticeable cream tint. Colored, variegated, shiny options or models with large patterns will not look relevant. As is the abundance of decorative details. The simpler the better. When choosing, pay attention to the material. It should drape easily, form beautiful folds, and keep its shape. Organza, veil, chiffon, cambric are suitable.
Roman blinds for the balcony
If the balcony is small in size or you plan to use it as an office, workshop, organize storage or grow plants there, long curtains and tulle may be inconvenient. In this case, Roman blinds will help decorate and protect the room from light. They do not take up much space, fit snugly to the window, and at the same time, in appearance they can be extremely simple, laconic, or elegant, decorative.
The Roman blind on the balcony (photo can be seen in the gallery) is a lifting structure. When folded, it consists of horizontal strips of fabric gathered at the top of the window. If the curtain is lowered, it will turn into a smooth, even sheet that securely covers the glass. Such curtains can slightly transmit light, but they are also sewn from blackout fabric.
Roman shades can be attached directly to a window or to the ceiling or wall.
Roller blinds for the balcony
The most obvious and accessible option. It is equally suitable for an office, workshop, storage room or garden. Externally, such curtains are as simple and minimalist as possible. They are not decorative. But they protect well from the sun, they are easy to care for – they don’t wrinkle, don’t fade, and are easy to clean.
An interesting option is day-night rolls. They allow you to regulate the amount of light: either absorb it completely or transmit it to the maximum.
Roller blinds differ from Roman blinds in their lifting mechanism. It does not fold, but is wound around the bar. Rolls are convenient to hang and remove if necessary. How to hang such curtains on the balcony on plastic windows? There are several options. The roller can be attached separately to each leaf, and it will not interfere with opening and closing. Or you can use it on the wall and even the ceiling.
Blinds
One of the most fashionable solutions today is blinds. But not the kind we are used to seeing in offices – vertical fabric stripes. You need other options for your home.
Stylish blinds are, in most cases, horizontal. They are made from wood, bamboo, metal or plastic. Another variety is pleated blinds. In fact, these are not exactly blinds; they only resemble them in appearance. These are rather curtains made of pleated fabric.
Blinds have a number of advantages: they are easy to clean, allow you to adjust the level of light, and do not take up much space. Blinds suit almost any interior style. Their combination with curtains, drapes and tulle looks interesting and modern. Blinds will decorate both the recreation area and the office – this is a universal solution. They are hung directly on each sash or on the entire frame, wall or ceiling.
How to replace curtains?
It is certainly possible to do without window textiles. And sometimes it is necessary.
For example, if:
- Do you have allergies in your family? In this case, there is no need for excess surfaces and materials that collect dust.
- The room is too small. This, of course, is not a verdict, but a reason to think. It may be better to leave the windows open to visually expand the space.
- The balcony faces the side where there is little light. If the house is already twilight all day, curtains will most likely turn out to be an unnecessary interior detail.
By the way, windows free of textiles are increasingly found in designer projects. Especially when it comes to interiors in the Scandi and minimalist style. Refusal of excessive decorativeness in favor of restraint is one of the trends of recent years. Therefore, if you are not embarrassed by prying eyes, and sunlight does not interfere, you can completely abandon the curtains. What to replace them with? If the sun and the neighbors opposite still interfere, you can think about tinting the windows. It will solve both problems. Windows are tinted using a special film. It comes in sun protection and mirror options. Both protect the room from bright rays and overheating. If there is no glazing, you can also find an alternative to curtains. For example, awnings, screens or garlands of plants.
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