Decorative Curtain Hardware

Decorative Curtain Hardware

When you buy curtains and pop them on a rod without thinking twice, you’re missing a key design opportunity. In the old days, you could get away with plain white rods, mostly because that was all that was available.

But those days are long gone. Now, you have many hardware options to complement your window treatments. By selecting tasteful, coordinating hardware, you can make the difference between a simple window covering and a true design statement.

Drapery Hardware Types

• Curtain Rods – As noted above, the days of the plain white curtain rod are over. Now, you have a variety of functional and decorative rods to choose from. If you like the look of sheer curtains but are uncomfortable with the fact that your neighbors can see inside your home, consider layering sheers with a heavier fabric and hang them from a combination rod, which is built to handle multiple curtains. Or if you’re working in a small space and want your curtains to sit neatly within the window frame, consider a tension rod that fits inside the frame. And if you have floor-length curtains that you’d like to open and close frequently, consider a traverse rod, which opens and closes by pull cord.
• Finials – If the ends of your drapery rods are visible, consider adding finials or purchasing a rod with built in finials. Finials are decorative pieces that fit on the end of the rods. Often, you can purchase coordinating finials and tiebacks for a more cohesive window treatment.
• Tiebacks – The tieback, unsurprisingly, is used to tie or fasten the curtains open. Tiebacks can be literal ties, like ribbons or cloth strips, or they may be metal or wood pieces that attach to the wall. To open the curtain, you’d pull it to the side and drape them over the tieback.
• Rings – Depending on the type of drapery you select, you may or may not need rings or fasteners to attach it to the rod. Fasteners are available in styles to suit any room, from plain wooden clothespins to ornately detailed ironwork.
• Sconces – If you select a plain rod, you can still up the design interest by hanging it in a sconce. The sconce is essentially a decorative curtain rod holder, although they can also be used to support some of the fabric from the window treatment itself.
• Curtain Jewelry – Curtain or drapery jewelry can be attached to the drapery fabric or dangled from the rods as an accent. You can buy “curtain jewelry” or reuse old pieces like strands of pearls or antique broaches. Jewelry can also be used in lieu of tiebacks for a pretty statement.
  

Hardware Selection Tips

• While you’re no longer limited to the plain white curtain rod, more ornate window treatments could be pushed over the top if you add too many accessories. Make sure that the hardware you selects compliments, not overpowers, your treatments and the overall décor.
• Make sure that the drapery hardware you select will work well with the curtains. For example, heavy fabrics require the use of sturdier rods. You would also want to avoid fancy finials with sharp edges in combination with a delicate, easily-snagged lace panel. Make sure that the drapery and the hardware are complimentary in both form and function.
• Ornate finials take up more space than you might realize. Before purchasing, make sure that there is sufficient space for them. This is particularly important if the window is located near a corner of the room.
• Once you’ve selected a finial, make sure that you have the correct size rod to accommodate it.
• If you plan to cover a long series of windows in a continuous line, make sure to purchase enough support brackets to install them between the windows. This ensures that the curtains have sufficient support while maintaining an unbroken line around the room.