Bored of how your room looks? Want to spice up your home without having to make major structural or decor changes? Curtains to the rescue! Curtains or blinds can instantly change the appearance of a room without making you feel a severe financial pinch. Interior designer Naqiya Yusuf shares helpful tips on how to upgrade your space using curtains.

Naqiya Yusuf is the founder of Random in Tandem , an urban home decor brand. She believes that her brand is a reflection of her background. The range of products it offers carries an international voice and breathes an air of contemporary fun into home and office accessories.

Here, Naqiya shares five important tips to keep in mind before we go curtain hunting.

# Tip 1: Establish The Purpose

Firstly, establish what the purpose of the window treatment is. Is it for blocking out light or is it just for aesthetic appeal? In case of the former, a black out lining is imperative. If you want your curtains to provide only partial protection from the sun and also offer some level of privacy, you can use an alternative to a black out lining, such as sheers or vertical blinds underneath your main curtains.



#Tip 2: Space

Consider the space available before deciding on the treatment. For example, fabric is used in residential areas but plastic based, fuss-free blinds are preferred in commercial properties.



#Tip 3: Direction

An important but often overlooked detail is to check what direction your window faces (such as East or West), along with the direction and flow of the breeze. For example, if you open a window with roller or Roman blinds and the breeze is strong, the blinds will constantly move and make noise. In this case, a soft fall curtain would be more appropriate.



#Tip 4: User

It is essential to take into consideration the users of the space, to help you zero in on the right window treatment. When considering areas for children, a simple, maneuvering window dressing and washable curtain/blind treatments should be utilized, so they can take charge of their space without you worrying about any damage to the curtains.



#Tip 5: Type of Window

The window will determine what hardware can be installed in the space, which in turn will dictate which treatments can be considered – for example, pelmet drapes, automated blinds, manual curtains, valances and so on.

According to Naqiya, the top curtain trends and styles, keeping in mind the modern contemporary home, are...

Less is More!

The largest shift has been from traditional pleated curtains to contemporary eyelet curtains. These curtains have metal rings affixed to the top, which make them very easy to use.



Art and Decor Fusion

Digitally-printed window treatments are currently making waves in the industry, with technology allowing us to customize any design onto the fabric for a truly unique look.



Tech Forward

The use of automated blinds has also picked up, which allows us to play with and adjust natural light much more easily. You can control these blinds according to your needs, from any place in the room.



Breaking Rules

An interesting new trend is starting the blind not from the very top of the window, as would be expected, but after leaving a few inches' space. Alternatively, the blind can start from the top and end a few inches before the window base. This allows natural light in, even while providing privacy from the outdoors, when you need it.

