Cafe curtains for dining rooms
Hang cafe curtains to cover the bottom half of windows in a breakfast nook or casual dining space.
Yes, French cafe curtains are having a moment, but we expect this trend will last longer than a moment – throughout the summer – and beyond. Because why would the sweet aesthetic of Saint-Germain ever go out of style?
Cafe, or tier, curtains are designed to hang from the middle of the window to the bottom of the window sill. They provide privacy while letting in light through the top portion of the window. Like most other curtains and drapes, cafe curtains are typically installed with two panels per window.
A warm beige or taupe curtain is a great way to add warmth to your living space. Keep the rest of your furniture light and airy and let the curtains add a moody element to your room.
Short Curtains
Visually speaking, high-water style is not the most appealing way to hang curtains. The shorter length can appear dated. Also, it can cut the visual height of your room in half. From a purely practical standpoint, however, short curtains are sometimes the best option.
Valance. If you want the light of a cafe window, but don't love the look, try just a valance instead. It's a nice way to bring in color and texture where privacy isn't a concern.
Although cafe curtains are much shorter than regular curtains, they can still make a statement in your bedroom. Choose bold patterns or bright colors, or hang an additional valance like pictured below. Take a look at other bedroom curtain ideas for inspiration.
If there is no window sill, then cafe curtains can hang around fifteen centimeters (six inches) below the window. If there is a window sill present, then cafe curtains should hang just above the sill. It is suggested that cafe style curtains hang above the sill by about one centimeter (three-eighths of an inch).
It is better to place curtains in a kitchen window if the window is very long, has an open design, or is an odd shape that would not work with blinds. Curtains present the opportunity to use patterns, color, or opacity to frame a window eloquently.
In turn, many people believed that kitchen curtains are outdated and unnecessary. However, interior designers have found creative ways to bring back curtains as an important focal point for the kitchen. Hence, kitchen curtains are not at all outdated or in poor taste for that matter.
Ready-made curtains come in several standards widths and lengths. Standard ready-made panel lengths are 63, 84, 95, 108, 120 and 144 inches. Café curtains, also called tiers, are shorter, usually 24 or 36 inches.
Café curtains are hung on a rod across the middle of the glass instead of the top, which is great if you want privacy but also a little sunlight. Both grommet and café curtains require hemming the bottom four to six inches so that the hem sits below the bottom of the sill when seen from outside.
Interior designers note the bottom of your curtains should fall to the floor, and you can even let them “puddle” a bit. However, if you don't want your curtains to drag on the floor when you open and close them, let them stop about an inch from the floor, but no more.
Slide the opened claw or clip onto the upper edge of the curtain and release the pressure. When you release, the claw or clip will grab the fabric. Attach one cafe curtain ring at the upper left and right ends of the curtain, and fasten the remainder evenly across the top of the curtain.
Sill Length
These are the shortest of the standard curtain lengths, which makes them a good opportunity to have some fun with pattern or color. Since they take up less visual space, you won't get tired of a bold choice.
Making Your Room Look Larger or Smaller with Curtains
High-hanging curtains with long vertical stripes create the illusion of height, which is excellent for low ceilings. However, short curtains and horizontal stripes shorten your wall height and make the room appear smaller.
Hanging long drapes on a short window is one of the easiest ways to increase the importance of the window and bring it into proportion to the room. Short drapes on a short window call attention to the size of the window and reduce the significance of the room, window and drapery style.
Among the main curtain trends for 2021 is an ambiance that's airy or light. Heavy and thick curtains can make a room look and feel much smaller. Homeowners might not realise that some guests may even feel claustrophobic in a room treated with bulky curtains, especially if the room isn't large to begin with!
Consistency is key in good interior design, and mixing and matching different styles of drapery in one room shouldn't be done without good reason. “Generally, if all the windows are the same size,” Jacobson advises, “I would recommend the same style window treatment throughout.”
It is normal for curtains to touch the floor. Some styles even need more length to produce a certain look. Using any of the curtain length styles is fine as long as it enhances the beauty of your home.