How to choose a cornice to suit your budget

A curtain rod is more than just a stick on which curtains hang. This is also an important interior detail. A poorly chosen curtain rod can ruin even the most beautiful curtains and ruin all your efforts to create a harmonious image of your apartment. Therefore, the choice of cornice must be taken seriously.

Primary requirements

The cornice must first of all be durable and also match the curtains that will hang on it. You should not buy curtain rods made of soft metal or plastic for the living room and bedroom, where curtains made of thick, heavy fabric usually hang, otherwise the curtain rods may break or bend, unable to withstand the weight. A double cornice is preferable, so that you can hang tulle on it. And if you like curtains with a lambrequin, then you will need a triple cornice. Hooks and curtain clips must slide easily along the curtain rod, otherwise you will be forced to constantly yank the curtains and the loops will break all the time. It’s good if the cornice is equipped with a sliding mechanism, this is very convenient, and most importantly, the hinges always remain in place. If you want to visually enlarge the window opening, choose a wider cornice so that the curtains hanging on it cover part of the wall. Conversely, if the window is too large, select a cornice that exactly matches the width of the window. If you plan to hang curtains with a lambrequin, then it is better to mount the cornice right at the ceiling so that the lambrequin does not cover part of the window.

Which cornice to choose

Wooden cornices. They can be flat or in the form of a round wooden stick with rings. When choosing round curtain rods, make sure there are enough rings. The beauty of wooden cornices is that they can be matched to the color of parquet, furniture and doors. They look good in the bedroom, kitchen or living room, and go well with classic or rustic furniture, as well as wicker furniture. Metal curtain rods go well with modern furniture and can be hung in the kitchen, especially if your kitchen interior is replete with metal parts. Recently, cornices made of thick metal wire or simply in the form of a stick without any decoration have come into fashion. Curtains are held on by small metal rings or wide loops made from the same fabric as the curtains. Tulle is not hung on these curtain rods. Plastic curtain rods are an inexpensive alternative to wood. Plastic can be any color, including wood-look. Ideal for children's rooms. They are easy to combine with bright children's furniture.

What to hang curtains on

Hooks. They are very comfortable, they fit easily into the loops and are attached to the cornice without any problems. True, you can’t avoid fussing with sewing on the loops. But the time spent can be minimized if you attach a special tape with ready-made loops to the curtains.

Clamps. Their undoubted advantage is that you can adjust the curtains in length, bending them as much as necessary. But the clips are quite difficult to attach to the curtain rod, and they do not support heavy curtains. In addition, they may be visible, and this will not decorate your window, especially if the clips are old and rusty.

Rings. Their advantage is that they easily slide along the eaves. But to hang curtains on them, you will still need hooks or clips. It is better if the hooks are made of transparent plastic, then they will not be visible.