Window coverings are an essential part of any room, serving a very practical purpose: letting in light when you want it, and keeping prying eyes out when you need privacy. But don’t think of drapes only in utilitarian terms. Selecting window coverings deserves careful consideration for how their colour, material, opacity and texture will create the mood in your room.
Drapes and window coverings are often a design afterthought. But they shouldn’t be, says Aga Kwasnik of Wigger Draperies, a local custom drapery company.
“Drapery is an integral part of the design. Drapery is often more important than floors — you’re looking at it, it manipulates how you feel in the room,” she says.
Kwasnik recommends going more neutral and classic when it comes to drapes — treating good quality drapery as an investment, not a throwaway purchase. Too many people leave drapery to the last minute, Kwasnik says, when there’s very little left in the budget. But good quality drapery is as important as furniture and rugs.
“We want something that looks good regardless of time of year,” Kwasnik adds.
As trends shift away from minimalism, elements of more maximalist eras are cropping up, including a resurgence of patterns and trim.
“It’s tricky when we talk about trim,” Kwasnik says. “People are thinking back to the ’80s or ’90s, but it’s more modern, less traditional these days.”
Trends are also moving towards natural fabrics, the same way they are in clothing, furniture and other products. Homeowners want the real thing, and want to be more eco-friendly. But those natural fibres also look more elevated.
“Silk, linen: always classic. It’s a layering of texture,” she says, adding that good design advice means varying texture along with pattern and colour. “If you have a velvet sofa, we won’t do velvet drapes,” she says.
Drapes add dimension to a room, Kwasnik says, and selecting a variety of materials is important for adding texture and interest.
Another important factor in selecting drapes is thinking about the context of the window you’re covering — what direction it faces, how much sunlight it gets and whether the view through that window is one you love, or one you’d rather hide away. You’ll also want to think about the function of the room when selecting drapery. Sleeping, cooking, watching movies and entertaining guests require differing amounts of light.
But window treatments don’t just cover unsightly views, or let in the right amount of light — the right drapes set the tone and elevate the room, adding character and interest.
Wigger Draperies
Queen Mary Park | 11515A 105 Ave NW, Edmonton | wiggerdraperies.com
