Italian curtains

Elegant and noble Italian curtains will be an excellent element of decor for any room. Refinement combined with practicality - quality, thanks to which the curtains have earned their popularity. Italian design has long been famous for its originality and notes of aristocracy. With these curtains, the window in the room, and the whole room will look stylish and unusual.

Even in the times of the Roman Empire thousands of years ago, the original design of curtains first appeared. Curtains reached their peak in the 18th century. During this period, luxurious and pompous curtains decorated the windows of the locks. Then they were characterized by a rich decor - tassels, fringe and ruffles.

Today, curtains in this style look somewhat simpler and more modern. Greater emphasis is placed on their practicality, which allows them to complement various areas of design.

Characteristic features of Italian curtains are neat folds located on the upper edge. To form them, a special band is used during tailoring - curtain tape. It allows the folds to become more expressive and emphasize the unusual shape of the curtains. The folds can be of various shapes - from cylindrical to semicircular, but the lines must always be clear. The symmetry of the folds is achieved by a special lifting mechanism with rails.

Another distinctive feature of Italian curtains is their lifting mechanism. Curtains rise up due to tapes and cords on the wrong side. The curtains themselves are located diagonally. With the help of a cord system, a window opening can be draped beautifully. In this case, the folds will elegantly fall down and diffuse sunlight.

Canvas curtains in the center are attached with a socket or brush. The decor of curtains can be used abundantly, but variants with its absence are also popular.

A significant difference in the design of Italian curtains from other curtains is the fact that they do not lift or move apart to the end. Two vertical canvases are connected at the top, and the bottom gently lies on the floor. Just below the windowsill, they are fixed by grabs.

There are two models of Italian curtains - stationary and mobile:

• In the first model the fabric at a close distance from the eaves is fixed diagonally with the help of grabs, cords or hooks located on the eaves or on the wall. At the same time, the review remains partially open. To regulate the illumination of the room, additionally use curtains.

• Sliding models have a slatted mechanism or cords. They pass inside the rings located at the edges of the eaves. To control this type of curtains, you need to loosen or pull the cords to the desired position, and then fix them. But in this case, the curtains will still partially cover the window and not move apart to the end.

  ​

The upper edge of the curtains can be stitched with a special tape. The way of fastening the cloths on the tubular cornice with loops looks originally. In this case, buttons or clasps act as decorative elements.

It is believed that long Italian curtains look even more spectacular, even lying a little on the floor. Therefore, the fabric for sewing such curtains requires a lot.

Since this type of curtain implies a large number of folds, it is best to pick a heavy fabric that is easier to drape. If the choice fell on a lighter version, it is better to additionally purchase special decorative weights or lining for the lower edge of curtains. This will make the folds more expressive and clearer.

The material for sewing can be cotton, linen, silk or blended fabric.. Today there are options from the veil and chiffon. The main thing is that the fabric could create expressive folds.

As for the colors, the original Italian curtains were made from textiles of deep saturated color. Blue, burgundy, brown and green were the most popular colors. Now it is allowed to choose the fabric in accordance with personal preferences. The main thing is that the curtains are in color in harmony with the interior of the whole room.

The presence of ornament on the fabric is also possible.. The pattern can be a plant, small cell or strip.Saturated dark color can be diluted with additional curtains of an identical, but more diluted shade. It is possible to decorate monophonic fabric with tassels, bows, bugles, fringe and other accessories.

Most effectively, these curtains look when you make a large window opening. This allows them to fully reveal their beauty and pomp. Due to the existence of various finishes, they are suitable for any room. Restaurants and cafes, theaters and museums, as well as any residential premises can be decorated by them.

There are other ideas for use in the interior:

• For kitchen interior It is better to choose Italian-style curtains from wear-resistant fabrics. They will not be afraid of repeated washing. The colors should fit the overall interior. It is better to make the length shorter, and to lay the sheets overlap and use asymmetrical hooks.

• In the room, on the contrary, long curtains falling on the floor will look good. Depending on the degree of darkening of the room, curtains are chosen from fabrics that are lighter or denser. In the living room, luxury Italian-style curtains add charm and solemnity.

• Bedroom window decorated in the style of Italy, will make the room cozy and warm. You can add a little romance using flower-patterned curtains. In this room it is better to choose curtains of calm pastel shades. To adjust the degree of illumination of the room they are combined with roller blinds.

• In the office It is recommended to choose a more stringent version of curtains. They are also selected in accordance with the color palette of the room. The office should look neat, but without excesses, so that nothing distracts from work.

To make such curtains yourself, you need to calculate the required amount of material. For sewing curtains with lining, you should purchase lining fabric that matches the color of the main one. The length should be equal to the distance from the eaves to the floor with the addition of 25 cm and doubled. The width of the fabric taken in accordance with the width of the window. To the pattern add about 4 cm for processing the seams to the side.

With a narrow window opening width is cut in the middle. Then you must additionally leave a few centimeters for the treatment of seams in the middle.

The required number of rings is determined as follows: you need to pin English pins to the top of the curtains and pass the cord through them. Then it is draped to see how the drapery of the curtains will look. If the result is beautiful, rings are sewn instead of pins. This should be done carefully so that the stitches are not visible from the front. After that, the cord must be fixed at the desired height, pass it through the rings in the upward direction, pulled off and hooked to the wall with a hook-holder.

Since the Italian curtains can be of two models, the advantages of each of them are slightly different. Stationary curtains mainly serve for the decorative function: they are a key element of the interior style, make the room more comfortable and, if necessary, hide the possible disadvantages of the window opening. The mobile model, in addition to the decorative function, also saves the room from drafts and excess light.

The advantages of Italian curtains in general include the following:

• they are easy to use: stationary curtains in principle do not require additional movements, and sliding “Italians” easily close the window when they release the pick-ups;
• the curtain of data porter serves for a long time and practically does not wear out, since the curtains need to be rarely moved;
• thanks to their versatility, they can decorate window openings of any shape - from rectangular to arched;
• Italian curtains look like designer ones, they visually allow to expand the window or make it more taller;
• their drapery allows you to hide possible errors of the window opening or hide a not very beautiful cornice.

You can see even more options of Italian curtains in the next video.