“Ceiling curtains” is a broad and exaggerated concept; it includes all curtains that are attached to the ceiling. So, these may include:
- ceiling curtains in the hall in the form of fabric drapery decorating the space of the room;
- curtains on a cornice that is attached to the ceiling;
- pleated curtains.
Pros and cons of such a solution
Some of us have encountered situations where a horizontally mounted curtain rod could not withstand the weight of the curtains. This can happen for several reasons, the main one being design features.
A fixed ceiling cornice with curtains can withstand the load much better, since there is no perpendicular pressure on its parts, which allows you to place much denser material on them without thinking about possible deformations of the curtain itself.
The advantages of this mount do not end there. It is important to pay attention to others as well:
Ceiling-mounted curtains take up less space in the room. In the kitchen of a panel house, where it is important to set priorities correctly, an ordinary vertical curtain will be ineffective from the point of view of overall zoning. By attaching the curtains to the ceiling, we benefit greatly in this regard.
In some rooms the windows may go all the way to the ceiling. In this case, the size and distance from the beginning of the window to the ceiling are not at all important to us.
They are simply cheaper and absolutely any target audience can afford them.
Attaching a cornice to the ceiling is easier than its vertical counterpart. There are no aggravating nuances to keep in mind.
In some models, curtain fastenings, like the cornice itself, can be hidden from the eyes of visitors, which creates the effect of lightness. In general, the “lightness effect” is an integral part of this solution. The ceiling cornice significantly unloads the interior.
Note!
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It is especially worth highlighting the fact that we are not constrained by the framework of only one horizontal form. The ceiling cornice allows you to add possible bends, which will be limited only by the designer’s idea and the features of the interior.
The downside of ceiling curtains is the form factor itself. Not every interior can be correctly implemented with this cornice, and its placement must be clearly formulated and justified.
Ideas in different styles
The cornice should match the style of the entire room.
Modern
This style favors durable, reliable and functional designs. Hidden or inconspicuous structures, located, for example, under the ceiling, will help create a fashionable look.
Minimalism
A minimalist brushed metal design is acceptable in a minimalist interior. A cornice in this style should emphasize the freedom of space.
Loft
Metal models or structures that imitate water pipes, combined with bare concrete or brick walls, look very original.
Provence
Wooden or painted white posts work especially well. Monochrome, checkered or floral curtains will complement them perfectly.
Choosing curtains to match the existing room design
Most often, window decoration is the finishing touch in the decor of a room. This way, you will choose a curtain design that will suit your existing style. Here are some recommendations for choosing curtains.
Classic style - iron and wood. If your living room, bedroom, study or kitchen is decorated in a classic Old English style, then wooden cornices made of expensive wood and wrought iron will be an ideal option. On the other hand, white wooden facades are more suitable for the French "Provence".
Forged cornices on the windows in the living room in a classic style
Plastic curtain rods can be an excellent replacement for wooden and metal ones. Therefore, they are often used to decorate premises in almost any style. Due to the availability of lintels with various textures that replicate natural materials (wood, metal, ceramics, granite, marble), they have become very popular.
Plastic hangers are often used for ceiling roller blinds in modern interiors.
String systems should be mentioned separately. For High-Tech style, Loft style, Scandinavian style, these pendants are an indispensable attribute that harmoniously complements and succinctly expresses the essence of these trends.
String cornice is also suitable for minimalist interiors. Certain curtains and draperies are suitable for each specific style of room decoration.
Modern home decor often combines different types of curtains and, accordingly, curtain rods.
In the last 5 years, Roman, French, Austrian, Italian and English curtains have become very popular. Special guides with a flexible profile are an excellent addition to bay windows. The choice is huge. There is something for every lover.
How else can you use them?
It is important to understand that by attaching a curtain to the ceiling, we thereby increase the options for its possible use. For example, if we are faced with the task of dividing the space in a studio apartment and separating the kitchen from the living room, then the use of ceiling curtains in the living room is justified more than ever.
At the same time, when choosing a fabric option, we can use either something dense or incomprehensibly light, literally floating in the air. Such light tulle will only formally separate one space from another, but the goal of general zoning will be achieved.
How to make lighting in a niche with the effect of floating curtains
To illuminate the curtains, an LED strip is glued into the niche on the side of the room. If you choose the option with a profile for two-level ceilings, purchase a baguette with special recesses.
This creates the impression of a higher room. The LED strip can be mounted independently or combined with hidden lighting around the perimeter of the entire ceiling.
Some tips:
- Tapes are available in different colors and even with the ability to change lighting, the latter option allows you to give the interior of your home a different mood;
- for curtain lighting, it is better to mount a separate switch;
- Tapes with a remote control are available for sale, which allows you not only to conveniently turn the light on and off, but also to change the color of the lighting.
Types of cornice structures
Despite the seemingly extremely simple design, there is plenty to choose from. There are plenty of options and a lot to consider.
Note!
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String (cable)
Steel or nylon cord onto which hooks are attached. It figuratively resembles the design of a horizontal cornice, only already attached to the ceiling.
Ideal for an interior where minimalism, lightness and general youthfulness of filling the space are at the forefront.
Cornice with one outer rail
This type of curtain rod is an ideal solution for heavy curtains and an interior that is close to classic. This is a kind of golden mean that will work perfectly where you could use a horizontal analogue of curtain fastening.
It is important to remember to use wheeled hooks with heavy curtains. You can see a photo of the ceiling curtains on this cornice below.
Installation method
All cornices can be divided into two types according to the type of location.
- Wall. A universal model that can withstand heavy fabrics in large volumes. It will look stylish with any curtains.
- Ceiling. Can be mounted on different surfaces. It is not advisable to choose heavy weight curtains.
Profile or tire
This cornice design has a body made of plastic or aluminum. The design feature depends on the general understanding of the interior in which it will be placed.
Hooks or runners, which we discussed above, are placed in special grooves. Although the latter are more expensive, due to the presence of rotating wheels they help greatly facilitate the movement of curtains. They move much easier.
Note!
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The number of grooves can be from one to three, thereby allowing you to place the curtains themselves, tulle and additional decor on the middle part of the cornice.
It is also worth noting the fact that thick and heavy curtains are massive and, when moved to the wall, can take up a lot of space. Therefore, when choosing an option with two grooves for hooks, you may encounter a problem when the curtain touches the tulle when it moves.
To prevent this from happening, sometimes it is worth choosing a cornice with three grooves, where the middle one will remain empty.
Cornice with pipe
This type of cornice is the most familiar and understandable. Rings are used to attach curtains. The curtains themselves can be either specially selected and have round holes, or attached with hooks.
Keep in mind that this cornice greatly limits its use and is not suitable for windows close to the ceiling.
What fabric is best to drape?
In the bedroom it is better to use translucent and lightweight materials:
- tulle;
- tulle;
- organza
Silk, satin, and velvet are suitable for a living room or office. The children's room is draped exclusively with natural materials with impeccable sanitary and hygienic properties - cotton or linen. Heavy textured textiles (jacquard) will add respectability to the interior.
Ceiling drapery in the bedroom
Drapery with canvas and exotic jute is popular. Creative people choose ceiling surface finishes
- embossed leather;
- extravagant tapestries;
- curtain materials;
- gilded brocade.
There are special noise-absorbing fabrics. This step-by-step draping of the ceiling with fabric with your own hands will fill the house with peace and tranquility. In rooms with high humidity, textile ceilings made of waterproof materials are installed. A wonderful option for a children's room is a curtain with a plot pattern.
Ceiling cornices with rounded edges
If, due to design features, you need a small distance between the curtain and the window, baguette cornices (the second name for this model) are sometimes used. For example, if we have a long window or a strongly protruding window sill. The tire can be rounded on one side or on both.
These ceiling curtains for curtains have another variety, where the tire itself has a flexible shape. The use of this type of cornice is extremely limited and not always acceptable.
Also take into account the fact that a flexible cornice always has one gutter, and if you need to add curtains to the tulle, then place two cornices next to each other. They are applicable if the wall has a slightly rounded shape or the curtain is planned to run parallel to a curved suspended ceiling.
Rules of care
In order for textiles to look perfect on the ceiling cornice and delight your eyes for a long time, it is important to provide proper care for them. The next wash will not be fatal for your curtains if you carefully study these tables with recommendations for washing, drying and ironing products made from various types of fabric.
| Textile | Wash | Drying | Ironing | Notes |
| Cotton | In delicate mode, at a temperature not exceeding 50˚С | Unfolded | Hot iron | Definitely shrinks after washing |
| Linen | In delicate mode, at a temperature not exceeding 30˚С | Only in expanded form | Hot iron using steam | Shrinks slightly less than cotton |
| Velvet | In delicate mode, at a temperature not exceeding 30˚С | Unfolded | Iron in the direction of the pile without pressing. | Do not wring or twist after washing. |
| Silk | Manually in warm water or in silk washing mode (if the machine has such a function) | Do not dry in direct sunlight | From the wrong side with a not very hot iron | Use detergents specifically designed for colored items for washing, as silk fabric can easily fade |
| Viscose | In gentle mode at a temperature of 30-40˚С | Unfolded without pre-squeezing | Through a damp cloth with an iron heated to no more than 150˚C | Dry cleanable |
| Polyester | At temperatures above 40˚С | Can be dried by hanging directly on the curtain rod | If necessary, iron on the “silk” setting | — |
Frequently washing curtains is not recommended. You can simply get rid of dust on the curtains by opening the window for some time for ventilation. A vacuum cleaner is also suitable for this purpose. Do not forget to periodically clean the cornice, as well as fastening and decorative elements from dust.
Ceiling cornices with face molding
In this case, the curtain can act as an additional interior decoration. The material of the front part can be matched to the color of furniture and wallpaper. If the cornice has adhesive tape, then you can offer options for placing a fabric base.
The curtain may have a separate groove into which the molding will be installed. In this case, you have the right to independently choose the interior design option for ceiling curtains that will suit you. Otherwise, you will have to build on the options offered by the manufacturer.
Curtain sizes
The length of the curtain can match the size of the window opening - this is an economical option, or it can take up the entire length of the wall. The recess for the curtain (niche) must correspond to the length of the wall.
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Which is better, plastic or aluminum?
There are two options from which ceiling curtains are made - aluminum and plastic. Of course, aluminum is more reliable. But its cost is much higher than that of its plastic counterpart. And this safety margin is not always so necessary, and it’s worth paying extra for it.
Plastic will also work well with light curtains. The main thing to remember is that when choosing a plastic cornice, give preference to thick and strong ones, and avoid bending ones and those that do not inspire confidence.
If the curtains are heavy, your house is constantly busy, children are running around, there are pets that can somehow affect the design of the curtains, then choose a product made of aluminum and rest assured.
Aluminum curtains require more serious use of the product. Therefore, their installation is more difficult, they have a larger number of dowels, and the support area is larger.
When choosing a plastic cornice, be sure to pay attention to the following points:
Presence of factory holes for installation. These holes must be both on the outer part of the product and on the inner part, which is attached to the wall. The absence of these holes is an indicator of low quality.
Of course, an experienced master can do them himself, but this is a waste of extra time. And no one gives you guarantees that in the case of such “installation”, a low-quality product will not crack.
The wall thickness must be greater than or at least equal to 1 mm.
The product itself should be smooth, without any hint of roll or wave.
Pay attention to the number of grooves and the distance between them. If your curtain is made of thick material, this point should not be ignored. The curtain should not lead the tulle behind it when moving along the curtain.
Criterias of choice
Incorrectly selected cornices can disrupt the integrity of the interior and introduce dissonance into the style of the room. To avoid such mistakes when choosing this accessory, it is important to know a few things that you should pay attention to before purchasing.
Design. The most important parameter for determining the overall style of the room. The cornice must match the design of the curtains, color scheme and style of the room. For a sophisticated living room or bedroom interior, timeless classics are suitable, while a minimalist style requires hanging a light cord.
Target.
Cornices differ primarily in the type of curtains they are intended for:
- for classic curtains;
- for Roman blinds;
- For roller blinds.
Then choose a material, shape and type of structure that can support the weight of the curtains.
Type of cornice. Single-row, double-row, three-row roller blinds allow you to place as many rows of curtains as needed for a given room. Each option has its own characteristics and nuances of installation and installation, which directly depend on the length and diameter of the cornice, and the type of connection. Two-row models received the maximum number of positive reviews.
Control type.
Depending on how the curtain fabric moves along the curtain rod:
- Manual control - manual opening and closing of curtains;
- Mechanical - movement of drapery using special mechanisms and devices: stick, string, chain;
- Automatic - manipulation of opening and closing using a remotely controlled mechanism with an electric motor, most often used in sliding models, with rotation, can be with a manual start function.
Color.
The choice of colors for roller blinds is unimaginably wide. When choosing, you should focus on the general palette of the room, style, materials and textures used in decoration. The most common colors are:
- white;
- black;
- gold;
- coffee color;
- brown;
- nickel;
- chromium;
- copper;
- tree-like.
Price.
When deciding how much a good cornice costs, keep in mind that the market offers a huge number of popular models from leading manufacturers, costing from 80 rubles to 20,000 rubles. In pursuit of quality, you don’t have to look for the most expensive curtain rods. According to buyers, you can purchase a budget product that is not inferior to elite ones in terms of durability, reliability and decorativeness.
