String cornices are structures consisting of fasteners between which a string (cable) is stretched. This type of cornices has long enjoyed well-deserved popularity among designers and consumers. This is due to their compactness, simplicity of design and ease of installation.
They look simple and elegant in appearance. The designers tried to make them elegant and expensive-looking. Curtains using these curtain rods are worthy of decorating window and door openings and delimiting space in different rooms, and not only in residential ones, but also on balconies, loggias and others.
String curtain rods are an interesting and inexpensive solution for decorating window spaces. Strings go well with any interior, especially with loft, hi-tech or minimalist styles. They are very good for a summer residence - easy to install and economical. This type of curtain fastening is again popular because it is superior to other types of curtain rods in simplicity, practicality and functionality.
Choice
Typically, string curtain rods are not used for hanging thick drapes and curtains together, since they will pull the string with their own weight, which will spoil the appearance of the window space. When choosing a cornice, you should take this fact into account, especially if the curtains have already been purchased. Each cornice has its own production load.
It is preferable to use a wire cornice for curtains made of lightweight fabrics: tulle, organza, silk, satin, light jacquard, linen, cotton. If it is impossible to replace already purchased heavy curtains, you need to choose a curtain rod with a thicker cable (string).
Combination with textiles
Due to their designs and distinctive features, string products are ideally combined with weightless types of curtains. A steel string is attached to a durable structure to the ceiling or wall. Not too heavy textile fabrics are hung on a wire cornice , since due to the heavy weight of the curtains, the strings sag and do not look aesthetically pleasing.
The strings can easily withstand chiffon, tulle and organza, as well as any other lightweight new materials. For tapestry, printed and velvet curtains, it is necessary to install a double-row or multi-row cornice.
Thanks to cornices with strings, translucent textiles float in the air and are not held on by anything, because the thin string is almost invisible.
Decorative clips or hooks are used to attach curtains. They are made in different colors or with a metallic shade that will suit any room interior.
The shape of the window is an equally important characteristic for choosing the type of cornice. String products and metal curtain rod holders are great for rectangular windows.
Advantages
The popularity and demand for string cornice has created such advantages as:
- Compactness. It does not take up much space either on the ceiling or on the wall, which is especially important in small rooms.
- Lightness and elegance. It is easy to use - the curtains move freely. Such a cornice is almost invisible and does not distract the eye from the curtains themselves.
- Easy to install. The instructions describe in detail how to attach the cornice, so you can install it yourself.
- Versatility. You can install it in the living room, bedroom, nursery, loggia or balcony.
- Wide selection of types, models, options and shades of coatings.
- Optimal cost.
The popularity of string structures in the curtain accessories market is due to this last advantage.
These products also have disadvantages:
- Sagging under heavy curtains.
- Impossibility of installation on suspended and plasterboard ceilings.
- The appearance of corrosion of a metal cable over time if it is not covered with a special coating.
Advantages and disadvantages
The design has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include:
- saving living space;
- ease of installation;
- long service life;
- Can be used anywhere in the room;
- The cornice is available in 2 options: ceiling and wall;
- installation of decorative elements at your discretion;
- low cost;
- nice design.
The invention of new materials has returned relevance to such cornices.
Design disadvantages are associated with the characteristics of the materials. A string longer than 2 meters may sag if an additional bracket is not installed. If it is not coated with an anti-corrosion compound, then in conditions of high humidity it will become covered with rust. When attaching a standard cornice, masking (installation of a decorative panel or drapery) may be required.
Design Features
String products have specific features. The structure of the string cornice consists of two or three brackets, which are the tips, and steel strings are located between them.
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The entire set consists of a steel cable (string), metal brackets and fittings (dowels, self-tapping screws, end caps, runners, supports, holders - hooks, clips). The strings can be up to 5 m long, which allows you to design a window opening of any width.
It is recommended to purchase string cornices in specialized stores, because they sell complete sets with all the necessary fittings.
Natalia Orlova
Interior Design Expert
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If you purchased strings longer than necessary, you can cut them with regular wire cutters. But don’t rush to cut it right away, but first accurately measure the length of the cornice so as not to damage the strings. The second option: do not cut the cable, but only carefully roll it on the sides - this will allow, if necessary, to tighten it if it is sagging.
Conclusion
Curtain string is a convenient, modern, versatile and affordable solution. Its advantages are ease of installation, possibility of repair (tensioning), compatibility with most interior styles.
This way you can decorate not only residential, but also utility rooms or a closed gazebo in the garden.
Self-installation of string curtain rods takes about an hour. To do this, you need to buy a ready-made kit at a hardware store and follow the attached instructions. It is better if the simplest device is selected the first time.
You can tension the string yourself - this is provided by the installation of a bracket.
To create a composition, it is worth considering the color of the wallpaper and floors in the room, the style of furniture, and the availability of free space. If the window space is occupied by something, for example, there is a table there, then you can use half-length curtains. The same applies to the window in the kitchen, where the window sill often serves as an additional work surface. A curtain on a string up to half the length of the window would be appropriate here.
Numerous positive responses confirm that string curtain rods are becoming popular again.
How to install a string cornice
Having bought a curtain rod with all the components, most buyers ask themselves: how to hang (secure) the structure, how to tension the curtain rod (cable). The answer is simple - invite an assistant, and then follow our advice.
- Mark the points where the brackets will be attached.
- Make holes using a hammer drill (if you have concrete walls) or a drill.
- Secure the brackets well with dowels.
- Pull the cable first into the hole of the first, and then the second and third brackets, passing it through the groove. Do the same if you need to make two or more strings (for hanging tulle and thick curtains).
- Stretch the cables to the required condition and secure them with a bolt in the bracket.
- Secure the cable with the plugs included in the kit, and cut off the excess with wire cutters or tuck it in at the sides.
- Next, you can begin hanging hooks or curtain clips.
- Hang the curtains.
If the length of your curtain rod is more than 3 meters, then you cannot do without an additional (third in the middle) holder, otherwise the string will not be tensioned to the desired state, and when hanging the curtains it will still sag.
To hide the cornice, you can create a niche by securing it to a mortgage. When preparing a niche, take into account the length, width, height and depth at which it will be located, but in this case it is better to trust the professionals. In a niche, the cornice can be decorated with a wooden plank, baguette or special ribbon with various ornaments. This method will highlight the beauty of the curtains.
It is necessary to calculate the location of the cornice attachment relative to the edge of the window sill or heating radiator: the curtains should not touch them, especially if various decorative elements are used.
When choosing a string, we take into account the nuances
Not all types of window openings and types of curtains can use such a cornice. There are several restrictions when decorating the interior:
- It is not recommended to use heavy multi-layer fabrics on a thin string, as sagging is inevitable (jacquard, tapestries, teak).
- If several layers of curtains are planned, the number of strings in the structure must be increased.
- Such cornices are not installed on suspended ceilings.
Small fixed windows, as well as those that have a tilt-and-turn opening mechanism, are best decorated with roller blinds in mini format with guide strings. They are distinguished by their affordable price and a wide variety of colors, which allows you to refresh the interior. Roller blinds with guide strings are also an excellent option for hiding niches in the walls from prying eyes. Products classified as mini are very suitable for small windows, completely preventing the penetration of direct sunlight.
If you choose curtain rods for string curtains in Leroy Merlin, you need to correlate the dimensions of the window opening and the product itself . It is easy to install them yourself, the main thing is that all the components are at hand. If you plan to install roller blind strings in a room with an unstable microclimate (bathroom, kitchen), it is better to choose options made of stainless steel. Other products will be subject to corrosion and quickly lose their presentable appearance.
Features of operation and care
To maintain the attractive appearance of the structure, it is necessary to clean it regularly. Remove the curtains and hooks, freeing the strings. Then use the hard side of a damp sponge to “walk” along them until the dirt is completely removed. At the same time, the hooks can be soaked in warm soapy water for 30 minutes, and then washed with a sponge, and then wiped dry.
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If you want your string cornice to serve you for many years, then follow these tips:
- Do not hang heavy curtains that are not designed for such curtain rods (teak, heavy jacquard, blackout, tapestry, velvet).
- Move the curtains carefully, without sudden movements.
- Do not allow drafts in the room, otherwise, with increased air movement, the strings may be deformed due to the active movement of the curtain panels.
- Keep curtains away from pets and children whenever possible.
Interior use
A string cornice is convenient because it can be used for different types of light curtains and in almost any room. They look great in the bathroom, where the linen, mounted on beautiful decorative hooks, moves easily and freely.
They are very thin, almost invisible behind the folds of the material, and are placed at a short distance from the wall or ceiling.
The ability to be used anywhere in a living space allows you to zone the space at your discretion. By camouflaging it with a drapery or strip that matches the wall or ceiling, it feels like the curtains are suspended in the air.
Since such a device requires almost no space, it is suitable for the most modest rooms in size and height.
This is an excellent option for garages and other utility rooms where various materials need to be protected from dust. At the same time, curtains also perform an aesthetic function, hiding from view work corners with a bunch of tools.
Thanks to their simple design, they fit perfectly into classic style, hi-tech and minimalism.
This is also a good idea for decorating children's rooms, when children want to create a cozy corner. A string curtain rod for curtains in a nursery, which can be installed fairly quickly, is a real godsend for restless kids. The light from the lamp will not fall into the eyes when the child falls asleep, but is afraid to remain in the dark. The advantage of string cornices is that they create the illusion of a wall, while occupying a very small amount of usable space.
Curtains with string are used in the dining room or kitchen, living room, bedroom. Such curtains are especially convenient for balconies and loggias, glazed verandas in a country house.
How to assemble a string cornice with your own hands
If you have free time and like to craft, then you can make a string cornice yourself. Purchase steel wire, metal corners, self-tapping screws or bolts with holes in the stud from a specialized store. Mark the location of the corners (they will serve as brackets), attach them to the wall or ceiling using bolts and a drill. Then thread the cable through the holes, tension and secure its ends.
Conclusion
So, dear readers, designers have brought simple, elegant strings back to life as curtain rods. Traditional cornices, which are familiar to us, can in some cases distract attention: we admire the cornices, and not the curtain composition. If you want to concentrate attention on the beautiful textile design of windows, on delicate fabric, then string structures are just suitable for these purposes.
Agree that the combination of brutal metal strings and delicate airy curtains looks touching and very harmonious! And if you replace traditional cornices with string cornices, this will bring a special atmosphere and novelty to the interior of your home.
The device of a wall cornice for attaching curtains and features of choice
The cornice is a device that consists of 3 elements:
- remote brackets, with the help of which the entire system is attached to the wall surface; usually there are 2 of them at the edges and 1 in the middle;
- the basis for hanging the curtain fabric - it can be a string, a rod or a profile;
- cornice ends in the form of artistically designed details.
When choosing a specific model, you need to consider a few simple nuances:
- the width of the window, which determines the size of the cornice;
- type of cornice, which depends on the type of curtains - roller or traditional;
- the color of the cornice material, the artistic design of its ends, which should fit well into the design of the room;
- The material of the cornice (metal, wood or plastic) is also selected largely based on the characteristics of the interior of the room.
Question answer
Question to the expert
Lyubov Pavlovna: Hello! I encountered the problem of sagging curtains on a string cornice a year after use; the curtains are made of jacquard fabric - the middle already reaches the floor. If the cornice is sagging, how can I fix it myself?
Surely your curtains are made of heavy jacquard - this subsequently leads to sagging of the wire curtain rod. The fix is very easy - rotate the bolt in the fastening part of the cornice, tensioning the string to the desired state. You can do this yourself in a few minutes. And I advise you to replace the curtains with lighter ones (made of chiffon, cotton, organza) so that you don’t have to constantly pull on the cables.
Design characteristics
The string cornice is universal because it is attached to both the ceiling and the wall. The thin cable is made from new steel alloys, it is hardly noticeable and does not spoil the overall interior of the room. The device looks stylish, is reliable in use and beautiful.
The universal string for curtains with fastening has a standard length of five meters. It is possible to reduce it to the required distance. All bracket models have several grooves into which up to three steel cables are secured. Models with a large number of rows are designed for attaching several layers of textile curtains that are hung on clips. There are several models of cornices that are susceptible to corrosion.
A special and improved system is used to maintain tension in the strings . During operation, the string can be tightened if it is very sagging. The brackets are installed at a distance of two meters from each other. To create a strong and reliable structure, several support points are made.
String structures have several brackets between which the strings are pulled. Thanks to the design of the brackets, the curtains are placed at different distances from each other and from the window. If necessary, you can move the curtains back or bring them closer together.
Cornice string description
A string cornice is a system with movable curtains suspended on a string. The cable is stretched between the support fasteners. The main application is curtaining windows and niches. To secure curtains, pendants in the form of hooks, rings and clips are used.
How to clean
The need to clean string cornices is due to extending the service life and maintaining the attractive appearance of the structure. Frequent cleaning is better for any product than infrequent cleaning. The less often you clean the surface of the cornice, the more difficult it is to get rid of dirt on it later. Dust, rust and various stains are typical stains on home metal curtain rods. The easiest way to get rid of dust is on string cornices.
It is enough to wipe the strings, brackets, hooks and strips with a rag from time to time. After wet cleaning, be sure to wipe all elements dry. This will prevent rust from occurring on metal surfaces. Use only coarse natural fabrics or soft brushes to avoid damaging the coating of the cornice.
Various stains can be removed using regular detergents. During cleaning, partial or complete dismantling of the structure is required. Thanks to this, you will reach all hard-to-reach places and avoid stretching the thread. Cleaning cornices requires frequent changes of clean water, wearing protective rubber gloves and using gentle cleaning liquids and powders.
With the help of a wire brush, sandpaper, special household chemicals and some effort, you can deal with almost any rust. Next, the curtain string must be treated with enamel or a special varnish to protect the metal and increase its service life. In addition, craftsmen advise covering the thread with products with an antistatic effect.
The main decorative element is the bracket
The photo shows various bracket designs.
A string cornice is simple, but it can also be effective. The decorative nature of the design is given by the brackets, or rather the design in which they are made. If the brackets are stylized into intricate geometric shapes, floral motifs, arrows, peaks, then very interesting solutions are obtained.
The use of materials that look like patinated gold, silver, antique brass or bronze increases the aesthetic value of the string cornice. In this case, the fabric is also selected accordingly - noble colors, expensive in appearance. It can be translucent chiffon, taffeta, airy organza. This creates an externally lightweight but stylish window design.
