The window coverings that you choose can have a huge impact upon the home design of your windows and your room. This is due to the many different styles and colors of curtains that are available, as well as different ways that the curtains can be installed and hung. Accessories, like tie backs, can have a big influence upon how the curtains look as well. By learning more about the different tie back choices that you can consider, you can take a window from boring to exciting.

The most common ways that tie backs are used are as a low tie, high tie, middle tie, angled double tie, center tie, and a crisscrossed tie. These are the most common options that designers use in home design to give the curtains the right look and feel for the room. 1. A low tie is when the tie back is located at about 1/4th the distance between the floor and the top of the curtains. 2. A high tie is when the curtains are pulled back just above the centerline of the window area. 3. A middle tie is when the window coverings are pulled back right at approximately the middle. 4. An angled double tie uses two different tie backs to create a billowing effect. The first tie back is located in the high position and partially pulls back the curtains, while the second tie back is located in the low tie position and the window coverings are pulled back almost to the window casing. 5. A center tie is when the window coverings are pulled together in the window's vertical center at about 2/3 of the curtain's length. 6. A crisscrossed tie is used when two fabric curtain panels overlap each other. The outer curtain may be pulled to one side and the inner panel pulled to the other side.

Formal or Informal Window Coverings

Window coverings come in as many different styles and designs as people. With all of these different choices, however, they can still be separated into two main categories - informal or formal.

Draperies are normally found in more formal styled rooms. These window coverings are most commonly hung in layers and are found in formal rooms like dining rooms, living rooms, and more. One layer is normally a sheer fabric or lace that allows light into the room, but gives some privacy. Drapes are normally hung over the sheers and cover the window's trim and side casing and work to frame the sheers and add color. A third layer is sometimes used and this one is normally a valance that frames the top of the window. This formal window covering can hang to just below the window sill or they can hang all the way to the floor.

Other types of curtains are considered to be more informal. They can be one or two layers and are normally unlined. Whichever window coverings that you choose, they can help to add visual appeal and interest to your windows and your room.