Curtains, also known as draperies, are made to reduce excess sunlight, or heat or, on the contrary to maintain a warm temperature in the house in the cold season. It all depends on he fabric from which they are made and heir purpose. Beside the practical purpose, curtains are made to enlighten the atmosphere in the house, make it more welcoming or more select. A room with close matching draperies tends to attach a personal note to the entire environment, whether it is in bedroom, kitchen or even bathroom.

Depending on the thickness of the fabric from which they are made, curtains can be sheer, uncoated, coated and lined. Sheer drapes have translucent fabric, like loosely woven polyester voile or cotton lace. These are used in areas where you will want to let in the light but maintain privacy by not letting those outside see inside, although you will be able t see them from inside. These types of curtains are usually used in the kitchen or in rooms where you will not have a problem with heath insulation in colder seasons.

The next level of insulation is provided by uncoated curtains that are made out of a mixture of cotton and polyester, which becomes opaque in ambient light. It is not able to completely block day light or sunlight but are better for this need than sheer ones.

For total light absorption the coated draperies are recommended. These have an opaque rubber backing applied to the rear of the fabric. It blocks up to 70% of sunlight. For 100% blockage the fabric can be recoated 3 times and they are referred to as blockout coated. If you need heat insulation but still want your draperies to look thin and sheer, you can opt for lined ones, which have a coated fabric only on the back of the curtain, maintaining a simple aspect on the front.

The types and models of curtains vary and can also be customized in case you don’t find something that rises to your expectations or doesn’t have the level of elegance and preciousness you desire. Specialized tailors can guide you through, by suggesting colors, prints, shapes and materials that would best fit the design of the rest of the house.