Show Off Those Curtain Rods
Author: Ciara McNamara

Curtain rods come in as many different styles and materials as
fabric curtains. They can make or break the appearance of your
window depending on how you hang them and how they are finished
off. Knowing what you can do with the curtain rod will give you
some decorating ideas you may not have thought of before.

Anatomy of a Curtain Rod

To start the curtain rod consists of three main parts. There is
the pole part that holds the fabric, then finials which cap off
the ends of the poles, and the brackets that mount the rod to
the wall. Each part can be strictly utilitarian or add a
decorative element.

Some curtain poles are adjustable. They are made of two parts
that slide into one another so the pole can be lengthened or
shortened. This is a good design feature if you decide you want
to change the appearance of the width of the window by expanding
the window dressing.

The finials are end pieces that can be very ornate and made of
many different materials. Some are made of blown glass while
others are carved wood. The finials need to match the rod part
for a coordinated look. They can be changed out whenever you
want just a little updating to the window's appearance without
having to change everything.

The brackets on a curtain rod set can be hidden by the pole or
a part of the décor. When the brackets are decorative they can
stick out from the wall and allow two rods to feed through
them. This would be used to create a layered look with sheer
fabric closest to the window and a heavier fabric on top of it.


Hanging Rods to Create New Looks

Many people make the mistake of hanging rods too high or too
low. There really isn't a wrong way, but perhaps a better way.
For example, if you have extremely high ceilings and the
windows don't go very close to the top of the wall, you can
create longer looking windows by hanging your curtain rods
closer to the ceiling. You will need more length in your drapes
of course, but it will make your windows much taller.

Likewise, you can create more width to your window by hanging
the drapery wider. You still will not want the edge of the
window to show, so to create the illusion of greater width, you
can bring fabric right to the edge of the window and then go out
as wide as you like. It will appear as if the drapes had been
drawn in part way on a very large window.

Seeing Double and Triple

Curtain rods come in many styles but also have built in double
and triple rods. These rod styles are great for more layering.
You can hang sheers and drapes (
http://www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com/drapes.html ) , or two
different fabric patterns. The layering gives a rich look that
can also serve as insulation for older windows that may allow a
draft to come in.

Curtain rods can be used on more than just windows too. They
can support decorative fabric wall coverings. These types of
drapes that cover an ugly wall and can warm up a room and help
with controlling noise. There really is no limit to the uses
for curtain rods in decorating. Your imagination can put them
anywhere.


About The Author: Ciara McNamara publishes many articles for
http://www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com which is an internet
site for decorating information. Ciara is helping people
finding the best solutions for curtain rods (
http://www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com/curtain-rods.html )
and home improvement topics.