Tips To Help You Decide When To Use Cafe Curtains Vs Standard Curtains

When decorating your home, curtains are a fantastic to tie a room together and bring your style to life. Although people may commonly consider decorating with curtains to be dependent on their color or patterns, you can also toy with their length, too. Enter cafe curtains. If you want to open up a space, consider using these shorter curtains instead, although regular-sized ones still have their place, too. 

You may find cafe curtains going by a few names including tier curtains, half curtains, or short curtains. Basically, they only cover a portion of a window (typically the lower half) instead of the entire thing. This style is great for areas where you want to let in plenty of light like your kitchen. Cafe curtains are often made from unlined, lightweight fabric, like cotton or linen, which allows them to let in more light. In addition, these curtains are an excellent option for small windows or rooms. Where long curtains may make these spaces seem closed-off or crowded, a cafe curtain can open things up. 

However, that's not to say you need to ditch long curtains altogether. One major benefit of traditionally sized curtains is that they can make your room taller.In fact, some designers recommend hanging curtains high and wide to make your ceilings and room seem larger. In addition, traditional curtains offer more privacy than cafe curtains. This not only prevents people from seeing into your home but they can reduce outside noise, too, especially if you opt for a thick fabric like velvet. 

Once you settle on the ideal curtain for your space, there are a few tips to keep in mind when decorating. For example, it's easy to make cafe curtains look outdated by choosing the wrong material or size. As mentioned, part of cafe curtains' charm is their ability to open up a space. Opting for thick fabrics over lighter options takes away from that appeal. Another styling tip to remember is that you aren't limited to only using curtains on windows. There are many places you can hang cafe curtains outside of your kitchen including using them as an alternative solution for open cabinets. If you need inspiration for decorating with traditional curtains, consider using them for an accent wall or as an alternative to a door. For those living in small spaces like studios, many people have also found success using curtains as room dividers. 

Finally, don't forget the importance of your curtain's hardware when decorating. The first criteria for picking your curtain's rod will be your fabric's weight as you need one thick enough to support it. However, cafe curtains tend to be complimented best by light rods. Since the curtains themselves have an airy look, a light rod won't make them look weighted like a thicker one could. On a less functional note, it's often nice to pick a rod that matches other hardware like door handles for a cohesive look. Or, you can add more flair by using decorative rods and hooks.