Upholstered headboards are a luxurious and comfortable choice for the top of your bed. With this type of headboard, you can recline comfortably while sitting in bed. This design is perfect for reading before you go to sleep. The idea of an upholstered headboard may seem too fluffy and feminine to fit many bedroom designs, but you can actually use this type of headboard to complement many different decorating styles. With the right colors and materials you can have an upholstered headboard that’s masculine and modern or frilly and girly. Your choice of headboard will set the stage for the rest of the room.

For a sleek contemporary look, choose an upholstered headboard in smooth, cool suede. This will give the room the look of an upscale hotel. Pair your suede headboard with a simple modern design in the bedspread and sheets. Neutral tones like white or beige go well with this type of design. Use clean lines in the rest of the furniture as well. Place a leather chair in the corner or a leather bench at the foot of the bed in a similar color as the headboard. Upholstered headboards in suede are plenty comfortable while still giving the room a very upscale look.

If you want a more feminine look with upholstered headboards, go for floral patterns or beautiful pastel colors. You can accent the edges with contrasting cording to make for an upholstered headboard fit for a little princess. With this type of headboard, you can use soft colors such as rose pink or lavender. Use complementary colors on the bedspread in a different hue. For example, a pale lavender shade on the headboard can be paired with a white bedspread and deep purple sheets and throw pillows. Fold a purple quilt at the bottom for a retreat that’s sure to breed sweet dreams.

If you want an upholstered headboard in a couple’s bedroom, you’ll need a design that is neither too feminine not too masculine. Look for upholstered headboards with a smooth fabric surface. Avoid gathers and ruffles on your bedding but don’t go all the way to dark colors and masculine stripes. A large natural or geometric print will make the headboard as good as artwork at the head of the bed. You can pair this type of headboard with any bedding so long as the colors complement one another. Try an upholstered headboard with a natural pattern of branches with a beige bedspread, cobalt blue sheets and a sage green throw at the foot of the bed.  Not too “Shabby”.

The term drapes, or draperies, can refer to many different types of window treatments depending on how it is used. In the most traditional sense, draperies are the decorative hangings which are draped around the window, but not over it. Curtains, on the other hand, do hang in front of a window. Draperies are often used in conjunction with other types of window hangings and may include a curtain beneath for the purpose of blocking out light or a valance on top to better conceal the curtain rod. Draperies are usually purely decorative, so you should consider the décor of the room carefully when you’re selecting this piece.

To begin with, you must decide how you want your drapes to hang. Drapes can be suspended from a pocket, grommets, rings or tabs. Draperies with a rod pocket have a full, gathered look to the top that is similar to the appearance of a valance. This gives the drapes a more formal appearance. This is ideal in a room that has an elegant air such as a formal dining room or sitting room. Tabbed tops will give the draperies a sleeker design that looks lighter and more modern. This makes the drapes look a little more lighthearted and casual. Try a tabbed top in a casual dining room, living room or nursery.

The color of your drapes will play a large part in how the finished product looks and what impact it has on the room. Dark colors will instantly draw the eye toward the window, setting up this area as a focal point of the room. If you have a lovely view out the window, this is a fine tactic for highlighting it. Lighter colored drapes will decorate the window more subtly. The heaviness of the fabric also plays a part in how much light you’re letting in. Though draperies don’t usually cover the window, they do hang on either side and heavy draperies will block some light.

Your final consideration is the way the drapes are to be hung. If you have a small window but you want it to appear larger, hang the drapes further off to either side of it, to give the impression of a larger pane of glass behind them. Likewise, a large window will appear smaller if you cover a portion of it on either side. Drapes are usually tied back, and the tie backs can themselves be very decorative with tassels or ribbons. You can also install metal tie backs which are affixed to the wall. On a large window, drapes may be left to simply hang straight down.

If you compare a room with bare windows to one with even simple curtains, you will instantly see the difference that this piece of décor makes. New homeowners sometimes don’t miss curtains, but once you’ve seen the difference they can make in a room, you’ll never want to go back to naked windows again. Your options for these window hangings are so diverse you can find a solution to fit in nearly any room. Whether you have expansive picture windows or a small pane looking out into the world, you can frame and highlight your view perfectly with the right window hangings.

Length is a major consideration with curtains and one that can make all the difference in the world as to how the window hangings feel in the room. For formal rooms, curtains look best when they are floor length. You can add romance or over-the-top elegance with those that are longer than the window and actually puddle onto the floor. With either option, you have to be careful to get the length just right. Floor length curtains should just skim the carpet. Those that puddle need several inches of extra length to make this effect look deliberate and not accidental.

For a casual look, curtains should be left to fall either just at the sill or right to the bottom of the apron beneath the window. This allows you plenty of space beneath the window for other items such as a desk or table, without leaving the window completely bare. In a kitchen it is especially practical to have curtains that are the same length as the window. If you have a window over a sink, for example, keeping the curtains to a reasonable length will keep them out of the way of splashes and spills. Never hang curtains near a stove where they can be a fire hazard.

Finally, you will need to choose the material for your curtains. If you want to let plenty of light in, choose sheers or another lightweight option. In the bedroom, you may want heavier material, or even blackout curtains. This will keep unwanted light out in the mornings. Keep in mind that curtains can always be drawn back in the daytime to allow you a view out into the window again. Don’t shy away from bold colors or prints. These will turn your window in a focal point of the room and add a great deal of vibrancy to the overall décor.

You have almost as many choices of curtain rods as you do curtains. Though you may think of this fixture as something you never see, this isn’t always the case. It all depends on how you plan to hang the rest of the window coverings. If your curtain rod is going to be on display, it’s essential that you choose one that complements the rest of the décor in the room. Begin by selecting the right color. If the other fixtures in the room are black, gold, bronze or silver, let this be your guide and select a curtain rod to match.

Next you need to consider what window hanging you will be using. A single curtain rod is fine for a valance or set of curtains. If you want to have both, however, you will need a double curtain rod with separate rods for each hanging. Consider how the curtains will be hanging from the curtain rods. If you have a pocket at the top of the curtains, you may not see the rod at all. With grommets, rings or tabbed curtains, you will see the rod in the openings between the fabric. Choose a rod that fits the curtain well. The curtains should slide comfortably on the rod.

Finials are the decorative features on the end of curtain rods. These can be subtle or elaborate. If you have a traditional decorating scheme, balls or ovals on the ends of the curtain rod are a simple solution. If you have a more formal decorating scheme, you can use fancy finials in elaborately sculpted shapes like a fleur-de-lis. You will also find many finials in nature designs that resemble the shape of leaves or branches. These complement a natural theme extremely well. The finial is a small finishing touch, but it will make your window décor look perfectly pulled together.

Finally, make sure you place your curtain rods appropriately for your window hangings. If you’re using a valance, hang the rod high enough that the fabric doesn’t obstruct too much of the window. The fixtures that support the rod on either side of the window should be two to three inches away from the frame. If you’re using elaborate drapes on either side of the window, the rod may need to extend even further so you can see the window and still have room for the hangings on either side. If you have a third fixture for a particularly long curtain rod, measure carefully so that it is placed perfectly in the middle.