Velvet curtains are a wonderfully luxurious choice for any room. The rich pile of velvet is perfect for keeping the chill out during winter and the heat out during summer. Velvet is a fabric long associated with luxury and wealth. In days of old, wealthy aristocrats would have worn clothing made from velvet fabric, while their peasant workers shivered in rough, coarse Hessian type fabrics.
Velvet drapes require a little extra care compared to normal cotton curtains. When hung initially, the curtains are likely to show all of the creases and pressure marks they acquired from being packed for shipping. You need not worry about this as once they have been hung for a while, these marks will slowly disappear as the pile of the fabric lifts and the luster returns.
Because velvet fabric is easily marked, it is recommended that they are hung using tracks fitted with a cord or rod system to draw the drapes. This will help to prevent marks appearing on the velvet due to handling. You should also take care to hang velvet drapes away from the window pane so they do not come into contact with condensation, as this will mark the fabric.
Velvet drapes curtains, or any other home furnishings made from velvet, add a decadent style to the home. Mostly suited to a more traditional decorative scheme, they can also find a place in a modern home. Velvet drapes fitted in a bedroom can be wonderfully sensual. Set against the backdrop of a large canopied bed with opulent covers, velvet drapes add to a romantic decorative scheme. Red velvet curtains in particular lend themselves to an atmosphere of passion and sensuality.
Blue velvet curtains would look wonderful in a living room. You could choose from dark navy blue, or even bright royal blue. With your garden as the backdrop, the rich, luxuriant blue color would emphasize the verdant green foliage outside your patio doors. In the winter, the thick velvet drapes would provide a very effective barrier against the frigid chill of icy winds raging outside.
As well as in the home, velvet drapes are often seen in theaters and halls used for concerts and shows. A velvet curtain is traditionally used to shield the stage from the audience and once the show begins, the curtains are drawn back and the lights go down. Velvet drapes are ideal for this purpose as they are strong enough to withstand regular use over a period of many years. They are also thick enough to disguise any noise emanating from scene changes taking place when the curtains are drawn in between acts.
Many stately homes and period residences still have their original velvet drapes hanging in splendor amidst the antique furnishings. Occasionally they can look a little faded and ragged around the edges, but velvet is a very resilient fabric and more than able to stand the ravages of time.
Whether you choose velvet drapes for their luxurious appeal, or their effectiveness at keeping the cold at bay, they make an excellent window treatment for any home.