Jan

27

2009

The Shower Curtain Rods

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Category : Curtains

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If you are planning a bathroom remodeling project, then installing a shower curtain rod would be a fairly routine task. However, have you ever considered decorating with shower curtain rods in places other than the bathroom? If you are working to a strict budget, or you are simply looking for new and innovative ideas, the functional bathroom rod that usually holds up the shower curtain can be transformed into a stylish feature for any room.

Using shower curtain rods in the bedroom as part of your interior design scheme is becoming a popular choice. Curtains or draped material is perfect for hiding an ugly wall or cupboards with old or broken doors. If you buy a pressure rod, this will simply twist to the correct size to fit your room and enable you cover up that eyesore with some attractive cloth. This style of rod is not suitable for really heavy fabric, so if velvet is your thing you may look into installing a rod that has to be mounted securely in the wall.

An alternative location for shower curtain rods in the bedroom is above the bed. If you fix two rods over your bed you can hang a piece of sheer fabric between the two, letting it dip in the centre, and then flow down to the floor either at the back of the bed or to the sides. This forms a classic canopy for your bed, which can alter the whole look and feel of your bedroom.

Do you have shelves or a pantry area in your kitchen that just looks messy, no matter how often you tidy it? Why not curtain that off by installing a shower curtain rod and hanging some light, colorful drapes? To achieve a really professional effect, make sure you co-ordinate your curtain material with the other soft furnishings in your kitchen, or this will look out of place.

Your sunroom is designed to catch the sun and heat up, that is what it is there for! However, there are times when the sunroom can be just unbearable, and some way to shade the area is useful. If you install two pressure rods, one at either end of the overhead space, you can hang a piece of lightweight material between the two, offering not only a soft and stylish look to your room, but a little relief from the heat at the same time.

Of course, just because you can use them in other parts of the house, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get creative with the curtain rods in your bathroom. One new style shower curtain rod is an S shaped rod that allows you to install a shower fitting in an old fashioned stand alone bathtub. You can also buy rods that hang on chains and so give the appearance of floating over the bath. If you want to have a bit of fun with your shower, choose interesting patterns or colors, and try different ways to fix your curtain to the pole. Colorful clips and beads can take the place of dull plastic circles.

Basically, anywhere in the home that you want to hang material, you can do so with a shower curtain rod. These are much cheaper and just as effective as any other curtain pole, and with a little imagination can be used to give a stunning effect.

Being really passionate about bathroom remodeling, John C. Baker published various reports on the matter. Through his reports such as http://www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com/shower-curtain-rods.html, the writer expressed his deep knowledge on news related to shower curtain rods and interior design.

Jan

24

2009

Curtains in Style

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Category : Curtains

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We put up drapes for privacy, to keep out the glare, the intense heat and cold, or simply to transform a building into something homey. Whatever the reason, necessity dictated the invention of the curtain rod. With the realization that curtain rods enhance or detract from the beauty of the drapes, these curtain ‘bearers’ were transformed from being a practical fixture of wood or metal into works of art, wrought with pride.

A great deal of thought and inventiveness went into curtain designing, from the material to the styling. With window coverings getting more and more elaborate, hardware designers took up the challenge to bring out creations that would complement curtains in style.

Before installing curtain rods, it is necessary to measure the window. The supports, by way of brackets are put in next, one at each end and one in the center for added support. The latter keeps the curtain from sagging and ensures a longer life. The strength of the rod should be considered. Your choice would depend on the weight of your curtains. There’s no rule against fixing the rod on the window casing, but the better option is to go for brackets. They’re provided so why not use them! It is important to remember that the rod should be 2” to 5” longer than the window, so that the entire window is covered. If the curtain has a valance, a valance rod is also required. Curtain rods come with brackets, fasteners and toggle bolts.

Selecting curtain rods depends on the family’s needs. You can choose from wood or metal, have simple ones or go in for the more ornate kind. However, these fixtures should fit in with the rest of the décor and not stand out incongruously. Like everything else in your home, they too let on to the world a little of who you are.

Curtain Rods provides detailed information on Curtain Rods, Shower Curtain Rods, Decorative Curtain Rods, Magnetic Curtain Rods and more. Curtain Rods is affiliated with Kitchen Curtains.

Oct

12

2008

Super Size Curtain Rods

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Category : Curtains

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Today you will learn how to create an extra long curtain rod using 3/4″ standard curtain rods or 2.5″ & 4.5″ Dauphine wide-pocket rods.

On occasion, a window application may require a curtain rod of a longer length than is offered as a stock item or even as a special order item in stores. The basic 3/4″ curtain rod is available in a straight 12 foot length.

Simply attach the short return pieces to the end and the job is done. However, this may be cost prohibitive since anything over 8 foot in length must be shipped by motor freight. This will cost a minimum of $125 just for the freight. In addition, a packaging fee will be added since the rods will require additional packaging to keep them from getting bent in transit. This is not a very cost effective method unless several windows are involved distributing the cost out per rod The remedy is quite simple requiring a little bit of work and a few items to complete (duct tape, hacksaw, pliers, file). The following outlines a solution I have used more than a few times.

Purchasing the Supplies

The basic 3/4″ standard curtain rod 2½ or 4½” wide-pocket curtain rod can be extended beyond the longest offered sizes of 120″ to 156″. First, buy the longest rod available making sure to select the return projection needed. The return is the distance that the rod projects out from the wall. Several different projections are available on the 3/4″ rod: 1½”, 2½”, 3½” and 5½”. On the wider flat 2½” and 4½” Dauphine rods the return projection should not be a problem as these rods include adjustable brackets allowing the return depth to be set as necessary. Second, after determining the longest rod available for the application, calculate how much more extra rod length needed and purchase ANOTHER curtain rod several feet or more longer than the length needed. A curtain rod extender is another option allowing extensions in lengths of 24″ each.

Completing the Project

For the 3/4″ Standard Curtain Rod

When all the supplies and rods are ready, begin by cutting off the return end of the extra rod with a hacksaw. After cutting the 3/4″ rod it may require filing to smooth any rough edges to help it slide into the adjoining rod and prevent your curtain fabric from snagging. Pliers may be needed to make one end larger or smaller to accommodate the adjoining rod Next, insert the cut piece into the main rod using as much length as possible. This will improve the strength of the rod and help prevent it from sagging. Before sliding the rod into the curtain or valance rod pocket, lay the rod on the floor, measure the exact length needed and secure the rod with Duct Tape so it does not telescope together when threading the curtain rod pocket. If the curtain rod may show, consider using white Duct Tape which is available in most large retailers.

For the Dauphine or Wide-Pocket Rods

Snap off the return bracket on both ends of the extra rod Pliers may be needed to make one end larger or smaller to accommodate the adjoining rod Before sliding the rod into the curtain or valance rod pocket, lay the rod on the floor, measure the exact length needed and secure the rod with duct tape so it does not telescope together when threading the curtain rod pocket. Another option is to use several very short sheet metal screws to hold the rods together.

When installing remember to use additional center support brackets to hold the longer rod securely in place and to prevent it from bending. Make sure to have a helper to hang the rod since it is very easy to bend such a long and skinny rod especially with all the additional weight on it. While this method is great for curtain rods, it does not work for traverse/drapery rods. The duct tape or screws would get in the way and the slightest deflection in the rod will keep the carriers from sliding properly.

Interior Mall also has several curtain rods available in extra long lengths.

You can find a large selection of ¾” Standard and 2½ & 4½ Dauphine Wide-Pocket Curtain Rods at http://www.InteriorMall.com
We have many knowledgeable and friendly customer service agents waiting to assist you.
You can find a toll free number on each page of our website to make your shopping experience easy and convenient.

Oct

03

2008

Selecting Curtain Rods

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Category : Curtains

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When it comes to home decorating, curtain rods are just as important of a factor as the curtain fabric. Curtain rods are available in many contemporary, elegant and sleek designs and colors with decorative styles and knobs that can be matched to complement any type of furniture and decor.

How to make curtain rods

The first thing to do, and the most critical, when it comes to hanging curtains or making rods, is to make certain you make accurate measurements. You should measure the width of the windows, allowing for a few extra inches on either side. Curtain rods can be made from many materials, including PVC, steel, aluminum or wood. You can buy various ornaments and decorative knobs to put at the ends of the rod. You can get these at local hardware stores, or the big box stores like Home Depot and Lowes. Another creative and crafty idea is to use kitchen hooks as curtain rod holders. These can be added by screwing them in above or to the side of the windows, remembering to thread the curtain rings (if needed) before screwing the knobs at each end.

Types of curtain rods

Whether you are deciding to make your new curtain rods as a do-it-yourself project, or select from the various styles available on the market, it is important to know which type of curtain rod you will need to fit your decor.

1. One type, called cafe rods, can be used with or without rings. These are generally used for hand-drawn curtains or tie-tab curtains, and are available in several different finishes.

2. Wide curtain rods are mainly used for corner and bay windows since the corner connectors make these suitable for this type of window.

3. Sash rods are often used for stretched curtains on doors and to allow the curtains to hang closer to the glass surface. They attach at both top and bottom.

4. Narrow curtain rods are often used where the curtain fabric is very sheer. Choosing a rod which is clear or translucent is a good idea for these.

Installation curtain rods

First and foremost, decide whether you want to mount the curtain rod on the window frame or the wall. On consideration here is that often frames are made from oak or other high-quality woods, and you may not want to drill into them. Plaster or sheetrock walls are very easy to patch if you change decor later. To determine the proper positioning hold up the rod to the wall using a long carpenters level over the rod to make sure you have the rod level. (Very much a two-person task!) Also mark the placement of the brackets on the wall or frame with a pencil. When doing this, you may want to have the curtains mounted on the rod, if there is any question about how they will look, or their hanging length. Usually the brackets are placed three to six inches beyond the edge of the window.

Next, drill holes over the pencil marks to affix the anchors through the bracket, making very sure you are using the proper bit size. Finally, position the curtain rods into the brackets. If the rod is a bit longer, you may need to install a center bracket to support the rod and the curtains, to prevent sagging. You need to make sure you use wall fasteners that will properly support the weight of the rods and curtains. Most fasteners will specify the weight they can safely support. The final step in installing curtain rods is to fix the rods and brackets before dressing up the windows with curtains, draperies or valances.

Trevor is a leading home improvement author and writes often for http://www.timeforhomeimprovement.com. There are also more curtain rod tips and tricks on that site.