Curtain and Drapery Accessories

Curtains not only offer a wide range of colors and patterns to coordinate with your rooms, but they now can be complimented by a range of accessories to take them from window coverings to design elements.

By maximizing the look and feel of your window accessories, you can really take your window treatments to the next level.

Luckily, there are many hardware options available to suit any style.

Read on to learn about the various accessories available and learn some handy tips for selecting and installing them.

Types of Curtain Hardware

• Curtain Rods – Curtain rods come with a variety of options depending on your needs. You might select a plain rod for a café curtain, a combination rod for a layered effect, a traverse rod to easily open and close heavy curtains, or a tension rod to fit inside a cramped space.
• Rings – You may need rings to attach the drapery to the rod. These rings are similar in style to shower curtain rings, and they essentially work the same way.
• Sconces – Most rods will come with their own mounting hardware, but you can elect to purchase a sconce for a more formal look. Sconces are decorative rod mounts and can be used to add decorative punch to the window treatment. They can also be used to hold swags.
• Finials – These decorative pieces, usually made from iron, stone, or ceramics, fit on the end of the drapery rods. Note that most window treatments will use a sconce or a finial, but rarely both.
• Tiebacks – If you’d like to open the curtains but don’t like the look of a traverse rod, consider using tiebacks to either tie or fasten the curtains in the open position.
• Rosettes – The rosette is a decorative element that can be clipped on to support brackets along the length of the curtain rod. Not only does the rosette hide the bracket, but it also offers a little extra design flair. Note that you can attach rosettes to the top of the drapes even if you’re not using support brackets if you like the look.
• Drapery Jewelry – Drapery jewelry is attached to the fabric or can be dangled from the rods. You can purchase jewelry specifically made for this purpose or purchase pieces from a flea market. Jewelry can also be used in lieu of tiebacks for a pretty statement.

Installing Your Drapery Hardware

Most drapery hardware will come complete with instructions, and the installation process should be easy enough for beginner do-it-yourselfers.

The keys to success are to make sure to purchase hardware that will work well together, adequately support the curtains, and work well within the overall design scheme of the room.

Here are some installation tips that may help:

• As with any design project, avoid over-accessorizing. Your hardware should compliment rather than overpower your window treatment. Generally, it’s best to select one or two decorative elements and focus on them rather than adding ornate finials, tiebacks, sconces and jewelry all to a single window.
• Make sure that the hardware you select is strong enough to hold the curtains. For heavier curtains, generally a one-inch rod is recommended. You should also consider installing center support brackets on the drapery rod if you’ve selected drapery in a heavy fabric like velvet. And if your drapery rod will be longer than four feet, you need a support bracket anyway.
• Determine the appropriate rod length by measuring the window, adding the desired distance past the window, and adding on space for decorative finials or sconces. You may need to use a telescoping rod to cover long distances.