curtains draperies - Primo Blinds - window blinds guide to curtains draperies

Curtains were devised to shield people from the elements, severe winter cold and harsh blinding sun rays. In the early days of man, cave dwellers used animal hides and placed them at the opening of their abodes to protect them from a stormy weather or to serve as a deterrent to would be intruders. The American Indians used these trappings on their tents for the same purposes and for the added benefit of privacy as well. The Incas of Latin America were more subtle in their tastes since woven cloth is still being widely used nowadays, as remnants of their civilization would show.

Europe on the other hand used curtains as ornaments in their abode. Manor houses, castles, and palaces were given a degree of sophistication by the type of curtains installed. It came to a point when curtains dictated the ambience of their residences. Even the poor households of Europe maintained different sets of curtains; each intended for particular occasions and gatherings. The more affluent members of society changed their curtains once a month, with the more expensive ones reserved for their endless parties and social encounters. But curtains had its high in the royal circles, for it adorned extensively the grand ballrooms, social halls and bedrooms of the aristocrats to show-off the extent of their wealth.

Our Puritan fathers, who came to settle in America, brought with them this known adornment into the new world. Said curtains and the architecture that flourished during the period complemented so well that if you think of curtains today, you would also conjure images of the buildings from the past. They are so suited to each other, that one can hardly be effective without the other.

The emergence of air-conditioning and heating systems in the early thirties, courtesy of Carrier—an engineer by profession, shelved the penchant for ornate curtains for a while with the complete enclosure of building interiors now possible; thus, freeing people from the dictates of the weather.

But once new technology settled-in, curtains came back with a vengeance. Curtains are now used as pure ornaments, and even when not necessary, they are designed and produced in layers and tresses. In the past, the top of curtains were only outfitted with a wood valance; today it is wrapped with scallops to give it a more urbane look. And these excesses we managed to adapt today. Because of these attachments from the past, the modern living room would look bare without these curtains. In passing, we can say that home life would be totally gloomy without these ornaments.

A prudent person would probably not be enticed to the extensive use of curtains. Not only because of the high cost of these fabrics, but also because a few sets of curtains need to be maintained to allow a household to change it regularly, say every fifteen days. And if curtains are made to stay hanging a little longer over a window, it would absorb much dust and related bacteria that could be the source of allergic reactions in the home. The worst part of curtain use involves the physical detachment of these curtains when taking them out for washing and installing a newly laundered one. Sometimes, you would require the services of hired help just to accomplish these tasks. Maintaining a good set of curtains can really be expensive and time consuming. However, if you can afford it, then why not use one?

The consolation of using curtains lies well in its aesthetic value and its sound absorbing features. One could expect irritating echoes or reverberating sounds in conference rooms, office spaces or even in the bedroom which could trigger mood swings, rise in temper or even nausea. The presence of heavy draperies installed on windows or on a designated area of a room, can effectively eradicate these discomforts. So with high cost comes a host of benefits as well.