All about curtains for the balcony and loggia

People stopped doubting the need for curtains even in ancient times. Curtains do not just protect the home from prying eyes - curtains have long become a part of interior design.

Before proceeding with the complex choice of the type of curtains for the balcony, you need to at least superficially familiarize yourself with the assortment, which is actually almost endless: these are both classic options and models inspired by fashion trends. You can hang curtains on a balcony window, loggia traditionally or show your imagination.

Types of curtains:

• light and dense curtains;
• tarpaulin and lightest cambric;
• absolutely opaque blackout;
• "Day-night" and curtain-mesh;
• ceiling, window, door, Italian and Japanese models.

It can be listed for a long time, but the list only shows that the upcoming choice is a creative, interesting process that gives scope to the imagination.

Models of this type are distinguished by their laconicism, neatness and pleasant appearance. In tandem with the control mechanism, they become as comfortable as possible in operation and remain one of the most popular options for decorating a loggia or balcony. The rolled fabric is fixed on a roller and installed in the upper part of the sash.

Manufacturers present roller blinds in 2 versions:

• upper fixation of the canvas, while the rest of the sides remain free;
• cassette - top fixation, vertical movement is provided by guides.

Roller blinds can be:

• electric - controlled remotely from the remote control;
• mechanically controlled - manually operated.

To create roller blinds, manufacturers use a dense fabric treated with a special impregnation. They are easy to care for: just wipe them with a damp cloth. In passive mode, the roll mechanism is almost invisible. There is a slight inconvenience - the fixed roller blind slightly interferes with the opening of the shutters. The assortment of such products is presented in a wide range of colors, which allows you to choose a model for any interior.

They are distinguished by sophistication and conciseness, they are often used when creating a rustic style or Provence style. In passive mode, the (rolled up) curtains are draped with horizontal folds. For manufacturing, natural dense fabrics that have undergone special processing are used. The impregnation used for these purposes provides the product with dust and moisture protection properties, and increases resistance to ultraviolet radiation.

Roman blinds are easy to maintain: depending on the quality of the fabric, they can be washed or wiped clean. There are many models for sale in opaque fabric. Very often, in tandem with Roman models, curtains made of openwork tulle appear. This is a convenient functional combination: in cloudy weather, the curtains remain rolled up, and the windows are decorated with weightless curtains, in the bright sun and at night the curtains are lowered.

An environmentally friendly, natural, safe material that has long been used by Russian citizens.The colorful curtains, which are reminiscent of rolled models in structure, are stalks of young bamboo, fastened together.

Benefits of bamboo curtains:

• safety - the environmental friendliness of the material makes it hypoallergenic;
• lightness - bamboo curtains are lightweight due to hollow stems;
• the special quality of wood repels dust;
• bamboo products retain their attractive appearance for decades: the older, the more interesting the curtain looks.

The disadvantage can be called a limited palette: the canvas is painted in dark and light natural colors. In addition, the material quickly absorbs odors, the products are limited in size: no more than 240 cm in width. Sometimes bamboo curtains are a duet with other types of textiles: silk, linen, tulle. Combination with velvet, satin, nylon is a sign of bad taste. Bamboo rolls are fixed on Roman and roll structures.

Textile curtains are a classic. Various lengths are allowed: to the window sill, 8-10 cm above the floor, to the entire height of the wall. Weightless, translucent or dense, combined with other textures - the possibilities of their use are endless. Classic curtains are a great option for those window designs where roll-up or Roman models cannot be installed.

This is one of the most popular types of balcony curtains among consumers. Blinds are made of 2 types: vertical and horizontal. Various materials are used for production:

• textiles and wood;
• plastic, aluminum, polyester.

Their advantage is neutrality. In a living space, it is difficult to make blinds a natural accent; rather, it is an office element. However, it is quite appropriate to use them on a loggia or balcony, simple control allows you to easily achieve any level of lighting. The vertical principle of installing the lamellas provides that they can be removed, care consists in wiping each element. The disadvantages include the noise emitted by the wind and open windows, but this is not so important for the balcony. In addition, the lamellas are easily damaged. The color scheme is quite varied, up to the stylization under the photo wallpaper.

This is another folding type of curtains, accordion pleats. This is how they look when folded: like accordion furs. In the active position, they cover window openings of various sizes. Pleated blinds do not have a rigid upper fixation, unlike roll models. The structure is attached to the sashes with cables, which allows them to be moved along the entire length of the window.

For manufacturing, pleated fabrics with protective impregnation are used. The optimal solution for flaps.

They can be safely called ceremonial models for palace interiors. Perhaps curtains of this type will look out of place in the limited area of ​​the balcony, but light translucent curtains will turn a spacious loggia into a respectable space. They will look perfect on a loggia office. French and Austrian curtains are characterized by many folds, unfortunately they collect dust. These curtains require careful maintenance.

The difference between the Austrian and French types is that in the French model, folds are laid along the entire length, while in the Austrian ones, they are formed only in the assembled state. Various fabrics are used for manufacturing, it can be light translucent for office buildings and heavy - noble velvet, satin - for theater or palace halls. What type of fabric to choose for decorating a loggia depends on the tastes and preferences of the owners. The lifting of the canvas is carried out using the braid located on the seamy side.

This is a textile classic, curtains are used less and less for balconies and loggias today. More whimsical to care for than roller blinds, bamboo, pleated, they have to be removed, washed, ironed, hung again. However, they also have their advantages: they create an excellent obstacle to the sun's rays, which is especially important for the south-facing side. Floor length looks good on stained glass windows and spacious loggias, shorter ones decorate balconies wonderfully.

The concept itself is difficult for many. In fact, these are ordinary curtains, and in different countries, curtains are called different versions of curtains. In Holland, these are light translucent canvases covering the entire window or only part of it. In England - window protection from light. In Germany, it is a curtain covering the entire window opening.

Today, the generally accepted concept of curtains among designers is curtains made of transparent tulle, organza, veil, nylon, lace fabric. There are also denser options, but they are necessarily smooth, with a uniform weave. They perfectly pass air and light, fill the space with lightness, airiness, and spaciousness.

In addition to the above, there are other equally interesting various solutions and design options for double-glazed windows on the balcony and loggia.

• "Day Night". Improved version of roll models. Designed as a more interesting and modern model. Curtains of this type regulate the level of light transmission differently than roller blinds. Alternating stripes are responsible for this: transparent and impenetrable. Two sheets of fabric are fixed in the form of parallel movable strips. To get light or dark lighting, the stripes are shifted and they overlap each other, creating a "day" or "night" effect. Made of synthetic materials, treated with Teflon impregnation. Thanks to this technology, antibacterial and hypoallergenic fabric is obtained in the final. Dry cleaning is used for care.

• Mesh curtains. Mesh curtains are the best solution in the hot season. Manufacturers produce small-, medium-, large-mesh curtain fabrics. Actually, this is a type of tulle made from synthetic materials. The mesh is easy to wash, looks elegant, has excellent breathability.

A properly organized balcony space is an actual continuation of the room, therefore, it must correspond to the general concept of the house. Colors, prints on textiles or synthetic materials must be in harmony with the interior design of the room. It is necessary to carefully choose colors for the balcony: dark warm tones visually reduce the space, light cold gamut, on the contrary, expands, visually increases the area.

The lighter, more airy the textiles, the freer it seems inside the loggia or balcony. If it becomes necessary to use dark tones, then it would be more correct to use a double-sided canvas, looking with the dark side inward, with the light side facing the street. Do not forget about the law of optical perception: dark windows are always aesthetically inferior to light ones. The balcony is small, so it must be borne in mind that the light design visually makes the space larger: vertical stripes are higher, horizontal stripes wider.

In this case, you need to remember about the styles of the interior.

• Provence. The graceful style prefers a marine palette of calm light shades. White or pale blue linen curtains are the best choice.

• Scandinavian. Strict minimalism does not tolerate variegation - a maximum of 3 colors of calm cold tones. Perfectly in harmony with roller blinds and roman blinds.

• Classic style - simple straight canvases made of quality textiles. The color depends on the general idea of ​​\ u200b \ u200bdesigning the space.

• Modern. Roller blinds, Roman, pleated curtains with a graphic pattern or plain ones, but focusing on themselves, are suitable.

To make textile curtains with your own hands, you will need fabric, threads to match, perhaps a fishing line, if the bottom of the curtain is festooned or roller blinds are to be installed, where it will serve as a guide.

Required tools:

• cutting table;
• lockstitch sewing machine;
• scissors, tape measure, chalk, iron.

To hang the finished product, you need a cornice (ceiling, telescopic, wall) or Velcro tape.

Making a 6-meter-long balcony or windows on a large loggia requires special attention:

• the south side needs curtains made of thick materials, for example, blackout creates an excellent barrier to the burning sun;
• for the north or northeast, preference should be given to curtains made of light fabric;
• to avoid the accumulation of dust, you should not arrange a multi-layered and lush decoration with curtains;
• on a small balcony "Khrushchev" fit pleated, roller, roller blinds;
• curtains or classic curtains will look good on an open balcony;
• on a plastic profile, on sliding doors it is easier to install pleated;
• the balcony combined with the room looks good with a long ceiling cornice installed on the wall combined with the room;
• a set of roman blinds can be installed on stained glass with an aluminum profile.

You can hang curtains and classic curtains on wooden cornices on the windows of the spacious loggia. A small balcony has to be more modest - Roman or roller blinds are fixed on the sashes, they do not take up much space, do not interfere with the opening of the sashes. Bamboo curtains will fit perfectly into a limited space, but they will have to be raised to open the window, if you do not choose the dimensions that exactly match the width of the sashes.

For panoramic glazing, Austrian and French curtains on eaves, vertical blinds and roller blinds are chosen, with particular attention to the print. It will be correct to sew a separate canvas for each sash. On almost all balconies there is no place for mounting wall cornices, so you will have to use Velcro tape, popularly called Velcro. These are 2 textile stripes, one of which is studded with micro-hooks, the other with micro-loops. When in contact, they firmly adhere to each other. The tape with micro hooks has a higher density, it is glued to the frame, micro loops are sewn onto the canvas. It is enough to combine them, squeeze, and the curtains will be securely hung.

The next method is traditional strings, known since post-Soviet times. The modern string is a stylish decorative rope that is fixed to the ceiling and is able to withstand heavy canvas.

Now there is another way to hang curtains on the balcony: decorative hooksinstalled above the top of the window opening. Eyelets are installed on the curtain, which will be put on the hooks. As a result, the curtain hangs easily and freely.

Roller blinds on PVC windows are fixed in a certain way. In the upper part of the profile, the brackets of the rotating roller are mounted using self-tapping screws. They hook the S-brackets onto the upper part of the sash. For fixing, you need tubes with a mechanism for winding the canvas.

A study of a large number of reviews makes it clear that functional solutions are now at the peak of popularity: roller blinds, pleated. The technology provides for mounting on movable and stationary sashes, which is very convenient during installation and operation. The same opinion is about the systems "day-night", "blackout". Buyers note that they do not have to engage in drilling, installation using hardware. The supplied brackets hold the original products very firmly. Reviews show that such systems are now common.