Sheer curtains and drapes are two different types of window curtains that can definitely make a statement even when standing on their own. Just imagine how good it would look to put two gorgeous fabric materials together. You’ll know soon enough once we tackle how to hang sheer curtains with drapes.
The most general answer to that is layering the two sheets of fabric. Layering draperies had always been a fantastic design technique that dates back for centuries. It was prominent in many royal occasions, such as dinner banquets and elegant soirées, back in the renaissance period.
What’s the difference?
In most cases, curtains and drapes are used interchangeably. Although they are pretty much the same thing, the material typically sets it apart. Curtains are fabric panels that usually come in medium to lightweight fabric.
Sheer curtains lean towards lighter materials like chiffon, voile, and many more. You can tell that the material is thin because of the light it lets in the room. Sheer curtains typically filter instead of completely blocking out the sunlight.
On the other hand, drapes comprise fabric heavy or thick enough to leave a room dark at midday. Thicker drapery comes in velvet, damask, silk, and many more heavy fabrics. Like curtains, they also come in pairs in various colors, patterns, and designs.
Pairing sheer curtain with drapes helps you achieve a bright and relatively naturally lit room while obtaining a touch of elegance and sophistication that drapes bring to the table. It gives your home more privacy mixed with style. Now that we have that covered, let’s move on to learning how to hang sheer curtains with drapes.
Step 1: Choosing a pair
Some ways to incorporate two different fabric pieces could range from solid over sheer or sheer over solid to alternating, scarfed, and many more. How you decide to put your curtain together can help you decide which fabric combination to use.
For instance, if you want to alternate sheer and drapes together, you can opt for either a complementing or monochromatic color scheme. However, placing solid over sheer or sheer over solid might not exactly work with monochromatic colors. Instead, you can try complementing colors or pairing them with light-colored sheers and darker-colored drapes.
Layering one curtain on top of the other leaves room for variation. You can leave the sheer curtain closed while opening the drapes to let in a significant amount of sunlight without completely exposing the room for the outside to see. If you want a dark room, close the drapes, and you’ve got yourself a whole different level of privacy.
Step 2: Install the hardware.
Once we have decided on the pair, it’s time to get ourselves many curtain hardware to hang the curtains. If you already have a single rod installed for regular curtains and you want layered drapes, then you better get yourself another pair of brackets and another rod.
Note that the new bracket should extend farther than the one you initially have. For example, if the original bracket extends 4 inches from the wall, your other bracket should extend at least six or seven inches from the wall. Please place it in a higher position and install it as you usually would.
For quicker alternatives, buy double brackets and install them as normal. Don’t forget to check if they are leveled before securing the brackets in place. The last thing you want is crookedly hung curtains that can ruin the overall look.
Step 3: Hang the curtains
Take your sheer curtains and slip onto the rod. You can use rod pockets, tabs, or curtain hardware such as clip rings, drapery pin hooks, and many more. The double bracket has two slots. The rod with the sheer curtain goes on the slot closer to the wall.
(Note: If you want sheer over solid, replace the sheer with drapes in this step).
Hang your sheer curtains as you normally would and adjust them accordingly. Slide your drapes onto the other curtain rod and hang it on the bracket slot farther from the wall. Spread the drapes and fix them until you are satisfied.
Step 4: Style
You can further enhance the look of your window treatments using tiebacks and other decorative items. Play around with different visual elements like lights, fabric embellishments, and many more.
Another way to hang drapes with curtains is by using the sheer fabric as a window swag or scarf. Wrap the sheer curtain around the rod to create a scarf effect. Valances, swags, and similar window treatments are a great way to add texture and character to your curtains.
Alternating sheer and drape give your combination a solid and stunning look. The complementing variation between textures and transparency gives your room character and dimension.
Summary
Sheer curtains paired with thick and lush drapery are probably one of the best combinations that you can use to style your window. It is an easy decorating hack that changes the look immediately. Not to mention, it serves practical functions too.
Overall, if you want to beautify the space, get extra insulation, and enhance privacy, you should definitely learn how to hang sheer curtains with drapes. Everyone has different personal preferences when it comes to style. Don’t pressure yourself to follow a particular method if it doesn’t look particularly pleasing to you.