The balcony is the most illuminated part of the apartment or house. And often the light coming through wide windows interferes with the use of the adjacent living room, for example, glare is reflected in mirrors, screens, or simply wakes up the bedroom occupants ahead of time. And the temperature in the room in summer due to the bright sun can rise to record levels if the balcony faces the sunny side.
That is why it is customary to close windows on balconies and loggias to avoid excess light. The most popular way is to hang curtains that match the style and color scheme. But each curtain must have its own frame, namely a cornice. We’ll talk about how to choose a cornice for a balcony in this article.
How to hang curtains on the balcony
The simplest option is a rod cornice. It consists of a rod, fasteners, guides, and brackets. Curtains can be attached to it using hooks, eyelets, rings, clips, fabric loops on the canvas, and decorative ties.
| Cornice length | Curtain length | Curtain width |
| Window width + allowances of 20-30 cm on each side + size of ends + 5-7 cm of free distance to the wall. | The height of the cornice at the bottom of the window + allowances for hemming and creating a drawstring + 5-7 cm, if you need a curtain below the window. | The length of the cornice section between the fastenings. If you want curtains with folds, you should add another 1.5 lengths to the figure. |
Advice! If the balcony is not rectangular in shape, semicircular or flexible curtain rods are suitable for attaching curtains. They are fixed on wall or ceiling brackets.
Semicircular cornice on the balcony
Curtains with decorative ties
Textile clasp
Despite the fact that the curtain rod remains the most popular way to attach curtains, it still irritates many. Owners of some models have to constantly climb on the window to fix the clamp or move apart the rings, which themselves do not want to move. If you don't like all this, try a contact textile fastener, often called Velcro in everyday life.
If you have a question about how to hang curtains without a curtain rod, this hanging method is designed especially for you.
Important! The advantage of this method is that the curtains can be hung anywhere - on the wall or on the frame.
How to hang tulle on a balcony without a cornice
To fix curtains on narrow openings, you can use 3-5 thin wall hooks. Algorithm:
- Secure the hooks above the window opening.
- Make loops on top of the fabric according to the number of hooks.
- Fix the tulle.
You can place 2 hooks along the edges of the opening, and fix a small plastic or metal tube on them. The canvas on such a crossbar can be easily secured with hooks and rings.
Tulle on a hanging rod with hooks
Instructions for sewing narrow items
Narrow curtain tapes go well with transparent fabrics.
- Here the rules are the same as for other situations - they start with calculating the elements. Curtain tape and tulle are taken with the same length, and 25 centimeters are added to them.
- The length of the window opening will also affect the calculation and its results. 1 to 3 is a standard ratio for those who like a large number of folds.
- The coefficient decreases if there are few folds.
- All sides of the tulle are overcast and stitched. Only on the upper side do they bend by 1-2 centimeters.
- The fold is ironed well when the work is almost done. The process is almost finished. Almost everyone will be able to figure out how to properly sew curtain tape onto tulle.
- The distance from the edge at this stage is 0.5 centimeters; curtain tapes and surfaces are applied to each other. Then they baste by hand.
- All that remains is to stitch the tape from the top and bottom edges.
How to hang curtains on the balcony on plastic windows under the ceiling
The first way out of the situation is ceiling curtains. Product options:
- Profile. Design with grooves for attaching curtains and an external strip.
- String. A thin string stretched between two fasteners fixed to the ceiling.
- Stick. Thin pipe fixed to ceiling mounts.
String designs are suitable for tulle and light curtains. You can secure the canvas to the string using rings, clips and hooks. If the curtain has eyelets, it is enough to thread the metal base through all the holes.
Curtains with eyelets on string curtains
Tips for beginners while working
Having a sewing machine greatly simplifies the work. Especially for those who do not yet have the skill. All that remains is to take measurements, and then simply cut off everything that will be superfluous.
If necessary, use needles or pins, the stitches should always remain low enough. The hem is ironed well when the basting is completed. Thanks to such actions, the fold line itself remains as straight as possible. Then use the sewing machine again for processing.
The end and beginning of each line do not require securing threads. Their close connection with each other is enough when the work is completed. All that remains is to connect the tulle with the curtain tape.
Drapery
Forming folds is the most painstaking and creative process. The technology for draping tulle curtains is as follows:
- With the help of each fixing element or hook, one or several rows of cord are captured. Pull tightly until the desired fold is obtained.
Pulling curtain tape
- To get a beautiful result, it is important that each fastening element captures the same number of loops.
- At your discretion, you can change the location of the hooks to get a spectacular drapery.
- The finished product must be hung on the rings located on the cornice.
Benefits of tape
- Possibility of use with any type of cornice structure.
- If desired, you can change the splendor of the drapery without disturbing the overall beauty of the curtain composition.
- Compatibility with any room design option.
- Maintaining an attractive appearance and practicality over a long period of use.
Curtain tape
Selection options
Important nuances for selection are:
- The side facing the loggia or balcony. Here it is fundamentally important to have windows facing north or south. Since the north side is always dark, light, translucent curtains are suitable, and on the south side it is better to hang denser ones that do not let in excess light.
- The uniqueness of the room. Thanks to the presence of a glazed loggia, less dust gets into the room. And why? Yes, because most of it remains there. Therefore, it is important to choose curtains that will not turn into dust collectors. They should be without additional folds, ruffles, or lambrequins. For the balcony option, you need to choose curtains with a laconic design solution, from a material that is easy to clean, such as bamboo, linen or reed.
- The area of the additional room also plays a determining role when choosing curtains. So if you cover a small balcony with long and thick curtains, it will visually appear even smaller and uncomfortable. For such a room, Roman blinds would look better. But a spacious and bright loggia will look great with long tulle curtains.
- Material color. The color from which blinds or other curtains are made also plays an important role. They are usually chosen light. They fit more naturally into the interior, create the impression of additional coolness, and do not turn the balcony room into a bathhouse, where it is not very light and stuffy.
If the question is which curtains to hang on the balcony, then you need to pay attention to their design features. In this case, the installation method plays an important role. Due to the peculiarities of installing plastic windows on a loggia, the distance between the window itself and the ceiling, where the cornice is installed, is not always provided, so classic curtains will not be suitable in this case. Preference is given to horizontal blinds, roller blinds, Roman or Japanese curtains. After all, they are attached directly to the window.
Tips for creating pleats
The ability to form draperies and folds is another important function of curtain tape, which you definitely shouldn’t forget about during work.
Before creating such elements, it is recommended to tightly tie the laces together, which tighten the material. After such a tight tie, the tulle can be washed even when folded. You can watch the video; after that, sewing the ribbon to the tulle will not be difficult.
The formation of correct warehouses is only possible if the fittings are sewn correctly and accurately. On the wrong side, you can sew secret pockets from excess pieces.
Methods and types of fastening
Next, we will tell you in more detail about all types of fastenings, their design features and the style in which they will look harmonious.
Kuliska
The simplest mounting option: it is done quickly and does not require additional fittings. It is necessary to bend the top edge of the fabric and stitch it on a machine. The cornice rod is threaded into the resulting hole. The drawstring will withstand heavy fabric, but it looks much more beautiful on tulle or thin curtains made of natural fabric. This type of fastening is suitable not only for “rustic” styles. Thin curtains with a drawstring, falling to the floor, will decorate the room in the Art Deco, Art Nouveau, or new classic styles.
This method of fastening the fabric is suitable for rooms where it is convenient to keep the windows half-curtained. The gathering of fabric on the curtain rod does not allow the curtains to be fully opened. The most suitable options: rooms in the attic, a bedroom and a nursery, possibly a kitchen and a bathroom.
Loops
Fabric loops are sewn to the curtain or fastened with buttons or Velcro. They can be made from the main fabric or contrasting in color and density. Loops, like the drawstring, are easy to make with your own hands. They will decorate rooms not intended for prying eyes. They are difficult to move and drape - only vertical folds of different depths are obtained. Tiebacks will help to diversify the shape a little. This mount is suitable for both classic and modern interiors. It complements the Scandinavian style especially well.
Ties
Another type of fabric fastener, very similar to hinges. Ties are made from fabric, ropes and ribbons. Their lower sides are sewn to the curtain, and the upper sides are tied with a knot or bow. Combined with curtains made of airy, translucent fabric, as well as linen and cotton. These fasteners are rather decorative: they are inconvenient to move along the cornice, but bows or straight ribbons will become an additional decoration for the room.
Bow ties look romantic and cute, and therefore will be a godsend for a bedroom in Provence and vintage style. Long ribbons tied in a simple knot can be combined with classics. And if you sew pieces of lace to curtains made of thick linen or cotton in natural shades, you will get an interesting addition to the ethnic or eco-style.
Rings
A convenient and aesthetically attractive way to attach curtains. The fittings are often sold together with the cornice. It can be metal, wood and plastic. To hang curtains, rings are strung on a curtain rod, and the fabric is attached to them using discreet clips, hooks, or simply sewn on. The fastenings can be combined with fabrics of any density; they will withstand even heavy curtains. They form uniform folds, the appearance of which can be varied using curtain tape.
Curtain rings will always be visible: they must match the overall style and color scheme of the room. Metal fittings will complement modern interiors: hi-tech, minimalism, loft. Wooden is suitable for traditional styles - classic, art deco, modern, country. And it will also be a godsend for the ethnic direction.
Multi-colored plastic parts will help to enliven plain curtains in the nursery.
These fasteners hardly wear out. They move freely along the cornice, but unpleasant sounds are possible. If the curtains are not sewn, washing will not be difficult. You can refresh the curtains along with the rings, but removing and hanging them will be much more difficult.
Eyelets
The curtains are sewn into the upper part and form neat holes through which the curtain rod is threaded. Eyelets are made of metal and plastic, there are options of different diameters. As a rule, curtains with such fastenings are made to order. Pairs perfectly with dense, heavy fabrics. Deep vertical folds appear on a slightly moved curtain. On thin fabric, the eyelets will look bulky and can also tear it. These details are almost invisible, so they can be used in rooms for different purposes and different styles.
Curtains with eyelets will decorate rooms in a classic or retro style, they will be appropriate in the grunge and loft directions. Thanks to their laconic form, they are combined with the trends of minimalism and hi-tech. They are durable, break extremely rarely, and are easy to move along the bar. But the movement of metal rings on a metal curtain rod can be noisy.
Hooks, clips and clothespins
Unobtrusive parts that can be used as independent fasteners or together with rings. Suitable not only for wall, but also for ceiling cornice.
Hooks are available in metal and plastic.
- Metal ones are sewn to the back of the fabric. They are suitable for closed and bus curtain rods, and together with the rings - for string or rod rods. Curtains with hooks are easy to move along the guides and remove if necessary, but it is better to choose a thin or medium-density fabric. They have no restrictions on style. The disadvantage of metal fasteners is a sharp sound when moving.
Blinds
This type of window dressing will not take up much space. Blinds will perfectly protect from excess sunlight, they perfectly shade the room and do not take up much space. Special impregnation of the slats helps them cope with dust flying in from the street and remain beautiful throughout the entire season of use.
Modern blinds can be made from the usual aluminum and plastic strips, unusual wooden strips, and fabric. The latter option is distinguished by a variety of colors; it is even possible to purchase voluminous photo curtains. And thanks to special impregnations, the colors of such blinds do not fade in the sun.
Elegant and simple window blinds or roller blinds
A good idea that won't cost too much is roller blinds. This is a solution for people who appreciate classic, simple designs. Roller blinds in cassettes that perfectly match the width of the window provide protection from excessive light and prying eyes when needed. On the other hand, they will not block the apartment from light when there is no need for it. A rolled roll actually takes up very little space.
Roller blinds without cornice - photo
It is also worth noting that this is a very functional solution that is very easy to keep clean. To clean, simply wipe the structure with a damp cloth.
