Decorative Curtain Rods

Decorative curtain rods will add a finished look to your window treatments. There is a wide selection available in all styles so you can find one to complement the design of your room.

You need to consider a few things before you purchase a curtain rod. In the past, a curtain was simply a sheer that was hung with a sash rod. Today, the line that separates a curtain from a drapery is blurred. Many designers use the weight of the material to differentiate between a drapery and curtain with a drapery being heavier and typically lined. Unlike the old terminology, modern curtains can be pleated just like a drapery and both can be hung as panels.

Not all rods are strong enough to hold the weight of some curtains for a sustained period of time. You need to make sure the rod is sturdy and strong enough for your curtain.

Most rods are hollow and while that helps with shipping costs to keep the cost at an affordable price, some metal gauges are too thin for the weight of heavy curtains.

You’ll want to make sure the rod finish matches with any other finishes in the room.

Examples of Finishes:

• Patina
• Polished Brass
• Bronze
• Silver or Chrome
• Antiqued Finish
• Hand-rubbed
• Two-toned brass and silver
• Crystal
• Stained Wood
• Bamboo

You don’t want the rod to be oversized and look out of place.

Length

• Lengths vary and typically extend (telescoping rods) to fit a range of sizes to use with more than one window.

Width of Diameter

• If the diameter is too wide a pocket curtain might not fit and the overall curtain effect may be too heavy for the window size.

Things to consider in choosing the rod size:

• Height of window
• Width of window
• Weight of curtain
• Proportion of rod size to window and room size

The types and styles of rod designs offer many choices that can give you a casual to elegant look.

Common Forms

• Smooth
• Fluted
• Squared
• Rounded

There are some unique choices of curtain rods that are not just utilitarian, but add a very decorative flare to your window treatments.

Curved Rods

• This style gives you the ability to stack your curtains against the wall for optimum light and clearance of the window when desired and complete coverage of the window, including the space between curtain and wall to form a boxed in effect. This is especially desirable when using thermal curtains for added insulation.

Ceiling Mount Rods

• This unique form of decorative rod allows you to create a room divider with a curtain panel. Other uses include doorways such as a closet or entrance into a bathroom. You can also create an attractive canopy over a bed by using two ceiling mounted rods. The ends can be capped with decorative finials for added romantic touches.

Traverse rods

• These rods have a specific design that makes the draperies appear to hang in the air just beneath the rod.
• Cordless and wandless. You just pull these open and closed by the curtain which slides along the rod channel.

Sash rods

• This style of rod allows transparency for your sheers or lace curtains.
• A creative effect is a double rod used to layer the curtains.

Cable Rod

• A stainless steel tension cable rod
• Urban chic look for lightweight curtains.
• Can use outdoors
• Also great for bed canopy effect as ceiling mount rods

Swing Arm Rods

• Cool choice for French doors or windows that open on hinges
• Arms swing out to allow access to doors and windows
• Great for heavy traffic areas when you don’t wish to use a sash type of rod
• Typically sold in pairs

Curtain road hardware can turn your rod in a something plain into a very stylish and special decorative touch to your window.

Brackets

• Some brackets can hold two rods to accommodate a valance
• Decorative brackets have many choices of motifs to repeat the finial design

Hooks

• Pin Hooks – Used with sewn pinch-pleated curtains
• Quick Hooks – for self-pleating by using the hook to form the pleat

Rings

Another way to continue the overall rod and curtain design:

• Hook and eye designs are typical choices
• Use decorative rings to contrast or match rod and finials
• Clip rings for pinch-pleated draperies
• Rings with eyelet holes to receive pin hooks
• Grommet rings sewn into top hem and self-threads onto rod (weave rod through rings)

Corner Connectors

This hardware allows you to hang curtains on corner windows or give the illusion of corner windows.

Metal, wood, glass, and resin are just some of the materials used to create decorative finials. A finial is the end cap of the rod which serves two purposes. The first is to make certain the curtain or rings stay on the rod. The second purpose is to give added design and style to the window treatment.

Popular Finial Styles

• Cage or open designs
• Balls of various materials
• Filigrees
• Crystals
• Polished Quartz or Marble
• Figurines
• Leaf Designs
• Carved Wood Designs
• Architectural Motifs
• Hook (often curved or stylized)

Shop for Decorative Finials You can recreate your curtain rods without having to replace them by simply changing the finials. These websites offer some ideas:

• Decorative Finials
• Curtain Rods
• Antique Drapery Rod
• Pate Meadows

There are many parts that make up decorative curtain rods and can be selected as a set or individually.

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