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Overview & Definitions
Home » Window Treatments » Draperies » Overview & DefinitionsWe will never know who was the first person to cover a window with a piece of leather or woven cloth, but the practical application of window coverings has, over time, evolved into a major factor when decorating a room. Draperies still perform their necessary function of keeping out the heat from the sun and keeping in the warmth and cool within the room, but their function has become much more than that. Windows in our rooms are the windows through which we view our world. The way draperies frame our windows influences the way we see the world. Draperies are much more than window coverings and much more than window adornments. They quietly speak volumes about our sense of style and personal taste.
By definition, draperies are any piece of cloth or other material that is arranged in loose, flowing folds around a window or doorway. Most draperies hang straight toward the floor, but many are draped over the window opening and arranged in “puddles” of cloth on the floor. Draperies are most often cloth, but can also be made from other materials.
There are many types of curtains and draperies, not including blinds and awnings. However, there are three main types of draperies and the functions they perform. Sash curtains are designed to filter light but to allow some of it to shine into the room. These curtains are typically sheer or of a very loose weave which allows light to shine through. Draw curtains block out light and insulate the room from the heat and cold outside the window. Over-draperies are designed to frame and compliment the sash or draw curtains underneath and are for more decorative than functional purposes.
Over-draperies also come in a variety of styles. Valances, cornices, and other toppers are shorter versions of their longer cousins and their purpose is to hide or decorate the hardware which is the foundation for all the draperies on a window. Some over-draperies are edged with ruffles or lace which form a jabot. Swags are less formal curtains which add color and texture to the main draperies.
On some windows, the drapery rods, poles, rings and finials are designed to be seen, as well as to add an additional decorative element to the overall appearance of the window. Finials are most often a shaped or sculptured ornament at each end of a drapery rod, but can also be softer accents, such as tassels, which accent the end of the rod.
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