Beautiful elements in the modern design of the living space can provide comfort and harmony in your home. To date, French curtains in the interior are considered quite a popular option for the design of window space. Thanks to them, a warm and mysterious atmosphere appears in the room. They are often used in suburban estates and spacious apartments.

You can create such a model yourself at home. Our material provides detailed instructions on how to sew French curtains without much effort. All the subtleties of the workflow are noted here.

The advice of experienced professionals will help to make the correct calculation of the material and the frequency of weightless waves.

How to choose a material for curtains?

Fabrics for curtains may contain a small amount of lurex. Beautiful shine in the sun will add a bit of luxury to the interior space.

Marquise curtains are often used in classic design. They will become a real decoration of your home. There are several criteria when choosing fabrics for sewing curtains:

• soft texture. It allows you to create a large number of air folds on the surface of the material. More dense fabrics are intended for large waves, which are used to create lambrequins;
• heavy materials (jacquard, natural linen) will help to make large folds;
• french curtain to the kitchen, should be made of synthetic fabric. Pretty designers prefer to use organza or dense tulle. These materials are good for cleaning;
• do not choose fabrics with a small pattern in the form of flowers or geometric shapes. During drapery, decorative elements of the material will be lost against the background of the window space. As a result of this, a tasteless detail may appear in the interior that will constantly distract.

Ready-made Roman curtains can be complemented with a beautiful lambrequin. The luxurious duo of dense and airy material creates a truly sophisticated design.

Basic rules for combining fabrics

Marquise curtains require a competent combination of fabrics and materials. You can create beautiful smooth waves using several types of fabric. The veil is in perfect harmony with the delicate organza. She also looks good in duets with dense satin or natural linen.

You can add decorative elements with the help of volumetric pickups or beautiful beads enclosed in a long shiny cord. During drapery, the crystal bugle will gently descend along the edges of the air waves.

How to calculate the amount of fabric to create curtains?

There is a certain technique, which provides for all the subtleties of the workflow. As noted above, the first step is to correctly calculate the distance between the waves.

To do this, multiply the length by 2 and add the necessary distance for the allowances. Basically it is 4-6 cm from each edge. Below they make an allowance of 5 cm. As you can see, everything is quite simple.

For sewing a small curtain you will need 3-4 m of air veil. The size of the finished curtain will be 2 m. These parameters are enough to decorate a small window opening.

Patterns for Roman curtains

At the beginning of the workflow, it is recommended that you decide on the model. There are several varieties of curtains that differ in the number of folds on the surface of the fabric. Modern options include the presence of a hidden drawstring, which will regulate the assembly of the material.

The pattern is a large rectangle with additional marks for a hidden lace. The distance between them is calculated based on your preference.

It is worth noting that the closely located drapery creates lush curtains that are suitable for the living room or bedroom.

Stages of creating curtains

The algorithm for creating French curtains on your own consists of several stages:

• processing of sections and edges of fabric. To do this, the material is placed on a flat surface preventing the appearance of unnecessary folds;
• bend in the lower part and fix it with a needle and thread. On average, it is 5 cm above and below;
• further mark the position of the secret wings. They will continue to provide the necessary air waves;
• after that, a lace is pulled into the drawstring, which will be in the role of the web retainer;
• the final step will be to attach an additional tape with places for attaching hooks. They help to evenly attach the curtains to the cornice.

Such lightweight curtain designs will become a real decoration for a bedroom, kitchen, living room or even a balcony. They are able to fill the interior with an atmosphere of lightness and romance. Even in ancient times, they were used to decorate luxurious castles and estates.

Today they are used in the style of baroque, rococo or classic. They will never go out of interior fashion. The photo of French curtains captures the best options for decorating the window space.

Photo French curtains

And the living room is the best option for fans of the classics in the interior. French curtains in the interior are found not only in urban apartments, but also in suburban mansions.

Advice! A high-quality French curtain will fit equally perfectly in a romantic and classic interior.

You can create such a design with your own hands, taking into account the specifics of the room to be decorated.

Rules for choosing the material for the French curtains

Craftswomen can acquire for work both an airy light tulle and a dense curtain fabric. Among the basic requirements that are put forward to the material acquired to create a high-quality French curtains in the living room, we note the possibility of drapery. The appearance of the folds depends on the texture and density of the fabric.

For the correct selection of fabric, it is necessary to be based on the following operational and external characteristics:

• soft and dense fabric is suitable for creating cascading waves;
• for bulk folds need tough and weightless matter;
• french curtains for the kitchen better sew from organza

Interior professionals pay special attention to the choice of fabric with a pattern. There is a risk of getting a “ripple”, which will then be lost in folds, which will spoil the external impression of the finished curtain.

Advice! The best option for a kitchen French curtain - plain light fabric: silk, organza, satin, chiffon.

Using the finished curtains in the kitchen, close the window in the working area. An interesting addition to the created image will be the use of a beautiful lambrequin.

Rules for calculating fabric for sewing

French curtains in the interior involve the use of a significant amount of material, since it is necessary to make drapery and beautiful waves. To calculate the usual curtains take into account the width of the window opening, as well as the size of the decorative cornice. And for the manufacture of French curtains use the degree of assembly, which cannot be less than two widths of the fabric itself.

Advice! It is necessary to take into account the length of the cornice, adding 5 cm on each side of the curtain (to the seams). The rest of the length of the material is used to create beautiful folds.

The length of the finished curtains is multiplied by 2, add seam allowances of 5 cm for the bottom of the curtain, 3 cm for the upper part.

There are some similarities between the French and Austrian curtains, but they differ in the amount of fabric used.

Features patterns

French curtains, photos, pattern options, useful tips, all this can be found in the video fragment

Sewing consists in choosing a drawing, as well as strictly following a certain sequence of actions. Decaturing is performed first. It involves processing the fabric in order to prevent its subsequent shrinkage.

The procedure for decoding is quite simple and understandable. The fabric is soaked for 10-15 minutes in warm water, then carefully wrung out, dried.

The algorithm for sewing French or in the living room can be represented as follows:

1. Processing the upper and lower edges of the curtains. It is convenient to place the fabric on the floor, make bends of 1.5 cm on each side, then hem the curtains.
2. From below, the porter is bent two centimeters, the hem is hemmed.
3. Next, you need to mark the wings. Using a ruler, you can get equal gaps along the entire length of the curtains.
4. The backstage is formed using fabric cuts. Sew along the marked lines a fabric having a width of 3 centimeters, bend it inwards on the sides.
5. The curtain on the balcony or in the kitchen should be regulated by a lace that is threaded into the curtains.

For the manufacture of French curtains use a sketch drawn up in advance. The finished design includes several components.

Advice! You need to choose a model not only based on personal preferences, but also taking into account the style direction used to decorate the room.

Drapery can be done in rings. On the wings, after 15-20 centimeters, rings are sewn. In order to achieve high-quality fastening of the curtains on the ledge, professionals recommend using a durable tape.

A simplified version of the French curtains

On the balcony you can see the version of the curtain, made in-house. In order to cope with the task, five basic rules must be taken into account: calculate the fabric, mark the scallops, mark the undercuts, fix the curtain tape on the markings, pull out the cord, and achieve uniform drapery.

Even without sewing skills, it is quite possible to make a simple model of French curtains for decorating a balcony. Currently, there are two options for curtains: lifting and static. Lifting models operate on a rotor-chain mechanism, and static curtains cannot be moved.

Such curtains are suitable for baroque, empire, classic style. In the living room they will emphasize the laconicism of the interior, in the bedroom they will help to create a romantic atmosphere, and in the office they will demonstrate the status of the owner of the room.

Such curtains appeared in the 18th century in France, only expensive fabrics were used for their manufacture, so French curtains could only be seen on the windows of noble mansions.

At first, the marquises were used to curtain windows in palaces, theaters, and restaurants. Currently, they can be seen in urban apartments and in suburban mansions.

The splendor of the curtains allows you to use them to design window openings in the bedroom, living room, and kitchen. French curtains can also be seen on the windows of the balcony.

Light curtains with soft and even folds will become a true decoration of the bedroom window, fill the room with romanticism. To make such a design, you can first make a stitch along the entire length of the curtains, then gently tighten the laces, obtaining a uniform canvas.

Advice! In the kitchen, it is better to choose the length of the curtain, which will be slightly below the window sill. In this case, the curtain will not interfere with the cooking process, when cleaning the room.

Conclusion

The effect that the French curtain will produce depends on the texture and type of material used when sewing it. For example, if the room has high ceilings, you can choose dense expensive fabrics, they will help emphasize the sophistication of the room, the status of the owner of the apartment.

To work, you need a veil, organza, batista or silk. The choice of fabric depends on the material capabilities of the owner of the apartment, the design of the room, as well as on personal wishes.

In order for the curtains to be beautiful and practical, you need to remember about allowances for seams, and also that the length of the fabric should be two times the size of the finished product. Only following these simple rules, you can count on tailoring a beautiful French curtain for the kitchen or living room.

French curtains are curtains well-known for all, often decorating wedding palaces, concert halls, halls in cultural houses and other public institutions. They appeared back in the 18th century in France, and were used only in the palaces and reception rooms of kings and other wealthy nobles. This is due to the fact that a lot of fabrics were required for such gorgeous curtains, it was of high quality and very expensive.

Today, with a wide variety of materials on the market, any connoisseur of medieval interior decoration can afford to sew or purchase ready-made French curtains. In this article, we have collected detailed information on what French curtains are, what they are best sewed from and where to hang them.

What are french curtains

French curtains are a large rectangular fabric cloth, along the entire length collected by uniform lush folds forming festoons. Initially, according to history, French curtains were static, today they began to be equipped with a cornice with a lifting mechanism, which greatly simplifies their use, because by themselves such curtains can not be moved apart and open a window.

Although before the French curtain was exclusively up to the floor, now its length can be different: to the floor, to the windowsill, and just below the windowsill. And you can already hang such magnificent curtains not only on large windows in a spacious room, but also in more modest apartments. French solemn women were decorated and continue to decorate with fringe and tassels.

Materials for French Curtains

French curtains in the interior can be both daytime - from transparent fabric, and nightly from dense. In any case, the choice of material for such curtains should be taken responsibly so that the legendary decoration looks presentable and worthy.

To make French curtains, you will need a lot more fabric than for ordinary curtains, so before buying fabric you should determine for sure whether such decor is suitable for your interior or not, do you like curtains with lush festoons?

For curtains

The most important thing in the presentation of French curtains is the beauty and splendor of the folds, and only high-quality fabrics can cope with it and should have such properties: lightness, density, softness and suppleness for draperies. Here is a list of the best fabrics for elegant curtains:

• organza;
• veil;
• chiffon;
• silk;
• muslin.

Organza dense fabric and folds on it are very clear and even, and it also has a brilliant deposition over the entire surface, which will help convey the curtains all their beauty and bring us as close as possible to the era of the reign of King Louis XIV. The veil and chiffon are lighter in structure and the folds on such curtains will be airy. Muslin is a natural material and very thin, so if you want French curtains sewn from it, it should be taken into account that the folds can turn out not as grandiose as organza, but simpler.

French curtains can be either an independent decor on the windows, or combined with dense curtains of a classic cut.

For curtains

French fabric curtains can decorate your window at night. The material for such a decor needs very dense to darken the room well, and soft, forming graceful folds.

It could be:

• velvet;
• atlas;
• cotton or linen;
• wool for curtains.

The velvet French curtain, as in the photo below, is always rich and luxurious, the only minus of such a fabric is the rapid accumulation of dust. The atlas looks solemn because of its overflow in the light, and the soft texture allows you to form folds. Natural fibers of cotton or linen can also be used in French curtains and decorate the interior, especially since they perfectly pass air.

Additional curtains to the dense French women will not be required, as this will overload the window and the whole situation.

Fabric color

Depending on your interior and its color scheme, you can choose French curtains of any tone. Most often, these are monophonic models, since the pattern can simply be lost in numerous folds. To give a solemn atmosphere to the room, snow-white, gold or milky-colored curtains are suitable. Blue and salad shades look more gently and romanticly. For dimming curtains, it is better to choose darker shades: burgundy, blue, brown, red.

Interior Application

Today, to hang aristocratic curtains at home, it is not necessary to decorate the entire room in the style of a royal castle, but still it is worth considering some points to create a harmonious image.

Kitchen

In the kitchen, French curtains are often hung with a short cut, it is very convenient if they are equipped with a lifting cornice. In general, the interior of the kitchen can be in a modern way, then the fabric will be simple: a light transparent veil, plain or with a small pattern. This window decor will be complemented by a contrasting color lambrequin and tassels along the lower edge.

Bedroom

In the spacious bedroom, you can hang long French organza curtains and complement the look with dense classic curtains. If the window is above a bed or sofa, then short French women will be very helpful. As for the flowers, the choice is entirely up to you. Psychologists advise using a minimum of contrasting combinations in the relaxation room and choosing calm colors: beige, sand, muted green or blue.

In the bedroom, lifting curtains are more relevant than ever - the French in this photo fit perfectly into the classic interior

Living room

The living room is the central place in any home; guests are welcome here, family celebrations are held. Therefore, the atmosphere should reign appropriate. Solemn curtains with many pleats will perfectly cope with the function of festive decor and live up to their expectations. If in the living room on one wall there are two or more windows at once, then you can hang one wide curtain the width of the entire wall. And you can decorate each window with separate sets of curtains with additional curtains.

The high cost of curtains and decoration is emphasized by magnificent lambrequins with frills, fringe and tassels.

French curtains are a unique and non-standard way to decorate windows at home. With the right selection for a particular room, you will create an atmosphere of celebration and comfort at home.

French curtains first appeared in the mid-18th century in the living rooms of the European nobility, when the Rococo style prevailed in the interiors and since then have never gone out of style. In the Soviet Union, the majority of the population of which lived in small-sized Khrushchevs, they mainly designed the windows of theaters, restaurants and large state institutions. In modern Russia, spacious apartments and private cottages are no longer a rarity, and French classics are undergoing a rebirth.

What interiors are French curtains suitable for?

In the photo, French curtains combined with curtains in the interior of a classic living room.

Distinctive features of the “Frenchwoman” are fabric with a shiny smooth surface, splendor, a huge number of horizontal folds that cascade along the entire length, many accessories in the form of frills, braid, fringe, ribbons and ruffles. Such pompous curtains look only in spacious rooms, with high ceilings, for which they were once created.

The most suitable for them are refined and romantic interiors filled with household items in the style of the 18th-19th centuries and furnished with elaborate furniture without pronounced straight lines. Such as the:

• Baroque,
• Rococo,
• Classicism,
• Empire,
• Colonial,
• Neoclassic.

Of course, small curtains with romantic, but less elaborate interiors are also made out with French curtains. But in this case, their simplified versions are used, adapted to modern living conditions.

Rococo and Baroque living rooms are classic examples of French curtains.

French curtains in modern living rooms

There are static and lifting. Static curtains hang motionless, completely closing the window and part of the wall under it. They are sewn from translucent fabric and used as curtains - a soft transparent curtain that protects the interior from prying eyes.

Stationary curtains made of translucent fabric, combined with elegant curtains made of golden brocade, look great in the interior with elements of classicism.

The height of the lifting French curtains can be adjusted, making them long (to the floor), medium (to the windowsill) and relatively short (like a lambrequin).
  For their tailoring, you can use fabrics of any density.

In the living room window in the style of Russian salons of the XIX century, French curtains with a lifting mechanism fit perfectly.

In the interiors of modern apartments, French curtains are mainly used as curtains.

Fabric selection

For this type of curtain, fabric with a smooth, shiny or matte surface may be suitable: satin, brocade, chiffon, silk, organza. The main requirement is that she should drape well. Its density depends on the quality in which it is planned to use curtains (curtains or drapes).

Colors can also be any, but preferably monophonic. Fabric with a pattern should be selected with caution. Even the smallest floral print can get lost in numerous folds and spoil the look of an already crowded "highlight" of French curtains.

Long curtains are not suitable for windows above flights of stairs, and short curtains look unpresentable on them. The ideal solution is to hang a short transparent French curtain on such a window.

The bottom of transparent French curtains up to the windowsill can be supplemented with a strip of dense fabric in the color of the upholstery on the furniture. She will give the curtains rigor and make friends with a not too romantic interior.

To visually increase the height of the window opening, make festoons in French curtains as narrow as possible.

Narrow translucent French curtains can be fixed on the shutters of multi-section windows, like blinds.

The higher the curtains are raised, the more folds form on them and the more magnificent they look.

Despite everything inherent in their pomp, sophisticated and sophisticated French curtains can make the atmosphere in the living room cozy and calm. The main thing that you should not forget about when choosing them is that they must correspond to the general concept of the interior.

French curtains appeared during the reign of King Louis XIV, but their popularity has not declined so far. A possible explanation for this is the unique solemnity of curtains, which is so necessary in respectable restaurants, famous theaters, famous concert halls and other institutions. Sometimes they decorate home windows. Sometimes they are called French blinds, as well as "marquise". Consider the history of French curtains and answer the question of how to make a French curtain with your own hands? A step-by-step workshop on sewing the "marquise" will be given below.

Who exactly created such curtains is unknown. But very quickly the curtains became personify wealth and luxury. Their second name - "Marquise" - means the noble title of Europe.

To sew such a curtain, you need to take a fabric cloth, sew a lace on it vertically, insert the cords and make festoons. The design is simple, but the finished work is a real masterpiece. The resulting waves look very luxurious and resemble the decoration of the royal palaces.

Do not confuse French curtains with Austrian. They differ in the number of waves: the French all consist of waves, while in the Austrian waves they frame only the bottom of the canvas.

Varieties

French blinds may vary in length. They are long, short or medium length. Also curtains are divided into:

• stationary;
• lifting.

The stationary closes the window completely and does not rise up. Such products sewn from light materials, they perfectly pass sunlight.

Lifting curtains have a latch that adjusts their length and number of waves. They can be turned into a pelmet.

Any types of French curtains do not move apart in width.

To create beautiful folds, light fabrics are taken that respond well to the creation of draperies. In earlier times, cambric and silk fabrics were used to sew such curtains. Later they began to sew from tulle canvases. Organza is used these days.

Polyester is also used. It contributes to the creation of a beautiful structure, and it’s easy to take care of it. Polyester curtains are hung in public places where they perform not only a decorative function, but also protect against ultraviolet rays.

For interiors in which it is necessary to emphasize respectability, velvet is used. This fabric forms attractive folds and creates the atmosphere of an ancient castle.

In general, elastic fabrics that easily form soft waves are suitable for sewing French blinds. Their main purpose is to form original scallops.

When choosing a fabric for sewing French curtains with your own hands, you should consider:

• soft French curtain fabric forms attractive waves;
• rigid material forms folds;
• transparent fabrics are taken to the kitchen, organza is an ideal option;
• plain fabric looks good, but do not be afraid of a modest floral pattern;
• colored materials will add to the space of romanticism.

Application

French curtains create an atmosphere of celebration and special solemnity. Therefore, most often they are used in living rooms. But curtains can add charm to other rooms in the house, be it a kitchen or a bedroom. The main thing is that this detail is combined with the overall style orientation of the room.

For use in the kitchen, sew curtains made of synthetic fabrics with a pattern, it can be small or large flowers. As a material for curtains on the curtain, with your own hands you can also take cotton, linen, cambric.

If the canvases are complemented with ruffles and frills, they fit perfectly into country style. Curtains can be decorated with fringe, tassels, shiny threads.

Picking up material  for curtains, one should proceed from the style of the room. In any case, French blinds will be able to give luxury to any room. They are hung in rooms decorated in the styles of Baroque, Empire, classic.

Self tailoring

You do not have to buy French curtains at the store. You can sew them yourself with your own hands. Tailoring the Marquise will take only a few hours.

How to sew French curtains with your own hands? We offer a phased workshop on sewing French curtains:

• measure the window dimensions;
• multiply the resulting width by one and a half, and the digit denoting the length must be multiplied by two. The result will mean how much tissue we need. Do not forget to make allowances for the seams;
• we carry out decanting, for this we expose the fabric to wet-thermal effects. A similar procedure is required to prevent shrinkage of the tissue in the future. To do this, the fabric is soaked in warm water, squeezed, allowed to dry and iron;
• hem the edges of the product;
• we draw the drawstring at regular intervals and on the back we sew the braid for French curtains 3 cm wide. It can also be strips of fabric;
• we put cords into the side seams and strips of braid. We form the wings. We fix the cords on top. Leave the lower ends free. The height of the curtain is adjusted using a cord put into the drawstring;
• weights are hung on the lower edge of the product so that the curtain adheres to strict verticality.

So, the curtain "marquise" with your own hands is ready!

We examined how to sew a French curtain with your own hands, step-by-step instructions are given above.

How to care for the curtains?

The main disadvantage  French curtains are dust accumulation in their folds. A vacuum cleaner will help to fight it. Appeared stains are removed with a damp cloth.

Curtains sewn from organza or tulle are machine washed in delicate mode. Velvet products are given for dry cleaning.