These day’s, the basic contemporary kitchen can look dated if it has been fitted with a plain looking roller blind or cheap pull curtains. To freshen up the look of a tired kitchen, it can be a good option to fit a classy looking kitchen valance. This style of window dressing is designed to hang across the top third of the kitchen window and is a popular choice for many homeowners because they require little fabric to make, which can be a very cost effective window dressing for people on a tight budget.

Choosing the Right Fabric

Homeowners can now choose to have their kitchen valances custom made from a wide assortment of trendy colors and classy fabrics to match their existing kitchen décor. For example, most of the specialty curtain suppliers can provide consumers with a selection of elegant fabrics made from expensive silk, classy satin and laces. Nowadays, there are also some very fashionable materials available in stunning rich colors to suit all tastes. A good tip to remember when buying fabric for kitchen valances is to choose the most appropriate color so it blends in with the existing kitchen theme and decor.

Privacy Option

Living in close proximity to other homes can compromise the privacy of many people who feel uncomfortable if they think a neighbor is looking in at them while they are busy working in the kitchen area. Having the sun shining into your kitchen provides a warm and inviting atmosphere to the room, so it would be impracticable in many instances to have blinds rolled down or curtains pulled across the window during daylight hours.

A good option is to hang white net curtains that will allow filtered light to enter the room. Alternatively, a smart colorful kitchen valance can be fitted to the top part of your window while the same material can be used to make a matching café style curtain to hang on the bottom half of your kitchen window.

The modern kitchen today is a room in the home that is often designed to express the individual taste of a homeowner. Decorating a kitchen can be the ideal time for a homeowner to be innovative, because it gives him or her, an opportunity to introduce and use contrasting colors, fabrics and features to brighten the make-over of a kitchen area so it radiates warmth and ambiance. For example, if the kitchen requires a new window dressing or the existing kitchen curtains are tired looking and need to be replaced, then it can be a good idea to introduce a new look with a colorful kitchen valance made of stylish gingham fabric.

Gingham is a fabric that is woven from cotton and has a fine thread texture which is customarily manufactured into popular tartan or check style designs. Although gingham fabric was widely used during the 1940’s and 50’s, it still appeals to many homeowners who find having colourful kitchen curtains or kitchen valances made of a good quality gingham fabric very attractive.

Nowadays, with the vast selection of modern exotic and classy fabrics available for consumers to choose from, homeowners can have kitchen valances made in virtually any color or style fabric to blend in with a kitchens overall theme. For example, choosing to have a fashionable kitchen valance made from gingham fabric in a trendy color, can transform the overall look of an uninteresting kitchen so that it projects a certain charm and elegance.
With the introduction of cheap fabrics onto the market made of different synthetic fibers, consumers looking for a bargain can be easily persuaded by the low price offered and many will therefore avoid the more expensive options. However, artificial gingham material may be less expensive and look the same as the authentic product, but the attraction of having a fabric with finely woven texture will be gone.

Many homeowners have found that widows dressed with kitchen valances made from a quality gingham fabric can provide an attractive dazzling look through their finely woven threads that are distinctive to the pattern and style of gingham.

For many homeowners, replacing old fashioned pull down blinds or unsightly kitchen curtains with a trendy kitchen valance can be a good option in a tired looking kitchen.
If you are handy with a screw-driver and are keen to fit a newly acquired kitchen valance yourself, then the first step is to remove any existing dressings from your kitchen window. Before undertaking this type of work it can be a good idea to ensure you have access to a sturdy step-ladder as this will avoid you having to balance precariously on a bar stool or climb up onto an expensive bench top that may be susceptible to weight.
Another reason why kitchen valances are popular with many homeowners is because it is designed to only cover the top part of the window which means very little fabric is required. It can therefore be a very cost effective kitchen window dressing that can be easily hung by a homeowner. For example, in most instances kitchen valances are hung from either a fitted curtain rod or a curtain wire strung between two hooks.

The materials required to hang a kitchen valance as described can generally be obtained from most curtain suppliers. all you will require to do is measure the length of the window (across) which will give you the size of curtain rod you will need. Depending on the overall theme of your kitchen you may want to consider acquiring a stainless steel rod, particular if your kitchen is fitted with stainless steel appliances. Alternatively, a white plastic rod may blend in perfectly with a kitchen that has white colored cabinetry, walls and tiling.

If your window frame is made of wood it will be a then be a simple matter of screwing the rod ends into each side of the frame (about a third) from the top of the window and then positioning the rod inside each of the rod ends. However, having window frames made from aluminium can be more of a challenge and may require the use of different tools to effectively carry out the drilling work.

Although there is no doubt that choosing the right color and fabric for your kitchen curtains is important, finding the right pattern design for your new curtains or kitchen valance should be equally important. For example, selecting an over-bearing, loud colorful pattern for a window dressing that does not blend in with the theme of a kitchen can ruin the overall ambiance of the room. By contrast, ensuring you have a stylish attractive pattern imprinted on an elegant fabric will certainly help to lift the look of your kitchen when hung as a window dressing.

By making your kitchen look fresh and pleasant when fitted with kitchen curtains that have a stylish colorful pattern it will become a place where you will enjoy cooking a meal for family and friends at any time of the day or night.

In the traditional kitchen, some homeowners prefer embroidered curtains that can be machine stitched on rigid fabric in all sorts of different colorful designs. Floral brocade patterns are also popular and stand out because of their eye-catching elevated design that can look stunning on most types of curtain fabrics. Calico is another popular pattern when it features on cotton fabric and exudes a graceful look when a colorful design is replicated on it.

Another popular curtain design for a country theme kitchen is gingham patterned curtains printed in checks. There are also many other patterns available to suit all tastes and themes. For example, fruit or vegetable patterns may be ideal for a country style kitchen while beach theme patterns depicting colorful fish and other nautical scenes printed on kitchen curtains would look perfect in a home near the beach.

By being innovative and using your imagination the mood of a kitchen can be enhanced by hanging kitchen curtains with trendy colors in lattice or web-like patterns. Also, patterns showcased by flower designs or multicolored patterns printed on thin cotton fabric that match the wall and cabinet colors can provide an eye-catching decorative feature as a window dressing in the kitchen.

Before choosing the most desirable fabric for your new kitchen curtains will require you to think about a number of different factors. For example, a lot will depend on the existing or proposed décor and color of your kitchen and whether you want to have a lightweight fabric that will provide privacy or a heavier fabric to stop the harsh rays of the sun from entering the kitchen area.

Nowadays, consumers are able to have their kitchen curtains custom made in trendy colors and designs from a wide range of different fabrics that are manufactured from natural fibers and synthetic blends.

The following guide may assist you in choosing the most suitable fabric to make your kitchen curtains –

Cotton Curtains

This popular fabric made from cotton fiber is spun into yarn or thread to make natural fiber cloth and material in various thicknesses. Because of its versatile properties, cotton is ideal when used to make lightweight kitchen curtains and when blended with other synthetic fabrics it can be made into a wide assortment of trendy curtain products.

Linen Curtains

Linen is a lightweight textile made from flax plant fibers and is renowned for its robust durable type properties. Linen can be a popular option to have as a window treatment in the kitchen although it is generally more expensive than other fabrics.

Silk Curtains

Silk is a smooth natural textile woven from silkworm larvae. This elegant soft natural fabric drapes well and provides a touch of luxury when made into silk curtains. By blending silk fiber with other fibers, curtain manufacturers can make colourful attractive window dressings.

Satin Curtains

Satin is a weave that has a glossy surface and dull back which is widely used by manufacturers to make classy sheets, upholstery products and other commercial fabrics. When used as a window dressing satin provides a graceful look to the kitchen.

Rayon Curtains

This product was developed basically as an alternative to silk. Rayon is an easy to dye fabric that consumers find is cheaper and more versatile than many other more expensive fabrics on the market.

Other Curtain Fabrics

There are many other kitchen curtain fabrics that consumers can also choose such as very fine gossamer, stylish chintz, country style denim and synthetic jacquard polyester materials to name a few.

There is no doubt that a well decorated kitchen fitted out with the latest modern appliances, granite bench tops and classy kitchen cabinetry can be a pleasant inviting environment where meals are prepared and cooked for family and friends. However, by using some imagination and creative flair the overall look of a kitchen can be lifted even further by fitting stylish colorful kitchen curtains as a window treatment.

By using your artistic panache, kitchen curtains can be used both as a decorative and functional feature in the kitchen. For practical purposes, curtains can effectively protect foodstuffs like fruit and dry goods left on kitchen bench tops from being spoiled by the sun’s heat. When closed curtains also provide an element of privacy and can protect expensive furnishings and expensive kitchen appliances from damaging UV rays.

Other important considerations are –

Theme
Try to match your floor tiles, painted walls, bench and cabinet colors with the curtain fabric color of your choice. Try to use solid colored fabrics with colourful patterned kitchen walls and patterned curtain fabrics with plain colored walls. Theme kitchen curtains printed with colourful fruits, vegetables, beach scenes, flowers and farm animals can create an interesting colourful backdrop, especially to a country style themed kitchen. However, when settling on a theme it is important to ensure the prints are not too loud which might ruin the overall feel and ambience of a room.

External Light
Be careful when having kitchen curtains installed to ensure they do not cover too much of the window when left open. During the winter months when daylight and sunlight is a valuable commodity it can be a good idea to fit the curtain rail so that it hangs past the windows edge so extra light can enter the kitchen when the curtains are left open. Also research whether the fabric is not prone to fading when exposed to the sun’s rays. Also by having dark heavy curtains as a window treatment to block the sun can be effective but the downside is they can make the kitchen look small. Alternatively, washable lightweight cotton fabrics and weaves can be more functional by allowing light to enter without the glare.

If you have recently given your kitchen a makeover by repainting the walls, replacing kitchen cabinetry and fitting fashionable tiles, then it may be an ideal time to also replace your existing tired window dressings with stylish colorful kitchen curtains.

Before deciding on a color for your curtains it is important to firstly look at the existing colors of the paintwork, cabinets, floor and appliances in the kitchen. This is important because choosing a color that might clash with other colors can ruin the overall ambience of the room. By selecting a color that will blend in seamlessly with the existing color scheme will also help to add a sense of style and décor to the room.

Nowadays, many kitchen curtain suppliers provide their customers with large volumes containing sample materials in a multitude of different colors, fabrics and designs. Many also hang strips of fabric for customers to view that are color code for easy reference purposes. When visiting one of these curtain showrooms it can be a good idea to take with you a sample of your kitchens paintwork or cabinet color to help you while looking through the fabrics on display. The sales staff at some of these specialty curtain stores can also assist you to match colors and give advice on other matters such as price and availability of fabrics if required.

Choosing the most appropriate color can sometimes be difficult for some people because of a whole raft of reasons. For example, some colors may remind them of an unpleasant circumstance that happened in the past or they may simply dislike red for example which removes that color entirely from the selection process. Then again, others may like nothing else but bright and breezy yellows, rich greens and hot pink colors.
In simple terms, choosing the best color for kitchen curtains, kitchen valances or kitchen blinds can in many cases come down to a homeowners personal taste. In some instances that can be a good thing, especially if it has the effect of changing the look of a plain dull kitchen into a vibrant, warm and inviting place in the home by simply hanging colorful kitchen curtains as a window dressing.

For more ideas on what options are available in can be interesting to have a look if possible at what is being offered at local flea markets and budget stores.
The following are some options that need to be considered when looking for stylish kitchen curtains-

Style
Personal taste will generally dictate whether you want your curtains to be a decorative feature in the kitchen by framing the window. For example, having full length hanging style curtains will require more material than a café type or kitchen valance style widow dressing.

Pattern
This will depend a great deal on how you want your kitchen curtains to fit into the general theme of your kitchen. If the kitchen is ultra modern then the pattern and design of the fabric will be a lot different than what it would look in for example a retro or country kitchen. These days’ consumers are spoilt for choice with a wide range of modern patterns available in stripes, florals, novelty, themed and abstract prints to name just a few.

Material
There are many different classy fabrics available nowadays that are made in different materials such as cotton, antique linen, lace, jacquard polyesters, denim, muslin and calico to name a few. When selecting curtains the texture of the fabric is important especially if you want a fabric that is made in solid colors.

Cleaning
Cooking, baking and frying food in the kitchen can generate steam, smoke and contaminants that will over time find its way onto kitchen curtains leaving them grimy and smelly. There is also the chance cooking oil and splashes from vegetable and fruit juice can end up on the material requiring them to be cleaned. It is important to establish whether the fabric can be machine washable or needs to be hand washed. Some fabrics may not have been pre-shrunk so this feature may also need to be clarified prior to purchase.

On a daily basis the kitchen can therefore be considered an integral part of the home and a hive of activity in many households. Today, many modern kitchens now have a range of stylish appliances installed such as stainless steel built in ovens, dishwashers, refrigerators, and cooker hoods that are all designed for decorative purposes, convenience and ease of use by homeowners.

Although kitchens in many contemporary homes can look stunning with color co-ordinated paintwork, tiling and bench tops, the overall look of a kitchen can be further boosted to create a fresh and inviting environment by using features such as stylish kitchen valances and other eye-catching accessories. For example, a rich deep green kitchen valance might blend in with an earthy sand colored kitchen or a trendy speckled grey, black and red speckled colored kitchen valance might contrast well with a kitchen installed with black glossy cabinetry and a red retro colored built in oven door.

However, introducing into the kitchen contrasting colors of other accessories can be a fun way to use your imagination and personal taste. For example, using cost effective colorful coasters, coffee mugs, place mats, oven gloves and kitchen utensils to name a few could be used to liven and brighten up a kitchen environment.

Another accessory that can look stunning in any kitchen is a classy canister set that can be acquired from specialty stores made in glass, stainless steel, porcelain, stoneware or ceramic materials. Canister sets made in colorful themes depicting farm animals, beach scenes, fruits, vegetables and other features can also help to lift the overall look of a kitchen when they are positioned on a counter-top or bench.

Because kitchen valances are basically only a strip of fabric that covers the top part of a kitchen window, they can be used to effect by complementing a kitchens theme without being too over-powering, particularly if the material has matching color accents or prints depicting your favorite theme, fruit, vegetable or animal.

The kitchen has always traditionally been a very busy area in any home because of the necessity to prepare food and cook meals. Although modern fan systems help to remove the effect of steam and odors from baking and frying food in the kitchen, they don’t completely rid the atmosphere of for example, hot steam and splashing oil from boiling pots and fry pans, burnt toast smoke and hot steam from other appliances such as steaming percolated coffee.

For this reason, it is important to understand that fitting kitchen valances requires a lot of thought because over time they will be subject to not only wear and tear but also stains and blemishes from accidental splatter from hot drinks and food being mixed either by hand or electric processor in the kitchen.

Expensive delicate fabrics such as velvet, silks and cotton may therefore not be the best option in some kitchens where there is a high chance they could quickly stain and discolor from steam and humidity.

Choosing a cheaper type fabric such as a cotton and polyester blend that can be easily washed without too much trouble when required might be a good option, particularly if you can find a color and style that suits your kitchen decor. Overall kitchen valances that are made from synthetic materials do not look as classy as those that are made from the more expensive fabrics, but they are certainly very cost effective and much easier to keep clean and therefore fresh looking.

Because kitchen valances are generally hung from mainly the top and sides of windows they allow natural light to enter unhindered making the kitchen look bright, warm and inviting. However, although they are a popular addition in the kitchen for homeowners, choosing one that is stylish is not that simple.

A practical solution is to choose a floral valance or a patterned material with warm colorful prints that blend in with the existing color scheme in the kitchen. This style would help brighten a dull looking kitchen while helping to conceal little food stains that may have annoyingly found their way onto your clean kitchen valance.