Choosing Valances and Swags to Enhance Curtains and Draperies in Your Tampa Home

The most common window treatments used in Tampa homes may be curtains and draperies but for better interior design, curtains and draperies are also often enhanced with valances and swags. Let us, therefore, take a closer look at the various choices available in valances and swags in Tampa.

Valances are like very short versions of curtains or draperies, approximately one foot in length. They can be used alone but are more often layered over the top of the main curtains or draperies in Tampa windows. There are curtain rods that already have built in valance rods.

Austrian valances have rows of vertical shirring with horizontal gathers and soft scallops at the bottom edge. Soft and sheer unlined fabrics are used to achieve a beautiful drape. Fringe may be added as trim. The effect is very elegant.

Balloon valances are called so because they are designed with pleats that are made to puff outwards in order to add style to plain curtain rods.

Cloud valances are shirred at the top but end in soft poufs or scallops at the bottom. They can be mounted on flat curtain rods, continental curtain rods or even with the use of curtain hooks.

Pouf valances are like balloon and cloud valances but with additional curtain rods at the bottom. The fabric is shirred on both rods. For double pouf valances used on taller windows, three curtain rods are used.

Tapered valances are shorter in the middle of the window and longer at both sides. If the fabric used is not pretty on the wrong side it will have to be lined since the cascades will show both sides of the material. An alternative to lining would be the addition of ruffles to hide the wrong side of the fabric.

Festoons are made from folded fabric hung gracefully over the window.

Swags are always lined and are hung above curtains and draperies or are layered over them, with soft folds draping downwards to form a half circle. They can be hung on a mounting board or pulled through decorative sconces. Throw swags are draped over decorative poles. A single swag or a series of swags may be used on windows.

Jabots are pleated and tapered cascades at both sides of a window, framing a single swag or multiple swags. Because of the cascade, jabots are always lined either with the same fabric or contrasting fabric. They may be of the same length as the window frame, or may just reach up to a third or two thirds of the window.

Flags are like jabots but are used between multiple swags. Flags are shorter than jabots, often merely five to seven inches longer than swags.

You can easily change the look of valances and swags depending on the fabric and colors you use. Sometimes, total coordination is achieved with monochromatic colors. Others prefer total contrast. Coordination or contrast may also be achieved through fabric texture and weight.

Aside from enhancing curtains and draperies with valances and swags, bedding is also often coordinated with them by interior designers in Tampa. Once again, you may choose between matching colors or contrasting colors. This completes the elegance of the look in bedrooms.

You may also choose to use other types of window treatment such as shades, blinds or shutters.  In fact, shades and blinds are sometimes combined with curtain and drapes.

You may want to look into solar protection in your window treatment, too. There are solar shades, for example, from Hunter Douglas in Tampa. Whatever your choice, make sure your windows are protected and enhanced at the same time.