Choosing curtains and blinds is the fun part of decorating. Here's our guide to picking the best styles and types to suit your own home.

Really beautiful windows are comparatively rare. If you do have them, paradoxically they are quite difficult to dress without detracting from their charms. The great advantage of the ordinary windows that most of us possess is that they can be disguised, enhanced and given an extra dimension of interest. In general, the first choice is between curtains or blinds or a combination of both. Increasingly shutters, such as the popular American-style louvre styles, are another excellent option.

You will need to decide whether to get custom-made blinds or curtains, or whether to shop buy. You might also make your own. As well as investigating fabric options, and colours, it's vital to research a style of window treatment that suits the room, and your scheme. Set yourself a budget. Buying curtains or blinds can be an expensive process, so know your limits.

CURTAINS

If you decide on curtains, be clear on style. Unless you have a large room, with very high ceilings, I would advise against elaborate treatments. Suitability is everything in decoration and grand curtains in a modest room are apt to look absurd. The prevailing decorative mood is towards a discerning simplicity, rather than elaboration.

Yet curtains can still be used to add a style statement. Also take into account the proportions and purpose of the room, its geographical location and the style of furniture and decoration you already have, or plan to add. Don't ever skimp on the quality, or quantity of fabric, in curtains. If you are going to curtain, curtain well.

Pelmet Options

Unless you are intending to use a plain rod or pole for your curtains, you will need an attractive cover-up to disguise unsightly tracks or fittings. Here are some of the best:

Swags and Tails. Grand and formal, swags and tails appear to drape elegantly above the curtain drop. They may look like one piece of elegantly draped fabric, but more usually consist of several pieces of fabric, skilfully joined together. Get the proportions right: at the deepest part, the swag needs to be one sixth of the overall height of the window, whilst the tails fall at least half way down the window frame.

Pelmets. These are usually made from plain wood, painted or covered in a fabric. They may also be made from buckram, covered with fabric, and can either run straight across the top of the window or be cut into different shapes, such as Gothic points. Shaped pelmets are effective at disguising poor window proportions. Look out for fine gilded or painted antique versions, in antique shops, which may be made to fit your window.

Valances. A fabric valance is either gathered or pleated by hand, and is a soft version of a pelmet. It may either be hung from a special valance track aligned to the main curtain track, or attached to a fixed board above the curtain track. The board should extend at least 5cm either side of the track.

CURTAIN KNOW-HOW

In a deeply recessed window, hang curtains outside the recess to let in the maximum amount of day-light If windows have radiators below them, and you want curtains but no heat loss, tie them back permanently at either side of the window and use a blind at night Only use short curtains for small cottage windows or perhaps a recessed small kitchen window Too-short long curtains are as bad as too-short trousers. They should generously graze the floor Always allow the most generous hem possible to withstand shrinkage when cleaned All curtains hang better if they are lined and interlined, unless they are meant to seem light and breezy. To make curtains look really professional, pad each leading edge with an extra strip of interlining rolled length wise and invisibly hand-stitched inside the curtain lining In north- or east-facing dark rooms, ensure that your chosen style will obscure as little day-light during the day as possible. Avoid curtains that meet in the middle, deep pelmets and elaborately draped styles. If windows face south or west, and there's lots of sun, avoid using fabrics that will fade or rot easily like silks and very bright colours. Filter sunlight with translucent blinds or sheer curtains

Heading Options

The type of heading you choose will affect the final curtain style, as well as the way the curtains hang. Many curtain styles are meant to be used with simple or decorative poles or rods, rather than being hidden behind pelmets, valance or swags. For contemporary curtains, the simpler the heading, the better. In a period property, go for a classic heading. Here are some of the most popular:

Fixed Headings

A fixed heading means that curtains are left permanently drawn at the top, with the sides drawn back by tiebacks. The curtains are simply released when they need to be closed. Fixed heading include box pleats, cased and tab headings. They are best used for curtains in very light rooms or rooms used mostly at night.

Pencil Pleats

These are the most common, functional and the least decorative of headings so are best hidden beneath a pelmet or valance. They are formed with the help of a pencil pleat tape, stitched to the reverse of the curtain top, with three rows of pockets for positioning hooks. The tapes are sold in different weights and depths to accommodate various types of fabrics.

French Pleats

These allow curtains to fall into gentle, precise folds and are also known as Triple or Pinch Pleats. They look best if hand-sewn. A single tuck is made at regular intervals along the top of the curtain, then the tuck is divided into triple pleats. This heading should be fixed to a track or curtain pole by pin hooks placed at the back of each pleat.

Gathered Heading

An easy to make heading, best for lightweight fabrics and sheers. It is created using a narrow tape sewn about 5cm from the top of the reverse of the curtain. When the integral drawstring is pulled, it forms a casual frill of fabric above the tape and soft gathers below.

Goblet Pleats

A handsome heading formed in a similar way to a French pleat heading. Instead of triple pleats, each fold is secured at the base and the 'goblets' shaped, usually stuffed with tissue paper or interlining to keep their shape. Appropriate heading tapes are available but they are always best hand-sewn.

Box Pleats

These look nicely crisp and tailored. They are quite easily formed by sewing on a box pleat heading tape to the top of the curtain. The box pleats are created by pulling the drawstrings, once the heading is stitched on.

Cased/Tab Headings

These are casual headings, often found on ready-made curtains. A pole or rod of an appropriate size is simply pushed through a casing sewn at the top of the curtain, so that the pole is completely covered except at the ends. Tab headings are similar, but take the form of a series of tabs sewn to the top of curtains, through which the pole is pushed. Leather or canvas contrast loops look good.

Scalloped Headings

This is also a simple heading. Excellent for lightweight curtains, they may be hung from a pole using sew-in or clip-on rings. The spaces between the adjacent rings automatically take on a prettily scalloped shape.

Eyelet Headings

Brilliant for modern curtains, this simply involves inserting jumbo eyelets along the top edge of a curtain. The curtain is then folded concertina-fashion and a pole is slotted through the eyelets. This works well for stiff fabrics, such as denim, cotton or even faux suede. (569)

Custom-made versus Ready-made

You can't beat beautiful interlined curtains, hand-made by professional curtain makers, as they will hang so much better than the off-the-peg variety. However, made-to-order curtains are expensive, and are not worth the expense and effort if you don't plan to stay long-term in your home. If you need to save money, it's better to economise on fabric quality, rather than the making-up. For an effective compromise, choose inexpensive heavy neutral Indian cotton and line it with a decorative patterned lining.

Ready-made curtains come in an increasingly imaginative selection of headings, so can be a viable alternative. It is important to measure your own windows carefully and know which type of curtain will best suit your room. Many ready-made curtains are unlined, so may need to be teamed with a roller blind for extra privacy. Don't forget that you can customize budget curtains by adding your own touches. Any plain curtain will look good with a contrasting binding, ribbon or grosgrain or add a trim of tiny glass beads. Different poles and tie-backs will add an individual finish.

Choosing Poles and Tracks

All curtains have to be suspended from poles (using rings or clips), rods (with or without rings), or tracks of one kind or another. Poles may come in wood, polished or painted, or metal, such as brass, steel or wrought iron. They are decorative in their own right and often come with attractive finials, anything from plain knobs to arrowheads.

Slimmer poles or rods may be used without rings or clips for tab- or tie-top curtains, or eyelet headings. Specialist options include arched tracks, which are really useful for not hiding beautiful arched windows.

Tie-backs and Hold-backs

If you don't want curtains to hang straight, tie-backs or hold-backs are needed to loop them back. The average height for positioning hooks for tie-backs is two thirds of the way down the window, but experiment with what looks best. If you have used a contrast lining, aim for the most dramatic swoop of curtain possible.

The most common shapes for tie-backs is a long, narrow oblong stiffened with buckram or interfacing. A crescent shape is an alternative. Both types should have rings stitched to either end in order to loop them over the hooks. For a softer style, consider using thick cords with tassels, plain rope or soft fabric tubes. Hold-backs are usually made from metal or wood, behind which you can tuck the curtains.

To test how much light you might lose with a new window treatment, pin up a couple of sheets to get an approximate idea.

BLINDS

These days, many more of us are choosing blinds, not just for bathrooms or kitchens, but in bedrooms and living rooms. Thankfully, there is now almost as much a choice for blind styles, as there is for curtain types. The advantage of a blind over curtains is that they are often less expensive, because a smaller amount of fabric is required. As for looks, blinds give a crisper finish than curtains, go well in a modern room, can be fixed within the reveal of a window, and – even better – team well with curtains too. For the best selection, source a specialist blind company. The high street also has some good ready-made versions, which come in standard window sizes.

Look out for the following types:

Fabric blinds come in the form of roller, Roman, pull-up or festoon blinds. The advantage is that they can be custom-made in a fabric to match the rest of your scheme. An unlined blind, in linen or a sheer, looks very pretty with light filtering through. Venetian blinds come in wood, plastic or metal forms, in a wide variety of colours, and a choice of slat widths. They are excellent for providing privacy, without reducing light flow. Natural blinds are good for conservatories, kitchens and bathrooms, and materials include traditional pinoleum, bamboo and rattan blinds. They can be relatively inexpensive. Specialist blinds options include sheers, bottom-up, mesh and black-out versions.