If you look after your curtains, their lifespan might surprise you! High-quality curtains are an investment that should stand the test of time with the right care and maintenance. Nevertheless, nothing lasts forever. Although you may do all you can to keep your curtains in great condition, they will need to be replaced at some point. Knowing when it’s time to replace your curtains can help to keep your windows looking stylish and well-insulated, which are two of the main benefits of great curtains. Here are some of the most common signs to look out for:
Sometimes, you don’t need a reason to replace your new curtains! Maybe you’ve grown tired of the curtains you currently have or you’ve just bought a new sofa that clashes with them - either way, simply wanting new curtains is a perfectly valid excuse to find replacements. There are lots of beautiful designs and styles available, so it’s not surprising that your tastes may change over time.
One of the great things about buying new curtains is that you can swap them whenever you want! For example, you may want to swap your curtains for a thicker style halfway through the year to provide better insulation during the winter months. Or, maybe you have two sets of curtains that look great in your living room and you like to alternate between the two. After all, replacing your curtains doesn’t necessarily mean getting rid of your old set.
If you’re renovating your home, your interior design may change dramatically. In this case, it’s likely that you’ll want new curtains to match! Whether you’re painting the walls a new shade or you’re replacing your floorboards with a colourful carpet, finding replacement curtains is a great way to tie your design changes together and make sure everything looks brilliant.
Curtains play a much bigger role in the interior design of your home than you might initially realise. You’ll soon realise this if you hang drapes that clash with your decor and furnishings! On the other hand, matching curtains can transform a living area - something you’ll want to consider if you’re renovating your home.
Your curtains are damaged and threadbare
Spotted signs of damage? It’s time to replace your curtains. You curtains are a practical furnishing as much as a component of your interior design, so you need to make sure they’re in good condition if they’re going to provide the benefits you’re looking for. For example, your curtains should help to insulate your property. If holes and tears are forming as a result of old age or rough handling, warm air will pass through much quicker and more easily.
It’s not just about the efficiency of your curtains, however. It feels great to live in a home you’re proud of - and beautiful curtains are part of this! A gorgeous interior can make you feel happier and more comfortable at home every day and the real magic is in the details. Fraying, faded curtains won’t bring your interior together like a gorgeous pair of luxury drapes, so consider replacing them if they’ve become damaged and threadbare.
Unfortunately, curtains and drapes can fade over the years as a result of direct sunlight. This is something that impacts all soft furnishings (if you have brightly coloured furniture or a bold carpet, sun fading is something you may already be aware of) but particularly curtains. After all, there’s very little to separate your curtains from the sun’s rays and therefore very few ways to prevent sun fading.
If you’re furnishing windows that get lots of sunlight throughout the day, you may be advised to shop for paler colours and simpler designs. Although the colours will still fade, it will be less noticeable if they were paler to begin with.
Your curtains retain too much moisture
It’s often recommended that you choose blinds over curtains if you’re furnishing a room where high moisture content is to be expected, such as a bathroom. This is because plastic and metal blinds can be wiped down and dried quickly and easily if they get wet. Fabric, on the other hand, retains moisture and is much more difficult to dry without lots of ventilation.
Over time, this can cause myriad problems - including the development of mould and mildew. If you’ve decorated a bathroom or kitchen with curtains (or even fabric blinds, such as Roman blinds), then these issues may pose a problem in the future. Consider this and decide if it’s time to replace them altogether.
Your curtains don’t provide the insulation you need
There’s more to choosing curtains than looking for styles with visual appeal - they should also insulate your home by providing a protective barrier against your property’s windows. However, they may stop working as effectively over the years, especially if they have become a little threadbare or if there are holes in the fabric. If your curtains no longer provide the insulation you need, then it’s time to replace them.
One option, as we’ve mentioned, is to use two different curtain styles throughout the year. During the summer, light fabrics in pale colours can help to prevent your home from becoming too hot. In winter, however, you’ll want heavier drapes to stop heat from escaping and keep your living areas a comfortable temperature.
As your curtains are tucked neatly out of the way, the risk of staining them is much smaller than the risk of staining your carpet or sofa. However, it can and does happen! Like many of the most common stains, such as coffee, red wine and blood, it can also be difficult to remove stains from curtains. Putting your curtains in the washing machine typically isn’t recommended, so you’ll need to use a gentle detergent and warm water to lift the stain from the fabric.
If you don’t have any luck, it’s a good idea to simply replace the curtains for a new set. This is especially true if the stain is obvious as you’ll notice it every time you close the curtains.
You’d prefer to fit blinds instead
As your tastes change, so might your preferred style of window furnishings. While curtains are a popular choice for many great reasons, blinds also have lots of benefits that make them an attractive fit. One great example of this is that they allow lots of flexibility when it comes to light control. As the position of the sun changes, you can adjust your blinds to avoid glare or give yourself more privacy.
There are lots of beautiful blinds to choose from, but our personal favourites are Roman blinds. Fitting Roman blinds allows you to make use of some of the gorgeous fabrics typically used for curtains and to take advantage of the myriad colours and patterns available. They also look more elegant than many other types of blinds, making them a very popular choice.
You want to replace them with better quality curtains
Unfortunately, not every curtain supplier offers the best quality curtains possible. Although we at The Curtain Agency pride ourselves on crafting and supplying beautiful curtains to meet our customers’ needs exactly, we understand that not every supplier does this. If you have poor quality curtains hanging up, it may be time to replace them with a set that is not only visually appealing but also durable enough to stand the test of time.
If you’re looking for curtains or Roman blinds that you can rely on to stay in great condition over the years, then we at The Curtain Agency are here to find the right set for you. We know exactly what it takes to impress our customers throughout Scotland with our stunning array of curtains and chandeliers for sale.
The Curtain Agency: Bespoke curtains and Roman blinds for sale throughout Scotland
If the time has come to replace your curtains, we have the solution for you. With a showroom full of second-hand curtains, tall ready-made styles, made-to-measure fabrics and much more, we pride ourselves on being a one-stop-shop for all your soft furnishing needs. No matter your design preferences, sizing requirements or budget, we have a set of replacement curtains with your name on them!
To browse our full range of fabrics and styles or to discuss our services in more detail, please don’t hesitate to contact us today. We look forward to working with you.
The Curtain Agency
Breastmill House Steadings, Kirkliston, Edinburgh, EH29 9EA
0131 333 3606 | curtainagents@aol.com