Drapes vs Curtains - 4 Reasons You Should Never Skimp on Drapery

Drapes Make a Significant Impact on Every Room

When you are redecorating, renovating, or building a new home, by the time the project nears completion, you may have little energy to think about window treatments.

What a shame!

Letting drapery be an afterthought is a disservice to the space you are creating. Drapery is the perfect finishing touch that takes a room from nice to wow.

Let’s unpackage just a few of the reasons drapery is worth your time and attention. Find out why we might suggest drapes vs curtains.

photo Lisa Gilmore Design

1. Drapery adds visual height to any room.

Hanging drapery close to the ceiling makes a room’s walls look taller and the space feel larger.

For example, look at the drapery in this office. Because the drapes are hung above the window, your eyes are drawn up to the ceiling that was created by a multidisciplinary artisan who specializes in mineral plasters and bespoke finishes. 

The drapery that Lisa custom designed and had made locally pops against the dramatic, orange dome chair. And don’t miss the Jonathan Adler “Boss Lady” pillow for a fun twist!

photo Lisa Gilmore Design

2. Drapery visually softens a space.

Drapery is one way to make a space feel less cold and more welcoming. 

Look at how the blush window treatments in this primary bedroom soften the black walls and add a cozy feel to the room. Coziness is especially important in spaces that you want to relax in, such as bedrooms or living rooms.

photo Lisa Gilmore Design

3. Draperies help reduce noise.

Have you noticed how sound echoes off the walls in an empty room? Draperies, rugs, throws, and pillows all help dampen noise.

This is important to keep in mind when creating a home office space. Draperies absorb noise so your audio on conference calls sounds clear and crisp.

photo Lisa Gilmore Design

4. Draperies are a form of art.

If you are trying to create a space that is eye-catching and colorful, selecting solid white or beige drapery probably isn’t the best choice.

Drapery is an opportunity to inject interest and creativity into a room. The patterns and colors are endless, and the trimming options can take your space to the next level.

photo Lisa Gilmore Design

This bright, floral print Scalamandre drapery the Lisa Gilmore Design team chose for this Snell Isle vacation condo was the extra pop of color this guest room needed. It perfectly complemented the royal blue bed from Bernhardt.

There are many other reasons drapery is important for a room, including making a space more energy efficient, creating a better environment for sleep (in bedrooms with blackout drapery), controlling the amount of light in a room, and adding privacy.

photo Lisa Gilmore Design 

FAQs

1. Drapes vs Curtains, what is the difference?

The words curtains and draperies are often used interchangeably, but they are actually quite different. Curtains typically come in pairs and are sold in a variety of colors, fabrics, lengths, and types by many retailers. Draperies, on the other hand, are often custom-made and more intricate than curtains. They are also usually floor-length or longer and made of heavier fabric.

photo Lisa Gilmore Design

2. What curtains will be trendy in 2024?

In 2024, we predict that detailed valances like the green ones in this photo will be popular. The use of trim seems to be becoming more trendy as well, though we have always been a fan!

photo Lisa Gilmore Design

3. Which type of curtain is best for a bedroom?

For bedrooms, the Lisa Gilmore Design team uses a mixture of blackout privacy shades and layer decorative drapery with a blackout liner. Lisa prefers a lot of volume in bedroom drapery, and it creates an ultra-cozy effect!

photo Lisa Gilmore Design

While ready-made options from retailers are a nice option, if you have the budget for custom drapery, it is definitely worth it. If you are trying to decide between drapes vs curtains, we think drapes are the clear winner— they add warmth and style to any space.

This element of luxury cannot be replicated. Think of it like getting your favorite outfit tailored– afterward, it perfectly fits your body. That’s what custom drapery does for a space– perfect scale, volume, and textile!

To get more tips, see our projects, and find ideas for adding liveable glamour to your home, follow me on Instagram or sign up for our newsletter.

Lisa Gilmore Design is an interior design firm based in Tampa Bay, Florida that provides luxury design services to busy professionals. We are a full-service firm, offering our clients a comprehensive design solution including the creative work, the procurement, the execution, and the management of their renovation. Lisa Gilmore Design serves homeowners in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa Bay, and worldwide.

Pink Sofa, Green Sofa, Teal Sofa! Colorful Sofas Everywhere!

Alternatives to Boring White Sofas

One design choice that many people are scared of is a colorful sofa. Everyone wants gray, white, or beige because they think it will go with anything and it will stand the test of time. 

Although that's true, we try to teach our clients a new definition of neutral. 

People commonly associate the term “neutral” with certain colors– shades of white, brown, and black. But when it comes to design, we always urge people to decorate with colors that make them happy. 

So if pink is your favorite color, don’t be scared to make a statement with it in your home. Commit and leave people in awe of your bravery!

5 Colorful Sofas That Make Typical Neutrals Pale in Comparison

If you prefer bold colors to neutral tones, there’s no reason to feel forced to choose a neutral sofa. We love eye-catching sofas, and here are a few pieces that we have selected for our client’s homes. 

RASPBERRY PINK SOFA - LISA GILMORE DESIGN

Striking Raspberry Pink Sofa

Our client’s condo had modern architecture, but they wanted the interior to have a more traditional undertone with vibrant colors. So, we turned this white, boxlike room into a showstopper with custom millwork and raspberry colors from floor to ceiling. 

The raspberry pink high-gloss paint was the perfect canvas for the raspberry sofa and abstract painting by the client’s father.

And bonus– the sofa’s fabric is a very durable performance fabric to guard against the messiest of spills. It’s also a sleeper sofa for when guests want to stay over! Attractive and versatile for a tight condo space.

This bright space made the perfect den to watch movies and entertain friends. Everyone who enters surely feels like they are being wrapped up in a raspberry hug.

HISTORIC HOME WITH GREEN SOFA - LISA GILMORE DESIGN

Lisa’s Historic Home with Green Sofa

This photo gives you a peek into Lisa’s 1920s brick rental home in St. Pete. The open living room and dining room combo was perfect for this green sectional from CR Lane.

A sectional sofa with a high back would have blocked the flow of the room, which is why Lisa chose this sofa with a lower back that offered a sightline. This allowed both the dining and lounging areas to feel connected.

Lisa paired the sofa with grapefruit velvet drapes to create a preppy pink-and-green vibe. It is an ideal combination of color and coziness for Lisa, who entertains frequently. 

GREEN VELVET SOFA - LISA GILMORE DESIGN TAMPA

PINK-ORANGE SOFA - 1920’S BUNGALOW - LISA GILMORE DESIGN TAMPA

1920s Bungalow with Pink-Orange Sofa

The Lisa Gilmore Design team redesigned four spaces in this 1925 home in the Historic Old Northeast district of St. Petersburg, including this living room space.

The homeowner wanted a colorful and happy feminine home to showcase her love of art and antiques. To create that feeling, we selected this Verellen sofa in JAB fabric, which is super special because, while it reads pink, when you are up close it has orange threading in the weave and creates an interesting dimension from different angles of viewing. 

It also adds a pop of whimsy to the room, especially when paired with the area rug from Loom + Co. 

Geometric Black-and-White Sofa in Bold Office

The client for this project was relocating from the Chicago area to a luxury condo in downtown St. Petersburg. 

Our team didn’t even meet the homeowners until the project was complete, and they had relocated to Florida. All of the client interactions occurred virtually, but the client had given us three pieces of art on which to base our design.

This office/guest room was one of the two rooms in which we didn’t use the client’s existing art. While it was intimidating to design without art for direction at first, we found that the blank canvas allowed our team to push the limits. 

This room intentionally throws color in your face.

The black-and-white sofa we chose also boasts performance fabric qualities and is a sleeper sofa. It is the ultimate complement to the violet walls and art by Erin MacIntosh from ARTicles Art Gallery in St. Pete.

photo Lisa Gilmore Design

TEAL SOFA VACATION CONDO - LISA GILMORE DESIGN FLORIDA

Teal Sofa in Beach Condo

When we designed this Gulf Coast vacation condo, our goal was to reimagine the typical coastal look with colorful accents and modern touches.

Though the adjacent dining room is high-contrast with orangey-pink drapery and black-and-white patterns, the sofa from CR Lane has a coastal vibe. And, like many of the pieces we selected for this space, the sofa is made of indoor/outdoor fabric to make beachside living a breeze.

FAQs

1. Which sofa color is trending?

Dark blue, mustard yellow, bright green, and bold patterns are popular now and are expected to continue to be in demand in 2024. And deep, jewel-tone greens and bold patterns are at the top of the list of colors we love most!

2. What color sofa is timeless?

Colors like gray, cream, taupe, and some shades of blue are timeless, neutral shades. Many homeowners choose these colors because they match any decor. However, saturated colors can also be timeless and classic, as well as more forgiving of mishaps.

3. What sofa colors make a room look bigger?

Light-colored sofas create a spacious vibe and can make a room feel more open. Choosing a sofa that is the same color as your walls is another way to give the illusion of openness. But the most important thing to keep in mind when selecting a sofa for a space is the size. A sofa that is too large for a room can make the space feel smaller. Scale, size, and profile shape play a big role in determining whether a sofa is the right fit for your space.

Though we love selecting vibrant, bold sofas for the spaces we design, we know that adding so much color can be a big risk for some homeowners. If you aren’t ready to make the commitment, less expensive items like area rugs, drapery, and pillows are also great ways to add color and fun to a room. 

To get more tips, see our projects, and find ideas for adding pops of color and luxury to your home, follow me on Instagram or sign up for our newsletter.

Lisa Gilmore Design is an interior design firm based in Tampa Bay, Florida that provides luxury design services to busy professionals. We have been named an Architectural Digest Leading Southwest Florida Designer and a Top 25 Design Florida Firm by Design + Decor. Lisa Gilmore Design has also been featured in top design publications such as Florida Design, Aspire Home, and Rue Magazine. We serve homeowners in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Hyde Park, South Tampa, and worldwide.