Why Drapery Hardware and Accessories Are So Important

The devil is in the details, as they say—but he’s not the only one. The perfect polished appearance you crave for your home’s windows is hiding there, too. To tease it out into the open, you’ll need to consider all the components that go into dressing up your windows with just the right apparel. This means looking beyond the drapery fabric, color, and pattern to consider details like drapery rods, finials, tiebacks, holdbacks, and other hardware and accessories that not only support your drapes in place but also create a window that’s dressed to the nines.

The best way to get that wonderfully refined look for your windows is to partner with a custom window treatment consultant who’s thoroughly familiar with the finishing touches that will bring out the best in your draperies. Exciting Windows! has a huge network of design professionals, one of whom would be happy to take a look at your windows and help you get the results you’re after. In the meantime, here are a few types of drapery hardware and accessories that homeowners often underestimate in their quest for the perfect window covering:

Drapery Rods

Drapes and curtains must be held in place by rods. Here are a few styles to choose from:

• Decorative rods – Usually crafted from brass, pewter, brushed nickel, wrought iron, or polished wood, these staples of drapery hardware are mounted to the wall with matching brackets.
• Traverse rods – Also known as curtain tracks, these rods have a hidden, internal tracking mechanism that allows draperies to glide smoothly along a track.
• Café rods – This term describes slender bars that are mounted across a window at eye level. Usually, they support short, lightweight curtains.

Finials and End Caps

The decorative pieces attached to each end of a drapery rod are called finials. In cases where there’s limited space between the rod and a wall, end caps can help deliver a finished look.

Valances vs. Cornices

Sometimes a decorative drapery rod is too lovely to hide, but many homeowners prefer to disguise their window treatment hardware behind a valance, cornice, or both. A valance is a short, often-pleated piece of fabric that’s mounted at the top and in front of draperies. A cornice is a box-like window treatment, often made of wood and sometimes upholstered, that does the same job as a valance.

There’s a lot more to know about drapery hardware and accessories, and Exciting Windows! stands ready to help. Contact us today for more information.