What to Look For When Buying Custom Made Curtains in Melbourne

Custom made curtains in Melbourne are a great way to create the dream interior design that you have always wanted, as well as protecting your home from prying eyes and extreme weather conditions. They also look good and can add real value to your property. With custom made curtains and drapes in Melbourne now coming in an extensively wide variety of materials to choose from, it's important to know what to exactly to look for when you invest in your new window furnishings.

With all of the different materials suiting differing, dedicated purposes, making the choice can be a daunting prospect. Below we’ve included two non-negotiable points that you should enquire about when purchasing your custom drapes in Melbourne. Knowing these three points will help you make an educated decision about your purchase, and also ensure that your curtains will look great and also fit their intended purpose.

Protection from Ultraviolet Radiation

Ultraviolet radiation is not only harmful to our skin, but it can also cause discolouring of both your blinds and verandah decking, as well as generating a huge amount of heat. Many fabrics on the market today will offer protection from UV radiation, however the percentage of rays that will be effectively blocked can differ. You should always invest in fabrics that block at least a minimum of 85% of UV radiation.

This is why Roman blinds can be a great alternative, if completely cutting out the heat and the harmful rays is your sole reason for investing in window furnishings. Roman blinds are easy to use, look fantastic due to their wide range of available colours and patterns, and in most cases can block out up to 98% of harmful UV rays. Whilst not technically a curtain, they are easily made to create that distinctive and authentic drapery look.

Soft vs hard fabric

Having proven to be a fantastic way to keep privacy to a maximum and block out the sun, whilst also looking fantastic in an outdoor setting, curtains are now available in two distinct types of fabric. Soft fabric, as the name suggests, is comprised of a much more lighter material, which can filter through light, without completely blocking it all together.

Hard fabric is a bit thinner, and can in some cases be a more attractive design, however will require stitches to keep the curtain taut and resistant to creasing. These stitches can be easily undone if exposed to high traffic areas. With hard fabrics, they are often protected using special products prior to purchase to stop them from wear and tear.

Depending on what you want from your interior design, hard fabric blinds could prove to be a great choice, if you are wanting only privacy. However it’s advisable to choose the more durable softer fabrics blinds if your home experiences constant threats of high traffic, such as a family with younger children.

As the leading provider of unique and brilliant custom made curtains Melbourne wide, Crete Blinds are best placed to consult and advise you on which types of materials will best suit your outdoor setting. Contact them today by visiting their website to see what they can do for your property, and to arrange a free quote and measure.