How to use curtain fabric in kitchens and bathrooms for a beautiful finish

The latest way of working with curtain fabric is anything but window decoration.

Think skirts under the sink in kitchens and bathrooms, pretty bed curtains and valances – and even room dividers.

Here are just a few ways to twist the look.

ISLAND LIFE

While we often associate elegant fabrics with soft furnishings such as cushions or window treatments, there is plenty of room to use them in more creative ways.

In pantries, utilities and luggage areas, fabric under-skirts are an excellent and affordable alternative to solid door fronts, often softening the look of joinery while adding a splash of color.

If you’re handy, just thread some cafe curtains through a tension rod.

Brass rods are a smart alternative and also work great for kitchen islands.

MASTER IT

Think of curtains as bed curtains, whether you’re going for a full-on four-poster bed look or an understated half-tester, with a canopy covering just the headboard.

“We often use curtain treatments in children’s rooms,” says interior designer Lara Clarke (laraclarkeinteriors.com). ‘We’ll dress up a bed nook with it, or add a fixed ceiling pole with a pleated curtain to create a ‘safari’ style tent.

These can also be added to bunk beds and held in place with fabric ties or toggles. I love fabrics from Titley & Marr (titleyand marr.co.uk) and Jessica Osborne (jessica osborne.com) for this look.”

For a dramatic look, consider hanging fabric on all four walls of a room, rather than wallpaper.

“This is what designer Timothy Corrigan did in his Paris apartment,” says interior designer Roby Baldan (robyaldaninteriors.com).

‘Not only is it luxurious and cocooning, but it also hides open wardrobes, hanging places, not-so-nice storage areas and ugly doors.’

PERFECT SHELF

Pleated fabric is also a great way to add soft, diffused definition to the edge of a shelf; an option that works well in jewel-like spaces such as pantries, laundry rooms and cloakrooms.

Skirts like this, whether short for trimming or long for under the counters, can be brilliantly playful. Use them around a bathroom pedestal to dress up the base and add some color to the room, securing them with the fabric of a roman blind.

Or dress up a vintage dressing table and use the same fabric to upholster a stool. The 1980s trick of throwing a favorite fabric over a not-so-pretty round table is also in vogue again — to keep the look current, contrast the softness of the fabric with angular shapes on it — like an Anglepoise table lamp finished in a matching color.

“Use a head style with inverted pleats to further add a contemporary feel,” says Lara Clarke.

RIGHT LIGHT

Lampshades also look great when given a full fabric treatment, such as the selection of block-printed or embroidered options designed by Alice Palmer (alicepalmer.co).

“They’re a brilliant way to add the appeal of patterns and colors without the obligation of a traditional window curtain, which can sometimes overwhelm a scheme,” she says.

Her sunglasses, pleated or scrunched, with bold stripes, embroidered artichokes and lemons, botanical prints and ikats, add a playful touch, whether elegantly framing a bathroom window or hanging from a twisted flex over the counter. The designer also loves an old-fashioned bed valance: try them with piping stripes for a timeless look.

NEW WAYS

Sure, windows still deserve the curtain treatment, but try to go against the grain. The sitting room windows look great, dressed in linen half-height cafe curtains, providing privacy while letting in plenty of light. Internal windows also benefit from this approach.

Try bespoke options at East London Cloth (east londoncloth.co.uk). Adding fabric to the inside of glass-fronted wardrobe doors can also be visually appealing.

“A pleated finish gives a more traditional look, perfect for a country setting, or the fabric can be pressed flat between two thin sheets of glass for a more contemporary impact,” says Lara Clarke.

The use of curtains as door coverings creates cosiness. “Instead of a door, try them to demarcate space in large rooms,” suggests Roby Baldan. “They add texture, softness and intimacy, both closed and drawn to the side.”

Fabric can also be used as extra insulation at the front door. Use a floor-length curtain mounted on a door bar that hinges so that the curtain lifts slightly off the floor when the door is opened.

All ideas that are both beautiful and practical: definitely worth a curtain call.