The Modern Approach to Choosing Curtains

Like many people, I can remember certain events from childhood with a lot of clarity, and then others with very little detail. One of the memories that sticks with me rather vividly is my mother’s attempts to work with an interior designer on selecting curtains and curtain poles for our home. Well ok the curtain poles part is not of any real consequence to this story, but nonetheless, I mention it as it took ages. And now that I am in the process of choosing my own curtains and rods I cringe at the process she went through all over again.

I recall her sitting on the floor with fabric books all strewn about around her. In each were strips of ruled paper she had torn to make placeholders for the samples she was considering. Those books were picked up, and laid out again, at least fifteen times over the course of several months. She just could not make a final decision because she could not visualize precisely how they would look. She was uncomfortable relying on her imagination to conjure up how the fabrics would look as completed curtains hanging up.

Also, I have a vague memory of the interior designer calling up to urge my mother to make her selection, and this becoming the bane of her existence. My father could not understand what the problem was, considering the designer came so highly recommended, and her services were offered at an astronomical price. In the end, I do not believe my mom liked all of those she ultimately selected.

Now, we have access to images online of all ready made curtains hanging on rods in actual rooms. This allows us the opportunity to see what they look like when in place. No more guessing, or hoping for the best. It is even possible to tell if they will be sheer enough, or vice versa if they will block out enough.

While I must admit that I would like someone else to physically hang my new curtains, since I am completely capable of the task, I will begrudgingly do it. Plus, considering the tremendous ease with which I am able to choose curtains today, and the memory of the strife it caused for my mom back in the day, I clearly have it easier. If I had to go through the hoops that she did I probably would never even get curtains.