Which Curtain Rod Finish Fits Your Room?

Satin Gold vs. Antique Brass vs. Matte Black vs. Walnut

Choosing a curtain rod finish — brass, metal, or wood — feels like a bigger decision than it actually is. A customer came in last week stuck on hers; we matched her finials to the posts on her four-poster bed and had it settled in about five minutes. Most of the time it really is that simple: pull the finish from your wood blinds, your furniture knobs, or your ceiling fan, and you're most of the way there. 

The rod lives at eye level, runs the full width of the window, and stays put for years, so it earns a little thought — just not the week of agonizing it usually gets. Here's how the four finishes we get asked about most actually behave in a real room.

Satin Gold

This isn't the shiny polished brass your grandmother had on the bathroom faucet. Satin gold is warm, brushed, and soft — a metallic that catches light without shouting about it. It plays beautifully with creams, warm whites, greens, and navy, and it sits right next to warm wood tones like it was always meant to be there. If your room leans transitional or modern with a warm streak, satin gold is the finish that makes a window look pulled together without looking fussy. It's earned its popularity honestly.

Antique Brass

Antique brass has some age baked into it — a little brown, a little patina, none of that mirror shine. That's the whole point. It reads traditional and old-world, and it's the natural partner for jewel tones, darker woods, and rooms that already have some history to them. Practically speaking, it's one of the more forgiving finishes we sell: it doesn't show fingerprints, it doesn't flag every speck of dust the way a bright finish does, and it tends to look better the longer it's up. If you love a classic, layered room, this is your finish.

Matte Black

Matte black is the graphic one. It frames the window like a line drawing and gives a space instant definition — which is exactly why it works across so many styles, from modern to farmhouse to a little industrial. Set against white or pale walls, it's crisp and architectural. The one honest caution: in a small room where everything's already pale and soft, a heavy black rod can feel like it's doing a lot. But if you want contrast and structure — if you want the window to be a feature and not a whisper — matte black delivers every time.

Walnut and Wood Finishes

Wood does the opposite of black. Instead of announcing the window, it softens and warms it, letting the rod settle into the room rather than draw a hard line across it. Walnut and other wood tones are wonderful in bedrooms, traditional spaces, and any warm neutral room where you want everything to feel calm and cohesive. Here's a bonus most people don't think about: if you already have wood blinds or wood furniture, a wood rod ties the whole window back to what's already in the room. It blends where black contrasts.

So How Do You Actually Pick?

Start with what's already in the room. Look at your other metals and woods — cabinet hardware, light fixtures, faucets, furniture legs. Rods don't have to match those exactly, but they should belong to the same family: warm with warm, cool with cool. Then ask yourself one question — do you want the rod to blend in or stand out? If you want it to disappear, go wood or pick a finish close to your wall color. If you want it to frame and define, go matte black or a metal with some contrast. Last, factor in the room itself. A big, bright room can carry a bold rod; a small, soft one usually wants a finish that doesn't fight for attention.

And here's the part that actually matters: there's no wrong answer that a magazine gets to decide for you. If you love a finish, it fits your room. Decorate what you love — the rest is just details.

We carry curtain rods in all four of these finishes and plenty more, in stock sets and custom lengths, from brands like Vesta and Kirsch. If you're not sure how a finish will read against the woods and metals you already have, we can send you color chips so you can hold them up in the room and match for yourself — a lot easier than guessing from a screen. Give us a call or drop us a line anytime, and we'll get some chips headed your way.

Getting Your Windows Ready for an Arkansas Summer

Every April I get a handful of calls from folks who just realized their blinds are sagging, their curtains are faded, or their living room hits ninety degrees by 4 PM. By June it's a panic. By July it's a project. Y'all, it doesn't have to be that way.

Arkansas summers aren't gentle. Fort Smith hit 104 last July, and the UV index on a clear afternoon will bleach a rug in a single season. The good news is that a little attention in April saves you a lot of sighing in August. Here are five things worth checking before the heat shows up.

1. Look at your blind cords — really look.

If you've got older mini blinds or faux wood blinds with pull cords, now's the time to inspect them. Sun makes cords brittle, and brittle cords fray and snap at the worst possible moment. If yours feel stiff, look frayed, or the tilt mechanism is starting to slip, it's time. We've been doing cordless blinds for years now and I won't go back — safer for kids and pets, easier to operate, no more tangled cords.

2. Check your fabric for sun damage.

Walk around on a sunny afternoon and look at the back side of your curtains and drapery panels where the sun hits. Faded streaks, brittle lining, fabric starting to rot at the hem? That's UV damage, and it only gets worse May through September. Lining makes a real difference — blackout is the gold standard, but even a simple cotton lining extends the life of a panel by years. If you've never had your drapery lined, it's worth the money the next time you reorder.

3. Do something about your west-facing windows.

This is the biggest tip I give people in our area. West-facing windows are the villains of an Arkansas summer. The sun comes in low and hot from about 2 PM until sunset, and your AC runs like it has a personal grudge. A solar shade or a cellular shade with a high R-value will cut that heat dramatically without killing the view. When folks ask me what one change makes the biggest difference in summer comfort, this is it.

4. Dust and vacuum your window treatments now.

Pollen season in the Fort Smith and Barling area is no joke. The cottonwood will coat everything you own by the end of April, and that pollen settles into fabric, wood slats, and the pleats of cellular shades. A soft brush vacuum attachment run gently across your blinds and along the top of your curtains once a week this month keeps everything from turning yellow-green by May. It's a ten-minute job most folks skip.

5. Measure now if you know something needs replacing.

If something on your window list is past saving, go ahead and measure it now. Summer is our busiest season for custom window treatments, and lead times stretch out in May and June. Measure now, order now, and you'll have new blinds or curtains hung before you're sweating through July. Wait until the Fourth of July to order custom drapery and you're looking at Labor Day delivery. I'm not saying that to scare you — I'm saying it because it's true.

A quick word on sun-fighting materials that actually work:

Solar screen shades in a 3% or 5% openness — you see out, the heat stays out.

Cellular (honeycomb) shades — the air pockets between the pleats do real insulating work.

Room-darkening lined drapery — weight and lining matter; thin panels won't cut it in a hot west-facing room.

Exterior solar screens — the nuclear option for serious summer heat gain. We can help you spec these.

None of this is glamorous. Nobody posts a photo of their new solar shade on Instagram. But when you walk into your living room in August and it isn't eighty-five degrees in there, you'll be glad you did the work in April.

If you're not sure where to start, or you've got a window situation that's been bothering you for three summers running, give us a call or shoot us an email. We've been at this a long time and there's not much we haven't seen. We're happy to help you figure out what'll actually work for your home — measurements, samples, product recommendations, all of it. No pressure, no upsell, just real answers.

You can reach us through InteriorDecorating.com, or stop into our Barling office (appointment preferred so we're ready for you).

Have a great spring, y'all.

Arched Window Products

One of the products offered on www.InteriorDecorating.com is the notched pin strip.  This product makes it easy to hang draperies inside an arched window.  Check out this video:



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Ripplefold Curtains

Ripplefold window treatments are gaining in popularity in the residential market. A common look for commercial spaces, the ripplefold carrier system creates a sleek, elegant wave like pattern visible on both sides of the curtains. When the curtains are open, they require less stackback space and provide more exposure to the glass.

 When choosing ripplefold curtains, you need to choose either a butt master carrier or overlap master carrier. 

Center Draw: Butt master will provide a continuous fold look but will allow some light to filter in between the center crack. An overlap carrier will cover the light gap but create a flat center.
Left or Right Draw: A butt master carrier will have a continuous wave look with the curtain panel wrapping completely around the end. An overlap master carrier will create a flat look on the end.

Overlap Master Carrier

Butt Master Carrier

Shop Aria H-Rail Traverse Curtain Rods

Souce: https://www.interiordecorating.com/help/ripplefold-curtains.html

Today's Traverse Rods

When I started working at www.InteriorDecorating.com, I did not know what a traverse rod was - well, what you called it anyway.  My Mamaw always had them in her living room so I knew there were drapes that could be opened and closed with a cord.  Now, after many years of selling all types of curtain rods, my knowledge has increased exponentially.  Just in case you don't know what to call those curtain rods that allow you to open and close them by pulling a string/cord or using a baton, they are traverse rods, traversing curtain rods, curtain rod track or ceiling track.  There are probably more names, but those are the main ones.

This week I just finished adding a new, budget friendly line of traverse rods by Aria.  These modern traversing rods are baton drawn - which just means you pull them open with a baton - think hotel curtains.  The Aria H-Rail traverse rods are sold in kits with everything you need to hang your drapes.  With six beautiful finishes like Brushed Nickel, Oil Rubbed Bronze, Matte Black, Brushed Bronze, Antique Brass and Satin Nickel, you are sure to be able to match your current decor.

The kits come with end caps for a modern and sleek look, however, there are several finials (decorative end pieces) that are available as well.

Please give us a call if you have questions, we can help.  1-800-590-5844
Aria Traverse Rods >

Cellular Shades

New on www.InteriorDecorating.com

Cellular or Honeycomb Shades

Cellular shades are a wonderful window covering choice.  Available in many colors, these custom made shades provide insulation, UV filtering and privacy.  From Sheer to Blackout, you choose the details.  If you need both, you can have a shade with both blackout and sheer fabrics called Privacy View Shade.  Options include cord control, smooth lift continuous cord, top down / bottom up, cordless lift, motorized and lift and lock cordless.  Cellular fabrics can also be used in skylights, angled windows, arches, half arches, circles and ovals.

Cordless shades are certified Best for Kids.  Shop online at
https://www.interiordecorating.com/cellular-shades.asp

Roller Shades/Solar Shades

 

Roller Shades/Solar Shades

Want to bring in Natural light while providing sun management? Solar roller shades are designed to provide high performing solutions to the sun’s harsh rays. Reduce solar heat gain, protect against damaging UV and improve the comfort of any interior space with designer solar fabrics. Modern options include motorization and other designer elements.  When choosing solar fabric, lighter colors reflect light and illuminate the interior while darker colors provide a clearer view to the outside, reduce glare and absorb light.  Darker shades are great for viewing computer and television screens.  

The openness factor let's you know how tight the weave or mesh is.  The tighter the weave, the less light that gets through.  A higher openness value indicates that more light and heat will be allowed through. 

 If you want to maximize your daytime view while having nighttime privacy, a dual shade is recommended.  Click here for roller shades on www.InteriorMall.com

Local Project - Faux Wood Blinds

Our downtown area in Fort Smith, Arkansas is being revitalized.  We had the privilege of working with the developer, Rodney Ghan, on the Peachtree apartments.  Our 2½" faux wood blinds make a sophisticated statement in these modern apartments.  https://www.interiormall.com/cat/window/faux-wood-blinds.asp

Custom Draperies: The Whats and the Hows

Window treatments can completely change the look and feel of any room. If you have gone from bare bones windows to adding at least a valance you know what window treatments can do. Just like a vehicle, there are so many "makes and models" it can be overwhelming figuring out what all the different types look like and what will ultimately suit your needs best. I have pulled together some of today's most popular drapery panel styles in the hopes that it will enlighten you and make your decision making easier.
Let me start by saying that I am only focusing on drapery panels right now. I will delve into valance, swag and cornice board options down the road.
First let's look at the most common types....

Tab Top drapes are stylish and clean. They remove the need for drapery rings thereby keeping the look simple, yet attractive. Tab tops are a very modern look.
Rod Pocket drapes are the most common drapery type. They are simple, traditional and for those sewers out there are relatively easy to make.
Grommet Top drapes like tab tops are stylish, modern, clean and minimalistic. Grommet tops are growing exponentially in popularity and many drapery hardware companies are beginning to manufacture designer grommets to add that special touch.
Pinch Pleat drapes give your window a luxurious, designer look and feel. These are typically used with drapery pins, curtain rings that use gator clips or traverse rods.
Inverted Pinch Pleat drapes works great if you are wanting your panels to stay stationary. Inverted pinch pleat drapes bring a fullness to your window and your room.
Goblet Pleat drapes are considered to be among the more luxurious designs for window treatments. They are better suited for curtains that are both long enough to graze the floor and are fully lined to maintain their unique shape.
Cartridge Pleat drapes  are tailored and sculptural with smooth unbroken folds, this treatment gives a sleek, streamlined look that works well in just about any setting.

No matter the style you choose you can't go wrong with drapery panels. You will absolutely love what they will do for your room.

Finials and Standards and Pulleys, oh my!

Window Covering! You either love to be covered or don't mind being open to the world - there seems to be strong feelings on both sides of the debate. Personally, I prefer my windows covered - it is way easier to hide a messy interior that way ;) There are so many styles of window coverings that are available, from blinds to valances to roman shades - the possibilities are endless!

One thing we get asked more than anything is "can this be made into a traverse rod?" More often than not, the answer is no. Traverse rods are intended for draperies that you want to be able to open and close with a pulley mechanism, which pulls the drapes open from the center, or as a "one-way draw", which would open them to the right or to the left only. These systems use a pulley system, rather than manually moving the curtains. They differ from a rod that uses rings or tab-top drapes in that you have to manually move those with a baton or by hand.

With regards to traversing track, there are also your more "industrial" options, flexible tracking and cubicle tracking-type systems. The flexible tracking is just that - flexible. You can make it follow most any pattern you need, from straight to a 360-degree circle. The cubicle tracking systems are more like what you would find in a hospital/doctor's office setting and are typically use for applications which require straight sections or sections with a 90-degree curve.

Another system that has become more popular is a wire system. These types of systems use steel wire held between two or more brackets and can use small rings to slide your curtain along the wire. They are very popular in areas where you may have little room for drapery hardware.

Along with the decision of the type of hardware, you must also decide the type of drapery style you wish. There are different types of pleats (i.e., goblet pleat, pinch pleat, knife pleat, etc.), tab-top, rod-pocket styles as well as swags, jabots, puddles - it's unreal how many choices there are!

There are also other options which do not necessary require rods or curtains. Roman shades, blinds, roller-shades - take a look!

(photo copyright to www.simplesewingprojects.com )

After you've decided on a style, you get to find a fabric and that can be the most fun of all!

Button-Up Window Shade

I found a cute project today from Martha Stewart - Button-Up Window Shade. It is quite trendy to cover your windows with shades made of all kinds of things - from bamboo to fabric to traditional shade material. This article gives you step by step instructions for making a simple fabric window shade. Put it up with a tension rod and you have a custom window treatment that you can be proud of. Find everything you need to make this project at InteriorMall.com.

How to Measure for Curtains and Window Treatments

Here is a neat video from You Tube that illustrates how to measure your window for curtains and window treatments. There is some great info here!