Selecting curtains for your home as part of a redecoration project, or for your brand new home can be a fun and exciting way to change the look of a room. However, there are many things to consider when you are choosing any type of window treatment including color, style, the sun exposure and the type of room.

No matter where you live you will want to consider the amount of sun exposure the room will be getting. If the windows are on the east or west side of the home they will be getting the most direct sunlight over the course of the year. If you live in a hot area you should choose window coverings and curtains that minimize the amount of heat that comes into the room. This will not only make you more comfortable, but will also cut down on your air conditioning bills.

In bedrooms, you may want to consider curtains or window coverings that severely limit the amount of morning sun that enters the room. This is good for people who don't want to wake up at the crack of dawn, or who don't want their children to wake up at the crack of dawn. You can find rolling screens or heavy shades that keep most light out. But, since the bedroom is a reflection of the person or people who sleep there, you might want to hang a decorative curtain or sheer over the screen to put an added touch of style and color. You can also use a valance, swag, or cornice above the window.

For the kitchen, some people choose to leave these windows without a shade, and only use some kind of other curtain. Since privacy is not an issue typically in the kitchen, alight curtain is ideal for the kitchen, being used more for a decoration than anything else.

For a family room or great room that has a sliding glass door, some people choose to use a heavier curtain that hangs on a rod or vertical shades as opposed to any other kind of curtain. Again, for decor purposes, it is very
possible and quite nice to accent the door using some kind of additional curtain, for example a fabric that complements the fabric on the furniture.

In the bathroom, depending on the size of the window and whether or not there's a privacy issue, some people choose either cover the window with a light curtain on a rod, cover the window with a vinyl shade or something similar, or even not cover the window at all.

New curtains are a fairly easy way to spruce up the look of any room in your home. Whether you purchase them or make them yourself, find a design and a color that suits you and the others in your home. Remember to take all of the factors like sunlight exposure and privacy into consideration. Use your talents and imagination.