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Drapes vs. Curtains: What's The Difference?

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Do you need drapes for your windows at home, or will curtains do? The first step to figuring out which treatment is right for your windows is to understand the difference between drapes vs. curtains.
When it comes to decorating your house, the smart way to approach it is to find items that merge form with function.
In other words, it should look great, but it also needs to function well in your home.
That includes how you decorate your windows. There's a difference between drapes and curtains. Both have advantages and disadvantages.
The trick is to figure which is better for your needs. To help you out, keep reading to learn whether you should choose drapes vs curtains.
Drapes Vs Curtains
First off, it's important to recognise that anything hung over a window is considered to be a window treatment.
There are various types of window treatments to choose from. And in some cases, you can use more than one type of treatment for a window.
Window treatments are great for several reasons. You can keep out or let in the sun. And you can keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They also dress up any space.
Drapes
Drapes are made from fabric panels. They typically come in pairs.
Drapes are always lined, sometimes heavily. For that reason, they're often purchased to help block out outside sunlight.
Many people use drapes in living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms. Drapes often hang all the way to the floor and are typically made with stiffer fabrics, including velvet, silk, or damask.
While they come in a variety of styles and colours, most often they are solid rather than heavily patterned. You'll often find that drapes vs curtains are pleated. And there is more than one style of pleat available.
The pleats and the heavier fabric contribute to a more formal appearance in the rooms they're used in. You'll have to hang your drapes from a rod on a hook, grommet, ring, or fabric sleeve.
Drapes with valances are often used together to complete the look of a room. Most choose to match the drapes and valances using the same material and design but it's also possible to mix and match.
Curtains
When comparing curtains vs drapes, there aren't too many differences. But those differences do matter.
Curtains are also fabric panels that are often sold in pairs. However, curtains come in a wide variety of lengths, widths, colours, and patterns.
They are also made with much lighter weight fabrics than drapes. Some of the material used in curtains is extremely sheer.
Sheer curtains are perfect in rooms where you're looking to filter some sunlight but also require natural light in your home.
Curtains work well in every room. In the kitchen, you'll often find curtains and valances used together which is called a cafe curtain.
In the bedroom, it's common to use curtains with blinds or shades to give the room a more fashionable look. Adding curtains will also help to block out more sunlight.
You'll hang the curtains and valances from rods, metal grommets, a fabric sleeve, or metal or fabric rings. In most cases, you can choose to hide the rod or use it as part of the decoration.
Make Your Choice
Whether you choose drapes vs curtains is your choice. Pick whichever one works for your needs.
Before you make any purchases, don't forget to fill in and request a Free in-Home Measure and Quote from one of Dollar Curtains Specialists.
Your next step is to take a look at our products to find your perfect match.
Winner Best Service Award 2016

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Dollar Curtains & Blinds has won “Best Of Service” on Houzz®, the leading platform for home renovation and design.
“Anyone building, renovating or decorating looks to Houzz for the most talented and service-oriented professionals” said Jason Chuck, Managing Director for Houzz Australia. “We’re so pleased to recognise Dollar Curtains & Blinds as one of our “Best Of Houzz” professionals, voted by our enormous community of homeowners and design enthusiasts from across Australia and more than one million businesses worldwide.”
Achieving this service award further highlights Dollar Curtains & Blinds focus on high service standards, going beyond customers needs and maintaining its position to provide the best service in the window coverings market.
Dollar Curtains & Blinds is committed to servicing customers with the highest quality Curtains, Blinds, Shutters and Awnings available across Melbourne, Canberra and covering areas in New South Wales and South Australia.
Follow Dollar Curtains & Blinds on Houzz
About Houzz
2014 Winner Excellence in Customer Service from the Australian Business Quality Awards

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Strong focus on customer satisfaction leads Dollar Curtains & Blinds to win the Gold Award
Dollar Curtains & Blinds, Australia’s leading window furnishing specialists, achieved the esteemed Australian Business Quality Award for successfully adhering to its high service standards and going beyond customers’ needs.
Now in its 7th year, the Australian Business Quality Awards acknowledges enterprises that exhibit outstanding service levels as assessed by their customers. The organisation measures businesses against a range of internationally-recognised principles of best practice in customer service.
“We are truly proud of this accomplishment which clearly demonstrates our commitment to please our customers by providing the highest level of quality and service in the window furnishings market'. In our business, we walk the talk as we deliver on our promise and more,” shared Danielle Crosby, Marketing Manager at Dollar Curtains & Blinds.
Established in 1967 as a family business in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, Dollar Curtains & Blinds has been pushing the boundaries of quality and innovation in Australian manufactured window treatments for over 48 years.
The company has evolved since those early days, all the while retaining a strong family ethos. Dollar Curtains & Blinds now operates two fully functional manufacturing facilities, 35 stores servicing the entire Melbourne market, and a successful franchise business which are also all locally owned and operated.
The reasons behind the business’ longevity and market strength are diverse, but one element that unites them is an ongoing commitment to offer more to our customers – More.
Recounting an experience with Dollar Curtains & Blinds one of its customers related, The outcome has far exceeded my expectations. They were so helpful and patient with me, as I really didn’t know what I wanted (needed). The product and construction of the blinds and the installation is perfect. I think it is important that when you receive such excellent customer service and products that it gets noticed. I will be recommending them to all my family and friends”
Equally satisfied with Dollar Curtains & Blinds another customer said, “We were very happy with the customer service from Dollar Curtains. The staff at the Niddrie branch were very friendly and most helpful. Helen who measured up was very professional and guiding us through what would be suitable. John who was very organised installing provided excellent service as well”
The Australian Business Quality Awards aim to raise the bar in customer service by encouraging businesses to be the best at what they do and rewarding those who excel in their respective fields. Open to any enterprise, regardless of its size and the nature of its business, the awards evaluate how effective an enterprise is in performing against its own and best practice customer service standards.
According to the organisation, “Customers always look for the best service, which positively impacts the business in various facets, from recall to word of mouth and repeat business that all affect the bottom line. The awards not only give the business the recognition it deserves but also identifies aspects that surpass customer expectations and those that have room for improvement.”
Providing a good indication of which businesses have strong customer satisfaction ratings, the Australian Business Quality Awards bestows the Bronze Award to enterprises that garner a score of 70% to 80%, the Silver Award for an 80% to 90% score, and the prestigious Gold Award for a score of 90% or higher.
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