Varieties, manufacture and fastening of pleated curtains
Pleated curtains have entered the modern interior relatively recently. However, they have already managed to gain popularity. The main advantage is the ability to make such curtains with your own hands.
A bit of history
The name comes from the French "pli" which means "fold". However, the homeland of everyone's favorite pleated models is Egypt, because it was there that they came up with the idea of decorating themselves with a canvas with many folds.
The soldiers of Alexander the Great also wore clothes with similar elements. And the Scottish pleated skirt for men is a spectacular and comfortable attire, because the folds hide additional volume, thanks to which freedom of movement is provided.
In many folk costumes, folds play an exclusively decorative role, as, for example, in Azerbaijani women's costumes.
Over time, pleated pleats have gone beyond the wardrobe elements and are actively used in interior design, for example, for window openings.
Design features
We note right away that not every fold is worthy of the high title of "pleated". According to the wording, pleated is a special way of processing fabric with a press or iron. Simply put, folds that are "caught" by the thread during sewing and other irregularities have nothing to do with pleats.
One more condition: the folds must be strictly parallel to each other. In addition, the parameters of such a design are stipulated: the width of the fold is not less than 0.5 cm and not more than 5 cm. Finally, the pleated is made exclusively from natural materials.
Pleated blinds compete with the usual blinds, which have recently been "relocated" from apartments and country houses to office premises.
Unlike blinds, they consist of small fragments, and this design allows you to design window openings even of non-standard sizes and shapes, while creating spectacular unusual designs. The most common option is a fan of pleated curtains. Moreover, this element can be located both in the upper part of the window opening and at the bottom.
Pleated curtains are made from both fabric and paper. And any model is capable of arranging vertical, inclined and horizontal surfaces. In this matter, they simply have no equal.
Pleated blinds for roof windows can even be remote-controlled. The result is not only stylish, but also functional.
Another important feature: curtains in this design can have both horizontal and vertical folds. And if the first option visually increases the width of the space, then thanks to the vertical "creases" it seems that the ceilings are much higher than they really are. "Vertical" curtains move to the side, and horizontal curtains move up and down.
Varieties of pleated curtains
There are five main types of pleated curtains. They are divided mainly depending on the design. In addition, there is a division according to the materials from which they are made.
- For windows with tilt-and-turn opening mechanisms, free models are made. In this case, the windows should be standard, with a strict geometric shape. Over such frames, pleated curtains fall freely.
- Stretch pleats are equipped at the edges with a special fishing line, thanks to which free sagging of curtains is excluded. There is no sagging on horizontal surfaces, but the line is simply irreplaceable on inclined roof windows. In addition to attics, sloped windows are often found in flower greenhouses.
- Pleated roller blinds are equipped with a swivel shaft. It is to it that the upper part of the curtain is attached. A chain (similar to that found in blinds) allows you to fold and unfold the canvas in one motion. Thus, the degree of transparency of the canvases and the degree of illumination of the room are regulated.
- "Day Night". These curtains are layered. In the design, as a rule, two canvases are combined: one is translucent, and the second is dense. They are distinguished by high functionality: in the daytime you can move the dense part and leave only a translucent curtain on the window opening, and in the evening you can also close the second canvas. In essence, day-night curtains resemble a classic pair of tulle curtains.
- "Top bottom". Another interesting model. Its fundamental difference from the previous ones is in the presence of guides and side mechanisms. The curtains can be moved both from the bottom and from the top. In this case, any gap is selected. This model allows you to adjust the degree of illumination of the room, and close the window as much as it is needed at the moment.
The structure of the curtain-pleated fabric can be very different. Distinguish between ordinary and corrugated fabrics. The corrugated curtain has double folds, that is, convex compartments are located both on the front and on the seamy side, and there are compartments with air between the layers of pleated material. Such canvases retain both light and heat. In other words, corrugated curtains will provide maximum protection from the sun, which is why they are especially in demand for south-facing windows. In addition, pleated corrugated curtains guarantee good thermal insulation.
Whatever the material of such curtains, they have one thing in common: they are attached to a metal (aluminum) profile. The base for pleated curtains can be purchased in curtain accessories stores, and the suitable material can be found in a specialist store. Well, if you want to make curtains out of paper, then there is a suitable option in creativity stores.
How to make do-it-yourself pleated curtains
To make your own pleated curtains, you will need:
- Roulette, pencil, stationery knife;
- Double-sided tape, hole punch, clamps;
- Tapes and paper.
Immediately, we note that making pleated curtains from paper is much easier than from material. The main advantage of paper is its affordability. It is no coincidence that such curtains are often used in new buildings, when the repair is not yet finished, but you already want to feel comfortable, and you need to somehow hide from prying eyes.
In total, the manufacturing process includes 6 stages.But first you need to measure the width of the window opening. And then we act according to the scheme:
- Choosing a material. It is worth noting that often the remnants of wallpaper are used. Firstly, the material is dense and strong enough, and secondly, it usually remains after repair work, which means you can save money.
- We cut the paper, making an allowance of at least 40 cm - this is necessary for the folds. The final length of the canvas should be equal to the length of the window opening. For example, if your window opening is 1x1.2 m, then you need to cut off 1x1.6 m.
- On the seamy side of the paper, we make marks every 3-4 cm. This "step" is most convenient for the formation of folds.
- We fold the paper into an accordion exactly according to the markings. At the same time, we make sure that the upper and lower folds are bent inward.
- Having folded the resulting accordion in one line, we make three holes. For this, a hole punch is often used, but if it is "powerless" or the paper is too thick, use a drill. We make two holes along the edges of the curtain, and one - exactly in the middle.
- We pass a tape, cord or fishing line through the holes. We fix the load at the bottom. If there is none, we will use scotch tape.
Now you can start installing the structure. Pleated curtains are valued for their lightness, which means that double-sided tape is suitable for installation. If necessary, it can be easily detached, both from the curtain itself, and from the window opening. If you wish, you can always replace the pleated curtains with any other curtains.
If, in your case, double-sided tape has been used for a long time, then remember that its adhesive capacity in the sun is lost over time. For reliable fastening of the structure, it is better to change the tape about once a month.
And someone prefers to use a wooden block for the installation of pleated curtains, on which paper canvases are attached due to reliable transparent glue.
The curtain can also be installed using small nails. This is usually done with vinyl wallpaper.
If you decide to make your own pleated fabric curtains for plastic windows, then you will need aluminum guides. In addition, if the price of pleated fabric seems high to you, you will have to iron the folds yourself, and this is also not an easy process. There is no need to make holes in the fabric, the cord is threaded with a needle. The edges of the canvas are processed on a typewriter. Well, the rest of the process is exactly the same as with battles.
Care features
Pleated curtains are an unusual design, which means that proper care is required.
Do not machine wash pleated fabrics. The cloth is soaked in warm water, and ordinary washing powder is used as a detergent.
It is recommended to soak in the folded state, avoiding the ingress of water on the electric drive.
And since the cloth is washed when folded, subsequent ironing is not required. You just need to let the seams dry well, and you can hang the structure on a plastic window. In the case of wooden windows, the curtain must dry completely.
As you can see, pleated curtains are a great way to decorate any window opening functionally and tastefully. And if you make curtains with your own hands, the interior will turn out to be truly exclusive and cozy.
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