Surprisingly there are so many different looks that can be created with curtains, so I’ve put together a list of my five favourite styles and how they can be achieved in your home!

Contrasted Edging

Using contrasting curtains together, or choosing to have a leading edge can add extra interest and definition to curtains.  You can have great fun mixing and matching curtain fabrics until you get a look that it right for you.  Try pairing plains with florals or patterns for an instant wow!

Co-ordinated

Curtains and blind combinations are becoming more and more popular as a way of adding depth to your windows.  Ensure you choose matching or co-ordinating fabrics and you can even co-ordinate with your furniture for a fully cohesive look.

Dramatic Impact

If you have bay windows, a great way to add drama is to opt for multiple curtains.  The intermittent strips of colour will draw the eye and make a real feature of your window space.  You can use the same fabric or break it up with two co-ordinating fabric designs.

Romantic Drape

Elaborate drapes and floor skimming curtains create an opulent, romantic look.  Lighter fabrics are perfect for this style as they flow and hang easily.  Florals are an ideal choice for romantic looks, or if your prefer plain, choose fabrics with a slight shimmer or sheen.

Casual Chic

For an easy, down to earth look, eyelet curtains are a good choice with their natural, straight hanging style.  You could also consider the length of your curtains, as shorter curtains that end a couple of inches below the window sill can give a more casual, relaxed feel.

As the nights grow darker it’s only natural that we find ourselves gravitating indoors and relaxing in our own home.  So what better time of year to explore some of your window dressing options: curtains, blinds, shutters and window film.

There are many different solutions available to you and the choice of window dressing can differ from room to room, with some solutions more practical than others.  You should consider the size of your windows and the style of your home.

Curtains

A popular choice for adorning our windows, curtains have far more benefits than it may at first seem.  Not only are they easily drawn and help to soften your windows, but did you know that curtains are a great way of keeping those heating bills down?

Particularly with lined and interlined curtains, having an extra barrier between your room and your windows will help to keep warm air in and cold air out!  Adding a pelmet also helps as it prevents warm air that has risen from falling behind your curtains as it cools, and escaping through the windows.

Blinds

We are all aware of the practical benefits of blinds in rooms like the bathroom and kitchen. They stay neatly rolled or pulled up out of the way until we are ready for them. But blinds are fast becoming popular choices for adding to living rooms and bedrooms. Used alone, a roller or roman blind can give a contemporary feel to a room.  Or you could try combining with matching curtains for a co-ordinated look.  Curtain and Blind combinations are great for adding extra depth to your windows.  Plus, blinds also contribute toward keeping cool air out on those cold winter nights!

Shutters

A pretty feature that can often add character to your home, shutters are becoming increasingly popular for bedrooms.  Enabling the most control over light levels, shutters can be pushed wide open to allow maximum natural light to flood in during the day. You could even consider coloured shutters to bring interest and life to neutral rooms. The pink shutters here combine beautifully with the white colour scheme to create a chic, femenine study.

Window Film

This is great to use in bathrooms, utility rooms and kitchens where window space may be tight. The frosted film can provide privacy whilst still allowing light in and you could even opt for a unique design to add extra interest to your windows.

You could opt for full window film like this one or just film half way up your window for that extra touch of privacy. With so many designs available on the high street and online there’s sure to be something for every taste!

The fourth edition of our featured Fabric Supplier series sees beautiful, co-ordinated designs from British company, Prestigious Textiles.   Founded in 1988 and based in West Yorkshire, the company now supply their exciting designs worldwide where their fine reputation continues to grow.

Their range includes a delectable mix of florals, stripes, damasks and semi-plain fabrics specifically produced to work in harmony creating beautiful statements in the home.  We think the PT range is ideal for creating an eye-catching window display.  The co-ordinating designs lends themselves perfectly to a curtains, blinds and cushions for that extra finishing touch!  Take a look at some of our favourite Prestigious Textiles combinations…

An elegant design in a sophisticated palette.  Octavia and Oracle are available in 4 neutral colourways, each creating a beautiful opulent look. This combination would look stunning in the bedroom.

A fresh, modern take on the traditional floral, Rosella is a delicate pretty design which can be complemented beautifully by the striking stripes of Rosella Stripe.  Both fabrics are available from Plumbs in 4 on-trend colourways including Duck Egg and Lavender.

Another bold statement as floral meets stripe.  Emilia is a striking fabric that draws the eye, perfect for floor to ceiling curtains!  Twinned with Fiore Mini Stripe in matching colourway really brings out the pops of purple in this design.  A winning combination.

It can be fun to play around with co-ordinating fabrics, so take your time and mix and match fabrics to create  a look that’s perfect for you.  You could even request a free visit from a local Plumbs consultant and try out many different fabric combinations in your home?

With the sun shining through the office window today and the first signs of Spring slowly emerging from the Winter gloom, I’m itching to turn my heating off and lower those pesky energy bills.  How many of you feel the same?

The transitional period of Spring can often be a gamble with crisp, cool mornings turning into warm afternoons and nights retaining a mild chill.  It can be difficult to know how much heating you’ll need.  It could be time to look into alternative methods of keeping your home the right temperature and say goodbye to rising energy bills.

Try the curtain method! When the weather is a little milder one of the best courses of action is to turn off the radiators and reap the benefits of lined curtains.  Lined curtains are proven to reduce the amount of heat loss in your home by preventing warm air escaping and cool air getting in through your windows.

Not only are they great for heat control, you could kill two birds with one stone and refresh your home for the Spring.  Fresh, vibrant florals are popular this season, with modern and traditional designs available.  Look for soft, pastel palettes like greens and pinks for a typically feminine feel.  Or consider yellows and greys for more neutral appeal.

For added style and further protection from the cooler nights, you could even include blinds with your curtains.  The extra layer can really add depth and drama to your windows, especially when using co-ordinated fabrics.

So do your purse strings a favour and flick off the heating! Your home will be left prepared for Spring, looking fresh and your bills will be much kinder!  Click here to browse our curtain fabrics.

When it comes to decorating a new room or even if you simply want a change for your windows, you will inevitably come to the question: curtains or blinds?

Curtains can soften the frames of a window, and bring a homely touch to larger, brighter rooms.  Depending on the colour and fabric you choose, curtains can be used for a cosy living room or a more wistful look.  Heavy, black-out lined curtains are ideal for keeping the warm in and the cold out in winter…

…or you can create a soft, romantic look with curtains that drape and hang lightly.

A great benefit of blinds is that when pulled up they will allow more natural light to flood into your room, where draped back curtains could block some out.  This is particularly useful in smaller darker living rooms where every bit of light is crucial…

…Blinds would allow you to illuminate more of the room, and give an airy feel.

If you’re still undecided then who says you have to choose?  You can have the best of both worlds by combining curtains and blinds together.

Choosing co-ordinating fabrics can add depth to your window dressing, and with the many colour, pattern and texture combinations available, you can create all kinds of looks.  You could really go to town with bold colours and contrasting luxury fabrics for a display that would make a real feature of your windows.

Alternatively, you could tone things down with matching shades and designs, for subtle depth.

Click here to see the curtain fabric range that Plumbs have to offer, or view a selection of our blinds fabrics here.

Happy New Year…again!  As China sets to welcome the Year of the Dragon today, be inspired by the Orient in your own home.  Carrying on our theme of the feature wall from last week, there are an abundance of great designs which can really give that relaxed, Eastern feel to your home.  We’ve opted for a simple trailing floral design with subtle leaves, paired with a modern red and black palette.  Turin – Claret is a great, plain fabric choice to compliment the look.

For that wow factor you could be a little more daring and opt for a vibrant pink and soft yellow colour scheme.  We’ve used our very own Elana – Lipstick fabric to create these striking curtains.  Accessorise with exotic orchids and simple straight-lined furniture.  Adding a few Oriental design ornaments, such as the lantern featured will bring the whole mood together.

Paint manufacturer Dulux have unveiled their colour trends for 2012/13.  Their six distinct palettes are set to take interior design by storm, so here at Plumbs we’ve been busily preparing ideas for how you can stay on trend this year!

The great thing about colour trends is that you can pick and just choose exactly which hues you want. You could utilise the entire palette or choose the shades that will be right for you and your home.

Appropriately named Carnivale, this pretty selection of pink and lilac will give an ultra feminine feel to your room. For a more subtle approach, you could leave out the darker pink shades. Plumbs’ fabric choice: Sorrento Stripe and Summer, Soft Aubergine.

A more masculine palette can be found with Re-set, a contemporary monochrome set of blacks, whites and greys. Try patterned fabrics to break up blocks of solid colour when adopting this trend. Plumbs’ fabric choice: Chelsea Velvet – Steel with Jacobean Opulence – Black/White.

A warmer look can be created with Time-Honoured. Twinned with dark wood, these orange and red hues are sure to brighten any room. We’ve added a dash of green here to bring out an earthier feel. Plumbs’ fabric choice: Vista – Terracotta.

If the natural look is more for you, take inspiration for Dulux’s zesty Nurture trend. Mix vibrant greens with soft creams for a fresh, Spring look all year round. Plumbs’ fabric choice: Lily – Pistachio.

Raw is the slightly subtler version of this outdoor trend. Combining slate and grey/green tones gives a softer,  more neutral approach. Plumbs’ fabric choice: Fiore Check – Linen.

Finally, Immerse yourself in relaxing blues. No longer a colour scheme set aside for bathrooms, the calming tones of blue can bring tranquillity to your living space. Plumbs’ fabric choice: Floral Brocade – Turquoise.

With so much inspiration it’s time to  get the sample paint pots and the wallpaper clippings and browse Plumbs fabrics online by clicking here, or click here to arrange your Free Home Visit to see our whole range of fabrics in your own home!  We’ll be back soon with more decorating inspiration.

The clocks have gone back, the nights are drawing in and the first signs of Christmas are adorning the shop fronts – winter is well and truly on its way.  But for many of us, this year’s holiday cheer is being dampened by news of rising energy costs and worries of the implications for our heating bills.  With the ‘big six’ energy companies including British Gas and EDF Energy all announcing rises of up to 18%, it’s no wonder that so many of us are searching for a solution.

The struggle is often not heating your home, but keeping that heat in.  A huge proportion of heat can be lost through windows and under doors, as the image below shows.

So, to help you on your way, we’ve come up with 5 top tips to keeping your home warm, keeping your heating bills down and keeping your spirits high!

1) Don’t invite the cold in! Draught-proof your front door by adding a door brush; particularly useful in windy conditions.  Consider getting a door curtain – not only will this reduce the draughts coming in and the warm air getting out, a door curtain can add a real cosiness to your hallway.

2) Fill in the gaps! If your radiator is directly below your window, tuck the edges of your curtains onto the window sill.  This will prevent the hot air from the radiator escaping straight out behind your curtains.  Alternatively, you could invest in a radiator cover to ensure that heat is directed out, into the room.

3) Safeguard your windows! Opt for lined and interlined curtains to keep the draughts from coming in. Interlinings act as an extra insulation layer within the curtains. To be twice as prepared, add a blind behind your curtains.

4) Pick a pelmet! Not only do pelmets provide an excellent finishing touch to your window dressing, they can also reduce the amount of heat lost when hot air that has risen begins to cool and fall.

5) Bathrooms and kitchens! In rooms where you may not have curtains such as bathrooms or kitchens, consider installing blinds.  They may be less effective insulators than curtains, but they should certainly make some difference.  Avoid slatted blinds and opt for roman styles.

Plumbs offer made-to-measure curtains and blinds in a beautiful range of designs, so you can keep warm and you won’t have to compromise on style.

To view our range and find out more about about Plumbs’ Curtains and Blinds, click on the link below:

http://www.plumbscurtains.co.uk/

Thermal Imaging picture taken from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa/energy/heatrev3.shtml

There’s nothing like summer to give us all a breath of fresh air, just when we need it most. So it’s a delight to see the arrival of a brand new range of made-to-measure blinds from Plumbs.

If you’re stuck for ideas on how to revamp your living room, or give your bedroom a new lease of life, the experts from Plumbs are here to bring the warmth and colour of Summer into your home.

Windows are the focal point in most rooms; Modern, minimalist interiors shun heavy fabric treatments and instead favour the simple, straight lines of Roman or Roller blinds. Blinds offer a perfect mix of security, shade and style.

Plumbs Merchandise Director, Linda Hindle says: “if you prefer plain walls then bold, dramatic blinds using an eye-catching patterned fabric is very effective. You can really enhance the effect by adding a co-ordinating cushion or two.”

Linda continues: “Our home consultants always advise people to pick colours from their existing furnishings as a starting point. They will bring along samples and swatches so that people can match their new blinds to their carpets, upholstery and wall colours”.

Plumbs offer a free measuring and free quotation service by a fully trained home advisor. Plumbs can also provide curtains to co-ordinate with blinds – again a free estimate service is provided.

Several weeks ago we embarked on a clear out of our premises and to our surprise came across hundreds if not thousands of metres of discontinued fabrics. I know, not exactly something you can just lose but there you go.

So we’ve decided to have a mass clear out and offer this fabric up for only £1 per metre.

Please be assured this is not just any old rubbish. This is high quality heavyweight curtain fabric.

Just see what people on MoneySavingExpert.com are saying about us here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=2658447

If you want to get some yourself before it all goes, please visit out Curtain Shop website here:

http://www.plumbscurtainshop.co.uk/curtain-fabrics/index.html

Here is only a small selection: