You have now decided on the style of the drapery treatment and selected the appropriate fabric. The next decision is what drapery rod to use. Drapery hardware is the most difficult of all the components in a window treatment. You will want to make a hardware selection that not only looks good with the draperies but will function well and hold up under daily use. This third article of this series on window treatments will deal with the different types of drapery rods, their functional application and choosing the rod style.
There are basically three types of drapery rods; traverse, manual, and rods for stationary treatments. Traverse rods have a pulley system enabling you to open and close the draperies by pulling on a cord. They come in many different styles. The most simple traverse rod is a plain white non-decorative track. This is usually used in treatments that are covered at the top with a valance or cornice. There are also many styles of traverse rods that are decorative. These are left exposed to finish off the top of the window treatment and may be contemporary or traditional. Most are made of metals in various finishes but may also be made of wood. Traverse rods are best used with pinch pleated draperies because this style of pleating holds its shape with constant opening and closing.
Then we have manually operated rods, an alternative for mounting draperies that need to move. This type usually consists of a rod with rings. The treatment is actually opened and closed by manually pulling the panels to the desired position. These systems come in styles for every decor and components are often manufactured to mix and match.
Another type of manual rod is known as industrial track. Originally developed for commercial use, this streamlined track (usually in white or brushed chrome) has hidden glides that hold the drapery treatment.
The last type of drapery rod to consider is strictly for stationary treatments. The drapery panels are usually shirred onto the rod through a rod pocket sewn into the panels. Stationary sheers are often installed in this manner. Knowing the different types of drapery hardware available and how they operate will help you choose which is best for your window treatment.
When choosing drapery hardware, it is important to think about function. You will want to consider your daily living habits and what the window treatment is meant to do. If the draperies are to open and close on a daily basis, a traverse rod could be the best choice. It is the easiest to operate and the draperies require no “fussing” to make them look right. The one disadvantage is that traverse rods are usually made in limited designs.. Another approach is to use the rod and rings style. However, you will have to open and close the treatment by hand. Using the rod and rings style gives far more possibilities to match your decor. This is also a good choice for drapery panels that never have to move. One example would be stationary draperies flanking a window on each side. Another way to hang stationary panels is by shirring them onto a rod through a rod pocket. A decorative rod can often be used for this purpose. Sheers that do not have to move are often installed by shirring them onto a very thin plain white rod. If you first decide on the functional aspects of the drapery treatment, the hardware will typically fall into place.
Having considered all of the practical points in drapery hardware, you are now ready to choose the style. Currently the most popular style is the hand operated decorative rod and rings. Most of these are in various formal styles and can come in heavily carved wood or various painted and metal leafed colors. Others types are more casual, such as the thin metal rods and rings that are found in many finishes including black wrought iron.
If your interiors are more contemporary, you may want to consider the industrial track. Typically used as a system to divide hospital beds, this style of rod has become very popular for residential use. It works particularly well in loft spaces and can even be suspended from the ceiling for an industrial look. If you are concerned about convenience, you may want to use a traverse rod. This type of rod is usually made in the traditional styles, but can be found in a more contemporary look. Some of them come in a “rod and rings” style, others have hidden carriers to hold the drapery panels. If you are hanging drapery panels that do not need to move at all, there are infinite possibilities. A rod with rings is a good choice as well as shirring the draperies onto the rod itself. Whatever hardware style you choose, just be sure that the size is in scale with the drapery treatment and the rest of the decor. By being familiar with the hardware styles available, you will be able to choose the one that is right for you.
Putting it together, my next and final article in this series, will deal with how the design, fabric and hardware come together to create a window treatment that will complete your room decor.
Joseph Rice is an interior designer who offers full decorating services. With 21 years experience, he specializes in designing drapery treatments for “hard to treat” windows. You can reach him at Joseph Rice Interiors, Inc. (773) 271-2361; or e-mail jos.riceinteriors@att.net.