Curtains play an essential role in the general aesthetic of any room, with the living room, not an exception. How your curtains look depends on you, but asking questions to get things right with your living room curtains is okay.
Considering how beneficial living room curtains can be, whether they should match the wall or floor color, how high they rise, or how low they should go can be something to ponder.
While some people prefer that their living room curtains touch the floor, others say living room curtains must not touch the floor. Both schools of thought can be right for several varied reasons.
In this blog post, I will provide insights and considerations when deciding whether your living room curtains should touch the floor.
Advantages Of Living Room Curtains Touching the Floor
1. Enhanced Aesthetics
Living room curtains that touch the floor improve the overall look of the space. Whether opened or closed, living room curtains that touch the floor add elegance and sophistication to the living room.
2. Illusion Of Taller Windows And Higher Ceilings
Living room curtains that touch the floor seem to elongate the space by making the windows appear taller and the ceiling higher. If you have a comparatively short living room height, one of the tricks to make it appear taller is to let your curtains touch the floor.
3. Better Light Control And Privacy
As briefly mentioned in the opening paragraph, one of the benefits of curtains is that you get to control the amount of light entering your room and, thus, your level of privacy. This advantage is further enhanced when living room curtains touch the floor. The curtains’ contact with the floor blocks more light from coming in and improves privacy.
4. Sound Regulation
Living room curtains that touch the floor further absorb sound from indoors and outdoors. While the living room sounds less echoey with curtains that touch the floor, the volume of sound coming from outside is also toned down a bit due to the long curtains.
Considerations for Living Room Curtains Above the Floor
If you find yourself in the dilemma of deciding the length of the curtains in your living room, consider the following to aid in your decision:
1. Practicality For High-Traffic Areas
If more people frequently use your living room, it would be more practical to have curtains above the floor. With the regular movement of adults, especially children and pets, installing floor-length curtains in your living room is not advisable.
Living room curtains above the floor have less tendency to make anyone trip on them, making it great for spaces with lots of foot traffic.
2. Cost
Living room curtains that do not touch the floor tend to be less costly as they require less fabric than those that touch the floor. This is obvious because more material is needed for curtains that go all the way to the floor. Therefore, if money is a deciding factor, opt for living room curtains above the floor.
3. Ease Of Cleaning And Maintenance
Living room curtains above the floor tend to get dirtier less quickly. Because there is no contact with the floor, these curtains hardly pick up dust and debris from the floor. This makes it less likely to get dirty. Hence, you do not have to wash or vacuum them as frequently as floor-length curtains.
4. Visual Appeal And Contemporary Style
For a contemporary style, living room curtains above the floor work better. Floor-length curtains give a traditional theme though sophisticated. Living room curtains above the floor still look good while maintaining a casual vibe.
Factors To Consider When Deciding On The Length Of Your Living Room Curtains
1. Room Size And Ceiling Height
Before you decide if your living room curtains should touch the floor, consider the room size. If your living room is small and has a low ceiling, it would be great to go for curtains that touch the floor, as these will create an illusion of height and area.
For a more intimate feel in a large and high living room, curtains above the floor will do the trick as these will make the space appear smaller.
2. Curtain Fabric And Design
The curtain fabric and design can influence whether to allow your curtains to touch the floor. Living room curtains made from light and flowy fabric look better when installed to touch the floor.
On the other hand, heavy fabric living room curtains look good above the floor as they maintain their shape and structure better. Also, if your curtains have some form of design, you may want to show that off, and the better option is to make them not touch the floor.
3. Furniture Placement And Overall Room Décor
The positioning of your furniture and how you want your entire living room to look will influence whether your curtains should touch the floor or not. If your furniture is pushed to your living room walls, it makes no sense to have curtains that touch the floor, as it will be more challenging to open and close the curtains. Also, the beauty of the curtains may not be entirely showcased in this case.
4. Maintenance Culture
Depending on how you feel about cleaning and maintaining your curtains, you can decide whether to have your living room curtains touching the floor or not. Curtains that touch the floor tend to pick up dirt and dust more quickly and must be cleaned more frequently.
However, curtains that hang above the floor may take a bit longer to get dirty and do not need as much cleaning and maintenance.
5. Budget
How much you are willing to spend on your curtains can help you decide whether your living room curtains should touch the floor. Curtains that touch the floor mostly require more fabric, translating into more cost, while curtains above the floor can be less expensive because they need less material.
6. Practicality
Before letting your living room curtains touch the floor, ask yourself if it makes practical sense. If there is a comparatively higher number of users of the space, the tendency to trip may be heightened if you install curtains that touch the floor.
With children and pets also at home, installing living room curtains that hang above the floor would be more practical.
Balancing Factors: Floor-Length Curtains That Do Not Touch The Floor
I know you would like it if I said you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Why choose one over the other when you can have floor-length curtains that do not touch the floor? I hope these options will clear up your confusion.
1. Styling Options With Adjustable Curtain Lengths
If you want versatility in your living room curtain styling, adjustable curtain lengths can help you achieve that. Adjustable curtain lengths also help to enhance the benefits of curtains further. With adjustable curtain lengths, you have even more control of your privacy and lighting, better sound and thermal regulation, and a more decorative look.
Instead of one layer of curtain, you can install a light curtain and layer it on top with a thicker one. That way, you can open the thicker ones while leaving the lighter ones closed. To hold the thicker curtain in place, you can use decorative hooks to add to the general aesthetic of the living room. Doing this varies the lengths of both curtains.
2. Benefits Of A Tailored And Deliberate Approach
Anything that is tailored to your needs is something that brings you the utmost possible long-term satisfaction. So you can decide which length your living room curtains should be. This decision will primarily be based on your preference, but other factors may subtly influence it.
Because your curtain length is customized, you can work with it to create a theme that suits your taste and meet your needs.
3. Achieving A Balanced And Harmonious Look
It is advisable to consider the other elements in your living room when installing your curtains. You do not want your space to look non-cohesive after putting everything together. That is why it is essential to consider your color scheme, textures, patterns, and other design elements in your room when choosing your curtain length.
Floor-length curtains that are slightly above the floor ensure that you have that balanced, harmonious look in your living room.
Conclusion
Living room curtains give you great control of your privacy and lighting and allow you to regulate heat and sound in your space while still serving their aesthetic purpose.
Deciding to let your living room curtains should be based on how much you’re willing to spend, the size of your living room, your cleaning and maintenance culture, the functionality of the length, and how it ties in with your style and theme of the living room.
Though these factors are all essential, I would encourage you to decide on the length that suits your taste so you are fulfilled every time you look at your curtains. Whatever your decision, maintaining cohesion and balance in your living room is critical. Do not be afraid to experiment, research, and do what suits you.