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Is your patio a bit bare and exposed to the weather? Perhaps you should think about redecorating your outdoor living space with a few drapery panels to provide a bit of covering against rain, win, and sun so you can enjoy your patio comfortably in any type of weather.
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Decorative Panels Do you have a patio attached to your house or out in your garden? Is it exposed to the weather and unsuitable to use during rainy and bad weather? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might want to consider sprucing up your patio with some drapery panels. You can choose to use decorative or functional panels on your patio, and both have their pros and cons. Decorative panels aren’t made to keep out the bad weather, but they do provide some shelter, and they can also keep out the wind, which will make your patio a bit warmer in cool weather.
Functional Panels Functional panels can still be decorative, but they are much sturdier than purely decorative drapery panels. You can choose to have them permanently in place, or you can choose panels that draw across your patio when you want to protect your extended living space from the weather. Functional panels keep out the rain and wind, but they can also be used in the summer to add a bit of shade to your yard and keep out the worst of the heat.
Drapery Headers If your drapery panels are going to be functional, you must consider what type of header you will use. If you choose a rod pocket type of header, you must have 1.5 times fullness so that there will be enough space. If you’re going to use an oversized grommet header style with an inside diameter of 1.5” or more, you will need a minimum of 2 times fullness. If you’re going to use a tracking system, you’re going to need #2 sized grommets with 1.5 times fullness.
Selecting Your Fabric After you have decided which header you will use for your drapery panels, it’s time to choose what type of fabric you want. For decorative panels, you can choose whatever you like, just make sure you can keep it clean. For functional panels, you need something a little more sturdy and ideally waterproof or made from outdoor fabric of some kind. Two of the most popular outdoor fabrics are Sunbrella and Bella Dura.
Ordering Your Fabric Ordering your fabric online isn’t as hard as you might think. Though you can only see the style and color of the fabric you choose, most sites will also have a description of how durable the fabric is and if it’s suitable for outdoor weather. Also, you can order samples of fabric. That way, you can feel it and see the colors up close and personal. This will allow you to be really sure that it’s right for your patio.
Caring for Your Drapes Even if the fabric you choose for your drapery panels are waterproof and meant for the outdoors, you will probably need to clean them at some point. When you buy your fabric online, there should be instructions for washing and drying. For Sunbrella fabrics, you should brush the dirt off, then make a mixture of gentle dish soap and water, and then scrub the fabric with a bristle brush. Let the soap soak in, and then hose it off with water and let it air dry.
Custom Drapes Though you can order the fabric and make your own drapes, you can also order custom made drapes as well. The first step to ordering custom drapes is filling out a cost estimate . After you find out what your drapes will cost, you can start figuring out how many panels you want and how you want to hang them. Then simply send in your order along with the required measurements and what kind of fabric you would like.
Patio Accessories After hanging your drapes, you may want a few more accessories for your patio to make it more comfortable. A nice set of cozy chairs and a table makes any patio more welcoming and friendly. Also, the material you used for your drapes can just as easily be made into pillow and cushion covers as well. That way, your accessories can stay outside and you don’t have to worry about them getting moldy or covered in mildew.
Drapery Panels Built to Last When you start a drapery project, remember to use fabric that will last a long time. Taking proper care of your drapes will also ensure that they stay nice looking and hold up for many years. Finally, don’t forget to choose a color and pattern that you will like for several years at least. If you’re remodeling your house or painting it, keep in mind that you want your patio to be decorated in matching or complimentary colors.
