Curtain Rods: Wood or Metal?
Give your windows top billing with curtain hardware that hits the high notes
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The right decorative rod can turn up the "wow" volume of your curtains and help achieve the look and feel you want in any room. Wood and metal curtain rods are typical choices, but which one do you go with?
A wood rod can bring in a natural element or give a stately feel. A metal rod can break up a room that already has a lot of wood and bring in a modern element. Here are more points to consider.
A wood rod can bring in a natural element or give a stately feel. A metal rod can break up a room that already has a lot of wood and bring in a modern element. Here are more points to consider.
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| Wood Consider wood curtain rods for wide and tall windows. Wooden rods support heavy curtains better than metal because they are not hollow. Poles come in 3-inch, 2¼-inch, 2-inch, and 1⅜-inch diameters. The bigger the window, the larger the diameter you will want. Note: Wood curtain poles have to be purchased in the exact size you need or cut to size, unlike some metal ones. |
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Wood poles can be purchased prefinished in a large variety of stains and paints, or can be purchased unfinished. They come in many styles, including fluted — a very popular choice, because the grooves give a two-tone look.
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by Decor by Denise
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| Create a luxurious and rich look using chunky wood rods with a crackle finish, and hang a solid silk curtain from them on rings. This style works for both living and dining rooms. |
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I feel like doing the twist with this great wood rod in a twist shape with a robust Italian walnut finish. A beautiful warm-tone curtain would look fabulous with it.
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Metal
Metal curtain rods offer great options for contemporary and unique styles and finishes. Finials come in many funky shapes (including square) and sometimes even have glass and mirror components.
Metal curtain rods offer great options for contemporary and unique styles and finishes. Finials come in many funky shapes (including square) and sometimes even have glass and mirror components.
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| Here is an example of a beautiful glass finial on a metal rod. |
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| Metal curtain rods offer a nice contrast in a room with a lot of wood furniture. |
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Add glitz to a room with a polished nickel or chrome rod.
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| If you're using a metal rod for wide windows, go for a 1-inch or larger diameter and make sure it has numerous brackets to support it, because metal rods are hollow inside and can bow in the middle. Note: Unlike wood rods, metal rods are sold in adjustable lengths. |
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This brass curtain rod has a high-end look with porcelain finials. It would look great in a traditional, Art Deco or transitional space. Keep the curtains simple and light.
More:
Window Valances for Every Style
Pretty (and Money-Saving) Window Treatments
Custom Draperies 101
More:
Window Valances for Every Style
Pretty (and Money-Saving) Window Treatments
Custom Draperies 101
Ideabook updated on Feb. 26, 2012.
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That's not entirely accurate.
While there are a great many flimsy metal rods out there, quality beefy metal non-adjustable rods can support just as much, if not more, weight than a wood rod.
If you google brass railings you'll find a number of companies that offer this stuff - you might be able to find a business close to you and save money on shipping. Perhaps another way to save money is to buy the metal tubing at a big box store and buy the brackets and finials at a brass rail shop. The photos I'm attaching show a variety of rods, brackets, flanges and finials that I ended up using in my library, dining room and kitchen. (My neighbor was so impressed she ended up doing the same thing in her home.)
Hope this helps! :-)