Japanese panel curtains are modesty combined with laconicism, increased functionality and yet unconventional exoticism. As the name implies, the birthplace of such curtains is Japan. Residents of the Land of the Rising Sun highly value discreet asceticism, which is why the fabric panels decorating windows and doorways in their homes look simple, but perform several tasks at once:
- protect from sunlight;
- decorate the walls;
- zone the premises;
- visually expand the space;
- help create design styles such as minimalism, avant-garde or Japanese.
To fit such an element into the interior, several conditions must be met. First, choose a material that harmoniously combines with other decorative items. Secondly, consider options for placing curtain panels. And thirdly, disassemble the room and rid it of unnecessary furniture.
Installation of curtain panels
Panel curtains are designed quite simply. The main part of them is occupied by fabrics. With their upper part they are attached to simple or multi-layer Japanese cornices.
Cornices are made of plastic or light metal alloys. They can be bent in an arc, but this reduces the power of the electric motor (if the cornice is powered by an electric motor). The canvas is fixed to the cornice using Velcro. Special weighting agents are hidden in the lower part.
Cornice device
If panel curtains are used for zoning, then they are inserted from below into the horizontal bottom guide (this method is not always used).
In appearance, panel curtains resemble roller blinds, but in terms of functionality they are radically different. For example, special curtain rods allow you to move the curtain panel in any direction. They can have from 1 to 5 tracks.
And if the simplest cornices with 1 to 3 tracks are usually used to decorate windows, then more complex designs are used for zoning. They allow you to create very unusual multi-layered visual effects.
Options for “multi-layer” cornices
What is a cornice and why is it needed?
First, let's figure out what a cornice is and what it is needed for. A curtain rod is a special device attached to a wall or ceiling so that curtains can be attached to the curtain rod.
It would seem that what is so difficult here? Choosing a cornice is so simple, but in reality it turns out to be much more complicated. It is important not only to choose this necessary attribute, but also to know how to attach it correctly. The cornice is indispensable for any room where there are windows or large openings, as well as niches. The cornice is used everywhere: both in residential premises and in public ones (offices, banks, cafes, hospitals, educational institutions). To make the interior of the room harmonious, it is very important to choose the right cornice. Since in this article we are considering the question of how to choose a cornice for Japanese curtain panels, we will consider the types of cornices.
Designs of curtain rods:
- The design is simple, differing only in the number of guides. A two-row system consists of 2 tracks along which canvases or curtains “walk”. The simplest option is perfect not only for decorating a window opening, but also for making a partition in a large room and visually dividing the room into 2 parts. The panels can be placed together, connected to each other, or made independent. If you connect both halves, then the curtain will only move in one direction.
- A cornice consisting of 3 rows is designed to strengthen several pieces of fabric (3 rows). The option is universal; you can approach the design of the room with your imagination and arrange the curtains in different directions. Such a cornice will be an ideal find if you want the curtains to “look” at each other or if your idea is to purchase several options for Japanese curtains from different materials (for example, bamboo, rice paper in combination with linen).
- A cornice, consisting of four rows or tracks, is designed to place several canvases on the cornice at the same time, ranging from light curtains to heavy drapes. If you want to hide from prying eyes, then you should pay attention to such a cornice with the ability to place curtains with different densities of material in each row. Four-row cornices are perfect for decorating basements and ground floors.
- The five-row design is more suitable for designing large window openings. Wide doorways are no exception when you need to separate one room from another or visually reduce the space. Using a curtain rod with five rows, you can combine different fabrics, combining thin fabrics with denser and heavier ones.
Cornices for Japanese curtains. Photo:
Design features
Design features are something that must be taken into account when installing panel curtains. So, one or two panels in such curtains can be fixedly fixed. They are located closest to the window (in the center or on both sides) and are made of lightweight transparent material. Their task is to disperse sunlight during daylight hours.
If panel curtains are used to zone a room, then static elements are most often located outside as far as possible from the wall.
The standard length of Japanese curtain panels is from floor to ceiling (maximum value is 3.5 m), the width can vary from 0.5 to 1.6 m. But shortened models are also available, they are most often used to decorate windows on the balcony.
What should a Japanese cornice be like?
The main design feature of Japanese curtains is that they are not folded, but tightly stretched on special frames or using weight strips. Thanks to this, they can be arranged in a line, one after another, or swapped in places without removing them from the cornice. Therefore, only multi-profile curtain rods are suitable for them, and the number of tracks on them depends on the number of panels that make up the curtains.
So that the canvases can be moved and swapped freely, each of them will need a separate guide track, but if such free movement is not planned, there may be fewer guides (at least one guide for two canvases). Runners with plates attached to them are inserted into the tracks, onto which the panels are in turn attached.
The photo shows an example of an aluminum curtain rod with 5 guides and manual control. The photo shows an example of attaching curtains to the runners using adhesive tape.
Operating principle
Japanese panel curtains are driven in different ways:
- manually . Not the most advantageous option, since the material from which the fabrics are sewn quickly gets dirty with constant contact with your hands. In addition, you need to have sufficiently high physical endurance to constantly move and push apart the panels;
- using cord cords or PVC chains . Such a cornice consists of a tire, a control mechanism and profiles: their number corresponds to the number of tracks. The profiles are attached to carriages that slide in track grooves. The position and length of the cord (chain) is determined individually in accordance with the wishes of the owners of the living space. The canvases in such cornices move in groups of 2-3 pieces. To change their position, you need to pull one edge of the cord (chain).
Installation of cornices on cords (chains)
- using an electric drive . The main thing in such a cornice is the engine and the supporting rail, inside of which the control mechanism is located. The engine is equipped with a small power unit that runs on electricity. The main mechanism is driven by the remote control. After pressing the button, a movable unit attached to a cable and running inside the tire begins to change the location of the blades.
The operating principle of an electric curtain rod for Japanese curtains:
In addition, curtain panels can also be fixed. In this case, they will perform a purely decorative function.
How to manage a cornice. Options
To fully understand the mechanism for controlling the curtain rod, you need to have an idea and know what Japanese curtains look like. These are not quite familiar fabrics for many. There are a lot of variations of Japanese curtains: it can be a thin fabric sheet, or any other, denser material, only the method of hanging the sheets is slightly different. The curtains are mounted on rails that look like a screen. The lower part of the panel fastener is a little heavier than the top - this is normal, so that a slight tension is created when the curtains are unrolled. You can control curtains using a special device - a special curtain guide or cord. If you are among those who love new products, then it is worth considering the innovative technologies of civilization - controlling curtains using automation.
Let's consider each option separately:
- Manual control of curtains on the eaves - when the panels are independent of each other. Each canvas can be moved separately; the canvases (1-2 or more) remain motionless while the adjacent canvas moves. This is usually the 1st and last panel (front or back), and the central ones can be moved manually.
- Dependent manual control - when each panel depends on the neighboring one, that is, they will only move in pairs or groups. Let’s say that if you pull both cords with your hand (the first or second or both panels), then these curtain panels will close or open at the same time.
- Controlling the cornice using automation is an excellent solution for a large window opening with wide leaves. Such control will come in handy for combined curtains consisting of 3 or more stripes (up to 5 pieces). Controlling such curtains is quite simple - you just need to take the remote control and press the button. The electrical wire itself does not significantly weigh down the entire structure, but here you need to be prepared for the fact that the wires will protrude slightly beyond the eaves and if you look closely, you will see protruding wires.
Materials
Nowadays, you can simply get lost if you go to the store for curtain rods without prior preparation. What kind of curtain rod should be used for Japanese curtains? Of course, not only functional, but also beautiful. The materials used for the manufacture of these devices are different: from standard and inexpensive plastic in light shades to heavier materials, such as metal. Cornices can be not only plastic and metal, but also aluminum. The wide selection of colors and materials makes you think. How to make the right choice?
Let's start by looking at the simplest and most affordable option - plastic curtain rods for Japanese curtains. The price of this device is low, so demand remains consistently high. For installing curtain rods made of 2 or 3 panels, plastic is the most suitable option. This cornice is suitable for a small window opening. It is best to operate the curtains manually.
If you are planning to decorate window openings using curtains of different densities and in several rows, then you need to consider a more durable version of the cornice, for example, aluminum or metal. Such a cornice will withstand heavy loads and will not deform even after several years of use.
If you want to install an automatic control system for Japanese curtains, then you need to purchase a durable metal curtain rod. This material is time-tested - it is treated with a special coating that repels moisture, so even after 10 years of use, your Japanese curtain rod will look like new.
You can buy Japanese cornices in specialized stores, construction hypermarkets, or order a suitable option on the website.
Where can I use it?
Japanese panel curtains look good in both small and large rooms. And the more modest the area available, the calmer the colors of such products should be.
But if:
- The room is not only cramped, but also has very small windows;
- the interior is decorated in cozy home styles (Provence, country) or elaborate “expensive” (empire, baroque);
- the room is literally littered with furniture, it is difficult to “breathe” in it, then in these cases it is better to refuse Japanese panel curtains. They simply won't fit into the interior.
Such fabric panels are appropriate everywhere: in the kitchen, living room, loggia and bedroom. For example, in the living room they can be used both as curtains, draping windows with them, and as doors, decorating the doorway with similar products.
In both cases, the color of the curtain panels is matched to the main shade of the interior, which allows you to visually expand the boundaries of the room.
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Panel curtains are also necessary in the bedroom, because they so organically refract the color of the sun. As a result, the room is immersed in a pleasant twilight, which is diluted with minor splashes of color.
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A large, originally designed bathroom is another place that will only benefit from its “neighborhood” with such products. After all, panel curtains do not take up free space and create a comfortable level of privacy.
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Manufacturing materials
Most often, curtain rods for Japanese curtains are made from high-quality plastic or metal (aluminum or steel). They are selected based on the following recommendations:
- Simple plastic curtain rods are the most common and fairly cheap option, but they are only suitable for small windows and light curtains. It may not be able to withstand curtains with a lot of weight.
- For heavy curtains consisting of four or more panels, an aluminum curtain rod is better suited to withstand their weight and not bend.
- If you plan to use Japanese curtains to decorate panoramic glazing, it is recommended to choose a steel cornice with automatic control that can withstand heavy loads without loss of performance properties and presentation.
Master class on making Japanese curtain panels
Even novice craftswomen (craftsmen) can sew Japanese panel curtains. After all, they are a symbiosis of several rectangular-shaped canvases. In the upper part there is Velcro, in the lower part there is a weighting agent. And all you need to do:
- cut the fabric to specific sizes;
- hem allowances;
- attach Velcro (soft part);
- iron the fabric;
- insert weights into it;
- glue the hard part of the Velcro to the profiles;
- hang ready-made curtains.
Let's look at each stage step by step.
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List of required materials
Japanese panel curtains must be mounted on a special cornice. But since its cost is not affordable for everyone, you can use a regular ceiling holder. The maximum number of tracks in such a product is 3. And if there are more panels, then you need to install two ceiling cornices together.
In addition to the cornice, to make such curtains you will need to purchase:
Textile
Threads
Weighting material, such as lead thread
Velcro (or curtain tape and hooks)
After this, you need to decide on the density, color and number of textile fabrics and get to work.
List of required tools
To sew a panel curtain, you need to prepare in advance:
A bar of dry soap or chalk
Long ruler
Large tailor's scissors
Thread and needle
You will also need an iron: you can use it to quickly iron seam allowances.
Calculations
To calculate how much material you need to purchase to sew panel curtains for a specific window, you need to do the following:
- measure the width and height of the window;
- decide how long the future curtain should be;
- determine how wide one panel should be;
- decide how many panels in total will be placed on the cornice.
For example:
- Window width - 3 m, height - 2.50 m.
- The width of one panel is 70 cm, the height is 2.50 m.
- The window will have four panels made of thick fabric and one of thin fabric.
- Fabric consumption: dense material - cut size 320 x 270 cm, thin material - cut size 80 x 270 cm.
- Dimensions are given taking into account allowances (4 cm on both sides, 5 cm on top and 5 cm on the bottom). The allowances can be reduced slightly.
Fabric preparation and processing
If the curtain is made from natural or artificial fabrics that shrink significantly, then before cutting the material it will need to be washed or thoroughly wetted and allowed to dry. Then the fabric will need to be ironed and only after that proceed to further work.
If the material practically does not shrink, it will be enough to iron it from the wrong side.
Short Japanese panel curtains, consisting of two types of materials:
How to sew curtains
Preliminary work:
- The material is spread on the floor or a long wide table.
- The location of the lobe and transverse threads is determined (cutting is done along the lobe thread, otherwise the finished fabric may skew). This is done like this: a piece of fabric is stretched in all directions. And the direction that lends itself to stretching the worst is the location of the lobar threads.
- Using a long ruler and a piece of chalk (soap), markings are made. At this stage, side, top and bottom allowances must be taken into account.
- The fabric is cut into rectangular sheets of the required width (in our example - 70 cm + 8 cm for side allowances).
Main part (steps are repeated sequentially on all canvases):
- The side sections are turned inside out and secured with an iron.
- Allowances are secured by machine stitching or by hand.
- The upper and lower allowances are laid, also secured with an iron and stitched.
- If the curtain panel will hang on the ceiling cornice, a curtain tape is sewn to its top (on the reverse side). If it is attached to a special cornice, then the Velcro is divided into two parts, and the soft one is attached to the top of the product. You can hang a Japanese panel curtain on a pipe-shaped cornice. In this case, the main part of the pipe-shaped crossbar is simply inserted into the upper “pocket” (it was obtained as a result of stitching the seam allowance).
- A weighting agent is inserted into the lower allowance.
- The edges of the allowance are slightly sewn together so that it does not pop out when the curtains move.
That's it, the curtains are ready. All that remains is to hang them on the cornice.
Installation on a cornice
You need to understand that if not a special, but an alternative cornice (in the shape of a pipe) is used to install Japanese panel curtains, then such products will either perform a decorative function or will simply replace ordinary curtains. In this case, you won’t be able to create an unusual overlay effect. When using several ceiling holders that are mounted next to each other, it should be remembered that the space between the canvases will not have the same dimensions. This will also negatively affect the overall visual picture.
To secure the curtain to a special curtain rod, you must:
- glue the hard part of the Velcro to the outside of each profile using a glue gun;
- take the finished canvas and carefully connect the Velcro together;
- the finished part of the curtain is moved to the side, and the next canvas is attached to the next profile.
In this case, each canvas should overlap the adjacent canvas by approximately 5 cm.
Long curtains on the ceiling cornice:
Step-by-step instruction
As already noted, sewing Japanese curtains with your own hands is not at all difficult, and even a novice master can cope with this task if desired. The main thing is to strictly follow the sewing algorithm.
Guided by this algorithm, you will soon be admiring the finished product decorating yours.
This accessory combines sophistication and rigor, which allows them to fit well into almost any interior. Japanese style look most impressive on large window openings. They will successfully decorate a store window, a niche, can serve as interior partitions and are successfully combined with curtains, drapes, and can be used in curtain format.
The fabric for Japanese curtains can be different: linen, cotton, shikatan, bamboo, silk, sutra. Often materials of different textures and colors are used for panels. The fabric is attached using a special cornice with several channels. To ensure uniform movement of the canvases, the upper edge is fixed with Velcro adhesive tape, and the lower edge is weighted with a special weight that is sewn into their bottom.
It is important to consider the profile material, for example, plastic will reduce noise levels and reduce the distance between the tire and the top panel. When choosing a cornice, you need to take into account the following parameters: dimensions, number and type of brackets, height and side of the cord control, type of sliding (from the center, one-sided). The panels can cover part of the wall or just the opening at the request of the owner.
How to care for screen curtains
Caring for curtains in Japanese style depends on what material was used to sew them. Fabric panels can be placed in the washing machine.
In this case, you must strictly adhere to the instructions and set the delicate wash mode. Simply wipe the plastic product with a soapy sponge. To clean the bamboo structure, you will need a vacuum cleaner.
After Japanese curtains are cleaned or washed, they are immediately hung without waiting for them to dry completely so that they acquire a smoothed appearance.
A Japanese curtain in the interior opens up wide scope for design ideas. It does not clutter up the space, but on the contrary, adds novelty and originality to it. With it you can create a design in different colors and textures that will bring an atmosphere of comfort and coziness to the room.
Selection of cornice
Depending on the number of panels, a cornice with several rows of tires can be used. To determine the number of panels, it is important to take correct measurements of the window opening. You also need to take into account that curtain panels can cover either the entire wall or only the window opening.
The plastic profile of the cornice will be less noisy when opening, and will also reduce the distance between the panel itself and the tire.
The cornice for Japanese curtains can be made to order, for example, in the case of non-standard window sizes. But a store-bought cornice that fits your window will be much cheaper. In addition, sewing it yourself can reduce the cost of Japanese curtains.
When choosing the type of cornice, you need to decide on the following parameters:
- Type and number of brackets.
- Dimensions.
- Height and side of the stern control (same as vertical blinds).
- Type of sliding (will the curtains open in both directions or only in one)
An important component is the presence of manual control or electric drive. The cornice itself can be attached to both the wall and the ceiling.
