Elegant, light blocking, and part of our everyday lives, curtains are an important and pervasive piece of interior decoration. What you may not know is that the history of this piece of textile unveils a fascinating look into the evolution of fabric creation and trading, showing how this simple but effective invention quickly changed lives all around the globe. It also reveals that curtains have a surprising amount of different uses that you can apply to your own life.
The Beginning
With such a simple idea (a single drape of fabric used to visually obscure an area), it may not come as a shock to learn that many believe curtains to have been invented around 3000 B.C, specifically in ancient Egypt. With the expanse of trade routes, the invention found itself decorating Greco-Roman homes.
As further trading allowed, different textiles became more common (such as silks being traded from the east), and so the varieties in colors and types of curtains became more varied than ever. Curtains were seen as more of a luxury item in many circles. That, combined with the increasing fascination of all things “oriental”, means opulent designs and dyes combined eastern imagery. With the upcoming Industrial Revolution, curtains finally became easy to mass-produce and soon became accessible to homes across the world.
Functionality Over Time
Surprisingly, curtains didn’t quite start as the window decoration that you see today. They served as more of a room divider, allowing residence of a single room or small home some privacy without having to construct a whole wall. These hanging textiles were made of thick, sturdy fabric, and most likely wouldn’t make for the easily maneuverable window decorations you see today. Eventually, they would become made of lighter hybrid materials, easier to hang up and generally maneuver, and become widely available to buy and look at through a variety of vendors. As you can imagine, this opened up curtains to be available for a variety of uses.
Some popular varieties of curtains that have been developed include:
Of course, there are accessories (such as rods and ties) that can help you further customize your new curtains, or just assist in making them as easy as possible to use.
Tip: To add an additional level of opacity and increase the privacy capability of your curtains (or to increase its overall energy efficiency), separate liners can be used.
Looking for High-Quality Curtains to Buy Online? The Curtain Shop Has What you Need
If you’re looking to buy high-quality curtains and accessories from the convenience of an online space where you can take control of the purchasing decision, The Curtain Shop can help.
If you have any questions as to our online curtain selection or the uses of our decor, contact us at 1-800-385-4211 today. We’ll even be happy to send you a free fabric sample. Also, get the hottest deals on our curtains and other home items.
