What should you consider when installing curtains? At Port of Altea, we answer that question from the perspective of the home, not from a single sales pitch. Curtains should be practical, technically suitable and visually appropriate for living on the Costa Blanca. In this article, you will learn which choices really make a difference.
Start with how the space is used
The quality of the end result is largely determined during preparation and installation. The substrate or fixing point must be suitable for the chosen system.
A bedroom, living room, rental apartment or villa has different requirements. Therefore, note who uses the space, what inconvenience you currently experience and what level of maintenance you consider acceptable. This helps prevent an attractive solution from becoming a daily disappointment.
What makes curtains appealing?
Curtains can help regulate light, privacy, atmosphere and warmth in a room. Quality is not determined by one characteristic alone. Also consider measurements, installation location, operation, fabric or material, and how the product connects with the window frame and interior. Ask for an explanation of the complete construction, not just the visible colour or collection.
A sample is intended to help assess the material, but it does not automatically show how repetition, direction, drape or texture will look across a large surface. Therefore, view several samples in daylight and place them next to walls, the kitchen, furniture and existing materials.
Technology before decoration
First check the base on which or to which the product will be installed. For floors, this concerns flatness, stability, moisture, existing tiles, doors and skirting boards. For window coverings, it concerns the window frame, wall or ceiling, the unobstructed movement of windows, shutters, handles and available installation space.
Temperature and sun exposure also play a role. Large expanses of glass can generate considerable local heat. Materials must be suitable for their position and installed according to the technical specifications.
Accurate measuring prevents costly remedial work
Photos and approximate measurements help with an initial price indication. For bespoke work, we measure accurately and check irregularities, corners, recesses and connections. For continuous flooring, sightlines and transition points are determined in advance; for curtains and systems, stack-back space and operation determine whether doors and windows remain usable.
Record the final specification in writing. Consider direction, pattern, colour, operating side, installation height, skirting boards, tracks and profiles. A verbal detail is particularly difficult to retrieve after production.
What determines a complete price?
The price consists of both materials and execution. For a floor, this includes levelling, adhesive or underlay, cutting waste, skirting boards, profiles and installation. For window coverings, it includes factors such as the amount of fabric, making-up, tracks, brackets, operation and installation.
Therefore, compare quotations line by line. A lower material price can disappear once necessary preparation or finishing is added later. Ask what is explicitly not included; that question often provides more clarity than negotiating over a separate price per square metre.
Colour and appearance in Spanish light
Bright daylight can make cool colours appear harsher and warm shades more yellow. Dark materials show dust or sand more quickly, while extremely light colours may appear more sensitive to daily use. A mottled or natural mid-tone is often forgiving.
View the material at different times of day. Consider not only the colour, but also the sheen, transparency, pile direction, pattern repeat and how the surface looks from adjoining rooms.
Maintenance and everyday use
Regularly remove sand and loose dirt before it starts causing abrasion. Use cleaning products specifically suitable for the material and use them sparingly. Treat a stain calmly at first, following the advice; vigorous rubbing often makes the damage worse.
Protect floors beneath furniture and check window products for unobstructed movement. Do not force anything that moves stiffly. Early attention to a loose connection, unusual noise or misalignment prevents greater repair costs.
Common mistakes
- Ordering based on a single small sample or a screen image.
- Using approximate measurements for definitive bespoke work.
- Failing to include preparation and installation in the quotation.
- Not taking doors, skirting boards, handles or existing systems into account.
- Automatically using the same solution for every room.
- Discussing maintenance only after the product has been installed.
A plan for an apartment, villa or holiday home
An apartment often requires a low-profile installation, limited installation time and attention to noise. In a villa, large surfaces, high windows and continuous sightlines play a greater role. In a holiday home, materials should be easy to manage and able to withstand changing users.
Combine solutions when it makes sense. A hard floor in the living area can be combined with carpet in bedrooms; sheer window coverings for daytime can be combined with blackout curtains for the evening. The function may differ from room to room while the colour and style remain cohesive.
Planning alongside other work
A floor or window covering is rarely completely separate from painting, kitchen installation, electrical work or new doors. Determine in advance which tradesperson comes first and which measurement depends on a finished wall, floor or ceiling. Measuring too early can mean that the final situation changes by a few millimetres or centimetres.
Protect new materials during subsequent work and agree on who will move furniture, remove existing products and dispose of waste. A clear sequence of work prevents haste, damage and disputes on the installation day.
What can you check at handover?
Do not look only at the overall impression. Also check edges, seams, skirting boards, profiles, tracks, brackets, operation and connections around doors or window frames. Walk on or operate the product carefully and ask immediately about anything that is unclear.
Ask what maintenance is permitted from the first day and keep the product information and colour details. This is helpful if a component, additional room or extra window later needs to be completed in the same style.
Checklist before ordering
- Take photos and note approximate measurements.
- Describe how the space is used, its sun exposure and your desired level of privacy or comfort.
- Have the substrate or installation location assessed.
- View real samples in the light of the home.
- Record the specification, direction, operation and finish.
- Request a complete price including preparation and installation.
Advice from Port of Altea
Port of Altea provides advice, measuring, delivery and professional installation. Read more about curtains, view all curtains and window coverings or make an appointment at our showroom in La Nucía.