Curtain fabric question: how do I narrow it down to THE ONE?

[Nontoxic]

I'm all set to finally provide our house with decent curtains, but find myself crippled with indecision when faced with rows of fabrics and sample books.

I don't know where to start - I visit fabric shops, bring home samples (often buy a metre or so), then am crippled with indecision (or DH doesn't like anything I do).

So we plod on with our Ikea specials (apologies) or leave them totally bare.

Can someone please help me to break out of this pathetic, indecisive straitjacket?

[Nontoxic]

anyone?

[feelimmature]

Don't buy so much fabric in the samples! You should be able to tell by looking at the roll if you like the pattern, and then just have a little scrap to match the colours when you get home. Have you tried John Lewis? They have allll sorts.

[Nontoxic]

I've spent hours in JL - my head spins with it all.
Think I'm too concerned with it being perfect, as I know I'll have to live with whatever I choose for years.
And if you're looking in a pattern book it's not on a roll.

[bran]

If you're worried about making an expensive mistake why not go for a plain colour that will go with most things in your room? Or just go for a pattern that you like and resign yourself to redecorating the room around it.

Anytime I've ever had patterned curtains I've ended up redecorating to make it look right, this isn't necessarily a bad thing as it usually ends up better than it started. The last couple of moves that we've done I've just bought pre-made curtains from John Lewis/Next/other resonable quality supplier in a single colour, sometimes with a texture-pattern in the weave. We've always needed them in a hurry and then moved before we felt the need to have new ones made.

My mum sometimes uses an interior designer to narrow down the choice, especially if she is doing a complete room revamp with new sofa covers etc. She gives a general idea of what she wants and gets back a few complete room ideas including paint, soft furnishing etc.

[Nontoxic]

Thanks all. Think I really need a designer, but can't see DH paying for one.
Maybe I should take a course.

[feelimmature]

Just be brave. Go with something different, take a risk. When I visit other peoples houses its always those with something unusual that I admire. Plain curtains are dull.

[NorbertDentressangle]

How come there are so many to choose from?

Its just thatI'm trying to find fabric for curtains for our newly decorated bedroom and can't find any! Problem is I need them to match the bedding exactly and can't find a close enough shade.

Do you have a friend that you can rope in to help you? Someone that you can say "Right, which looks best...this or this?"

[Nontoxic]

I agree re. the plain curtains - I so don't want it to look like a John lewis display room.
Maybe I'll just take the plunge and splash out at Designers Guild.

[GossipMonger]

Try Dunelm.

Think which colour you would like and how much you want to spend and stick to it.

Dunelm do lovely curtains and at reasonable prices.

[feelimmature]

YES DESIGNERS GUILD Go for it!!

Any links?

[Nontoxic]

Norbert, I mean curtain fabric rather than ready-mades - that's why there's so much to choose from.

I think I need to set my mind to it and trawl through all
my magazines for inspiration.