What type of cornice is best suited for stretch ceilings?

What should be taken into account when choosing a curtain rod?

The first and most important question that needs to be answered before buying a hidden curtain rod is whether the film is already stretched or you are just going to install a suspended ceiling? The choice of material, design, mounting method and other key points depend on the answer.

1. Already installed. If during the work the craftsmen did not fix the mortgage along the window, the installation of a ceiling curtain rod for suspended ceilings is practically impossible. Although there are methods, they all involve piercing or even cutting the canvas, so one careless action can lead to damage and forced replacement. To avoid this, buy a wall curtain rod: in a wide range of curtains of different colors, styles and designs, everyone will find something for themselves.
2. More in the plans. In this case, the possibilities are almost endless: ask the craftsmen to fix a wooden beam (mortgage) or make a niche along the window, or still give preference to a wall cornice if it suits the chosen interior style.

Once the choice of the type of fastening is made, proceed to the next stage. When searching for a cornice for a stretch ceiling, consider:

• Material of manufacture. They can be made of wood, plastic, aluminum. We will consider in more detail in the next section.
• Design features. For example, if you already have curtains on eyelets, only a model with a rod will do. There are also string, busbar and profile ones.
• Number of “tracks”. How many layers of fabric are expected? A single one is enough for light tulle or simple curtains without it, a double one is the standard, suitable for fixing tulle and curtains, a triple one is necessary for complex designs with lambrequins. The most popular track cornices have two or three levels.
• Size. Of course, numbers are a must! A hidden cornice or track is most often mounted from wall to wall – so to determine the dimensions, it is enough to measure the wall with the window. If the curtain under the suspended ceiling is wall-mounted, choose an option 25-50 cm larger than the window on each side.

Advice! To avoid mistakes with the rod size, take a telescopic one – this way you can adjust its length directly at the installation site.

The photo shows a hidden curtain mount

What types of materials are there?

Curtain rods are made of 4 main materials.

Plastic

The most budget option, available in a variety of colors and models. White ceiling rails and baguette cornices are made of plastic profile. But there are also rods, the range of which mainly includes colored products or those with imitation wood texture.

Of course, you can’t call a plastic product decorative, but if you make a hidden cornice or hide the overhead one behind a curtain, it will not spoil the interior.

Wood

Beautiful, environmentally friendly, but the most expensive option. But thanks to 100% naturalness, you can install it even in a child’s room: it will not have any harmful effect on a growing organism.

Baguette ceiling cornices and rods for rings can be made of wood. One of the advantages is also a disadvantage: wood cannot be telescopic, but it can be ordered strictly according to the size of your window. At the same time, when moving, there is no guarantee that the curtain rod will be ideal for the new apartment.

Steel

The main advantage of a metal rod is its durability. Steel can withstand even the heaviest curtains made of velvet or tapestry of large width, but it also looks harmonious with flowing fabrics like organza. Unlike wood, which is used mainly in classic or eco-interiors, steel fits harmoniously into modern minimalism or hi-tech.

Aluminum

It weighs little, is inexpensive, and looks expensive: an ideal compromise between the three previous options. Aluminum profiles are used to make tires, and rods are made from pipes. The latter are most often sold as a construction set: you can choose a telescopic base, select suitable tips, brackets, and rings for it.

Visually, metal looks much better than plastic and does not spoil the design even with an open mount. Another plus in favor of aluminum: it can easily withstand heavy curtains, the average limit for 1 row is 10 kg, 2 – 15.

Varieties by mounting location

The material is certainly an important aspect of choice, but the installation method is considered more fundamental in the context of a stretch ceiling.

Wall-mounted curtain rods

Models that are mounted to the wall have one main advantage: they can be mounted both before and after installing the stretch ceiling. In this case, you won’t have to make holes in the already stretched canvas, because the curtain guide is not attached to the upper horizontal in any way.

The downside of wall mounting under a stretch ceiling is that the space will seem lower. Firstly, the ceiling itself takes up 4-7 cm of height. Secondly, the cornice visually reduces the height of the wall. To avoid this, choose a crossbar and brackets in the color of the walls, fix them as high as possible, bringing them as close as possible to the stretch canvas (be careful not to damage them!), choose a glossy PVC canvas and straight curtains to the floor.

Important! Be careful when installing, ordering a new curtain will be much more expensive in terms of time and money than moving the curtain down a couple of centimeters.

The photo shows a wall cornice on brackets

Ceiling cornices

Models of this type, as the name suggests, are attached directly to the ceiling. In this case, installation can be made directly on the stretch ceiling itself (through a mortgage) or in a niche. Read more about the hidden installation method in the next section.

Advantages of ceiling mounting:

• visually makes the room higher than it is – an ideal option for old houses with ceilings up to 270 cm;
• installation across the entire width of the wall visually increases the distance between adjacent sides;
• withstands more weight, suitable for placing heavy blackout curtains;
• allows you to install built-in decorative lighting (placement of LED strip).

There is only one drawback – the installation of a cornice for suspended ceilings should be planned for at the finishing stage, so that the craftsmen can immediately mount a niche or install a mortgage during work.

Main installation methods

So, ceiling installation is more reliable than wall installation. But what types of installation exist and which one is better to choose?

Open

This method has existed since the very appearance of stretch ceilings on the Russian market. During finishing work, craftsmen attach a beam of a suitable size to a concrete base (or adjustable brackets with plywood), then stretch the canvas and screw the cornice (usually plastic) to the beam through it. In fact, the method is the same as attaching lamps or a chandelier.

The open method does not have many advantages, the main one is its low cost. The average cost of installing a mortgage is 1,000 rubles.

However, damage to the canvas and the visibility of a cheap plastic tire spoil the joy of the finished result. But the craftsmen managed to find a modern alternative to the open installation method.

The photo shows an open ceiling cornice

Hidden

Hidden curtain rods for stretch ceilings are actively gaining popularity primarily due to their aesthetic component. If you organize a niche between the wall with a window opening and the ceiling panel, you can achieve the effect that the curtains are floating in the air. Invisibility of fasteners, the ability to install beautiful lighting, reliability (the curtain is installed directly to the concrete ceiling) – this is not the entire list of advantages of a hidden cornice.

A standard niche is made across the entire wall, has the shape of an elongated rectangle. Its edge farthest from the window should extend beyond the parallel with the radiator by 7-10 cm – this is enough for the curtains to hang evenly and beautifully, and move easily.

Advice! To calculate the width of the niche, measure the distance from the wall to the far edge of the radiator and add 7-10 cm.

A niche can be arranged both in a standard square or rectangular room, and in a room with complex architecture – a sloping wall, a bay window.

Combined

This solution for a stretch ceiling can be called “semi-hidden”. During finishing, craftsmen create a complex structure of brackets and profiles, allowing you to literally mount the rail in the same plane with the ceiling. By using materials of the same shade (usually white), the curtain guide remains invisible.

The advantage of this method is that the entire perimeter of the ceiling is hidden by the PVC sheet, and the cornice is completely invisible to you or your guests.

Advice! To achieve the effect of a curtain falling from the ceiling (as in the hidden version), ask the craftsman to make the profile located closer to the wall, a little higher – the difference in heights will create the desired impression (see the photo).

The photo shows a combined rail mount in the nursery

How do they look in the interior?

Living room

Textiles in the main room of the house are primarily responsible for decor and comfort. Curtains here are usually hung in 2 layers – tulle and the curtains themselves. It is best to use a hidden method – the perimeter can be additionally decorated with a baguette.

Living rooms often have unusual shapes that can be easily wrapped with a stretch ceiling and decorated with hidden cornices.

Bedroom

You can’t do without curtains in the bedroom – thick curtains will protect you from the scorching morning sun, light curtains will create a comfortable atmosphere for rest. By choosing hidden installation, you can create decorative lighting along the ceiling contour, which will make the bedroom even more comfortable.

The photo shows a stretch ceiling with lighting

Ceiling placement behind a baguette or on the wall is also possible – the room does not lose its charm.

Kitchen

The idea of mounting in a niche is also suitable for the kitchen. But to make the curtains more practical, designers recommend choosing blinds, Roman or roller blinds – their profiles are also easy to attach to the ceiling in the opening.

If hidden fastening is no longer possible, take a closer look at other options: they can also be beautiful. For example, installation in the plane with the canvas, a wall rod or fastening directly to the window opening (you can find blinds, pleated blinds, roller blinds of this type on sale).