FactoryDirectDrapes.com’s Video Resource Center

If you haven’t visited our Video Resource Center, you’re missing out on a lot of valuable information about drapes and decorating in general. FactoryDirectDrapes.com’s Drapery Resource Center includes over 10 short instructional videos designed to help you, our customers with common questions such as how to measure for drapes, assist in various steps of the decision making process and highlight some of our most popular drapery styles. As a result of decades of experience in drapery industry, we have learned that breaking information down into short instructional videos enhances understanding and makes information easier to absorb.

Visit our Video Resource Center today and let us guide you through a wide range of topics such as measuring and the benefits of insulated drapes and lined drapes. We also feature informational videos tailored to our hotel, motel, and hospitality customers along with our resellers, decorators and contractors.

Why Lining is important?

Drapery lining is one of the most important things to consider when ordering a custom drape other than color, fabric type and style. Lining is the backing fabric used in the construction of a custom drape. Adding the correct lining to your custom drapes is a good investment. It adds more fullness and body to the drape and also protects the main fabric from the harmful UV rays from the sunlight making it last longer than unlined drapes.

FactoryDirectDrapes.com recommends to always add lining to your custom drapes. Without a lining, even high quality fabrics will fade and deteriorate very quickly. At FactoryDirectDrapes.com, all of our fabrics can have two types of linings attached to it: Standard or Blackout/Insulated lining. Our standard lining is made of 50% cotton and 50% polyester. The cotton makes it soft to the touch and the polyester allows it to block the sun the best way possible protecting your drapes and furniture from the damaging UV rays. Since a standard lining is made from a light fabric, it allows some natural light to enter the room while still giving you the privacy you want.

Our Blackout / insulated drapery lining blocks out 100% of the sunlight from penetrating through the drape. The room darkening effect is similar to what you find at most hotels and motels. It also reduces or dampens outside noise that gets in the room and provides superior insulation against unwanted heat or cold. Experts in insulation values rate insulated linings as reducing hot and cold air by up to 50 %! If you live in an area with particularly cold or warm climates, you have more reason to add blackout/insulated lining on your next custom drape purchase and save on your utility costs. Our blackout/insulated lining is made from the highest quality material available in the market today. It will not crack, peel or bubble. This lining is ideal for ideal for bedrooms, media rooms, schools, hospitals, nurseries and nursing homes. You have the option to purchase it as inherently fire retardant as an extra measure of protection for your family and home.

If you take all of these things into consideration, adding a lining to your custom drapes will cost you less in the long run than buying an unlined drape.

5 Reasons to Select Insulated Drapes

Fall is finally here and winter is just around the corner. Stay warm during the cooler months by installing insulated drapes for your windows. Here are 5 reasons to select insulated drapes:

1) Insulation - Substantially insulate windows from winter cold and summer heat. Keep your home comfortable and cozy. Save money on heating and air conditioning costs.

2) Sound Reduction - Insulated drapes are also a great and effective way to reduce sounds coming from outside of your home.

3) Great Privacy - Insulated drapes provide 100% complete privacy. This is an added plus to the security and safety of your family.

4) Long Lasting - Insulated drapes last 10 to 15 years longer than any other window covering or treatment. They are your best buy and investment for drapes.

5) Light Control - You can significantly reduce sunlight from pouring into your windows by using insulated drapes. Whenever you want some light, just open them up! If you want bedrooms to be dark for sleeping, use blackout lined drapes to block all light from entering; they are similar to motel drapes.

Insulated drapes from Factory Direct Drapes are the highest quality on the market at the lowest price! Visit FactoryDirectDrapes.com to see our wide array of drapery fabrics available. You can find any color and style to match the décor of your house. To order insulated drapes simply choose the lined drapery styles, then add standard or blackout lining for superior insulation.

Lined or unlined drapes, which are best for you?

One thing you need to consider when ordering a custom drape other than color, fabric type, style and size is whether you want them lined or unlined. Most consumers who buy ready-made drapes just don’t really know what they’re missing. The addition of a cloth lining to the back of a drape fabric creates six distinct advantages over an unlined drape.

1) Looks – Lining adds more fullness and body to the pleats and folds of the drape. The extra weight of the lining allows the drape to hang beautifully.
2) Insulation - A lined drape has superior insulation value against winter cold and summer heat. It can thereby help reduce your utility costs.
3) Sound reduction - Lined drapes dampen or reduce the amount of outside noise that gets in the room. It provides the quiet environment that is important for quality sleep.
4) Privacy - Lined drapes offer you complete privacy, because their lining is opaque. No one will be able to catch even a glimpse of you through lined drapes.
5) Longer lasting – Because the lining protects the drape fabric from the harmful effects of the sun, lined drapes can last 10 to 15 years longer than unlined drapes.
6) Light reduction – lined drapes greatly reduce the light pouring into your rooms. The term “blackout drapes” is another term often used interchangeably with lined drapes, because it blocks 100% of the sunlight from penetrating through the drape. This is particularly useful if you work at night and need to sleep during the day.

At FactoryDirectDrapes.com all our custom drape fabrics can have standard lining or blackout lining attached to it. We only use the best standard and blackout linings available in the market today.

Choosing Drapes over Blinds

Despite the numerous window covering options on the market today, drapes continue to represent a large segment of what most consumers select for use in their home. There are several reasons why drapes are a desirable and smart choice: 1) Looks – Drapes have been used for centuries for their luxurious looks. Nothing is more beautiful than a large full set of curtains draped from a window with a hint of light peeking through. Drapes come in every kind of fabric, color and size imaginable. It can be created to your specifications so it fits your window perfectly and can be a focal point for a room’s décor. 2) Privacy – Drapes provide superior privacy because they enable you to literally close the world out. Mini blinds and vertical blinds all have multiple “open gaps” where people can see into your home or room if they are so inclined. When you close a drape there are no openings or gaps. They also make your room more comfortable and cozy. 3) Insulation – Drapes absolutely guarantee the very best insulation value equally for both winter cold and summer heat. Windows are the central point in a room where air escapes or enters. Most experts in residential insulation agree that drapes, particularly lined drapes, consistently deliver the best insulation of any window covering. Their rating value is as high as 50% plus with blinds only offering about 10% insulation. 4) “Cozy factor” – although this may sound like a joke it isn’t; blinds, verticals, and even those extremely expensive shutters all are considered to be hard coverings and as such seem to many people cold and office like in appearance. However, drapes are soft, warm, and inviting thereby making you and your guests feel comfortable. 5) Cleanability - drapes simply show dust and dirt a lot less than any other type of window covering. Blinds require frequent cleaning as they are magnets for dust. Unless you are in the mood to repetitively clean, always stick with drapes for your home. 6) Longest lasting – no other window covering lasts longer than a drape. A lined drape can last ten to fifteen years or longer! You can’t beat that with anything else. These are just a few of the reasons why buying drape makes sense and can actually save you money with utility costs, cleaning expense and time, and superior durability that prevents damage and replacement costs.

At FactoryDirectDrapes.com, you can purchase drapes, curtains and valances direct from the manufacturer. This saves you up to 80% off retail mark-up. You simply won’t find lower price drapes, curtains and valances online!

What About the Lining?

Everybody understands the importance of a designer window drapery. Draperies do serve a purpose. They give you privacy. They can eliminate a light issue. They can even serve as insulation against the elements of the weather. But, what about the lining? Ignored and often misunderstood, the lining is often forgotten.

Whether privacy or light is the purpose for your window coverings, I would suggest making sure your draperies have either a standard lining or blackout lining. The addition of a cloth lining to the back of the fabric creates many distinctive advantages over unlined draperies.
Lined draperies have superior insulation value against winter cold and summer heat. They can thereby help reduce your utility costs which is a good thing wherever you live. Up to 50% of conventional heat loss in a room can be saved through the use of a nice heavy, lined pair of draperies.

Lined drapery can also dampen or reduce sound from outside sources. They also offer you complete privacy and comfort.

Because the lining protects the face cloth from damaging sun rot, lined draperies can last 10 to 15 years longer than unlined draperies.

Lined draperies greatly reduce the light pouring into your rooms. If you want to darken the room, just add a blackout lining to your drapery. Blackout lining is a thermal foam-type lining that will keep out light, hot damaging sun and the heat on a cold winter’s night.

Draperies tend to hang well with lots of body and shape when lined with standard or blackout lining. For timeless, elegant styles and superior quality, choose the only website where you can buy direct from the factory and save hundreds of dollars per window - FactoryDirectDrapes.com!