Curtains and Window Treatments

Swag window treatment or sometimes referred to as scarf window treatment is a way to hang curtains to a rod without using tabs or rod pocket. The curtain is secured to the rod by looping or draping it over the rod. Swag window treatment affords the decorator a lot more freedom in positioning and placing the curtain over the rod because it is loose and can be embellished by tying decorative knots. You can purchase pre-made swag window treatments but they are easy to make which makes them a perfect candidate for a DIY. Here are some tips on how to make scarf or swag window treatments easier to hang.

Choosing the right fabric is key to a good swag treatment. A soft hand or a flowing drape can your treatment easier. Satin or sheer are popular choices for a scarf treatment. Using a striped fabric can add accent to your treatment because as you loop the fabric, it will appear at an angle on the swag and will run vertically on the cascades. If this is your intention, then striped fabric can work for you. Try to avoid patterns that have directions, for example, a fabric with a tree pattern printed on it. The reason for avoiding a pattern with direction is because the pattern could end up upside down when your looping is done–the tree pattern, for example could appear in the wrong orientation.

The length and size of the scarf is very important. If the material is too long, it can look soggy or sloppy. On the other hand, if the material is too short, it will look scant and skimpy. The number of loops you intend to do on the swag treatment will determine the length of the material. A typical swag is 36 inches wide–it can larger or smaller. A simple math you can do to determine the size of the swag is to add the window’s width plus how much material will hang down on each side then add about 10 inches long for each loop you intend to make. This is how to get the total length of the fabric that you will need.

Use a rod that has a fabric covered foam. With a foam rod, you use pins to fix the locations of the loops along the rod so you can prevent the swag from shifting as you are looping the fabric. You can enhance the look of the swag treatment by selecting a foam rod that has fabric patterns/colors which are contrasting with the swag material.

Swag window treatment is easy enough to do on your own once you get tips right on how much material you will need and when you figure out how to prevent the swag from slipping as you are doing the loop. With the tips given above, it should make your swag or scarf treatment a breeze.