Kinds of Curtain Rod to Use for a Colonial Style House

Simplicity

• Unless you're decorating an elaborate colonial-style mansion or plantation home, the key to choosing the right curtain rods for your windows is to keep it simple. Most colonial style homes had window treatments hung on a simple wooden rod that served a functional purpose. This doesn't mean that you need to hang your curtains on a dowel rod, but doing so would get to the heart of the colonial style. A simple wooden pole with a decorative stain to match the room's decor is an attractive way to keep it simple.

Decorative Styles

• You can get more elaborate by adding some decorative elements to the rod if you wish. This would be especially appropriate in larger and more elaborate colonial homes. Curtain rods used in these types of homes can also be wooden rods, but benefit from some additional styling and decoration. Adding gold trim, for example, is one way to match some of the more elaborate decorative styles of the period.

Room Decor

• If you decorate in a colonial style, it doesn't mean that you have to go completely plain. Many colonial homes had decorative schemes that were quite elaborate and reflected the tastes of those with more refined sensibilities. One of the advantages of using a wooden curtain rod is that you can match it to nearly any type of home decor. For instance, you can complement a room that has white painted furniture with a wooden curtain rod of the same color.

Curtains and Shutters

• Curtain rods are only one way of matching a home's decor. To complete the look, choose simple materials free of ornate patterns for your curtains. In more elaborate homes, you can make use of silk or more expensive materials. Colonial homes typically used shutters as outer window coverings. Choose a curtain rod that matches your shutter color and style to round out your decorative scheme.