Curtains are probably the most useful things, but the least attended to in any house. Curtains block the light, they obscure dust. Curtains also help us with privacy, acting as shields from outside people. Especially in today's scenario when the apartments are too close together, it is important to have curtains to keep ones private space intact.  In fact, curtains could be the oldest form of decorating houses apart from painting the walls.

While curtains have different types, they also have their own applications according to the needs. Every room can have a different requirement of the curtain and hence a different theme of curtains could be used for every room. At different times of the day you may want a different effect in the room and hence you must use the curtains according to your complete requirements. Different material used for curtains would differ in degree of light absorption and dust and heat protection. Some fabrics might attract dust and get dirty sooner than the others.

If you are looking for protection from temperature - warm or cold, you have to make your curtains much bigger than the windows. All the four sides of the windows should be covered well by the curtain and of course, using a thicker material helps to keep the cold or heat at bay. Using a thick material, when the curtains are drawn would keep the room warm or cool as per your requirements.

If one wants the day light to remain in the room but keep the privacy intact using a sheer material or net fabric would help. There could be two curtains put to one window as layers, one with sheer or net material and another with a thick fabric to keep the day light coming in during morning hours and keep the Sun at bay during afternoons. Sheer curtains would help you see the world outside without the outsiders intruding you or watching you.

And it is not only the windows which need curtains. There could be doors inside the house which provide less privacy due to their placement. Putting curtains in the doorways is not a very active trend, but could make a room perk up and provide seclusion where needed.

None of these applications and treatments of the window concepts need be expensive. There are options available to fit your budget.