Dining Room Drapery

For the most popular and polished look, drapery panels should just skim the floor (sometimes called "kissing the floor"). If you want a more dramatic, traditional, or relaxed feel, you can choose to have them "puddle" slightly (an extra 1-3 inches of fabric resting on the floor). However, the floor-skimming length is generally recommended for dining rooms for a clean and elegant appearance.

Not necessarily. While you should maintain a cohesive design style throughout your home, the dining room is a distinct space and can feature its own unique fabric, color, or pattern. Often, homeowners choose a more formal or luxurious fabric for the dining room to reflect its special-occasion use. Just ensure the color palette complements the adjoining rooms.

For a dining room, medium-to-heavy weight fabrics generally provide the best look and drape, such as linen blends, silk, velvet, or heavier cotton. Consider the level of formality you want:

• Formal: Silk, Velvet, Damask

• Casual/Modern: Heavier Linen, Textured Solids

It's highly recommended to choose a lined fabric to protect it from sun damage and give the drapes a richer, fuller look.