There are a variety of types of curtains styles and fabric that provide a classy, elegant alternative to blinds. Some of these include sheer or voiles, pencil pleat curtains, swags.

• Sheers or Voiles are fine translucent fabrics. They are used to filter the amount of sunlight that enters a room creating a limited degree of privacy. They can be used on their own or used with heavier curtains for warmth, privacy, and blocking direct sunlight. In the past sheers were only available in white or off-whites, but today's selections is offer a variety of colors, beaded, textures, striped, rainbow effects, metallic, threaded with flower forms, embroidered with designs, sequined ... the list now seems endless on.
• Pencil Pleat Curtain is the most common and popular form of pleats and heading tape used today. The tape forms crisp even upright parallel pleats, which looks somewhat like a row of pencils. It requires 2 ¼ - 2 ½ times curtain fullness for the pleats. It has two rows of suspension pockets and can be used with track or pole fixtures for hanging. Pleats are neat, tidy, and create a beautiful full curtain. It hangs uniformly and can be used with any length of curtains. It is also used with valances and pelmets over, as the design is simple, and these decorative elements help "jazz" up the simple neatness of the pencil pleat curtain.
• Swags are fabric that forms a decorative element over a window, hanging from two fixed points either side of the top of the window, draping down through the center and highlighting the window light. There are numerous variations of this delicate form of decoration. Tails are the fabrics that hang from the end of the swags.
• Jabots are a tapered portion of fabric that is self or contrast lined for highlights. The lining is an important visual feature as it folds back when pleated. It is pleated and used to frame a row of swags. The proportions of Jabots should be 1/2 or 2/3's the full length of the window. Flags are double sided Jabots used at the center of a swag or when dividing up swags in a full bay/bow window situation.
• Scarf Drapery is an uncut portion of fabric that is draped, forming a nice ornamental drapery, often over a pole or rod. Rosettes provide a focal point for a curtain arrangement. It can be a nice finishing touch for curtain headings, tieback swags and tails. There are numerous forms including bow, choux, rose, knife pleated.

These are but a few of the styles and fabrics available to people to class up their homes, an elegant alternative to blinds.