People are drawn to windows. No matter the room, the size, or the view, windows provide more than natural light—they often dictate the mood and feel of a space. We checked in with area designers for tips on how to dress windows to achieve different design goals, whether that means layers of textiles or, in some cases, no window treatment at all.
Window Treatments Designer Survey
When outfitting a window, you want to keep a couple things in mind.
Do you need privacy? If you do, you might want to consider Roman shades to give total privacy, or cafe curtains to give some privacy but still let light in.
Do you need light filtering such as in a bedroom? If you want complete darkness, you will want to add blackout lining to your draperies.
For draperies, you want to make sure you mount the rod as close to the crown molding as possible. This will help your ceilings to appear taller.
Kathleen Reynolds, Kathleen Reynolds Interiors
We love to dress a window! Here, we went for a layered approach to add depth and texture to the space. This room in particular was full of wonderful textiles but needed some touches of natural elements. We decided to do this by layering a functional woven bamboo shade behind the decorative fabric Roman shade.
Amanda Louise Campbell, Amanda Louise Interiors
Instead of window treatments, we many times prefer to go without—“naked” windows let the architecture stand out or frame the view.
- Jones Avenue attic nook— the only original window left from this 1920 house. It was so cute we had to keep it.
- This house has minimal roller shades used for light control, to keep that minimalist aesthetic.
- For this lake house project, we wanted to frame the view, so we chose to go without window treatments, but painted the window wall dark. So, I guess you could say the dark paint is the window treatment to accent the view.
Ann Nager, DZN Studio + Home
- The drapery panels should “kiss” the hardwood floor. Meaning they should just barely touch the floor without puddling or dragging. This gives a clean, modern aesthetic.
- The hardware/drapery rod finish should coordinate with the other finishes in the room.
- The drapery rod should be installed as high as possible so that it adds height and drama to the space.
- Adding a trim to the leading edge of the drapery panel gives the room a little sass and sizzle.
Kerry Howard, Howard House Interiors
The right window treatments can use texture and color to transform a stark, lifeless space into a sophisticated and fun sanctuary. Beautiful curtains can draw out a room’s personality and character, bringing it to life.
Olivia Coates, LH Design Studio
I wanted a skirted table for this bedroom and, because I didn’t want drapes to get in the way, installed Roman shades. What you can’t see are the woven shades behind the Roman shades to allow different levels of light filtering.
Whitney McGregor, Whitney McGregor Designs
One of my favorite window treatments to design was created with the talented fabricators Martha and Ash along with my client. By railroading the Schumacher fabric on the valance, we ensured its unique pattern could be fully appreciated—a detail that would have been lost had we used it for the curtains themselves. Opting for solid curtains and incorporating the valance colors with a beaded and raffia braid on the leading edge was the perfect finishing touch. These windows now have texture and depth that give view to a beautiful mountain setting.
Louise Hane, Louise Hane Interior Design
We love incorporating art in the window treatments. This fabulous pattern by locally represented artist Bethany Mabee provides not only privacy but also incorporates texture and color. The addition of the window treatment helps pull together the entire design.
Everett Waldrep, Everett King Design
- Always consider the function first. Emphasize the primary purpose of window treatments. Is it privacy, light blocking, insulation, or purely decorative? This should drive the material and style choices.
- We have been choosing a shorter, cafe curtain style often lately as it is a good choice if you need privacy, but it also allows a good amount of natural light in the space.
- Rod placement is important due its impact on the perceived size of the window and the room. Higher and wider rods generally make windows look larger and rooms feel more spacious. We like to mount drapery panels at the crown to maximize the visual height of the room.
- As for hardware, our go-to is most often a French return rod and rings. We like to keep it simple and understated and allow the fabric to take center stage.
- Sometimes you should just go “naked.” It’s perfectly okay to leave a window bare. Consider factors like privacy, view, and architectural interest. Please note that if you choose to go naked, it is important that you apply an invisible UV tent to the windows to prevent damage to fabrics, rugs, and hardwood floors.
Caroline Brackett, Caroline Brackett Studio of Design
We have found that a mistake some homeowners make all too often is that they forgo or skimp on window treatments in spaces where they are absolutely essential. Whether it be through texture or pattern, window treatments have the incredible ability to pull an entire space together. Even if a room has an assortment of colors or patterns, a perfectly designed treatment can seamlessly pull all the design elements together.
All drapery panels need to properly fit the windows. We often see panels that are too short and hardware that is hung too low above the window. One of our signature details is to include luxury finials, which add a unique feature and personalize any window treatment. This gilded peony is one of our favorites.
Carey Taylor, C. Taylor Interiors Inc.
