Window treatments are not just functional additions to your home; they are essential design elements that add softness, texture, and warmth to a room. Draping your windows with well-chosen treatments brings an added layer of sophistication, creating a harmonious balance with your other furnishings. When selected carefully, they can also define the mood and tone of the room, influencing the light and space around you.
Think of your window treatments as an extension of the room itself. They should act as a complement to the upholstery and other fabrics in the space, working in tandem with your colour scheme, texture palette, and overall design ethos. The right treatment can make a room feel more expansive or intimate, drawing attention to a beautiful view or softening a space that feels too stark. The overriding message is that you design them early on, especially if you are renovating and building you must design the mechanism and type of dressing to avoid later disappointments.
1. Planning a Room Around the Window
The process of selecting window treatments should begin with careful consideration of the room itself, ask yourself what role the window plays within the space: Is it the focal point of the room or a subtle feature in the background? Are you drawing attention to it or hiding it. The window treatment should enhance its position and importance within the room.
- Focal: If your window is a central feature, a dramatic curtain or a grand blind can underscore its prominence and act as a statement piece.
- Subtle: For more understated windows, simple, clean-lined treatments may be more appropriate, adding to the room’s overall aesthetic without stealing focus. This affects your shape, tracks and colors.
Additionally, ensure that the window treatment complements your upholstery, rugs, and other fabrics. If your room features intricate patterns or vibrant colours, choose more neutral or solid window treatments to avoid overwhelming the space. Conversely, if the room’s design is minimalistic, you might choose treatments with luxurious fabrics or textured patterns to add a layer of interest. But remember there are few design rules as long as you know it is a purposeful decision.
2. Light Requirements
Every room has a distinct function and relationship with light, which should guide your choice of window treatments. Consider how you want light to flow through the space and how much privacy is needed.
- Living Spaces: In a living room, you may want to soften natural light without blocking it entirely. Sheer curtains or blinds in light-filtering fabrics create an airy, welcoming atmosphere while maintaining a sense of privacy. You will have rooms overlooked by the street or neighbours and use of sheers, plissee blinds or shutters is an effective barrier.
- Bedrooms: For restful sleep, blackout is important so you must ensure this layer is added to your curtains or Roman Blinds. Light escape is tricky if working with curtain poles or romans outside a recess, therefore I always recommend a double treatment and try to add a pelmet or cassette blinds where a blackout material runs tightly inside the side channels, eliminating edge gaps. For added luxury I recommend to add a sheer layer for daytime comfort. If you are doing a new build then ensure that build enough depth into you window recess to allow for a double track which is ceiling recessed and covered with a front facia (such as a coving) you will need at least 20 better 25cm.
- Kitchens and Bathrooms: These spaces require window treatments that balance privacy with practicality. Moisture-resistant materials, such as treated fabrics or wooden shutters, are perfect for areas with high humidity. We have used many different styles ranging from contemporary anti glare and heat reducing recessed roller blinds automated by LUTRON or similar brands, to tradtional cafe curtains at half height or tactile pinoleum roller blinds which give a beautiful supple filter of light.
- Room Dividers: curtains are not just for windows, there many instances where you cant fit a wall or a door but a fabric room divider will give you the desired separation of spaces.
3. Beyond Function: Create a Visual Statement
A well-chosen window treatment can become a statement piece that enhances your overall design concept. By blending form and function, you can ensure your treatments are both practical and visually stunning.
- Layering: Combine blinds with curtains for depth and versatility. For instance, pair sleek Roman blinds with floor-length curtains to create a polished look that offers flexibility in light control. for patchwork by selecting curtains that layer up abstract fabrics for a modern, sophisticated effect. This approach not only adds depth and texture but also makes your window treatments an artistic centerpiece in the room.
- Dramatic proportions: Ceiling-high curtains elongate the room and draw the eye upward, making spaces feel taller and more expansive. This is particularly effective in period properties or rooms with high ceilings.
- Bold patterns and colours: Window treatments are an opportunity to inject colour or pattern into a room. If your interiors lean minimalist, a richly patterned fabric or bold hue can act as a feature element.
In this bedroom we achieved all of the above points with the combination of plain full length black out curtains and bold patterned roman blinds matching the rooms strong colours.
4. Tailoring Your Space
Selecting between curtains and blinds – or combining both – depends on your room’s needs , your availability of space and budget and your design vision. Curtains are luxurious and add softness and sophistication to any space. Their versatility makes them suitable for both traditional and contemporary interiors. But often I have found that rooms can’t take curtains because either they take up too much valuable floor space, they will bloc access to wardrobe doors which must open, they bloc the heat from radiators positioned under the windows (usually in older buildings) or they become too expensive as they require much more fabric , especially in bay windows (shaped curtain poles are pricy). Here are my tips for your consideration for both curtains and roman blinds:
- Material choices: Luxurious fabrics such as velvet, silk, or brocade bring opulence to a formal setting, while lightweight linen or cotton works beautifully in more casual, breezy interiors. But please don’t take these generalisations as limitations. You may find good reasons to deviate from a ‘typical’ material. I avoid silk on windows under all circumstances no matter what I have been told by suppliers. I love wool which drapes beautifully. If you want to use an expensive luxurious elaborate material such as a heaviliy embroidered fabric and budget is limited then go for roman blinds.
- Heading types: I keep headings very simple and err on the side of caution as I prefer a more subtle smaller heading style. The period of property and type of interior will have some influence on the choice of heading as well as your ceiling height. You can find easily online many images of heading options, my favourite for curtains is the ”double pinch tailore pleat-also called American”. But i will use gathered headers for casual ambiance or wave in modern settings. Make sure you give your curtain maker an image of what you expect your heading to look like, ensure its a smaller heading for low ceilings and you can be more dramatic if you are dealing with ceilings of 2770cm or more.
- Roman Blinds: I always specify a ”return flap” (thats a technical term) when my roman blind is outside a recess. You must consider whether you hang your roman inside or outside a recess, whether to build a pelmet box or even recess space into the ceiling (very smart). A particularly stylish option is to install new cornicing (perhaps with LED lighting) and build pelmet boxes with the coving so you can hang your curtains or romans or rollers. You have to specify if you want the pull mechanism right or left and if you want a chain or a fabric pull. For decoration you can add borders, trims, beads, poms. If your window is very wide you can achieve even 3 meter or more wide single roman blinds, speak to your fitter. If you are decorating a length of windows which needs multiple romans or rollers, it will be worth investing into LUTRON automation as they offer a fine degree of synchronisation.
- Colour palette: Are your windows vast or you have focus on other decorative items and you want to blend them with the walls then chose tones to colour drench with the walls or are your window treatments a statement then go for contrasting colours and patterns and texture.
Blinds and Shutters
Besides the tailored roman blind there are other types of treatments which can come in handy for certain situations.
- Roller blinds: You can stiffen linen and cotton patterned fabrics especially if you dont need a seam or your fabric is double width.
- Venetian blinds: A versatile choice with adjustable slats for optimal light control. Wood or metal options suit modern and rustic interiors alike.
- Plissee blinds: Perfect life saver for windows which offer no other alternative because there is no space around the window to attach anything, often the case in rooftop rooms, dormer windows, slanted VELUX windows and other types of traditional or modern settings. You can chose between different levels of transparency and even have a double plissee where one direction pulls down a blackout and the other direction pulls up a sheer – that is genius!
- American shutters: They can look stark especially in bedrooms and living rooms but I find them very useful for kitchens and bathrooms or we dress them with additional romans or curtains to add a layer of softness. I find them very attractive in dark colours and we have used them to great effect on a curved window.
5. The Impact of Fabrics and Materials
The fabric or material you choose will dramatically impact the look, feel, and functionality in your spaces.
- Natural textures: Linen and cotton create a light, breezy aesthetic ideal for informal spaces. Wool and velvet and heavily textured or embroidered fabrics create a more traditional elegant aestetic. Bamboo blinds or wooden shutters lend warmth and texture to a contemporary or earthy interior.
- Performance fabrics: In high-traffic or high-moisture areas, consider treated fabrics that resist stains, fading, and moisture. Polyester or trevira are durable materials. You can chose ready black out fabrics which are used in commercial spaces and dont require any lining this makes the curtains less expensive and less thick if space is limited. Consider whether they need to be washed or dry cleaned in future.
- Testing: check your desired fabric with your curtain maker for durability, I already warned about silk but also consider weight and thickness, linen / cotton curtains or blinds must be blackout interlined to avoid showing the seams when the light shines on them from outside, this is very relevant when you join farbic drops. Some materials are too heavy, or too strechy and the curtains might extend in length over time so what started off as 5mm above the floor can end up dragging across the floor.
For the windows in this project above we designed heavily textured roman blinds in velvet and embroidered fabrics which beautifully complement the schemes of the rooms.
6. Watch out for
Window treatments are integral to how a room interacts with light. Strategic layering or the use of versatile designs allows you to adjust for mood, time of day, and privacy.
- Blackout interlining is perfect for bedrooms or home cinemas, ensuring complete darkness when desired.
- Remember you may need blackout or heavy interlining on curtains or blinds which will be drawn down during the day and affected by sunshine illuminating seams and joints, I have had some terrible disappointment with this.
- On sheer romans ensure that your seams are beautifully finished as they are very visible.
- In some spaces you want to just filter the light and create a dappled effect, in that case its perfect to use just one layer of linen or heavy textured sheer curtains and keep them closed to create that beautiful soft glow effect.
- Double Check your dimensions, I have made romans too narrow or too short and they look terrible. This is particularly relevant when you have to view the window treatment in relation to a large prominent architrave, traditional shutters or wide window sills. Your window treatment must be wider than the architrave or sill and longer than the sill (to achieve good light blocking) unless it sits inside a recess.
- Dont forget about access and how to open your windows. This is the most crucial early stage consideration on windows in the project ; consider your window openings, the size of the window relative to the recess and the surrounding walls. Do you have sliding, sash or inward/outward opening windows and how does this interact with the roman, roller, shutter or curtain. You must have enough height above the window opening to even fit the treatment. In the unfortunate circumstance when nothing can be fitted you have to install either a plissee or screw or glue a sheer panel to the timber frame.
- In traditional spaces in dormer windows you might install two rods above and below the opening and slide a fabric panel across.
- If you want to achieve the ultimate blackout comfort and you are doing structural works then you ought to integrate motorized solid roller shutters on the outside of the building above the lintels, but be mindful their motors need maintenance and so you need internal access panels (and for this you need again enough internal height above the window and there are your cornices they may need to be adapted) !
- Whenever possible opt for high quality motorisation, it really is a luxury to lie in bed and press a button to open the curtains (in my home the buttons for the shutters were fitted next to the window which is a frustration).
- Built-in pelmets: Hide unsightly curtain rods and mechanisms with bespoke boxing or pelmet that double as architectural features.
- Under-window storage: Use built-in window benches or shelving beneath windows to maximise usable space therefore adjust your treatment in length and volume.
- Use curtains as room dividers and for added privacy to the sleeping area.
8. Finishing Touches
Never underestimate the power of hardware and accessories in refining your window treatments. I often recommend bespoke hardware to elevate the final design.
Rods, finials tiebacks and holdbacks: Choose from brushed brass, matte black, or polished chrome to match your room’s overall aesthetic. Some curtain poles especially for bay windows while beautiful can be expensive. You can instead use quality runners and cover them with a painted or fabric covered facia. Some painted wooden poles are inexpensive and can be specified in any paint colour to match your fabric and this looks bespoke. I personally love French return poles, i like them to be thin and solid steel so they are strong, I thin they are very elegant and understated. Luxurious silk cords, crystal holdbacks, or minimalist metal designs add a tailored touch. If you are on a budget. you can use contrasting or leftove fabrics to have your own tiebacks made.
Motorisation: For the ultimate convenience, motorised blinds or curtains offer seamless operation, perfect for hard-to-reach windows or modern smart homes. Especially relevant for pitched windows which we deal with often in our chalet projects.
Trimmings: all the details you can add are the icing on the cake. Borders, leading edges, poms, beads, lace trim, scalloped edges finished with a piping. There is no limit to your imagination. You can jazz up a simple fabric with some amazing detailing.
Extra credit tip:
Joined up fabrics: I have often made curtains or blinds with either vertical or horizontal joined up sections of contrasting fabrics and created the most wonderful bespoke designs. Especially when I want to save budget and I need to make a large treatment and want to use a special expensive fabric I will use one drop of the fancy stuff and fill in the rest with a plain neutral. Think wearing Zara with a Chanel bag !
I think this must be one of the longest articles I have written, and I hope you enjoy the journey with me. With these tips in mind, your windows will not only be dressed to impress – they’ll be setting the standard for style and sophistication in your home. If I can leave you with one overarching advice, plan your windows early and use a layered approach.
Stay inspired, stay sophisticated
