9 Ways to Dress Your Living Room Windows
From deep bays to decorative arches, living room windows can be hard to dress. Take inspiration from these ideas and give your panes panache
Living room windows are frequently challenging. From angled bays to awkward curves to tired sashes, they’re often far from straightforward to dress, which can prompt us to avoid curtains or blinds altogether and leave light to stream in unhindered. However, you might find you need some privacy or a means of filtering the light, or just feel the room looks a bit cold with bare panes. Whatever shape or style your window, there’s a design trick to dress it, so read on for some inspiring ideas.
Filter light with voile
Voile curtains create a light and airy solution where insulation is good and heavy curtains are not necessary. They allow for privacy without blocking all the light, and work well in living rooms, where darkness isn’t a priority for sleep.
You can opt for a plain voile in white or grey for something crisp and contemporary, or go for a little detail, such as a stripe or polka dot. Try a wave or cartridge pleat for a simple, elegant drape.
A good, easy-glide curtain rail is very easy to use, and will be even smoother if you spray it with some silicone lubricant first. Alternatively, stick to a curtain rail with rings for a more traditional look.
Voile curtains create a light and airy solution where insulation is good and heavy curtains are not necessary. They allow for privacy without blocking all the light, and work well in living rooms, where darkness isn’t a priority for sleep.
You can opt for a plain voile in white or grey for something crisp and contemporary, or go for a little detail, such as a stripe or polka dot. Try a wave or cartridge pleat for a simple, elegant drape.
A good, easy-glide curtain rail is very easy to use, and will be even smoother if you spray it with some silicone lubricant first. Alternatively, stick to a curtain rail with rings for a more traditional look.
Cover curves with sheer blinds
Sheer roller blinds are a neat way to dress windows with an arch, like the ones in this living room. They can be made to measure, so they fit the windows perfectly, and offer a slick alternative to voile curtains. They’re ideal for situations where privacy is required by day, as the sunlight will still glow through when they’re down.
Sheer roller blinds are a neat way to dress windows with an arch, like the ones in this living room. They can be made to measure, so they fit the windows perfectly, and offer a slick alternative to voile curtains. They’re ideal for situations where privacy is required by day, as the sunlight will still glow through when they’re down.
Go from the bottom up
Another way to create privacy while still allowing light to enter is to choose a blind that pulls from the bottom up rather than the top down. These blinds can be fixed directly to a windowsill and are pulled up along cords that line up with window sash bars.
Alternatively, pleated or Duette blinds can be operated within their own guiding system to offer privacy from the top or bottom.
Another way to create privacy while still allowing light to enter is to choose a blind that pulls from the bottom up rather than the top down. These blinds can be fixed directly to a windowsill and are pulled up along cords that line up with window sash bars.
Alternatively, pleated or Duette blinds can be operated within their own guiding system to offer privacy from the top or bottom.
Work around a bay
If you want curtains in your living room and have a curved bay window, there are a couple of different solutions available.
Most specialists supply curtain poles with 45 and 90 degree bends in them. The bends allow them to curve neatly inside the bay. Or try aluminium curtain tracking you can bend yourself.
An alternative is to hang a curtain straight across from wall to wall, framing the bay window nicely during the day, and obscuring it when the curtains are closed at night.
If you want curtains in your living room and have a curved bay window, there are a couple of different solutions available.
Most specialists supply curtain poles with 45 and 90 degree bends in them. The bends allow them to curve neatly inside the bay. Or try aluminium curtain tracking you can bend yourself.
An alternative is to hang a curtain straight across from wall to wall, framing the bay window nicely during the day, and obscuring it when the curtains are closed at night.
Simplify a square bay
Square bay windows can present the added challenge of limited space for curtains to stack each side. Window dressings that are low fuss are often a good solution. Go for blinds or shutters, which will give a neat, streamlined appearance.
Tier-on-tier shutters are great for privacy and light, as the top tier can be opened while the bottom remains closed. To really let an attractive bay do the talking, though, stick to super-simple white roller blinds, as here.
Check out 10 times built-in storage has transformed a living room
Square bay windows can present the added challenge of limited space for curtains to stack each side. Window dressings that are low fuss are often a good solution. Go for blinds or shutters, which will give a neat, streamlined appearance.
Tier-on-tier shutters are great for privacy and light, as the top tier can be opened while the bottom remains closed. To really let an attractive bay do the talking, though, stick to super-simple white roller blinds, as here.
Check out 10 times built-in storage has transformed a living room
Give furniture room to breathe
Roman blinds always look very stylish and add warmth and elegance to a room. They can be interlined, too, for added cosiness and as a way to block out unwanted light.
For living room windows with a window seat, or a sofa or other piece of furniture underneath, Roman blinds are perfect, as they will sit neatly at the top of the window out of the way.
Roman blinds always look very stylish and add warmth and elegance to a room. They can be interlined, too, for added cosiness and as a way to block out unwanted light.
For living room windows with a window seat, or a sofa or other piece of furniture underneath, Roman blinds are perfect, as they will sit neatly at the top of the window out of the way.
Invest in cosy curtains
Curtains can add a wonderfully snug feel to a living space. It can be expensive to have them custom-made, but they’ll last you 20 years, so it’s a worthwhile investment.
Choose a high-quality fabric you think you’ll continue to love for years, and go to a reputable curtain-maker or department store to have them made up. Be sure to let them take responsibility for measuring and fitting.
Curtains can add a wonderfully snug feel to a living space. It can be expensive to have them custom-made, but they’ll last you 20 years, so it’s a worthwhile investment.
Choose a high-quality fabric you think you’ll continue to love for years, and go to a reputable curtain-maker or department store to have them made up. Be sure to let them take responsibility for measuring and fitting.
Mix it up
A combination of window dressings is great if you want them to serve multiple purposes. Here, the homeowners have created the drama of ceiling-to-floor curtains, but added shutters for flexibility and privacy during the day.
There are many combinations you could go for, such as a patterned roller blind behind some sheer voile curtains, or plain roller blinds teamed with drapes in a luxurious fabric.
TELL US…
Are your windows naked or dressed? Share your photos in the Comments below.
A combination of window dressings is great if you want them to serve multiple purposes. Here, the homeowners have created the drama of ceiling-to-floor curtains, but added shutters for flexibility and privacy during the day.
There are many combinations you could go for, such as a patterned roller blind behind some sheer voile curtains, or plain roller blinds teamed with drapes in a luxurious fabric.
TELL US…
Are your windows naked or dressed? Share your photos in the Comments below.
Shutters that are well-designed and neatly fit the shape of the frames will flatter even tired windows. The result will be a professional, streamlined look that lasts for years and is easy to maintain.
If you’re planning on getting shutters, make sure you pay attention to their design and the way they open. Basswood or vinyl are the best options, as they are lightweight and should come with a long guarantee. Try to avoid MDF, as its weight can put stress on the hinges.
Check out these versatile ways with window shutters