Small Space Living: 8 Ways to Dress Windows in Small Rooms
Whether you want to boost light, increase space or feel clutter-free, getting a diminutive room’s window dressings right is key
Tiny rooms need tons of ideas to fully maximise their potential, and the right window dressing can have a huge impact on how your space looks and feels. From simple shutters to classic curtains and beautiful blinds, there are lots of wonderful ways to dress windows that cleverly combine practicality with bags of style, and can make your small interior feel lighter, brighter and bigger, too.
Make it practical and pretty
Pitched ceilings in attic rooms often have small windows, so for maximum impact, keep the window treatments unfussy. A simple Roman or roller blind, designed to fit snugly inside the window opening, is perfect for an uncluttered feel.
For visual interest, choose a patterned fabric that’s small in detail and complements the rest of the décor. Try adding a cushion or two in the same fabric – it will act as a unifying element and draw the eye upwards to the blind, a subtle trick that will give the feel of a higher ceiling.
Pitched ceilings in attic rooms often have small windows, so for maximum impact, keep the window treatments unfussy. A simple Roman or roller blind, designed to fit snugly inside the window opening, is perfect for an uncluttered feel.
For visual interest, choose a patterned fabric that’s small in detail and complements the rest of the décor. Try adding a cushion or two in the same fabric – it will act as a unifying element and draw the eye upwards to the blind, a subtle trick that will give the feel of a higher ceiling.
Frame a view on the wider world
To make a dramatic statement in the tiniest of rooms, combine bold colour with formal styling. A pair of full-length curtains in the same strong shade as the walls will frame the view and draw the eye outside, and will also create a feeling of space indoors, as the wall won’t be too chopped up visually.
Pick up the main colour of the curtains and walls in complementary patterns for accompanying furniture and accessories. Consider adding a blackout lining to prevent harsh sunlight fading the deep colour of the fabric.
To make a dramatic statement in the tiniest of rooms, combine bold colour with formal styling. A pair of full-length curtains in the same strong shade as the walls will frame the view and draw the eye outside, and will also create a feeling of space indoors, as the wall won’t be too chopped up visually.
Pick up the main colour of the curtains and walls in complementary patterns for accompanying furniture and accessories. Consider adding a blackout lining to prevent harsh sunlight fading the deep colour of the fabric.
Create the illusion of space with horizontal stripes
Make use of the patterns and designs of fabrics to their best effect to maximise the feeling of space. A bold lateral stripe will give the illusion a room is wider than it is, and so is perfect for a narrow corridor or compact office space. Painterly stripes and ombre effects are a real trend at the moment and are ideal for creating a softer mood in a room.
Get expert advice on choosing window treatments for the whole house
Make use of the patterns and designs of fabrics to their best effect to maximise the feeling of space. A bold lateral stripe will give the illusion a room is wider than it is, and so is perfect for a narrow corridor or compact office space. Painterly stripes and ombre effects are a real trend at the moment and are ideal for creating a softer mood in a room.
Get expert advice on choosing window treatments for the whole house
Add interest with classic stripes
Bathroom windows require a treatment that provides privacy, but is simple and practical, too. Curtains are often far too ostentatious or space-hogging, whereas a simple Roman blind is clean-lined and suits the utilitarian qualities of the room (a roller blind would work, too, but there’s often more fabric choice with a Roman).
Nautical stripes work well or, for very small casement windows, try a fresh white linen blind edged with two or three rows of vertical stripes. Choose a stripe colour that picks up on other decorative elements, such as linens or floor tiles.
Bathroom windows require a treatment that provides privacy, but is simple and practical, too. Curtains are often far too ostentatious or space-hogging, whereas a simple Roman blind is clean-lined and suits the utilitarian qualities of the room (a roller blind would work, too, but there’s often more fabric choice with a Roman).
Nautical stripes work well or, for very small casement windows, try a fresh white linen blind edged with two or three rows of vertical stripes. Choose a stripe colour that picks up on other decorative elements, such as linens or floor tiles.
Think function over privacy
Sometimes, less is more, and often a window doesn’t need to be overly cluttered with curtains, shutters or a blind. If you have a kitchen window with some architectural merit, for example, or one that looks out onto a lovely view, then maximise its potential.
This kitchen window has a small gathered curtain at the bottom for a touch of softness and colour, and a row of pans above. Small kitchens need all the extra storage space they can get, so this solution does double duty. If you’re keen to maximise light, try adding a shelf across the window and use it for stacking your glasses instead, since these won’t block out a thing.
Sometimes, less is more, and often a window doesn’t need to be overly cluttered with curtains, shutters or a blind. If you have a kitchen window with some architectural merit, for example, or one that looks out onto a lovely view, then maximise its potential.
This kitchen window has a small gathered curtain at the bottom for a touch of softness and colour, and a row of pans above. Small kitchens need all the extra storage space they can get, so this solution does double duty. If you’re keen to maximise light, try adding a shelf across the window and use it for stacking your glasses instead, since these won’t block out a thing.
Use feature curtains to zone small spaces
Making a feature of your curtains can really help to zone a small, open-plan space in a soft way – though it’ll work best if you have large windows so as not to make things look cluttered.
Choose a theme for the windowed area of your dinky space – here, the owners have gone for faded country florals – and use your curtains as the starting point for layering your look. A complementary tablecloth and cushions are all that’s needed to give this dining area its own mood, distinct from the rest of the kitchen.
In a relaxed space such as this, you can also get away with a simple length of fabric, attached to curtain or bamboo poles with ribbons, rather than buying ready-made curtains.
Get more inspiration for country style interiors
Making a feature of your curtains can really help to zone a small, open-plan space in a soft way – though it’ll work best if you have large windows so as not to make things look cluttered.
Choose a theme for the windowed area of your dinky space – here, the owners have gone for faded country florals – and use your curtains as the starting point for layering your look. A complementary tablecloth and cushions are all that’s needed to give this dining area its own mood, distinct from the rest of the kitchen.
In a relaxed space such as this, you can also get away with a simple length of fabric, attached to curtain or bamboo poles with ribbons, rather than buying ready-made curtains.
Get more inspiration for country style interiors
Layer up for practicality and style
Layering window treatments is a useful trick to adopt and has a dual purpose, too. On a practical level, teaming floor-to-ceiling curtains with either shutters or blinds offers maximum flexibility as far as privacy and warmth are concerned – additional insulation from draughts in the winter with the curtains drawn, and a lighter feel in the summer using just the shutters for privacy.
Psychologically, there’s another trick that’s great for smaller spaces: double treatments add an extra layer of sophistication and luxury that can give a diminutive living room a much grander appearance and feel. Max the effect by combining classic wooden shutters or a neat wool blind with full silk or velvet curtains.
TELL US…
What challenges have you encountered tackling window treatments in a smaller room? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Layering window treatments is a useful trick to adopt and has a dual purpose, too. On a practical level, teaming floor-to-ceiling curtains with either shutters or blinds offers maximum flexibility as far as privacy and warmth are concerned – additional insulation from draughts in the winter with the curtains drawn, and a lighter feel in the summer using just the shutters for privacy.
Psychologically, there’s another trick that’s great for smaller spaces: double treatments add an extra layer of sophistication and luxury that can give a diminutive living room a much grander appearance and feel. Max the effect by combining classic wooden shutters or a neat wool blind with full silk or velvet curtains.
TELL US…
What challenges have you encountered tackling window treatments in a smaller room? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Plantation shutters provide privacy and let in light and, when split into two tiers, also offer maximum flexibility. Shutters are a neat window treatment for small rooms: when folded back, they allow the maximum amount of light to enter the room, and they also maintain a stylish and tidy feel.
Look out also for Shaker-inspired solid-wood shutters, which particularly suit period properties, as their understated charm echoes that of other architectural features found in older properties, such as unfussy fireplaces and simple panelling.