By Curtain Design Studio

The thought and attention you but into styling your window treatments does matter. At Curtain Design Studio, we know a good set of drapes, purposeful blinds or lovely shades can add incredible color, warmth, and character to a room. They can and also be the finishing touches that make your home instantly feel like home. A well-dressed window can make or break a room’s aesthetic, so that’s where a few styling tips can make all the difference. These simple design tips can help transform your boring or average windows into showstopping focal points.

Tip #1: Hang Curtains High and Wide on the Frame: 

Hanging your curtains or drapery high and wide on the frame makes your room look bigger and more sophisticated as well as creates a dramatic focal point of interest in a room. Hang your drapes high by at least 12 inches above the window frame or even take them all the way up to the ceiling. This will draw the eye up, making ceilings look taller and the window look larger. You don’t want to hang drapes right above the top of your window because from this position they shorten and they stunt the look of the window and let in less light. Next, hang your drapes wide by extending your curtain rod out three to six inches on each side of the frame. When fully open, your curtains shouldn’t rest more than about two inches inside the frame on either side.

Tip #2: Pay Attention to Curtain Length:

A common mistake when buying packaged curtains is forgetting to measure the height of your wall in addition to the actual window. When measuring for drapery, the finished length is an essential decision that takes the wall height into account. For a professionally designed look, your drapes should do one of the following: puddle or break slightly with an additional ¼ inch of fabric on the floor, graze the floor or linger one half-inch above the floor. This same consideration goes for cafe curtains (short-tier curtains that cover the bottom half of windows). Don’t stop fabric short at the windowsill. Instead let it flow over the frame making the window look larger and more dramatic.

Tip #3: Layer Your Window Treatments:

When layering curtains with other curtains, blinds or shades, the key is to have enough contrast so the two layers look like a natural part of the look without competing. Decide about combining soft and hard window treatments and how each will function. Designer windows tend to blend at least two window treatments for example sheer drapes underneath solid drapes, matchstick blinds paired with a Roman shade, roller shades underneath Roman shades, roller shades framed by drapes, or plantation shutters topped with a pretty valance. Layers boost style and design and also serve function of better insulation and light control.

Tip #4: Pick Wide, Real Wood-Slatted Blinds or Shutters

Beautiful window treatments can add incredible style and a level of sophistication to your home. Real wood blinds and shutters can also add value to your home as they become part of your home’s interior architecture. With this in mind – you don’t want to skimp when choosing wood blinds or indoor shutters. These upscale treatments are a bigger investment cost, but they can increase the value of your home and help sweeten the deal as a leave behind bonus when it comes time to sell.

Tip #5: Choose Complementary Hardware

Drapery hardware has come along way, options are numerous in so many ways including material, finish, color, style and finial options – making deciding on the final look of your window design that much more challenging. Formal draperies that extend from floor to ceiling require a heavier duty rod than light-weight curtains like sheers and laces. Some rods, like traverse rods are not meant to be seen at all and are hidden by the window treatments. Other types of hardware are designed to be decorative elements like decorative rods, rings, tie-backs and finials. If the drapery fabric is the star of your treatments, the hardware is the finishing touch. It should be considered a complement to the rest of your room’s decor.

You Can Do it!

Following these tips, you can elevate the look of your window spaces! They are a good way of doing things when dressing most windows, they aren’t hard and fast rules for every situation. When styling small or tricky spots you may need to consider getting some advice from a professional window treatment designer/decorator. Color and pattern are important, but keep in mind a material’s ability to provide privacy and light blockage as well as overall styling of a wow finished look. When in doubt, Curtain Design Studio is happy to help you decide on curtain length, fabric and styling.

You can have wow windows by following a few simple styling techniques. You will love the results!!