Everyone already knows that besides paint, we think curtains are the number one way to add polish and style to any space! It’s a super simple way to add height, drama, and billowy softness, so we finally got around to adding some long floor length $5 Ikea curtains on either side of our bamboo shades in the den- just like we did in our living room a while back.
Here are our boxy den windows before, just calling out for some soft and serene floor length beauties (don’t mind John in the corner taking some measurements). Sure the room looked clean and “craftsman” without them, but something was missing…
Just look at the difference a few inexpensive white panels can make (oh and check out our curtain-hanging tutorial for a few tips and tricks):
Of course we’re all about hanging them high and wide, to make the window appear even bigger than it is and ensure that they don’t block an inch of light (which always makes a room feel open and airy). Our white curtains of choice are always Ikea’s Vivan panels (at just $9.99 for two, it doesn’t get much better than that). We also love that they come in two lengths (98″ and 118″), so even those with taller ceilings can snag the longer versions (which will only run you $14.99 for two) and achieve the same breezy and inviting look on the cheap and in an afternoon. Look, even Burger’s a fan.
The bamboo roman shades are actually from Walmart since they always seem to have an affordably priced selection in a bunch of standard (and non-standard) sizes right in the store. We’ve even hung two of them next to each other in the living room to mimic the look of one long blind without spending a huge amount on a custom, oversized roman shade.
We also love to get our oil-rubbed-bronze-looking rods from Target. They’re understated and simple so the curtains get all the attention- just the way it should be. And the standard ceiling in the den feels so much taller thanks to our new additions, which introduce breezy vertical elements to add to the illusion of height.
I can’t believe it took us so long, especially since we’ve been so quick to suggest curtains to anyone who will listen! The lesson: convince your husband to take you to Ikea far more often. And even if he groans about hanging more curtain rods around the house, bribe him with a trip to Taco Bell and get on with it.
What about you guys? Do you have any rooms that could use the polish and added height that floor length curtains can bring? Any other totally overdue decorating tasks on your to-do list? Do tell.
Update: Check out the comments on this post by clicking the voice bubble next to the title to see a plethora of curtain related questions and a bevy of helpful hints and simple solutions.
Psst- Wanna know even more about finding the right window treatments for your home? Check out this exhaustive answer.
Andi says
Those curtains look great! We have ridiculous heights on our ceilings and I can never find 108 or 108+ that are affordable. I might try those Vivan panels in one room. We have another room that is 132(11′ ceilings) do you think we should take the panels all the way to the top?
Bethany says
I love them! Such an inexpensive solution, and it looks so lovely afterwards.
My issue is this: I love the look and height of the long curtains, but we live in an apartment in an old building that has baseboard heaters (as in little metal boxes that jut out from the baseboard and get really hot and kick out heat), so having floor-length curtains is not an option, at least in the winter, unless we want to start a fire. So, do I hem curtains so that they’re about a foot off the floor (that’s the lowest they can be and still be safe)? Or do I hem them just below the window frame (about 6 inches higher)? Or do I just skip curtains and mourn my stupid heating situation?
YoungHouseLove says
Andi- For your curtain sitch in the room with the 11′ ceilings (what an awesome problem to have!) we’d suggest just hanging the longer Vivan curtains 118″ from the floor since they’ll add a great amount of height and softness without needing to go all the way to the top of your 11″ walls. Hope it helps!
Bethany- Hmm, your curtain conundrum is more of a doozie. Hemming them to fall just below the window might be the way to go since hemming them a foot from the floor might look a bit highwater-ish. Like a window whose pants shrunk. You could also skip curtains and go with a fabulous roman shade instead, so that’s another good option. Either way, happy hemming and hanging!
xoxo,
Sherry
Regina says
“hey let’s go to ikea!” is never met with anything but eye-rolls and heavy sighing. i have to dole out snacks like you would with a three-year-old to get through the trip with my fiance. however, that’s still way easier than trying to get a bookshelf through checkout and into the car all by myself.
glad to know i’m not the only one with the problem!
Meredith says
Man, can I just say again how much I wish we had an ikea? I haven’t even set foot in a store!
I’m with you on Wal-Mart and Target though…and what a gorgeous difference those make in your room!
Sara says
I am not convinced with the curtains in the last pic. I think it stole the attention to the fire place a bit. May be its just me :)
Jenn says
Wow you guys read my mind! We just moved to a new home with a triple 12′ wide sliding glass door. It makes for a wonderful view to the back yard however it’s in desperate need of a few curtain panels to soften the look. My question for you is where do I find a curtain rod that will extend 12′ or even a little more to accommodate hanging the panels to each side.
I love the blog, stumbled upon it a few months ago and just can’t get enough!
Thanks so much!
YoungHouseLove says
Wow! Talk about a flurry of questions!
Jenn- We know that JC Penney sells curtain rods and extender pieces that can stretch those rods far beyond 12′ which should solve your problem on the double. Hope it helps!
Katie- Hmm, for alternate bamboo shades I would try Target, Bed Bath & Beyond and Cost Plus World Market. Those three places should have something extremely similar. Happy hunting…
Kellie- Great idea for Bethany about pinning the curtains up! It’s definitely another option (and you know we love options). As for your curtain dilemma, assuming that your window doesn’t have mullions (those grids that will make it obvious if you cheat the curtains over a bit) we’d totally vote for keeping the finial and cheating the curtains over a bit. Once the panels are in place no one will be the wiser! We actually cheated the heck out of our living room window and even the bedroom window with long floor length curtains since they’re both not centered and it adds a lot more balance to each room.
Barbara- We have heard that many baseboard heating systems are a-ok with fabric on them at all times (remember how people used to dry their wet socks on them without any worries of a fire?) so that’s yet another option for Bethany to explore- perhaps she’ll do just fine with floor length curtains after all.
Cecily- We actually have no experience with UV blocking window film, but maybe googling it will show you some samples and you can evaluate whether it will look strange from the inside or the outside of your home (you don’t want one window that looks different from all the others from the curb). As for replacing those valances, we think anything from nice fabric roman shades to bamboo blinds would look lovely with or without curtains on either side. Hope it helps!
Nicole- Those glass lamps in the living room (actually a light tan tone) are from the sadly departed Linens N Things, although hopefully you can find something similar by googling “glass based gourd lamp” or “seeded glass table lamp.” Good luck!
Tamisha & Sara- That last shot isn’t a totally pulled back shot of the den- our apologies! The tall curtains actually balance a huge 5 foot wide, super tall doorway that’s just out of frame in the pic which leads the kitchen (it always made the room feel lopsided until we hung the curtains to take the heat off the big opening in that side of the room). Now the tall white verticals mimic the thick white doorway trim (which goes almost as high up the walls as the curtains do) so I apologize for the bad photos but I promise we’re balance freaks and the whole room feels a lot more “symmetrical” with the new curtains!
Amy- We’ve always heard spectacular things about the curtains from JC Penney so maybe that’s a cost effective option? You also might want to try places like Target and Bed Bath & Beyond because they’re usually very comparable to the Pottery Barn offerings (and it’s not like the thread count matters since you won’t be sleeping in them or anything!). Hope it helps.
Whew! You guys are very curious today…
xoxo,
Sherry
Katie says
ohmygaw…they look amazing! Love love love. I might have to use that Taco Bell technique to get Jeremy to drive to VA so I can spend a little QT with your new curtains – and you of course :) oh and I went Walmart hunting for bamboo shades…no such luck at my local stores…do you know where else we can hook up with such beauties? As always – you guys have a perfect post!
Kellie Alkayam says
Why not just pin the curtains up and out of the way in the winter and take them back down in the summer? Just a thought.
Here’s MY issue (we all seem to have issues, don’t we?). I already bought some curtains at Cost Plus for my guest bedroom, but I haven’t bought curtain rods yet because I just realized they won’t fit right on one of my windows. It’s a small window at the very end of the wall, and the window casing is only about an inch from the corner, so the finial won’t fit. I can’t decide if I should just hang the rod as far over as I can and deal with it not being hung centered over the window, or if I should leave the finial off and push it up against the wall. Either way, I’m sure no one will notice but me, but what is the proper thing to do in this situation? Gosh, life is so complicated.
Liz says
I am a huge fan of your blinds/curtain combo, and have started recommending it to anyone that will listen. It’s even made it into some of my design plans (which I’m giving away today on my blog!!)
Denise T. says
Sherry,
You’ve totally sold me on how finished a room looks with blinds and drapes. I’ve refrained from hanging curtains in our farmhouse since we have too few windows and I didn’t want to block any natural light. Your “hang them high and wide” approach with the bamboo shade has solved my dilemma.
Barbara says
I have hot water baseboard heat and have had no problem with floor length curtains. I would spend some time checking how hot your heaters get before giving up entirely.
Sophie says
Beautiful! We still have to hang up those curtains in our living room!
Cecily T says
I was just going to email you about curtains! I need a curtain tutorial! I’m definitely going to be using this technique for my living room. Speaking of…I want the window open but I have a piano in there that I don’t want to get too faded. Do you guys have any opinions about window films that block UV light?
I’m currently avoiding two curtain projects: my dining room and my family room.
In my family room I’ve got 2 sets of 3 windows each, both in an L-shapes pattern, set close together. Two on one wall and one on the other, if you can picture it. Right now they have sort of heavy brocade-ish valances and wood blinds left by the previous owners. I’m down with the blinds, but the valances have to go. I have no idea what to replace them with though. We have a cathedral ceiling in there, so maybe faking the high shades wouldn’t be a bad idea to draw your eye up, but I’m not sure what curtains to use. Right now our daughter’s toy benches are under the windows, so I think long curtains are out.
The dining room (currently being repainted) has a bump-out in the front with 3 windows, one wide one in the center and two narrower ones on the short angled walls on either side. I just have no idea what to do in there!
Also, I’ve never been to ikea, since we don’t have one close by, but I hear it can be overwhelming. I’m almost afraid to go!
Nicole Greene says
S-
You mention the LR in the beginning of the blog – where are the 2 (what looks like clear mauve glass) lamps from?
Thanks (as always)
Nicole
Priscilla says
lol @ the thought of highwater curtains.
the hubby hates ikea and has refused to go to ikea with me ever since the first day we stepped foot into the store. he felt light-headed after an hour or so and thought that eating 4 hot dogs and 2 ice cream cones would make him feel better. unfortunately, it didnt work lol.
and i myself have a love/hate relationship with ikea. anybody else?
Tamisha says
I agree with you Sara, I think the curtains make the room unbalanced with the very low lean sofa on the left. It feels a bit off kilter, at least in the photo. Maybe the left side needs something to balance the height of the curtains.
Amy says
I have tried to purchase the Ikea Vivian panels online and have been unable to do so,alas I do not live near an Ikea. If you could not purchase the Vivian panels what would be your next thought? I recently bought very expensive Cameron panels from Pottery Barn but do not like having to spend so much?
Kristina with a K says
Looks great guys! God bless IKEA! :)
Heather says
I honestly think that in this particular room I liked it better without the curtain panels, it looks a little too jumbled to me now.
Mimi R says
I love the look of white curtains, but have been warned against them because they can get dirty easily and show dirt easily. What do you think? Do you clean yours? Currently we have taupey-greyish ones that I don’t love at all and would love to replace with white. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Mimi- With a dog and countless home improvement projects going on at all times, it’s safe to say that white curtains can be just as easy to maintain as any other color (our living room ones even survived a nearby kitchen remodel). We like to wash our Ikea curtains before we hang them so they’re pre-shrunk (in case we need to launder them to refresh them once a season, we don’t have to worry that they’ll shrink up and look silly). Then it’s just about tossing them in the wash a few times a year to keep them looking bright. A lot of moms even tell us that white is their favorite upholstery color since it can be bleached or oxycleaned. Hope it helps!
Donna- These curtains are definitely not sheers, but they’re not super opaque either. I’d actually describe them as somewhere in the middle so they’re not great for 100% privacy- they’re more for adding height and softness (and more of that bright white that we love love love). Hope it helps!
Hey SSM- If you read this old post about the pendant light that we attached to our fan in the den (and the comments for even more detailed info) you’ll get the full scoop. Good luck!
SammyW- Swoon. That is all.
xoxo,
Sherry
Danika says
Love, Love, Love the look of the new curtains, it really makes the room looked ‘finished’. It’s too funny that you posted this today…I just finished hanging white curtains in our master bedroom yesterday (we have been without for 4 years) and I can’t believe what a huge difference it makes! Now I want to hang them all over the house…
Donna says
Just wondering if these curtains provide privacy if you hang them solo – nothing underneath. I have a huge sliding glass door and would rather not have to deal with anything other than the curtains. They look so beautiful, but a bit wispy and transparent. Is that the case? Thanks for sharing your new look!
SSM says
Can you give more information on your fan and target lampshade DIY? I looked it up in the source list, but I didn’t see anything on how you all did that. I would love to try something like that, but most of our fans have multiple bulbs.
sammyw says
not really curtain related, but i came across this store & immediately thought of you youngsters, so your style!
http://www.bungalowclassic.com/index.htm
http://alifesdesign.blogspot.com/2009/04/bungalow-classic.html
Jen says
Love the new curtains… isn’t it funny how the simplest things are overlooked, but then once you change them it makes a world of difference?
We’ve been getting our house ready to sell, and it’s amazing how doing just one or two little things really makes a room look better… We just finished painting the bathroom, added some new hardware to the cabinets, and put up a new shower curtain and it is absolutely incredible what a huge difference it makes!
Nicely done! :)
Bethany says
Sherry – Thanks for your advice! I agree, the foot off the floor height looks a bit bizarre – high water is the perfect term! :)
Kellie – That is a great idea of pinning them up. It had occurred to me to buy two sets (hem one for winter, put up the floor-length ones the rest of the year), but pinning would be even easier and more cost-efficient!
Barbara – Unfortunately our baseboard heaters do get pretty hot to the touch. We learned that the hard way when a lamp cord dangled too close to the top of one and totally melted. *Maybe* fabric would be ok, but I’d hate to be the person who caused the building to burn down. :) Our lease has something written in it about not placing anything closer to them than 6 inches. Alas.
cyndi says
A trip to Ikea is definitely in order! We need window coverings on all of our windows. I’m embarrassed to say that we’ve been in our house now for FOUR years and have yet to hang anything. This is partly due to us (for the longest time) not knowing what we wanted (although we’ve now settled on roman shades) and partly because our windows are non-traditional sizes and we weren’t up for spending an arm and a leg on shades and curtains.
You’ve inspired me to get out there and at least look around. Ikea could actually be the solution to many of our current home projects. Thanks for the ideas & inspiration.
I’m really looking forward to your big reveal on the 48-hour challenge. Our back porch could definitely use some sprucing up and this challenge sounds like just the thing! Good luck & have so much fun with the project.
Natalie says
These look great and I love how inexpensive they are. Some curtains can get pricy! My curtain issue that I have been meaning to ask you guys for a while is:
Our living room has a high rectangular window on one wall. It seems like its more for light because it is so high up that no one can see in/out of it. The bottom sill is about 6 feet above the floor. Any suggestions for curtains/window treatments? Right now we have been leaving in bare.. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Jen- Definitely go with one long rod. It will look seamless and less visually broken up… and it might even create the look of one big window instead of three smaller ones next to each other. Happy hanging…
Natalie- Hmm, your super high window is a toughie. I would definitely suggest putting something under it to “ground” that area so it doesn’t look like this unrelated floating box in the room. By adding something with a bit of weight under it, it’ll create a more integrated and intentional look. Then you can add roman shades or bamboo blinds and even curtains if you’d like to soften the boxy shape a bit more. Or you can go with the clean, bare look since it’s more of a “dormer” (for the intent of letting in light) than a picture window. Hope it helps!
xoxo,
Sherry
Jen says
Speaking of curtains, I have a quick question to throw out there:
I have three windows along one wall of my living room with about a foot of wall in between each. Should I do three small curtain rods to hang curtains in between and on th ends of them, or should I find one long curtain rod? Also, any ideas where I can find a seven-or eight-foot curtain rod?
Melissa says
I love this idea and presently waiting for some shades like these to go on sale at overstock (the ginger bamboo roman shades). I’m in a similar position as Bethany expect I have radiators. Right now i have curtains up that hit above the radiator but they look weird. I think i might do a shade/curtain combo and have the curtains pulled back away from the radiators.
Nicole Greene says
S-
We head to IKEA for the FIRST time EVER on Tues. Already looked over the catalog and website many times and have wish list and budget money (in cash) all ready to go.
Nicole
YoungHouseLove says
Good luck Nicole! Having a wish list and a cash budget is a great idea. Happy shopping…
xoxo,
s
Jen says
Looks nice. What do you do for window coverings for bathroom windows?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jen,
Both of our bathroom windows are blissfully bare. We’re lucky that they each overlook the backyard (so privacy isn’t an issue), but we like the look of shades, blinds, or even frosted window film or spray. There are lots of options for the bathroom, so as long as you don’t go with floor length curtains you’ll be a-ok!
xo,
s
Megan S says
You’ve been a busy problem solver today! I wonder what you think about wood blinds with curtains like the Ikea Vivan you’ve used. The blinds are painted white and will hang in our bedroom. Would I hang the curtains above the window frame near the ceiling? Since the blinds fit inside the window, rather than over the frame like your very nice bamboo roman shades, I wonder if that makes a difference? We haven’t moved in yet so I can’t actually try it out. I’m just a planner who wants to be ready with a contingency plan if it doesn’t work out! Thanks in advance if you have time to answer. (Thanks, regardless, because I’ve really learned a lot since finding this site!)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Megan S,
We definitely think the Vivan curtain panels would look lovely with white painted wood blinds, but instead of hanging them right at the ceiling height, you’ll want to mount the rod about 6″ above the window so they’re cheated a bit higher but they still have a visual relationship with the blinds that are below them on the window. Almost everyone cheats their curtains at least 6″ above their windows these days, just because hanging the rod right above the window can look oddly invasive and heavy… it needs a little air to breathe! And the bonus height and drama that it brings is the icing on the cake. Hope it helps!
xoxo,
Sherry
Priscilla says
I just wanna add “Cover Girl” to today’s headline. =P
Hattie says
Bethany,
I also have baseboard heat (don’t you hate it!) and I wouldn’t put fabric anywhere near the unit if it gets as hot as ours do. Ikea makes a beautiful and cheap white roman shade that lets the light shine through in the same way as the longer curtains. We used them in our living room, and they look great and are super easy to put up.
Ikea is nearly alway good for it! I wish they would put one a smidge closer to Richmond!
Cindy says
Hi Sherry,
The close-up pix (#4) was exactly what I needed to see to visual how the curtains, blinds and rod look. We have a ceiling beam between the 2 sliding glass doors where we’re going to hang the Makrete drapes I bought last week-end.
We also bought 6 pairs of the Vivian sheers to hang at 3 other windows. Just a quick question: do you ever draw your shears or lower the blinds for privacy?
This post has helped me so much. Thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Cindy,
We actually never lower the bamboo blinds or close the curtains for privacy (we have a good amount of space between the houses in our neighborhood and we hang out in the den at night, which isn’t visible from the street (it’s behind that front fireplace that you see in our header- so there’s no window to watch The John & Sherry Show inside the house).
That being said, we do have one of those cheap-o white inside-mount roller blinds in the master bedroom for privacy since that room is in the front right of the house. The great thing is that it tucks right under our higher-mounted roman shade so no one’s the wiser that it even exists when it’s up. Anything from an interior mounted hidden roller shade to some pull-up blinds are perfect to use for privacy (since you can pull them up and “hide them” behind the bamboo blinds when they’re not in use).
Similarly, vertical blinds on either side of big sliding doors can be pulled to the side of the door (when they’re not in use) to tuck behind the floor length curtains flanking the doors. Gotta love function that can be hidden behind some pretty great form!
So glad this post is helping you! Happy hanging…
xo,
s
Colleen in MA says
It finally dawned on me after all of your tall-curtain tips that that’s what we need to do in our living room – it has sloped ceilings but the windows are in the one wall that is vertical. I’ve been on the lookout for ways to make the room seem taller and now that I’ve seen it work in your low-ceiling den I’m excited to try it.
Also, it was so cool opening my mailbox today and seeing your smiling faces! I got the new issue of Nest and it felt like seeing old friends. You guys (and Burger) and the house look great!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Colleen,
Wow! We haven’t even seen our little appearance in The Nest magazine yet! Hopefully our copy will arrive tomorrow and we’ll get to scan it and share some behind the scenes details with everyone. Fun, fun, fun!
xo,
Sherry
Layersofmeaning says
That looks great!
I have 3 windows about that size in my master bedroom. We put 2″ blinds & I wanted to add some curtains or roman blinds but thought it might be too much… do you guys think the blinds + curtain or roman blinds with on 3 “consecutive” windows would be too much?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Layersofmeaning,
I think one long rod hung high and wide across all three windows will unify them and allow you to add floor length curtains between each window (and on each end of the rod) for the look of one big picture window. And if you get to that step and you think they can still use a bit more up top, adding roman blinds will look lovely as long as the 2″ blinds are pulled up (when they’re down blocking the sun all three window treatments together might be a bit much). Hope it helps!
xoxo,
Sherry
ali says
Hi, Youngsters! First let me say how unbelievably addicted I’ve become to this website. Like a true nerd, I can’t wait to check and see what new thing you have posted each day. And I’ve already started a Young House Love inspired furniture painting project.
My curtain question is this: I have lovely french doors in the den, each with a transom above. From the frame of the transom to the floor is exactly 96 inches. So, what length curtains do I buy? Using the IKEA panels as an example, would you use the 98 inch length and just hang slightly above the transom with an inch or so to spare? Or would you get the 118 inch length and hang higher and just let the material pool at the bottom? (I’m not really into sewing)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Ali,
Good news! The Ikea curtains are great because they come with iron-on hem tape (no sewing, just fold the curtains where you wish they’d stop and iron the hem tape onto the bottom for an instant no-sew hem). But even though they’re easy to hem, it’s even easier to just hang those 98″ panels above your transom (wash them before you hang ’em to pre-shrink them to make sure they don’t look too short for your perfectly mounted rod!). It’ll look lovely! And if you just wanted to mess around with the hem tape for fun, you could always get the 118″ curtains and hang them about 6″ above your transom for a bit more breathing room and height (and then just break out that iron, baby!). Hope it helps! Good luck…
xo,
Sherry
East End says
If we could just get an Ikea in Richmond (ok and maybe a Wegmans!) I’d be such a happy camper……Anyway, my ceilings are 10′ high and curtains have always been a challenge. And a room without curtains, not for me. My two main sources are Ikea and JCP catalogue, though I’m excited about something I just read on a blog about the drop cloths at Lowe’s for $10 each, 98″ long. The heavy rustic texture of these sound just about perfect for my den.
YoungHouseLove says
East End- It’s so funny that you mention Lowe’s drop cloths because we were actually eying some tan burlap/linen-looking drop cloths from Home Depot to use somehow in our front porch Home Depot challenge. Since they’d have to be outdoors it’s a bit of a doozie to work them in, but indoors as curtains they’d be lovely! And I think they come in perfect curtain lengths (around 5 ft by 9 ft). Fabulous idea indeed!
Katy- I would definitely try JC Penney (famous for their window stuff, which is much cheaper than Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware). You also might want to look at Bed Bath & Beyond and even Lowe’s and Home Depot because they sell curtain rods too (and they have some nice chunky ones). One other tip would be that you might want to spray paint your existing rods a darker color (dark brown or black) because silver and white rods tend to look a lot more delicate than wrought-iron or oil-rubbed-bronze-looking rods. Our living room window is super long and the rod is pretty skinny and high, but thanks to the dark color it still feels in proportion. Hope it helps! Good luck!
xo,
Sherry
Katy says
Hey Youngsters, I too was hanging curtains yesterday.
And, my issue is this — size does matter. (John, did we get your attention? HA!)
Like some other peeps, I also have tall ceilings & the curtain rods I’m using — re-purposed from another room — (just love that word, re-purpose. sounds kinda fancy and important :-) are TOO SKINNY.
Looks way out of proportion.
No bueno.
Like when a really tall, statuesque woman is wearing teeny tiny little jewelry.
I’ve looked at Target, and they don’t seem to have the bigger chunkier drapery hardware. Everywhere else that I do find the chunkier stuff, it’s all pricier than I can afford at the moment….
Back to the drawing board for me!
Diana says
Hi!! I just found your blog through another friend’s blog earlier this week, and I am ADDICTED! I look forward to checking your blog every day and seeing what you post. :) Thanks for all your tips and help and for your detailed instructions and pictures. I am so inspired by you guys! I love decorating and love cheap deals and repainting finds. (We did that to some stuff we got off craigslist and it looks so much better; thanks for your encouraging posts and inspiration and all the beautiful work you guys did on your house.) My husband and I got married in September ’08 and we’re currently renting an apartment until he graduates in May. In the summer/fall we’ll purchase a house and then I may be contacting you guys with some design dilemmas. :) However, in the meantime, I’m faced with living in an apartment that already has vertical blinds (which I’ve come to dislike) hung in the windows. Our ceilings throughout are the 9 foot ones and I’m a huge fan of panels and not leaving a window blank. (I actually already have floor length panels hung on all our windows, but after seeing your post I’m wondering what to do.) My questions is, what would you guys suggest for windows that have vertical blinds that can’t be removed? Also, in a room that has contemporary black furniture, would you suggest white panels or black panels on those windows? Do you match your curtains to the main color of the room decor? Thanks so much! I live in Colorado and just recently found out that they’re building an IKEA only fifteen minutes away. It won’t be finished until 2010, but I’m soooo excited! I love IKEA; I used to live in VA and would visit the Woodbridge one. Also, I can’t wait to see your big front porch reveal!! Blessings to you guys!!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Diana,
So glad you found us! As for your curtain debacle, I’d generally steer clear of solid black curtain panels (since they can seem pretty heavy and dark) but something with a pattern that includes some black to tie them into your furnishings would be great (we love these from Ikea with white, black and green stripes). And when it comes to you vertical window blinds, drawing them to one side and hiding them behind your curtain panels will make them virtually invisible (but they can still be used by pulling them back out when you need them). Similarly, horizontal blinds can be pulled all the way up and obscured behind bamboo blinds or roman shades when they’re not in use. Hope it helps!
xo,
Sherry
Diana says
That is a great idea! I hadn’t thought of sliding them to the side to hide them behind the panels. Thanks!! I will definitely do that!! What if the panels are made of black sheer/linen, so they aren’t heavy and still let the light through? Like the IKEA Wilma ones? http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00124128 Or do you think those would be too dark still and generally white panels like the Vivan ones would be better? (That’s a good point about the solid black panels being dark and heavy.) And lastly, what if you can’t afford bamboo blinds or roman shades and all you can put up are panels…would you still recommend hanging the curtain panels higher even though there wouldn’t be the nice roman shades to “hide” the difference? : ) Thanks again!
YoungHouseLove says
Oooh, those Wilma ones are nice. Definitely go for those! And although we like to cheat curtains up as high as they can go with blinds to hide the difference between the rod and the top of the window, when there aren’t going to be blinds to hide that negative space we generally like to hang the rods 6″ above the top of the window so there’s a bit of breathing room (they still have a little extra boost of height but they still feel visually connected to the window below). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Diana says
Ok, sweet!! That is totally helpful. I agree, the 6″ “rule” sounds perfect. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!! And lastly, I promise not to bug you anymore…Generally what color rod do you guys suggest for panels…like a white rod with white panels and black with black or mix it up or brushed metal…or?? : ) Thanks and have a blessed weekend and evening!!
YoungHouseLove says
We usually like oil-rubbed bronze or black rods best (they feel classic without drawing a lot of attention to themselves). Sometimes chrome rods become more of a focal point while white rods can feel a bit too dainty, but there are tons of gorgeous options out there so it’s really just a matter of personal preference! Happy hanging…
xo,
s
Lauren says
Amy,
You were inquiring about some cute, white-sheer curtains because the curtains John & Sherry use are not available to buy on Ikea’s website (I checked too…doesn’t it stink? I want to buy so much stuff and the nearest Ikea to me is at least 2-2 1/2 hours away. Anyhow, I have done some online research and found these curtains from JC Penney. They are the Addison Grommet-Top Sheer Coordinates by Studio in Cool White. I haven’t checked them out in person yet, but I’m planning on it (so I can’t speak about the quality or the amount of light they’ll let in.) Hope this helps. :)
Thanks to younghouselove — you’re so inspiring! Ya’ll rock!
-Lauren
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Lauren! You rock for sharing that info. We hope you’ll pop in and tell us how they work out!
xo,
Sherry
maya | springtree road says
hi! i’m wondering how you clean those blinds. vacuum? i’m so allergic to dust, which has always kept me from putting anything in my windows that i can’t throw in the washing machine.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Maya,
Whenever I’m in the mood for a deep cleaning (I too am allergic to dust and pollen), I use a moist cloth and gently wipe the fronts and tops of each bamboo blind. They’re definitely not damaged by a bit of moisture and it gets them super clean (while the dust sticks to the cloth instead of flying into the air and going everywhere). I’m sure vacuuming would also work (either with the extender vacuum nozzle or even a hand vac like our lovable Dirt Devil Kurv). Hope it helps!
xo,
Sherry
Diana says
Thanks for all your help, I will try to send y’all before and after shots…I’m ordering the Wilma panels so I’ll have to wait for them to arrive… However, in the meantime while I’m waiting, the set of panels that I already have in another room will shortly be taken down and rehung 6″ higher…Thanks so much younghouselove, you’re THE BEST!!!!!
Blessings!!
Blayne says
I love the new curtains! I am currently trying to figure out what to do for window coverings in our breakfast area. Roman shades seem to be popular in kitchens but we already have the 2inch wood blinds throughout the house and I don’t want to take them down. Do roman shades generally mount inside the window frame? I actually hadn’t thought of pulling up the wood blinds to hide them behind the shades. Do you think the blind/shade/curtain combo in my living room is too much? This post sure did generate a lot of questions. Why are window coverings so difficult?
bridget b. says
it looks like this was a busy curtain hanging weekend! i also hung my vivian curtains yesterday. my living room window has white vertical blinds, which sherry suggested that we just keep pulled to the side unless we need the privacy.
i couldn’t find the bamboo shades at walmart, but i’ll check the other suggestions this week. also, overstock.com has a bunch on sale.
great tip on the roller shades as well.
thanks for your great ideas!
Amy says
What species of plants do you have in your home? I really find the little plant on your tv stand unique! Where do you purchase your plants & pots?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy,
That little guys happens to be a burro tail from Home Depot in a cheap Ikea pot. Here’s a post all about the plants we love and the pots we adore. Hope it helps!
xoxo,
Sherry