If there’s one thing that we can count on like clockwork, it’s a flurry of curtain & blind-related questions in our inbox each and every day: where should I put curtains? where can I find good curtains? how do I hang curtains? So we’re here to answer a slew of them in one fell swoop. Hold onto your hats people, this could get crazy.
Q: What is your general philosophy on window treatments?
A: We believe that curtains and blinds can make for the biggest change in a room next to paint. They’re hugely important for a major makeover, and can add height, drama, breezy ambiance, softness, and even a punch of color to any space- and we definitely encourage everyone to give them a spin! We’re generally not big fans of valances, but we love the floor length curtain and blind combination and we always hang them “high and wide” as we say so often.
This means that we like hanging outside mounted bamboo blinds or roman shades a few inches below the ceiling to “cheat” a window up, and create the effect that it’s much taller and grander than it really is. Then hanging a curtain rod at the same level as the blinds, but extending the rod about 18″ wider than the window on both sides creates the look of a much wider window and allows the curtain panels to hang in front of the wall instead of encroaching on the window and blocking lots of much-needed light. When in doubt, go high and wide- it’ll make your ceilings feel taller, your room feel brighter, and your windows look HUGE!
Q: Where Do You Shop For Affordable Curtains?
A: Ikea, Target, Walmart, West Elm, JC Penney, and Bed Bath & Beyond are all great places to turn to when you’re hunting for curtains. Here are our ultimate favorites hanging on our living room window above (Ikea Vivan panels that are oh so cheap and classic- plus they come in two different lengths and have no-sew iron-on hem tape for easy installation that looks crisp and custom).
Q: How Do You Find Blinds Long Enough For Large Windows?
A: Here’s the secret: you can actually use two bamboo blinds hung next to each other to create the look of one for about a tenth of the price of a long custom blind! In fact, in our very own living room (pictured above) those are actually just two super cheap bamboo blinds snagged at Walmart and hung right next to each other (thanks to the textured bamboo material, no one’s the wiser). Beyond checking your local Walmart for a bunch of cheap bamboo blinds in many sizes, you can also try Target, Bed Bath & Beyond and even JC Penney for similar options.
Q: Where Can I Find Affordable Curtains For My Super Tall Ceilings (11 feet)?
A: 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 from Ikea (118′ long) 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 (and they’re deliciously cheap to boot).
Q: How Should I Treat Curtains For 3 Windows Along One Wall With Space In Between?
A: 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. 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. For a visual, check out Blayne’s living room makeover that we helped her with a few month’s back. You can see how adding curtain panels where there are slivers of wall creates a breezy effect and makes smaller side-by-side windows look like one big wall of glass (and you can see how she cheated them about a foot and a half higher than the window and it looks great):
Q: What Window Treatments Should I Hang In My Bay Window?
A: Just do what we suggested for one our lovely readers (great job Nichole!). She removed her old swagged valance…
…and used a bay window curtain rod (available at Smith & Noble and JC Penney- or you can use three regular rods and remove the finials on the ends that meet to create the look of one seamless rod) to follow the contour of the bay window and hung some breezy curtains for softness along with inside mounted 2″ blinds for privacy.
Isn’t this window transformation astounding?! That’s the power of curtains, people!
Q: How Can I Use Curtains To Make A Curtain That’s Off Center Look More Symmetrical?
A: We’d totally vote for cheating the curtains over a bit for the appearance of a more balanced window. Once the panels are in place no one will know where the wall ends and the window begins! 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 and symmetry to each room.
Q: I already have inside mount blinds. Can I still hang curtains high & wide?
A: We definitely think the curtain panels would still look lovely hung high and wide with white 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 below. Almost everyone cheats their curtains at least 6″ above their windows these days, just because hanging the rod right at the top of 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. Since a picture’s worth a thousand words, here’s another room makeover that we whipped up a while back to show just how lovely inside mount white wood blinds can look with curtains hung about 6″ above the top of the window:
Q: How Do You Keep Ikea White Curtains Clean?
A: 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 like highwaters). 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 and always looks crisp and fresh.
Q: What Do You Do For Window Coverings In A Bathroom?
A: 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. Sometimes the best idea is to peruse a shelter magazine or the internet for a bathroom you love and see how they addressed the windows and follow their lead. Inspiration is everywhere!
Q: What Do You Do About Privacy With Your Blind / Curtain Combo?
A: 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 front window to watch The John & Sherry Show from the street).
That being said, we do have those cheap-o white inside-mount roller shades in the bedrooms to block the light at night. The great thing is that they tuck right under our higher-mounted roman shades so no one’s the wiser that they even exist when they’re up. Anything from an interior mounted hidden roller shade to some pull-up 2″ blinds are perfect to use for privacy (since you can pull them up and “hide them” behind your bamboo blinds or roman shades when they’re not in use).
Q: What Curtain Length Do I Use On 96″ French Doors?
A: 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 great. 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!).
Q: What Color Or Finish Curtain Rod To You Prefer?
A: We usually like oil-rubbed bronze or black rods best for our home (they feel classic without drawing a lot of attention to themselves), but chrome rods can look amazing and become more of a modern touch in contemporary rooms (especially with grommeted curtains). White rods can definitely work in certain situations but we find that thin white metal rods can feel a bit too dainty (you want your rods to be understated but not to look too flimsy for the long floor-length curtains they’re supporting). There are tons of gorgeous options out there though (our den ones, pictured below, are from Target), so it’s really just a matter of personal preference!
Q: Would It Look Weird To Have Different Height Curtains On On Wall? We Have A Sliding Glass Door Next To Windows…
A: I’d use the blinds and the curtains on both the windows and the sliding glass door for instant cohesion and balance. I’d also go out of my way to hang curtains at the same level (cheat one set higher so they look more symmetrical and balanced). Voila: height, softness and elegance to spare.
Q: What would you guys suggest for windows that have vertical blinds that can’t be removed (we rent)? 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!
Q: What About Curtain With Veritcal Blinds? We Rent.
A: When it comes to 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). You can also choose to tie your curtains in with the wall color for an expansive and layered look or even with the upholstery on your sofa (say it’s tan, a cream curtain would complement that beautifully without feeling matchy-matchy). And when it comes to you vertical 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. Oh happy day.
Q: I know you guys are crazy about using white curtains for that light and airy look, but can bright saturated curtains work too?
A: They sure can. Check out this kitchen makeover that we helped Carla out with a few weeks back. This is her space before our accessory intervention…
And this is the same space after some paint and a few new accessories (including the vibrant green curtains that really make the space).
Q: Can I Use Blinds Or Curtain On Sliding Glass Doors?
A: Beth actually took our white-curtains-with-bamboo-blinds suggestion to heart when it came to her sliders, and here’s the amazing transformation. This is her valanced sliding door before…
… and her light and airy after:
The best part is that if you still want privacy (or are a renter) you can keep your vertical blinds pulled to the side and tucked behind one of the curtain panels to hide them when they’re not in use.
So there you have it. About a million curtain related queries and some lovely eye candy to demonstrate the power of curtains and blinds. Happy hanging everyone. And for more curtain related tips, tutorials and photos, check out our living room’s curtain & blind combination, and our den’s not-naked-anymore windows.
Update – Wanna know where we got something in our house or what paint colors we used? Just click on this button:
wendy says
We have newer house that has 11 foot ceilings with the kitchen and living room as one big open room. The kitchen has a bay window and the living room has a huge window-all connected but a big window that is raised a foot higher than the two on the sides. Since moving in we have no window treatments or blinds. I’m not sure if we should do just curtains and if the curtains in the kitchen and living room should match.
YoungHouseLove says
You could probably win either way, but personally we love curtains to match in adjoined rooms to help with the flow and balance. Good luck!
xo,
s
Kiley Hill says
Hi!
I love your curtain & blind suggestions. My husband and I found great bamboo blinds in several different colors and sizes at THE HOME DEPOT. Who’da thunk? They made a huge difference in our bedroom and bathroom. Paired with panels they made our room feel warm and inviting.
I love your blog!!
-Kiley
melarse says
I’m finally ready to hang some curtains after reading all your posts on high and wide. My question may be a silly one, but before I go drilling holes into our all of our freshly painted walls, should I be:
A) mounting the hardware just outside of the frame of the window, and extending the rod out 12″ on either side (and then hanging the curtains outside of the mounts)
OR
B) mounting the hardware 12″ outside the frame of the window (and then hanging the curtains on the inside of the mounts).
Thanks for your guidance. I can’t wait to see this look throughout my entire home!
YoungHouseLove says
Definitely B! Hope it helps!
xo,
s
melarse says
Ok, one more. I began hanging the curtains yesterday (and they look spectacular – I can’t thank you enough for all of your ideas!!). I have a 27’x14′ living room, long and somewhat narrow. The challenge I ran into is that I have 3 different types of windows in this room, 1)a set of sliders down on one end, 2)a pair of 41″ windows at the opposite end (only 16″ separating them), 3)a single 41″ window about 2/3 down the room by the slider. I am planning to hang one rod across the 2 front windows to match the slider at the other end, but given that they are only 16″ apart, should I also hang a single panel in the middle? Will that look too unbalanced from the slider at the opposite end? Or am I ok to just hang on the outside with nothing in the middle?
YoungHouseLove says
Our best advice would be to try the center panel first (it’ll probably still feel relatively balanced and look great). The good news is that you can also give it a go without that panel if you’d like- just to see which look you like best (leave it up for a few days to get used to it and then remove it for a few more days to see what tickles your fancy). Good luck!
xo,
s
emendez says
I have a question….I have a bay window that looks out into our backyard. But the ceiling does not go in where the windows go…it remains straight lined with the rest of the ceiling. To better describe, it is a bay window with a ledge of about 2 feet where you could sit. The previous owners kept blinds on the three windows, but I would like to remove them and replace them with something different. What type of window covering would you suggest?
YoungHouseLove says
Since it’s hard to hang a rod above the enclave since your bay windows go straight to the ceiling, we would suggest that you hang three rods at the top of each window butting up against each other so they look like one long hinged rod (that follows the shape of the bay window). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Shauna Clark says
My husband and I just bought our first house and starting to decorate. Your blog is perfect for inspiration!! I have a large window in my living room but it has a baseboard heater below it. I have been told that I should not hang curtains for safety reasons. I am concerned that blinds alone will look to plain and I do not want short curtains (yikes). I wanted to hang curtains as our ceilings are not that high but not sure if that is an option. Any thoughts on window treatment for windows with baseboard heaters below???
Thank you.
Shauna
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Shauna,
That’s a toughie. You may be able to hunt down special heat-resistant curtains that are made to work with baseboard heaters or just have them stop about 5″ below your windowsill which can still look breezy and lovely even though they’re not floor to ceiling. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
AJN220 says
First of all, I have been sooooo inspired by your site!! You have great ideas! My husband and I bought our first house, and have lived there for a little over a year now. I’m embarrassed to say that we still have a few rooms that are without window treatments b/c I find it so daunting to pick out the right ones!! I love the way your windows look w/ the bamboo blinds and white, breezy curtains. I would like to recreate that look in my family room, but here’s my problem…. Our family room has one regular window, and a pair of doors (but only one door actually hinges open) that lead to the patio. Can you think of a way to hang the curtains w/out it being a total hassle to open and close the one door??
YoungHouseLove says
Just hang the rod so it’s super wide on either side of that sliding door (so the panel hangs next to the door instead of in front of it). We love the look of sliders flanked by curtains and they can still be totally functional!
xo,
s
Mary says
I wrote a while back but I don’t think I described my windows/door clearly. I have a bay area in my kitchen. The front of the bay is my sliding door and the angled sides of the bay are my windows. I’m looking to get rid of the vertical blinds on the slider and the horizontal blinds on the windows. I need some privacy sometimes and need to be able to control the amount of sunlight at various times of the day. Curtains?Blinds?A combination? I would love some suggestions.
YoungHouseLove says
Blinds can provide the privacy and curtains can add softness so why not go for both? Or at least try the blinds first and add curtains if you’re looking for more breezy style.
xo,
s
Renee says
Seriously? You guys are awesome! Just came across your blog on a boring Sat night surfing the web for window solutions, and I’m so glad I did!
I have the same problem that a bunch of the commenters do – heat registers that are exactly where long curtains would land. Another window in the same room has the couch butted up against the wall underneath – no room for curtains between the couch and the wall.
I know you’ve recommended just going shorter with the curtains…so I *think* that’s what I’ll be trying.
Anyway, LOVE the blog and the fact that you’ve taken time to respond to so many commenters’ questions!
Janice says
I have just shifted into a flat and it has two full length windows and one baclony door in the living room. My furniture is a black sofa and a matching black dining table. Please advise what colour blinds will go with my furniture.
YoungHouseLove says
It’s really all about what you like! Anything from soft gray to sleek white or even emerald green or ice blue would look lovely. Why not grab a few options and hang them up to see what you like best- then return the rest!
xo,
s
Jen says
I stumbled across your site by accident – a very happy accident I might add! I’ve enjoyed catching up on all the posts and information. You have given me inspiration to finally tackle my windows but I’m at a loss for the living room. There is one wall with double windows which I plan on hanging blinds and curtains cheated high and wide but on the same wall is a french door (hinged in the center and door swings into room) that is used everyday. The problem is there is only 3 feet between the window and door frames on one side and only 1 foot on the other side of the door before you get to the wall. If I do the same for the door as the windows it will be difficult to open the door as it swings into the room. Any ideas besides buying a new door that swings out?
YoungHouseLove says
What if you used one long curtain rod hung all the way across that wall so you can hang just one panel in that 1 foot space between the door and the wall (and a few other panels between the windows and door on the other side)? It will create the look of a wall of glass (with curtains obscuring most of the wall between each window/door) and a curtain panel can easily occupy a 12″ space without hindering the opening of the door (just go for thinner panels like Vivan from Ikea so they’re not too thick and bulky). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Amy says
I really wanted to do the bamboo shade/white curtains look in my new house, but I can’t seem to figure out a way to do without paying custom-size prices. Our big window is 95″. Unfortunately most retailers sell the shades at 48″. Should I outside mount? And how many inches across would I need?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy,
We definitely recommend outside mounting in your case because you’ll be able to use the white curtains to cover where it hangs past your 95” window. Hope that helps!
xo,
s
Skooks says
I, like so many others, have been hugely inspired by your bamboo blinds/breezy curtain idea. So, thank you! I did want to mention to those people out there who are having a hard time finding the right sizes of bamboo blinds for their windows (I had to find blinds for 16 windows in 5 somewhat random sizes) and can’t stomach the custom price tag – – OVERSTOCK.COM! After Walmart, Target, BBB, World Market were ALL a no-go (either because of lack of adequate sizes or selection), and after a disheartening few trips to Home Depot, Lowes, and Sears (have you seen those prices?!) I happened to think that Overstock might have some. Not only do they have “some”, they have a great selection in a ton of different sizes! I just placed an order to bamboo blind my whole house and I couldn’t be happier. Prices range depending on the type of bamboo blind (for the kind I got I paid between 24.49 and 33.99 each for sizes between 26″ and 34″). I’d say I got a pretty sweet deal! Googling up Overstock coupon codes or using Ebates always helps as well (doing that I got another $20 off my order).
No, I don’t work for Overstock. ;)
Anyway, thanks again for all your awesome work on your blog and for being truly DIY inspirational and showing all of us how to decorate on the cheap without looking like we live on the cheap. :)
I can’t wait to move into my new house and hang my blinds! We’re closing next week. Eeeeeeeeeek!
Skooks says
Oops . . . I got all geeked out on my last comment, I forgot to ask my question. What would you recommend doing for *little* windows? In 2 of the bedrooms I have 2 windows in the following sizes: a 30×65 and a 24×30 window. I can do something normal with the bigger window, but that little one is so odd . . . it hangs at the same height as the tall one so it’s kinda high and out of the way. Any ideas? I feel like I should do something with it, but I have no idea what!
YoungHouseLove says
Hi Skooks,
Thanks for passing along the Overstock.com tip. We love that site!
As for your tiny windows, we see three good options. If you’re doing the bamboo/curtain look on the big window, just repeat the blinds (but not the curtain) on the smaller one to connect the two. Or you could downplay it by just simply frosting it or actually doing
nothing at all, so you call less attention to it altogether. Hope one of those works!
xo,
s
Julie Bayne says
What would you recommend for for our living room that has three windows in it. One window it a large picture window and the other two windows are long and narrow with a space about 8 feet apart with a couch in between. The long narrow windows are 2×5 feet and the picture window is 4×5 feet.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Julie,
We think the high & wide curtain trick would work wonders on all 3 windows to add height, create the illusion of bigger windows and tie the whole room together. Blinds are optional, but we definitely think the high and wide panels will do the trick.
xo,
s
Jennifer says
Hi, I have a strange room that I am struggling with. Its a small formal lounge with 5 narrow long windows (53cm wide by 180cm tall) There are three on one wall and two on the other. Currently the room has roman blinds but they dont sit well and look messy. Can you please give me you thoughts please
YoungHouseLove says
We would dress all the windows with curtain panels, hung high and wide. They’ll emphasize the height of the room and make the windows seem a lot wider by adding balance to the space. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jill says
We’ve lived in our home for almost four years now and I have yet to tackle the master bedroom curtain dilema because I just don’t know what to do! We currently have light colored blinds interiorly mounted that leave us awake at 5:30 (way to early for me!) on a gorgeously sunny day. There are five (yes, five!) windows in our approximately 13x 23 foot room. One window is on the west wall and the other four run along the north wall with nice looking thick trim around them. The windows are each about three feet wide and 5 feet tall with about two feet of wall space between each window on the north wall. There are also two cute light fixtures between windows 1&2 and 3&4. We’d love something that would be black out yet stylish. Love the calm & serene look you guys commonly go for! But don’t know how to pull it off with SO many windows in one room.
p.s. Congrats on the baby! She’s gorgeous!
YoungHouseLove says
Lucky for you, you have tons of options. Home Depot and Lowe’s sell light blocking faux wood blinds (in white and wood tones) that they will custom cut to fit your windows (for free) so those are one option if you want to replace your current blinds. You could also pick up light blocking curtain panels that you can draw closed each night (JC Penney has a nice assortment that are double lined but not too dark looking). Just look for the words ‘”light blocking” when you’re searching for something and grab whatever you like best. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Heather says
I’ve read through all the comments but I’ve yet to find one that addresses my problem-sorry if I’m repeating.
I have a bay window with a 6 ft slider in the middle and 2 nonfunctioning windows flanking the slider. Would you hang the curtains over the side windows or off to the side of them? Or option 3….a panel on each side of the side windows that could then be pulled in front of the sliders. Agh!! Too many possibilities…what do you recommend and do you have a picture?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Heather,
We don’t have a photo, but we would recommend hanging panels on each side of the side windows and on each side of the sliders (for a total of 4 panels with glass in between them all). It’ll create a soft look with the effect of one big wall of glass. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Heidi says
I am also having WCS (window covering stress). Here’s the problem: I have a long narrow family room where the narrow wall is totally glass looking into the backyard… which is nice. The two perpendicular walls are long and each have two 30″ non descript windows (with about 6 feet between them) that look into two neighbors yards. We are thinking of leaving the narrow wall window covering free as the view is nice. It’s the other windows that I can’t find the right covering for. I tried hanging light sand colored silk drapes at ceiling height but that made the room look narrower. So I lowered the drapes to just above window height and they look ho-hum. I’m trying to make this room look wider and am just not being successful! Any thoughts? BTW… love your site… when can I get you to do my house?? :-)
YoungHouseLove says
This is easy! Just hang floor length curtains high and wide around each window. They won’t block any of the view that you want to enjoy (that’s why you hang them wide, so the panel just covers the wall on the outside of each window). They’ll make everything feel super cohesive and soft – plus they’ll provide tons of polish and height which will get rid of the ho-hum problem you’re having. Good luck!
xo,
s
Kasey says
I want to hang curtains in our bedroom. We have small bedroom that has two windows. The bed only fits on one wall and it covers some of the window. We also have an end table in front of that same window. I was curious to see what type of curtain should I use on the windows. They need something. The colors of the room are light blue and brown. The walls are painted blue, comforter brown and white, and furniture is all dark brown. Any suggestions?
YoungHouseLove says
Sheers are always gorgeous and breezy (especially if furniture is being placed in front of them) so if you don’t need privacy, something soft and sheer (either white, tan, mocha, sand or taupe) could be lovely. If you need a bit more heft, other more substantial curtains in those tones (like white or tan ones in cotton, linen, or even burlap) would also be gorgeous. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Maria says
First I love your house!
My question is about my kitchen window treatments. I have one large (wide) window in front of my kitchen sink, and then 2 sets of 2 windows each down the same wall leading into the family room (no wall between the kitchen and family room). Since these rooms face the front of the house, I opted for wooden blinds for privacy, allowing light in by just tilting the blinds and still keeping privacy. I like the look but I feel like it doesn’t look finished and was looking around for curtains to finish the look. The majority of pics I find feature curtains w/o blinds or shades, so I’m wondering if curtains on top of the blinds is too much and maybe I should leave them the way they are, or maybe just decorate with a top valance? What do you recommend? I could send you a pic if you like.
Thanks.
Maria
P.S. I copied your living room window look (bamboo shades and curtains) I would have done the bamboo shades in tbe front of the house too, if it wasn’t for the privacy issue.
YoungHouseLove says
We love curtains with blinds! They add polish and softness and I’m sure you’ll love the look. We’re not partial to valances but it’s all about personal preference- just do what you love!
And as for the bathroom window, you can get some lovely white or brown faux wood blinds from Home Depot and they’ll cut them to a custom size for you while you wait (and it’s free!). Good luck!
xo,
s
Maria says
One more question, I have a very narrow window in my bathroom which when they installed we forgot to mention we wanted privacy glass so now it’s a clear window. I’ve covered it with the privacy rice paper you get at home depot, but I don’t love it, and it doesn’t totally obsure the vision into the bathroom.
What do you suggest I hang? It’s only about 12″ wide. We get great light in there so I thought blinds would be a good deal but haven’t been able to find any blinds in that size.
Thanks.
Maria
Maria says
Thanks for getting back to me so fast.
Thanks also for the home depot idea, but I checked and they only cut down as small as 23″ width, and my windows are smaller than that. Any other ideas?
Also do you offer professional interior decorating services?
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, maybe google around to see if there are any online custom blind makers who do 12″ versions? As for our design services, just click the “Design Advice” tab under the header to learn more. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Nicole Dube says
I can’t even express how your site has transformed my life! I just bought my first home and I’m bringing it into the 21st century! I have an eat-in kitchen with two windows that are the same size and on the same wall: one over the sink, and one in the eating area. I want to do long drapes for the window in the eating area, but I’m concerned that it will look weird next to the kitchen sink window. should I just stick with blinds for the sink window? How do I do different treatments and still keep symmetry?
YoungHouseLove says
You can do a few things and they’d all probably look lovely and polished- so it’s a personal call. You can either go with long drapes for the window in the eating area and use the same type of fabric (for example, white fabric) for a roman shade above the sink as well. Or you can just hang matching roman shades above the sink and the eating area for a more balanced and coordinated look (and forgo the look of curtains on one window). Either way if you keep the palette tight and the fabric similar or identical it should look great. Good luck!
xo,
s
J.Graves says
Thank you so much for your blog and your diligence in responding to so many comments! I do not think I’ve seen my issue address, so I’m going to ask. It is likely that it is very rudimentary. In both our bedroom and living room, windows meet at an angle.
In the bedroom, we have two windows meeting at 90-deg corner.
In the living room, there are two narrow windows which meet a sliding glass door at a ~125-deg angle, which in turn meets another window at a ~125-deg angle. (All of the windows are parallel, facing east; the doors face approx southeast.)
Because there is not really any space between the windows (or windows & door), I don’t know how to hang rods (!). How do you hang rods at angles without the ends butting together?
Thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
We actually like to hang corner rods so that their ends but up against each other to form the look of one custom corner rod (this works best with basic ended curtains without elaborate finials). Then if you use tab-topped or ring-topped curtains you can place them on the adjoined rods for the look of a cohesive corner curtain that softens the windows on both walls where they meet. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Erica says
Like so many others I can’t tell you how happy I am to find your site! Chop full of great ideas, expert advice, and plenty of we’ve been there and done that knowledge.
Now i’m hoping to get some of the “expert advice” from the youngsters. My issue is also window treatments in my small(ish) bedroom. Of the four walls I have two with doorways and the other two are wall to wall vinyl slider windows (roughly the same length to form a 90 angle.) Below the windows I have white wood waynes coating. I love having so much light in the room, but because the neighbors are so close it’s crucial I put something up for privacy. On one of the walls I have put up 4 of IKEA’s fabric panels (textured white sheer and straw like grey) to provide a bit of privacy but keep clean lines. This leaves the other wall…I am afraid to use curtains or blinds because it will be an odd mix of textures and ultimately make the room that much smaller. I’ve been looking at window film as an option, and LOVE the look on double hung windows, but don’t think it will look as good with my slider windows. Any suggestions?? Thanks so much!!!
YoungHouseLove says
We would stick to the same curtains for the sliders. They’ll actually provide balance and add height instead of making the room feel smaller as you fear. Then you can add the same blinds- or even vertical blinds (which you can tuck behind the curtains while open). Or you can even frost the glass as you mentioned. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Melissa says
Hello, We have a 15′ foot wall in our master bedroom with french doors and 2 side windows. Ideally, we’d like to use one long curtain rod but having trouble finding a 180″ rod. The largest we found was 144″. Please help. Thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
Try JC Penney- they actually sell rod extenders so you should be able to add enough extenders to bridge the gap. You can also hang more than one rod but just remove the finials so the rods but up against each other to create the appearance of one long rod. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Kate says
Hey guys, I love your blog so much– but it is making me a little obsessive over making improvements in our home!! haha
We have a split level home so the living room has a tall slanted ceiling. We have a large 3-window window on the “short-side” of the room– the only windows in that room. Our walls are a medium beige and we have dark leather furniture. I think I need to introduce some “light” into this room but am having a lot of difficulty doing so. we have a light blue and brown area rug over hard wood floors. We also have light blue and cream accents in the room but I am really stumped on the curtains. I bought some cream-sheer panels yesterday at target and hung them up but they just didnt look right. Maybe the sharp contrast between the dark-ish walls and dark leather furniture was not right? I need help! Can you offer any suggestions? I love the light and breezy look of your rooms and am trying to achieve it myself, but I am having trouble. THANK YOU!!!
YoungHouseLove says
We were actually going to recommend cream so maybe it was the sheer fabric that didn’t look right? Ikea has tons of cheap cream (or “natural”) panels that are a bit thicker so they might balance out the dark tones and hold their own more than sheers might (since those are so visually light). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
MadJ says
I love the texture that bamboo blinds bring to the rooms in your house. How do you choose the right color for bamboo blinds? We have dark hardwood floors. Should the bamboo shades match the darkness of the floors or contrast the floors with a lighter color? Thanks in advance!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s all about personal preference. Our blinds are lighter than our mocha floors and we like the layered look but you can also try to get a closer match if you’d like. Either way you can’t go wrong. Good luck!
xo,
s
Diann says
I also love your living room window treatment. My issue is that I have 11 feet ceilings. I don’t mind hanging my curtain rods high on the 3 windows that I have in my living room, but I also have french doors in the same room. What are your suggestions to create a similar look as yours? Since my rods should all be at the same height, I don’t know what to do with the french doors. Thanks for your advice and congrats on your new beautiful baby girl.
YoungHouseLove says
We’d hang the rods 8″ above all the windows as well as those sliders (for tons of balance and cohesion). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
diann says
Thanks for the height. But, what can I do with that 8 inches of space between the rod and the french door? I want to use bamboo blinds on the doors but what about above the door. Would I just put curtains on the side? The other windows in the room have matching blinds that i can mount 8 inches above the window with panels on the side.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, mount the rod high and wide so the curtains don’t interfere with the sliders. Then you can either leave the 8″ bare above the doors and the rod or use bamboo blinds to tie things together. Either effect looks great. Just grab magazines to look at window and slider door treatments if you’d like- even Pottery Barn hangs rods 8″ above doors and windows without using blinds so it’s not like it’ll look strange or unfinished. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
farrah says
Found your blog via ohdeedoh (love your nursery)! I read through the above comments and don’t think this was discussed (although I can’t imagine how you envision all these scenarios… you must have incredible 3D brains): I have a windowed LR that is essentially all windows; the windows are not far apart, and are interrupted by a fireplace. First – is it ridiculous to put curtains right next to the fireplace? There is almost no separation – about 3 inches – between window frames and fireplace mantle, all of which is white. The windows themselves already have modern roller shades in a translucent white for privacy, but I still pine after curtains for some finish. And second – if you hang curtains in such a space, do you use rods that bend around corners instead of stopping and starting? Thank you for any advice…
YoungHouseLove says
You definitely can hang curtains on those windows of you’d like- it’s really a personal preference thing. Just be sure they don’t interfere with the fireplace (you don’t want them getting ashy or sooty). In a lot of the layouts that you describe, people do avoid curtains, just because they would be so close to the fireplace. Instead they go for polished roman shades… so that’s another option. When it comes to the rod question it’s also personal preference (there’s not just one right answer) so you can get two rods and but them up against each other in the corner to create a corner rod or get a rod that’s designed to curve around a corner. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jim says
Just this week IKEA launched a big recall on their roman shades because of the cords on the back and the gear cord. They’re way more expensive, but Lutron has a new roman that’s super baby safe called CERUS.
YoungHouseLove says
Crazy right? Thanks for spreading the word and sharing an alternative!
xo,
s
Nicole Dube says
How do you get your bamboo roll-up blinds to have that roman shade detail on the top?
I just bought bamboo blinds (inspired by you guys!) and they just hang by two hooks on the top. Is there a way I can manipulate them to have a roman shade?
Help!
YoungHouseLove says
They just came like that from Walmart. Other than trying to fold yours over to somehow create that detail we’re not sure that you can alter the ones you have. Good luck!
xo,
s
leslie says
I just found your blog yesterday & I am totally addicted already! I love how creative you guys are & your home is so beautiful. My hubby & I just bought our first home about a month ago so your site is great inspiration. But I have a curtain question. We have crazy short windows in every room of our house except the living room & I have no idea what kind of curtains to use. They are pretty similar to the one in your master bedroom but our bed is on an opposite wall. Should we still use floor lenght curtains? They would look weird hanging down a space that is pretty much just wall? Please help!!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Leslie,
We would go with bamboo blinds or roman shades, which will add polish without drawing attention to the fact that the windows are so stout. Then you can position furniture under them so the wall feels balanced (instead of top-heavy). For example a dresser would really help “ground” the windows so they don’t appear to float for no reason. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I.B. says
We a have an issue, with our windows being too big and taking up most of our wall space. It actually makes it difficult to place furniture, but we do love the natural light. Anyway, we currently have two layers of Ikea curtains, hung wide and up to the ceiling, with the almost white sheer panels on the exterior side. My question is how do we make the windows seem a little less “HUGE” ??? I was thinking of just doing blinds hung inside the frame….any thoughts??
YoungHouseLove says
We would just hang the curtains less high and wide. That way the panels will “eat up” the outsides of the windows and make them appear smaller. If you took the panels down and just put up blinds those would also make the windows feel shorter but wouldn’t help with the width (which is why we would recommend keeping the curtains). Oh and you’ll want to hang low contrast and light curtains (nothing too patterned or dark so they don’t draw more attention to the windows). For example, if your walls are tan, getting similarly toned curtains will make your windows look smaller since the curtains will blend in with the walls. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Mel says
Hello,
Would like to know what rods you used in the bay window picture posted on this page….
Thanks,
Mel
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Mel,
We didn’t purchase those rods but a lot of specialty window stores sell them especially made for bay windows. You can also just buy adjustable rods from a place like Ikea and run them up against each other so they appear to be connected around the bay window. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jen says
I’ve shown your post to a few friends who were struggling with treatments for bay windows, but now I’m a little stuck on my boyfriend’s new place. What about a 5-paned bay window with a ledge (window or bay doesn’t go all the way to floor). There’s space to hang the blinds inside the panes, but not rods. Have you seen the rod and curtains hung on the outside of the window still? I’m worried the depth difference between the window & blinds and the curtains may look funny.
Sorry if you’ve already answered this. I didn’t read through all 315 comments. :S
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, we love the look of a rod and curtain hung on the outside of the bay window. It really frames everything out and softens things!
xo,
s
Harry says
Any thoughts on how to hang grommet type curtain over outside mount 2-inch blinds?
YoungHouseLove says
Is that a trick question? Just get a rod that works for the grommeted curtains and hang it over the blinds. You’ll want to line up the rod so it looks about the same level as the outside mount blinds (height wise, the width you can inch out more with the rod since the fabric will cover the ends of the blinds so you won’t see where they end). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Harry says
Sorry, I may not have explained my clearly. The mounting brackets don’t stick out far enough to clear the blinds. Do they sell longer brackets by themselves for this situation? Thanks.
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, you can do one of three things:
1. Try to hunt down longer mounting brackets that will do the trick
2. Mount the rod a smidge higher than the blinds so the rod clears them
3. Build out the current mounting brackets with a decorative square of wood molding so it clears them (the curtains will probably obscure this for the most part anyway)
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Lee says
It looks like your bamboo shades are hanging even with your curtain rod. How did you hang the shades to achieve this look? If I mount the blinds straight to the wall, they will be hanging behind the curtain rod. Maybe that is okay? Thanks.
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, they’re mounted right to the wall behind the rod, lined up as close to the rod as possible for a seamless look. The trick is that the rod is longer than the blinds (so it can go into the wall and not the top of the blinds) and the curtain panels hide this fact. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Simply Sarah says
Sherry or John,
We have a bay window and door combo in our breakfast nook. It has 3 sides to the “bay”- 1 regular size window on the left, 1 big square window in the middle, and one door with a full length window on it on the the right. I currently have faux wood blinds on all of them for privacy, but they lack that “WOW” factor since they don’t have curtains. I would LOVE curtains, but since a door makes one side of the “bay,” I’m not sure what to do. I hope my description makes sense. Let me know if I should post a picture to help you understand what I meant.
THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE!!
Sarah
YoungHouseLove says
We would just add curtains to everything (including the outside of the door, just to help it blend in and feel balanced). Just play around and see what looks best. We always learn from trial and error so that’s our best advice!
xo,
s
Shannon says
Where would you hang the curtain rod if the window has six inches of beautiful crown molding at the top? Below or above the crown molding?
YoungHouseLove says
We definitely say above! We love curtains high and wide, and you’ll still appreciate the crown above the windows since hanging the curtains wide will show most of it except for the end details. Good luck!
xo,
s
Bronwen says
Hi Sherry,
I love the classic and airy style you have created in your home. Although, I love the neutral colours on the walls, curtains, I’m finding my place to be too beigy. I’ve inherited these creamy colour blinds in my dining area. They are nice, but with the Muslin (BM) paint on the walls it seems all to blend together. My dining area is relatively small. It has two windows -one medium size window and one small one. The only thing that in there is my beautiful, handcrafted, curly maple (dark wood) table with chairs that have raw hide seats. And a few pictures of shells ( with a beige matting and brown frames). My decorating sense wants me to take down the blinds and put up the bamboo blinds with curtains ( while still letting the sunshine through). What would you suggest? I am afraid that curtains will close in the space.
YoungHouseLove says
We were about to suggest exactly what you said at the end: bamboo blinds with curtains (since the bamboo color will tie into the table while the curtains will add softness, height, and ambiance). Go for it!
xo,
s
Alyssa Allen says
We have two bay windows — one in the living room and one in the dining room — similiar to the ones pictured here. But… they have a ledge/window seat that extends out the length of the window. What do you recommend for those?
YoungHouseLove says
We like an outside mounted rod that allows breezy curtains to fall on either side of the bay windows (from floor to ceiling outside of the window seat/ledge). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Rebecca says
Hi,
I just stumbled across your blog while trying to figure out what to do with the windows/patio door in my dining/living area in my new home.
Would you mind if I sent you a picture of it, so you can give me some inspiration? I’m totally at a loss right now. I’ve brought home several different types of drapes… and I end up taking them all back!
The room I’m working with is an “L” shape… You walk into the living room from the front door, and you see the living room and the dining area… then around the corner is the kitchen. I have two windows in the back of the room, one on each wall, and a sliding glass door next to one of the windows (and it’s right next to the kitchen cabinets!).
I can’t seem to create any sort of transition that looks right. I already have white wood blinds on the windows. They came with the house and are in perfect condition so I want to make them work with whatever I decide to do…
Please help! Your house is so cute! :-)
Rebecca
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Rebecca,
We would suggest floor length curtains (hung at the same consistent height on as many windows as you can manage (hopefully all of them) and if that doesn’t work you can bring in similarly toned roman shades for some of those windows (ex: white roman shades along with white curtains can still look balanced and cohesive). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Hannah says
What length are your bamboo blinds? Since you don’t usually close them, did you go with a shorter length to save money? We have honeycomb blinds that I was thinking about hiding behind the bamboo and was thinking to go with a shorter length to save some money!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Hannah,
We believe they’re 72″ long or so (so they definitely can close if we’d like them to). They sell them in one length only at Walmart so we grabbed them since the price was right!
xo,
s
Laura says
I love your house and blog. It is so inspiring! I have two questions:
– What do you suggest for a sage green bedroom window with a desk right under it so there is no room for long curtains? I was thinking Roman curtains but am afraid that any color would appear too much with all the dark cherry wood and white would be so odd with the room.
– My kitchen has a great eating corner with two windows near each other (one on each wall with about a foot between them) that have the panels in them. I am not sure what window treatments would look right without getting too busy in the middle of all of that.
Thanks!!
YoungHouseLove says
1. You could definitely soften the window with some lovely roman shades (they come in any color you’d like, so from matching the wall color to going with a softer celery hue or even a cream you probably can’t go wrong).
2. We always so go for it- what’s the worst that can happen? You’d just end up returning the panels you picked up if they don’t look right, but we’ve seen plenty of corner windows draped with breezy curtains for a gorgeous ambient effect. You’ll most likely feel nestled into that cozy corner thanks to the panels. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
kristin says
I love your suggestions for the sliding doors but I have a question about french doors….we have french doors in our family room that open into the room so I couldn’t do the blinds across the top b/c it would get in the way of the door. So, would you recommend roman shades over the glass with curtains high and wide, roman shades on the glass without curtains, or something else? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We would just do long long curtain rod hung high and wide so you can put panels on each side of the doors (without interfering with their function) which can be drawn for privacy and kept open to add height and softness. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Fran Hepperle says
Your website and comments are so helpful to me. I am preparing to sell my 1947 Cape Cod and have used many of your suggestions. Thanks so much for the helpful work you do!