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:
Lara says
Hi guys! Quick question… I have a 12 foot long wall with an 8 ft wide window. The window is really offset on the wall. One side has 3 1/2 feet, the other has 6 inches before it hits the corner. I don’t know what to do with the curtains! I don’t think I can cheat the window to make it look centered, so how do I hang curtains? Do I extend the rod on the side that has 3 1/2 feet of wall to try and cheat it a little? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
You can definitely cheat that window to look a lot more centered! Hang the rod from the side of the window that has 6″ (so there’s still about 5″ of wall space on that side) and then extend the rod all the way to the other wall, about 18″ away from that side (which only means it’ll be about 24″ wider than the window frame on that side). Once you add some thick and voluminous curtains on each side and allow the panels to hide a bit of the window on one side and all of the wall on the other side it’ll look a lot more balanced and lovely. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Emily says
I want to remove the grommets of the (white) curtains I have and add about 12 inches in length. So, I am planning to sew a few inches of material at the bottom; above the hem so that I don’t have to re-do the hem. Shall I use the same material in a different color? Or, shall I use a different material? Because I need to add about 12 inches, the stripe could be overpowering. Shall I add two 3 inch stripes of a second color on either side of a 6 inch white strip? Pictures of similar curtains would be very helpful.
YoungHouseLove says
We’ve seen plenty of curtains with a 12″ band of another color on the bottom (the same material would keep it cohesive) so feel free to google around to turn some up (terms to try: “curtain banding”, “banded curtain”, or “two tone panel band”). Happy hunting!
xo,
s
Maris says
Thanks for all this great advice! I just found your blog this morning and it has already inspired me! Do you have any suggestions for how to cover exposed shelving in my bathroom? I’d love to use a bamboo blind like you did in your laundry nook but am not sure if it would look strange. The shelves are the only storage we have in the bathroom and I’d prefer to be able to cover them when we have guests over. They measure 21″ x 72″ Any ideas? Thanks!!!
YoungHouseLove says
You could use a tension rod and a curtain or hang some blinds as you’ve mentioned (bamboo or even a fabric roman shade that lowers from the top). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
ML says
Hi,
Your website is fantastic. I am getting many great ideas for my home! I need some advice on a window treatment for my basement. I have a raised bungalow and our family room has a 112″ long window that meets the ceiling. Our couch sits underneath it. I like your idea of the bamboo shades and wonder if curtains on either side are appropriate in this situation considering the couch? If not, what do you suggest?
Thanks so much!
YoungHouseLove says
Absolutely! Just place your sofa about 5″ away from the wall to allow the curtains to drape. We have curtains behind our sofa in the living room (check out our House Tour tab to see those photos) so we know it can work!
xo,
s
ML says
Thanks! One more question – if I can’t find bamboo roman blinds in the right size for the window do you think roller blinds in a natural fiber style of fabric and color would do as well?
YoungHouseLove says
Definitely! We say go for it!
xo,
s
THEStephanie says
Ok, so how about this: I have vaulted ceilings in the living room, with 3 tall windows along one wall, with 3 much smaller windows above each of those (with, oh, maybe 1′ of wall between the top and bottom windows). How do I address the smaller windows above? If I hang panels, for example, do I hang everything ABOVE the top windows?
Thanks for your help!
YoungHouseLove says
You could either hang super long curtains on one long rod above all of the small windows or you could leave the small windows bare for some nice light (since they’re so high it won’t be a privacy issue) and hang the rod below them but above the tall windows. Good luck!
xo,
s
Audrey says
Hey guys!
Seeing that there are 7 pages (!) of comments, you’ve probably already answered this question, but I’m not brave enough to goat them all…
The windows in my apartment have really deep sills – not quite window seats, but they’re about 10 inches deep – we keep potted plants etc. on them. I’d love to do the whole blinds and curtains trick on them (there’s only about 2 inches to the ceiling so I can’t cheat up, but it owuld help eliminate the valence or naked window look), but I’m not sure what to do about the deep sills. I don’t want to hang the curtains inside the window on a tension rod – that kind of defeats the purpose of the look you’re going for. But would it be weird to have a shade hanging outside such a deep sill?
Thanks!
~Audrey
YoungHouseLove says
No way, it’ll look layered and lovely. The depth of the sill will only add to the look. Definitely go for it!
xo,
s
Rachel T says
So, hubs and I are temporarily moving to my in-laws and staying in their finished basement. Since “temporarily” means 2-3 years, I definitely want it to feel like home but am lost as to what to do with the little basement windows! Thankfully only one side has the little windows and the other has nice full windows!
YoungHouseLove says
We would hang curtains high (ceiling height) and wide (about 12-18″ wider than the trim) on all the windows. The full windows will look lovely and soft and the ceilings will feel higher, and then if you place something under the short windows (like a console table or a dresser or even a sofa) they won’t feel awkwardly short anymore since you’ll fill the negative space below them with furniture. We have floor length curtains behind our living room sofa and it looks great, just pull the furniture about 6″ away from the wall so the curtains can hang loosely. Good luck!
xo,
s
Samantha says
Will you help me figure out what to do with my dining room window window? I have no ideas!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Samantha,
Well, with over 350 comments here on this post you can scroll back for lots of ideas! We also recommend flipping through magazines and books at Barnes & Noble to get a ton of ideas and inspiration. Good luck!
xo,
s
Natalie Cofield says
Can you hang the same white curtains and bamboo shades on a bay window that has a seat? I love the idea but not sure how to pull it off with the seat.
Thanks!
Natalie
Natalie Cofield says
….forgot to add, can you still have them be floor length with the seat?
Deanna Divino says
Hi guys… I have a question for you! Do you/have you seen the roman bamboo shades hung externally? We like the roman wood blinds from Home Depot, but our windows don’t fit the specifications of the blinds there and they are not cut to size ones. I wondered if we could hang two sets of blinds on the outside of the window frame vs. on the inside. I DO prefer the inside mount, but custom blinds really changes the whole budget! Thoughts?
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We have them outside mounted in our living room and den. Love them that way!
xo,
s
Simon says
Hi,
Outside mount creates the illusion of bigger windows. Also if the blinds or shades are blackout then outside mount will block more light since you can overlap outside of the frame.
ww.eclipsenyc.com
Cate says
I have a large picture window (non-opening) flanked by two skinny windows (18″ wide each) that do open. Beneath the window sill of the large picture window is a radiator, and our couch sits in front of this. We have honeycomb cell light filtering shades on these windows (inside mount) for privacy, as it faces a street. However, I’m at a loss for what to do for an actual window treatment? I know you love bamboo, but that texture just doesn’t go with our house… any help?
YoungHouseLove says
Since you have a radiator under the window we would suggest some nice soft roman shades. Just google around or shop around to find something that suits your home. Good luck!
xo,
s
Rae says
You have answered a variety of questions similar to these (so I am sorry to repeat) but I have a montage of quirks with my windows and no idea how to make them work (help!).
Are roman shades children-safe? If not, what would you suggest for a living room that we would be closing the shades for privacy?
We have tan walls and I want to go with a colored curtain (high and wide of course)but would a bronze rod work?
Also, our heater runs around the walls of our house (from the floor to about five inches up), would a floor length curtain swallow up our heat and waste money, or would it be ok to have the curtains high but not go all the way to the floor? Or would that look silly? Thanks for your help!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, roman shades should have child safe cords (no loops, just free hanging cords so they’re not easily slipped over a little head/neck) and we also recommend using cord holders (metal prongs you can mount high on the wall and wrap the cords around so they don’t hang down). Since you have a heater we definitely think roman shades or bamboo shades are the way to go!
xo,
s
Katie says
We have three tall windows in our living room; each window is 2′ wide and separated by 2′ of wall space. What would you suggest for window treatment? We love the idea of curtains, but we’re scared it’s going to look odd when we have the curtains hanging down in between the windows – like it might be that we actually have a huge picture window and we just left the curtains dangling down the middle. Suggestions?
YoungHouseLove says
We would do one long rod at almost-ceiling height above all thee windows and extending 18″ on each side of the outer windows and then adding four curtain panels (one for each strip of wall between the windows and one on either side of the outer two). The wall will look like a big wall of glass! And if each curtain panel in the middle isn’t full or flouncy enough to cover the 2′ expanse of wall, just add two on each expanse of wall so they look nice and full (for a total of 6 curtains- Ikea makes super affordable Vivan ones that we love). Good luck!
xo,
s
Diana says
Now that I’ve tackled my blind-installation (the second one went far more smoothly than the first!) I’m back with another window-treatment dilemma. I know these are a lot of questions, but you guys are so brilliant with curtains (I LOVE YOUR SUNROOM) and have become my DIY gurus.
I have painted the nursery a gorgeous Caribbean blue (Mythic’s Tropical Waters), and redid the ugly yellowed trim in a crisp white. It really pops, and the new white faux wood blinds are especially nice. I’m ready to hang my curtains, now, and I’m waffling. I have three dilemmas:
1) The curtain panels (lovely celery panels I got on clearance for $4 at Target) are 7 feet long. My ceiling is 8 feet high and the top of the window frame is 7 feet high. There is an 6 inch baseboard (also a lovely, pop-white). So… hang the curtains 6 inches above the frame and let them skim the baseboard, or right at the frame and let them skim the floor? I’m thinking the former, to give the room more height at the top — and since I’ve got a tall baseboard, I don’t necessarily need the ground-skimming effect.
2) There are 2 40″ wide windows in the room. One is beautifully centered on the long (11 foot) wall, while the other window is placed only 12 inches to the left of the corner on the 9 foot wall, and to add insult to injury, has a 40 inch radiator NOT centered below it, but instead offset 9 inches to the left. I’d love to cheat this window over, not only to make the radiator look centered, but also for safety reasons (I don’t think I want a curtain dangling behind my radiator). But given that there is 9 inches of radiator on the left side that DOESN’T have a window above it, I don’t know if that would work.
Which means I’m left with cutting and hemming the curtain ABOVE the radiator. Would that look weird if I left the curtain long on the other window? Would it look REALLY weird if only the panel above the radiator was short? It’s tough because I’m doing this in the summer and radiators were not part of my thought process! Also, I didn’t realize the radiator was offset until I came home with the panels! Grrrr… The final option, of course, would be to hem all the curtains to window length. (There’s a 40″ wide bookcase under the other window that aesthetically mirrors the radiator, so it’s not like it’s blank wall.)
3) The furniture will be cherry, so I thought rubbed bronze rods, but the white window frames look so gorgeous against the blue that now I’m wondering if I should do white. Thoughts?
Thank you SO MUCH for any advice you can give me. You two are my home design heroes!
YoungHouseLove says
We actually like curtains that graze the floor since baseboard grazing curtains can look like short pants (but it’s a personal thing so just do whatever you like!). You also could add a nice thick 12″ band of fabric on the bottom of your panels to extand them and add interest (so you can hang them higher). But in your case since there’s that radiator, hemming all the panels to window length will probably look best so it feels balanced and is safe as well. And you can’t go wrong with white or rubbed bronze rods, so just select whichever one you like best. Good luck!
xo,
s
Sarah says
I recently linked to your blog from a friend’s blog and am loving it! I bought a foreclosed house 2 years ago and am slowly fixing it up as time & budget allows. For 2 years I have had paper shades hanging in my living room & it’s time to move on. My walls are a rich chocolate brown & the trim is white. Tan sofa, dark red chair. Any color suggestions for curtains? Also, I live in Minnesota & have older, drafty windows, so suggestions for making lined curtains would be appreciated! Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Sarah,
We’ve never made lined curtains but maybe you can google around for a tutorial? As for curtain colors, anything from tan to white or even chocolate (we love curtains that echo the wall color) could work. Or you could do something banded like a mocha curtain with a 24″ red band at the bottom. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Sarah says
I’ve got a living room with a big rectangular bay-window/alcove type thing that is big enough for a couch with two side tables. There are three windows behind the couch and one on either side, all currently fitted with miniblinds that I’ll probably keep– but I want to add curtains! I’m trying to figure out a) how many panels to hang and where, b) the length of the panels (floor length all around, or sill length behind the couch?) and c) the curtain style– sheer to take advantage of the big wall of glass, or colored to coordinate with the room (blue or beige, most likely)
Any thoughts? I was thinking of hanging floor-length linen-colored panels on either side of the couch and then sill-length sheers behind. There’s almost no room between the three middle windows, so I thought panels on those would look funny (and a bit wasteful with all that fabric behind a couch!) Good idea or no?
YoungHouseLove says
We love curtains that are floor length, even with a sofa in front of them. In fact we have that setup in our living room and we just position the sofa about 6-8″ away from the wall so the curtains can breathe. It looks really nice so that’s what we prefer! As for how many ans the style, just play around and see what looks best. You can definitely try a few styles from big box stores like Bed Bath & Beyond or Ikea and just repackage and return the ones you don’t like (while keeping the “winners”). Your idea of going with floor length linen colored panels on either side of the sofa with sill length sheers behind it sounds great- just try it out and see what you like!
xo,
s
Marinela says
Hi guys, I love your blog and also admire your patience to ask so many questions. I have a dilemma in my new home: from the front door you can see all the living room windows and part of the kitchen eating area windows straight ahead, also one window from the formal dining room to the left. All are standard 3’x5′ windows (with a sill and trim below, no trim on sides or top) and at the same height. I suppose I should use the same type of window treatments for all these areas, for a coherent look. The dining room has also 4 non-standard windows on another wall, they are 22″ wide, 2 on top of the others with a 11″ space between the top ones and the bottom ones. The bottom ones are longer than the standard window from the same room, but at the same height with it. To add more confusion, the dining and living rooms are 12′ height, while the kitchen is 9′. I would love to use the bamboo shade/ white panel curtains combo, it will help give more height and width to the windows in the living room and to the standard one in the dining, since they are positioned pretty low compared to the ceiling, and also hide the lack of window trim. But I don’t know what to do with the other 4 windows in the dining, I can put panel curtains to the lower ones since they are at the same height with the standard window, but the 11″ above probably won’t accommodate the bamboo shade, and even if it would, possibly the bamboo will look strange with another set of windows above it. Can you think of any advise for my situation? I would appreciate any idea. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
The key is to hang all of your rods at the exact sane height so it feels balanced. So try to come up with a height that can be accommodated throughout and go with that, even if done window sizes and ceiling heights differ. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Sam says
Hey Guys!
First off, I have to say I LOVE your site! We’ve just recently got our first house and I’ve been using your guys site for ideas since before we moved in! But I do have one problem that I just can’t seem to tackle, I’m a big fan of Roman shades with the long white curtains hung outside and over top, but our living room window is throwing me for a loop. The window itself is about 218” wide, but is split into 4 separate windows (if that makes any sense!), and each of these 4 windows is fitted with really nice inside mount white roman shades (thanks to the previous owners!). Now I wanted to add some Vivian curtains to the window and all would be find, but the couch we ended up getting (which does work perfectly in the room, it’s a pretty small house with little wall space to work with!) is an L shaped couch wish a chaise on one end, the end that goes in front of the window! So in the end, the actual window is not blocked, but the chaise comes up directly underneath the sill of the first two windows.
What do you guys suggest? Should I leave the windows as is with just the Roman shades, or is there a way that I can some curtains without looking cheesy by having them short, or making the window completely of balance by having the curtain cut off on the one side? Help!!
YoungHouseLove says
We have a sofa in front of vivan curtains in our living room (click the house tour tab under our header to check it out)! Just place the sofa about 6″ away from the wall so the curtains can fall to the floor behind it and look breezy and soft. Works like a charm!
xo,
s
Rachel says
I noticed you don’t have window treatments on your kitchen window, but I think we’re going to need them; what style do you suggest? We have one window above the sink and one on neighboring wall. The kitchen has a casual, traditional feel. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We like white faux wood blinds from places like Lowe’s or Home Depot or even white roman shades or bamboo blinds for softness or texture. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
[email protected] says
As always, John and Sherry to the rescue. We now have early 1900s window molding/detail going on at our new place – it’s vintage and pretty cool actually, but where do we hang our curtains?
There are holes from the previous owners right before the top of the molding, so a little bit of the molding is visible. Would you stick with that height or head up to the top of the ceiling above the molding?
If we follow our predecessors it would kind of looks like this: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1241/665322979_f38dc09c97_m.jpg
YoungHouseLove says
We’d go waaaay above it and hang those rods at near-ceiling height. That way there aren’t any holes in the molding and the window can breathe!
xo,
s
alli says
Did you know I love you guys? Thanks for getting back so quickly! I’m going with some energy saving options (since the home is older). PS. JCP curtains are on sale right now plus an extra 20% off until 4 p.m. with code ITSADEAL.
YoungHouseLove says
Sweet deal! Thanks for sharing. Love you right back.
xo,
s
Anna says
Hi guys
I love your blog. What type of window coverings would you recommend for large arched windows (both in bedrooms and living area)?
Love
Anna
YoungHouseLove says
Arched windows are tough. We like blinds that go from the bottom of the window and can be raised for privacy (which can’t conform to the arch at the top but can go up to the straight part. Long curtains also can work, just google arched window and click images to look for more visuals and ideas.
xo,
s
Anna says
Thanks so much for that guys!!!!!
:)
Anna
Patti says
You have THE best Blog!!
I have been reading and looking through your MANY pictures most of the afternoon but can not find anything similar.
In our living room, we have a double french steel door which leads out to our deck. Only one side has a door know. We can open both doors to make a wider opening.
I’m thinking I would like to add curtains to each side of this doors since it is the only opening in our living room.
Do you have any suggestions for this or pictures I did not find in previous posts?
THANK YOU!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! Add curtains hung high and wide on either side of the double door to make it feel softer and more grand. Just check out a Pottery Barn catalog for a ton of pics of doors treated that way. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Paula says
Hi,
Googled and was directed to your blog. A half hour later, I am just getting to my question–side tracked reading all your great information, thanks! Wanting to curtain a built in oak bookcase to calm our office. The left edge of the bookcase is against a wall. There is zero space to have a curtain drape down on this side of the bookcase/”window.” Not even sure how to hang a rod over this. Ideas how to curtain this?
Thank you,
Paula
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Paula,
We’re not sure we can help without being there in person and seeing what you’re working with but if there’s any way to attach a thin metal u-shaped curtain rod to the front of the frames of the bookcase itself, that would be our recommendation. Good luck!
xo,
s
Y says
Hey, firstly, I LOVE your blog! Second, I just wanna let you know I’m not being rude with just giving my first initial – my name is hebrew and impossible to pronounce, so I save you the trouble whenever I post. Just had to get that off my chest!
Now, I have a long, narrow nursery and we just added a window since it is a converted walk-in closet. My contractor hung the window against the wall, not centered, as I imagined it. (He needed the space for an AC unit). I can no longer do curtains, at least I don’t think so. Would a roman shade work? ANy other ideas to try and make it look more centered and symmetrical? Thanks so much, you guys are the best!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah, a roman shade or a bamboo blind above it would work really well and then you can just use furnishings to try to make sense of the window placement (play around with different layouts until the window feels balanced- you’ll know what’s right when you see it). Good luck!
xo,
s
Cristina says
What do you think of a top-down, bottom-up pleated shade instead of blinds?
Which rooms would you suggest using them in?
Thanks for your advice!
YoungHouseLove says
They’re a great option. We think they could work in any room!
xo,
s
Erin K. says
I have a bay window in the eating area connected to my kitchen. However, the trim around the windows there touches the ceiling where there’s a soffet. All the curtains I find are too long and/or too fancy. I want to add color to the windows but also let a good deal of light through (our house faces n/s). Any suggestions or ideas?
YoungHouseLove says
Maybe try hanging a curtain rod from the soffet so the curtain panels can hang down on either side of the bay window to soften things (as opposed to hanging in the actual bay of the window). If some things that you’re finding seem too fancy/not bright enough/too opaque, maybe just find the perfect fabric and make your own? I whipped up some super easy no-sew ones a while back. Here’s that tutorial for you: https://www.younghouselove.com/2010/02/nursery-progress-getting-the-hang-of-it/
xo,
s
becca says
hey, I saw your post above where you said roman shades were a good option for windows with radiators underneath, but we have a radiator under almost every single window in our house. any creative curtain ideas? I like long curtains, but I dont want my house burning down. :(
YoungHouseLove says
Maybe look around for heat resistant fabric and make extra safe curtains yourself? Good luck!
xo,
s
Lauren says
I love the bamboo blinds that you have used all over your house. I am trying to do the same in our new home (we just bought our first house a couple months ago). I have found that the lengths are always really long for the bamboo shades. Did you have to shorten your shades? Especially in places like the bathroom? You may have a “how to” guide for this if you did but I couldn’t find it.
Thanks in advance!
P.S.Congrats on the new house!
YoungHouseLove says
Our shades actually included instructions for shortening them (and we did!). Check out this post for more info: https://www.younghouselove.com/2010/02/nursery-progress-getting-the-hang-of-it/
xo,
s
Diem says
I just found your website and I LOVE it! Thank you so much for all the how to and tips. We just moved into a home that needs to be updated big time. I have all these ideas spinning in my head and it is seriously making me dizzy!! Here’s my dilemma, many of the rooms are designed in odd ways or our furniture just doesn’t fit well (we moved from a larger space to a smaller dwelling).
I had to put our flat screen TV in front of a window (bad, I know!) – I tried moving the furniture in so many positions. From what I read on your site, I am thinking of hanging woven bamboo shades close to the ceiling, and flanking with white curtains. I included a link for you to see what I mean. There are also pictures of our sad kitchen with tiles I have to live with for now. :(
Btw, your wedding was awesome – very nice and personable. You guys are so creative, but oh so chic. Well, let me know your 2 cents. Would love any help I can get. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds perfect! We say go for it. Of course we love bamboo shades hung near the ceiling with white curtains!
xo,
s
Momlady says
Wow..love this site! I noticed you have the high strip ranch windows in the bedrooms…yay..we have those too. I have had more than a little difficulty finding any suggestions on what to do with them. Could you tell me what and how you determined your choices. We have three bedrooms and they all have this window syle. Two rooms with two windows and one with one. I’ve decided to not place the beds under the windows though, I am entertaining the notion of placing dressers there. Thoughts?
YoungHouseLove says
That would totally work- just try to create balance by placing something under them (they look odd when there’s nothing below them). Good luck!
xo,
s
Momlady says
Any suggestions for dressing up these strip ranch windows?
YoungHouseLove says
We love floor length curtains with bamboo shades (just put something under them with some height- like a dresser with a mirror or some art above it) so the window doesn’t feel like it’s riding high on the wall. Otherwise you can always do roman shades or just bamboo blinds alone (no curtains).
xo,
s
Lauren says
I have small box windows in my bedrooms because we are in the “garden level” of an old city home (euphemism for the basement). The windows go all the way to the ceiling and are about 33 inches square. One of the windows is right behind our headboard and off center on a wall. How can I make these windows look bigger and more symmetrical?
YoungHouseLove says
We’d recommend hanging blinds and floor length curtains extra wide (which will make the windows look larger) and just trying to balance them with other items so the room itself feels symmetrical (ex: lean a tall floor length mirror on the other side of the space so it also has height like the windows). Also placing items under the windows (since they appear to “ride high” on the walls) will anchor them and add balance. For example, try slipping a tall chest of drawers under them to fill the space between the bottom of the window and the floor. Just play around with things and see what looks best. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Sara says
My husband and I have just fully gutted and remodeled a 120 year old Craftman style home. Although everything in it is brand new, we tried very hard to stick with the original character of the house. My favorite part…our dark mahogany molding throughout the house. I have added wood blinds (same color as molding) to the huge windows in the living and dining room, but am not sure how to hang panels or valances without covering the molding i love. any thoughts????
YoungHouseLove says
Panels inherently cover some molding (although hanging the rod high and wide (above the molding, about two inches below the ceiling) makes it so they only obscure the top right and left corner of the window trim, so you can still enjoy the rest of the gorgeous wood-toned molding. Valances cover a lot more window trim, which is why we prefer inside mount wood blinds and curtain panels hung super high and wide in your case. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Daniel says
I just happened to find your wonderful site and need help as well. In my living room on one wall I have three separate windows all the same length and height and on the same wall about a foot over is the door to the patio which the door to the patio has one long window on it as well. Well with there being four windows I am unsure of how to do curtains and make it look good on all of the windows. I plan on doing one long rod to cover the three windows but that leaves the patio window bare? How could I make anything if anything work with this layout? Thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, there are probably a few solutions that would work (and playing around with possibilities might be the best way to find the best one) but we’d probably dress the windows with one long rod and multiple curtains panels between them and just dress the patio window with a bamboo blind or something for privacy (but no curtain panels). Good luck!
xo,
s
Owen's mom says
Thank you for this post, it is extremely helpful! Our house has two modestly-sized bedrooms, each with two small narrow windows (not on the same wall). I like the idea of blinds under curtains, but am concerned that floor length curtains on two walls will be too overwhelming for the small rooms. Plus, there’s not much width to “cheat” since the windows are so narrow to start. Any suggestions?
YoungHouseLove says
Definitely cheat them super wide if they’re skinny! The idea of cheating them is to hang the rods about 16-18″ wide on each side of the trim so they appear to be about 2″ wider since the panels will cover the wall but appear to cover the sides of the window. It’s a great trick in a super small space to make it feel taller and more airy!
xo,
s
amy says
Hi there,
I have stumbled across your wonderful blog and am now hooked! I have a curtain question for you. I know you aren’t a fan of valances. I am not either. But we are in an apartment where the previous owners built (like out of wood or whatever) permanent valences above the windows. I might have to send a picture to give you a visual. Anyways besides that issue our windows are but up against a wall in each bedroom so it is very off centre to say the least and I would like to avoid blocking the little light we get as best i can. Thirdly – we have baseboard heaters running along the bottom on the floor. So no full length curtains there. Do you have any tips to make the permanent valence look good? and the off centre windows? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!
Cheerio
Amy
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy,
Hmm, we can picture what you mean and our only advice would be to soften the windows by hanging long curtains that go about 6″ below the window frame (and not to the floor thanks to the baseboards). Of course you can’t hang them wide becuase they should be tucked behind the valance, but they should soften things and only block minimal light if they’re light and pushed in the “open” position most of the time. Although this won’t help with the off centered thing, we’d recommend using furniture and art to try to fill in the other spaces next to windows so the room feels more balanced. For example if you have a window on the left of a wall, place a large media cabinet on the other side. Or a console with large art above it. Anything to add weight to the other area so it’s not bare by comparison. Good luck!
xo,
s
Liliana says
Hi there…I just can’t get enough of your site and I love all your ideas! I was hoping for a little advice on curtains for our French patio doors and a large living room window.
This is one of the rooms (patio doors) for which I got curtains (back-ordered!): http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Living-Rooms/LRDRKitchen/detail.esi?oid=20376357. I purchased an Allen Roth rod from Lowe’s, its 8’ in walnut color and my husband will cut it and make it fit because as is, it’s too wide. The frame of the doors is 75” W, 81” H; how many inches from the frame would be best to have it? The curtains I ordered are 84”…I really like the curtains all the way to the floor but I’m thinking maybe I should have ordered longer curtains, even if I would have to hem them? I can return/exchange for longer ones is you think it would look nicer. The curtains I purchased are the “Jewel-Tex II Grommet-Top Panel” in Tawny Brown.
The large living room window: http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Living-Rooms/Carlos-and-Lilianas-Family-Room/detail.esi?oid=20369838 (the red chairs have been returned, we only have 1 brown chair at the moment and 3 black storage ottomans in place of the large/wide coffee table). We are getting new windows so no need for thermal curtains but I do want something for privacy and to because it feels like the room is missing something and I think it would help make the room seem larger. A lady from JCP (window treatments section) recommended having four panels for this window but I’m having a hard time deciding on color and of course, the length and width of the curtains. The color of our sofa is Maize and I would like to paint the walls with Behr’s color “Peanut Butter 270F-4” but my husband thinks it would be too dark. He prefers light and neutral colors; we both like neutral tones but I would like to add a bit more drama to our house, hence me wanting to use the PB color and even paint our office/3rd bedroom “Deep Blue Sea 540D-7” but I won’t go into that!
Anyway, your thoughts/advice is greatly appreciated! Once these little projects are done, I promise to share pics!
Thanks in advance!
Liliana
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Liliana,
Just play around and see what you like best! There’s definitely not just one right answer! We do like curtains longer than 84″ (we usually hang them a few inches from the ceiling so they’re around 92″ in length). And Peanut Butter on the walls sounds lovely. It will bring in some really nice drama. But of course you don’t want to anger your hubby so maybe paint a big test swatch to get him on board before painting the whole room? Good luck!
xo,
s
Cher says
Hi. I have the same large picture window in my house, and I am trying to figure out what to do. Is that one large wood blind? If so, is it very heavy to lift up?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Cher,
It’s actually two of them hung next to each other for the look of one. Very easy to raise and lower and much cheaper!
xo,
s
Tracy says
Congrats on winning your latest award…it is SO well deserved. You are my absolute, VERY favorite blog of all time and I’m constantly inspired by your genius. Seriously, you guys have such a talent and have no idea how much you help people out their like ME! So many people lately have told me I have such an “eye for decorating.” The truth is, I am just a really good copycat, but none of the ideas ever occur to me without seeing someone else doing them first! (YOU!!) I am CLUELESS. My dining room is now the splitting image of your old one and I LOVE it. Thanks for making my home a happier place for me to live. :)
Okay, now for my question. I want to get your Roman Shades from IKEA but am not sure what I am looking for, or if they have them anymore??? They have panels that I think you could make into shades? Anyhow, I’m wondering how you guys did it. You have said it was simple but did you buy hardware from IKEA that goes with the shades? I just love the simplicity of them and desperately want some for my guest room and dining room. Target has some but theirs have 2 little ties per shade and they are not quite as “simple.” Will you let me know exactly what you bought and how you installed them. Once again, I LOVE Casa Petersik and want to copy another little fabulous detail. I’m all the way in Austin so it will look completely original. ;) hehe
Thanks again and keep up your wonderful work….you and your sweet family have such a gift and I love that you share it so freely with the less fortunate! Big hugs from Austin!
YoungHouseLove says
They unfortunately don’t appear to sell them anymore. They were ready-made roman shades (with hardware that actually came already-attached) so it was as simple as hammering two nails into the wall and slipping the hardware loops on the top of the shade over them. So sorry they don’t have them anymore!
xo,
s
Katie says
Hey Guys,
I love your site! It’s given me so many ideas on ways to update our 60+ year old house.
Here’s my question: My living room has 3 windows (one large center window that doesn’t open, one smaller window on each side) that measure 104 inches wide. I’m wanting to do bamboo blinds with curtains, but I’m wondering what to do. If I get two 52″ bamboo blinds, I don’t want to have the cord for the left blind just hanging in the middle of the window when it’s open, and we can’t keep them open all the time for privacy reasons. I thought maybe I could find a hook or something to put on the wall and wrap the cord around to keep it hidden, or we could leave the blinds open all the time and get thicker curtains for privacy, which we could close at night. What would you guys do?
YoungHouseLove says
We would probably do the latter. You could draw the curtains closed for privacy and not have to worry about pesky cords! Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Stephanie says
Love the IKEA roman shades that you guys have in your home. I can’t seem to find any stores that sell similar ones since IKEA does not seem to have the anymore. Any ideas where to get them? Or better yet, do you know of any tutorials for me to DIY them?
YoungHouseLove says
It seems as though they’ve been discontinued for a while. So sad! But I think they’d be relatively simple to make- maybe just google around for “how to make a roman shade” or “roman shade tutorial.” Good luck!
xo,
s
Jeanne says
First let me start that I’ve been so inspired by your website (my husband thanks you too, haha)! I’ve been looking all over for inspiration on what to do with our kitchen’s patio doors. Right now we have horrid plastic verticals mixed with a valance. I have to say, I’m not huge on bamboo shades or the like, but really like the idea of doing panels, I just haven’t seen anything like it. Another thing to note is we use our patio doors a lot between the dog and the hot tub. Suggestions? :)
YoungHouseLove says
We’d hang curtains high and wide (so wide that they would cover the wall and not really get in the way of the doors unless they’re drawn closed). Then you could tuck your vertical blinds behind them to hide them when they’re not in use (or remove them and use the curtains for privacy). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Happytolose says
Hello, I have a small space with a window in the living room and a patio parallel.I would like to know if the curtains should be the same in both areas?
YoungHouseLove says
We would definitely do that for consistency. We’d use the same rod, the same panels, and hang the rods at the same height for balance.
xo,
s
Heather says
wow! You guys rock, seriously.
angie says
Help!!!!! i just moved into a condo that has floor to ceiling windows…9ft!!
problem is i have no idea what to do with them that isn’t going to cost me and arm and a leg? my main concern is my son’s room, we have a corner unit and one corner in his room is ALL WINDOW…eek! i was thinking blackout blinds from ikea but they are only 6ft. any suggestions?? we currently have sheets hanging (my mom would kill me if she knew) oh, and did i mention we are south facing? hello sunshine!!
any help would be greatly appreciated!
YoungHouseLove says
I think you’re on the right track with Ikea. They sell extra long curtain panels for cheap, so I’d just walk around there and get something semi thick to block most of the light and provide privacy (since it’ll be hard to find any blinds that long that don’t cost a ton). Hope it helps!
xo,
s