Dressing Your Windows
Updated: Aug 24, 2023
As a designer, I find one of the hardest places clients have issues with is dressing their windows. One of the reasons this is the case is window treatments can be very costly. You are investing in something that has the potential to stay in your home for the duration of your living there, so the fear of making a mistake almost leaves clients paralyzed. This does not have to be the case. Let me show you a few ways I help my clients navigate to gorgeous window treatments that make them feel secure in their purchases.
Window Treatments are a personal decision from privacy desired, header type, fullness, length, and placement and of coarse fabric. Let me take you step by step through the decision-making process I do with my clients.
If you have an area in your home that has an amazing view or provides your room with a large amount of light, the last thing you want to do is cover it up. Light filter sheer curtains would fit your needs.
Two Pages Curtains has become extremely famous with Instagram home decor influencers for their wide selection of different fabrics, customized header styles, and privacy linings. These custom window treatments are very cost-friendly.
Let me take you step by step through the decision-making process I do with my clients. First and foremost is what room in the house will be placing our window treatments. I use different types of drapes for different rooms. Bedrooms are usually the first place a client wants to place window treatments, especially if it is a new home and they have no existing coverage. Bedrooms are a place where you want to feel warm and cozy. So, for example in a bedroom, do you want your window treatments to give you that darkness you desire when you sleep or your blinds, and sometimes the answer is both? Like I was saying, it's all a personal choice.
Second is how will you be filtering the light in your room. Let us stick with our example of the bedroom. If your decision is your blinds, I would recommend more light-filtering lining for your drapes then. If you love the darkness then room darkening it is. This applies to all rooms in general. Some clients need the darkness for TV watching or maybe an anxious dog. The list is very vast on personal choices. I try to meet the needs of my clients and give them options that will fit the design I created for their space as they make the decision.
Third is movement, will your curtains be stationary as part of the overall look or will you be opening and closing them on a daily basis? This is one of the most important decisions when you are deciding on window treatments. This will determine the width of your curtains, what header style you will require, and placement. This is one area where many of my clients get that paralyzing feeling because there are a lot of decisions in the movement process.
Width is determined by how full you want your window treatments to be. The unwritten rule to determine fullness used to be 1.5 to 2.0 times the width of your window.* That depends on personal preference and also what type of header you are using. When choosing your width you need to determine what type of header you would like to use in your space. Here are some examples and the recommended widths that I prefer.
When using a regular rod pocket I recommend 1.5 times the width of your window.* This gives you a slightly tight gathered look. Rod pocket window treatments can be very difficult to move when trying to open. I do not recommend these unless you would like to add some type of clip with rings.
When using tab-top curtains I recommend 1.25 times the width of the window.* I suggest that the width is due to the long tabs that hang down. I would not recommend these for opening and closing as they are very difficult to move.
Back tab curtains come with tabs placed on the back of the curtain headers. I recommend a 1.5 times the width of your window for these types of curtains.* This type does move more freely but can still cause issues when trying to move them to be opened and closed. I recommend these as a more stationary window placement with a blind for shade.
The next window treatments are my go-to's at the moment. They give you an upscale look and freely move when you desire privacy or not.
Pinch pleat curtains give your header style and also give you the ability to move your curtains open and closed very easily. I recommend 1.5 times the width of your window if you do not want them very full and you will be using them for privacy but do not mind that they will lay flat when closing.* If you want more fullness when gathered open then my recommendation would be 2.0 the width of the window.*
These curtains come from Two Page Curtains with pinch pleats already set and plastic hooks to slide that goes directly into your ring.
There are many different styles of pleats that can be hung this way. Here are a few:
Well, we have covered the privacy desired, header type, and fullness. Now to address the length, placement, and fabric.
* Always add 3-4" on either side of your window casing.
Example: Your window is 72" wide + 4 on one side + 4 on the other = 80
Length is determined on placement so let us talk about placement first. You need to measure the height of your room. Premanufactured curtains come in these lengths: 84, 96, 108, and 120 inches. It is a little more difficult to 120-inch curtains in certain colors or fabric types so looking to places like Two Page Curtains is a great way to get exactly what you need. The curtain length should come 1/4 to 1/2 off the floor. You want to be able to move them freely and not puddling.
Now this is where the hard part comes in, placement. As I stated, you want your curtains to come 1/4 to 1/2 inch off the floor. I recommend placing your brackets 4-6" inches from your window casement. If your window is very large make sure you put in a center brace. You can also double up your brackets on the ends for more stability.
As far as height, that will be determined by the room. I recommend not putting them just above your window casement but at least 1/2 way between the ceiling and the top of the window. Everyone has different amounts of space between the window and the ceiling. If you want your room to look taller, I recommend placing them as high as you can or just below any type of molding you may have.
Fabric, Fabric - Oh, My!!! There are so many choices that I do not even know where to start. My only recommendation is to not go too crazy on your fabric in certain areas unless you are just an all-out bold person. LOL! I tend to stick with solids in my living spaces and if you want to go crazy then let it out in the bedroom. Here are a few examples of fabrics I would choose for places in your home.
Two Page Curtains has so many colors to choose from. Here is a layout of a client looking for solid panels and the new line they have come out with - Woven Bamboo shades and Roman shades in gorgeous tones and colors that will bring texture and movement to your curtains. They have gracefully given me a discount code that I am extending to you. JLNORRISDESIGN for 8% off - Visit their site - Two Page Curtains and enjoy all the remarkable curtains they have available.
You can find Two Page Curtains on Amazon as well. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Here are a few links to my favorite curtain ones.
Hopefully, this has taken a little fear out of selecting curtains/window treatments for your home. Enjoy dressing your windows, just as you do picking out that fancy dress for a special event.
Here are some of my favorite rods, rings, and hooks from Amazon in clients' homes. The quality is top-notch. Enjoy!
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