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One of my goals with Nadine Stay is to break down the fundamentals of design with the intentional of making it feel more approachable. My mission is to make design less intimidating and more inspiring by pulling back the curtain and revealing the thought process behind the design principles. And so, today I’m diving into window treatments. There are so many tricky window scenarios and knowing how to dress them can be…well tricky! So, today I’m addressing 7 odd window set ups and whether you should use curtains or shades, and why!
I donβt know why curtains have become such a repeat topic on my blog, but then againβ¦they carry so much weight in the overall aesthetic of a room. A year ago I shared a few recommendations on how to hang curtains in a way that makes the room and window feel bigger. Thatβs a great place to start. Then later I got some questions about what window treatments to use when you have a heat register below the window. So I broke that down in this post.
That sparked more conversations about specific window situations because every home is unique so today Iβm breaking down 7 unique window set ups and when I prefer to use curtains vs shades.
(Keep in mind that these suggestions are simply my preferences and each can be tweaked or modified to work for you.)
#1 – When The Window Is Close To A Wall Or An Impeding Object
SHADES
Curtains look best when they have room to breathe so if space is tight on either side of the window, I prefer the look of shades. I have a general rule of thumb that I use in my own home β if thereβs less than 12β³ of space on either side of the window, I use shades. This applies to a window next to a wall, door, fireplace, cabinets, etc.
My exception to this rule is if the window is large and you can afford to cover up some of the window with the curtains.
RULE OF THUMB
If there’s less than 12″ of space on either side of the window, use shades rather than curtains.
#2 – Windows With A Lot Of Space On Either Side
CURTAINS
Like I mentioned above, curtains do wonders when they have room to breathe. A big blank wall with a window is a prime opportunity to let curtains become a form of art! Fill that empty space on either side of the window with double wide curtains. Curtains that extend 18β+ beyond the window frame make the window feel bigger. But curtains also soften the room by breaking up all the hard surfaces.
WHEN THE SPACE ALLOWS
Use extra wide curtains to fill in dead wall space and break up all the hard surfaces.
#3 – Bay Windows
SHADES MOST OF THE TIME
The size of the bay window and the base of the window plays a role in what I prefer, but generally speaking I recommend shades. If thereβs a window seat, shades offer privacy without cluttering the space. You could also use cafe curtains which brings a layer of softness to the windows without having excess fabric pooling on the window seat.
My recommendation changes to curtains if the bay window is more of an extension of the room. If the windows or wall extends to the floor and thereβs at least 12β of space within the bay on both ends, then I love the look of curtains. Take this space for example by @houseabovetheriver.
IT’S OK IN MY BOOK
You can use both shades and curtains in one room without it looking disconnected! Donβt worry about having shades on your bay window and curtains on the other windows.
#4 – Windows With Space Between Them
CURTAINS OR SHADES
There are so many factors that play a role in this and honestly, thereβs not one rule that applies to all situations. Every home will be different, so my advice is to try out your options and see what feels best for your space.
That being said, I have a few tips to help make your decision β
Is there trim between each window connecting them? Is the gap less than 12 inches? If so, I like to treat that as one window with curtains on either side.
If the spacing is more than 12β between each window, perhaps a set of panels for each window would work.
Or maybe you have a row of windows and curtains for each might break up the view too muchβ¦then I like to bookend the windows with one set of curtains.
Shades could work great too! If you need to soften the space, opt for a fabric shade vs a natural woven material.
MAYBE A LITTLE OF BOTH
For a layered look, incorporate both shades and curtains.
#5 – Windows That Are Unusually Narrow
SHADES
We have a set of narrow windows in our house and curtains would just drown them out. There arenβt any hard and fast rules on how wide the window needs to be for curtains, but in my opinion if thereβs more fabric than window, then shades may look more appropriate.
#6 – Windows That Are High Off The Ground
CURTAINS OR SHADES
A lot of times we see these short and wide windows that are placed high off the ground in bedrooms or basements. Whether you pick curtains or shades is entirely up to you, but I have some thoughts on both options.
Since the window is short, shades may cover up valuable window space. Take note of the valance height and how much space the shade covers when it’s all the way up. Depending on how high the window is, this may not be an issue. Otherwise, you could consider roller shades which cover less of the window.
If you opt for curtains, I like to balance the visual weight of the space by placing a piece of furniture below the window. A dresser, a bed, or a side table fill out the empty space below the window. (Just be sure to leave enough space behind the furniture to close the curtains!)
#7 – Patio Doors
CURTAINS
I like to treat patio doors like a window and if the space allows, I prefer curtains. Hang them high and wide and donβt skimp on the number of panels you use. If you have enough fabric, it should still have some wave to it even when pulled shut. If not, add another panel until thereβs plenty of fabric to cover the doors with a wave.
WHAT ABOUT SINGLE PATIO DOORS?
A shade attached to the door is a great option for single doors.
For A Quick Overview, Here’s When To Use Curtains Vs. Shades
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Excellent post! Very helpful, thank you very much!!!ππ»β¨ππ»ππ»ππ»ππ»
Is it necessary or more appropriate to use all curtains for the front facing windows when 3 are same size (single window) and one large double? I feel wood blinds for singles (bedroom) and drapes for double window (living room). Is mixing the type of window dressing ok for front of house?
Every home scenario is unique so design rules are not “one size fits all,” but I generally like to use the same type of window treatment for all windows on the same wall. The most common exception to this is window treatments for patio doors that are on the same wall as windows…then you can definitely mix curtains on windows with blinds on doors.
Hi Nadine. I just moved i to a townhouse on a golf course and as much as we love the light, we want a bit of privacy. We have patio doors and the. A window the same length on top of it in both our master bedroom and living room. The bedroom has ample space on either side for curtains but the living room has a fireplace and wall right on the left side. How would you work with this? We want to be able to have the light come in during the day but have some privacy.
When you say shades are you including blinds in that category or strictly referring to shades
I have a question i don’t think has been tackled yet… I have a lot of patio doors along one side of my open-plan downstairs. I wanted to put curtains but the kitchen patio door is close to the sink and dishwasher so curtains are not really an option. Would it be strange to have 4 doors with curtains and one with shades or am i better off doing all roman shades?
Thanks in advance, I wish i could just figure it out myself π
This was super helpful! I have three windows and a patio door on the same wall. Windows about 18β apart and the last window and patio door are about 24-26 inches apart. Do you use one super long rod for the whole thing or a separate for the patio door?
What would be the best window treatments when my living room, dining room and kitchen are one big open space. I have 1 window in my living room and 2 in my eating area one of which is on the same wall as the window in the living room.
This post was so helpful! I’m curious, I have craftsman style windows in my bungalow that are positioned on the corners. 2 on one wall with less than 12” apart and 2 on the other wall also less than 12′ apart. Would curtains with a corner attachment work best or opt for shades?
Very helpful, thank you! I agree with an earlier comment. I sometimes have a sense of what might look best, without understanding exactly why. You give useful measurements and clarify proportion and visual weight considerations. I appreciate reminders about light and privacy needs, drapery fullness and other factors. These guidelines will make it much easier to choose window coverings consistently throughout the house.
I am so so happy to hear this!! I hope window covering shopping is smooth sailing for you now!
Thank you so much for clear explanations and examples. I know what to do for my windows now. Was really lacking confidence in what can be done. Thanks
Love to hear it! π
I am so so happy I found your blog. My curtain struggle has been real, feeling completely stuck. This is the first time Iβve been able to connect what my windows need with specific design reasons – your explanations along with the examples is fantastic. Iβm feeling more confident about dressing windows in my 105 yr old home. Thank you for this! Iβm off to stalk the blog now π
That’s amazing! I’m so glad you feel more confident in what to do! This makes me so happy π
I have a lakeside house with tons of pine paneling and trim. I have many windows in my living and dining, but donβt want to obscure the view most of the time, but want privacy on occasion. Any ideas?
Hello! What would you recommend for narrow casement windows? Old house & they swing inward π.
Hi! I recently found your blog and have been skimming through your posts, and just wanted to tell you that you are definitely fulfilling your mission statement of making design accessible to people that donβt know what they are doing and are overwhelmed by the process (itβs me. Iβm people.) This advice in particular is so helpful to me and the really bizarre window situation I have going on with a super sloped ceiling on one side and a wall on the other side of a window. Shades it is! Thank you ππ»
Wow, you have no idea how happy you just made me by telling me this. THANK YOU!! You are such a gem! π
I have a special problem. We have closed in our double garage to make an in-law suite. We have huge windows where the garage doors were. They look wonderful from the outside. You cannot tell it was a garage. It looks so good with the style of our home. But, on the inside, they go all the way to the floor since the floor had to be raised, and there is a lot of room at the top. There is more room than normal. We have thought of curtains all the way to the top or use a modern farmhouse cornice. Can you give us some ideas! Thank you so much.
I recently saw @jennasuedesign on Instagram tackle a similar issue and she used roman shades to cover the unusually large gap between the top of the window and the ceiling. Then she added curtains and it looks incredible! Maybe that would also work for your situation?
What do you recommend for a bedroom window that is not centered behind a bed’s headboard?
Ohh that’s tough! Do you by chance have another open wall that you could put the bed? You could then hang curtains on the window without it highlighting that it’s off centered.
where do you buy your curtains and shades?
Unique challenge: My husband designed this beautiful turret with 6 narrow windows, 3 on each side of a door. Shades? Curtains? Maybe even shutters? The dimensions are 10" by 60". Thank you!
How beautiful! If the windows are close to each other I’d try out one set of curtains per side. If they’re spaced apart, maybe shades would work better!
Thanks for providing great information about the curtains.If the windows are extremely big should I use light color or dark color curtains?
I think it’s entirely up to your personal preference and the surrounding furnishings/decor!
If the room has two exposures, do I need curtains on every window? One wall is great for shades (room darkening, heater below) and statement curtains, but the 2 windows on the side almost seem like theyβd be best with shades
You can always do curtains on one wall and shades on the other! I like that look too!