Curtains in the living room and bedroom are an important design element and determine the final interior design. Which curtains to choose for a house with small windows, which ones for a spacious room - these questions concern every person who is faced with renovations and home improvement.
Light and thin curtains for small windows in the bedroom and living room will add lightness to the interior. Inconsistent, poorly selected fabrics, on the contrary, can greatly harm the interior. We will recommend how to choose the right decorative element.
Decoration of small windows
Decorating windows in the bedroom and living room is a real art. Although many pay little attention to this issue, without the design of a window opening it is impossible to design a thoughtful, balanced interior. How to choose beautiful curtains, what is the best fabric - light, airy or heavy, massive? Is it necessary to completely hide the window opening under the fabric or is it better to leave it open? Where to start designing window openings, what should you pay attention to when choosing fabrics?
Curtain design for small windows, photo
Hourglass
Most often, this solution is used for narrow windows. For sewing, a single piece of light but durable fabric (organza or tulle) is used, which is attached to small cornices or strings at the top and bottom. The material, as a rule, is chosen in light colors - beige, white, the color of baked milk, light brown or gray. All kinds of bows, braid, and longitudinal lines look great.
In the middle, the canvas is intercepted with a ribbon, which can have the color that was used to sew the curtain itself, or another shade that can emphasize the overall interior of the room, the color of the window frame or furniture. Thanks to this element, this style resembles a huge hourglass, hence the name.
This is an ideal solution for small windows, since thanks to the interception of the canvas in the middle, space is created on the sides for the passage of daylight.
How to visually enlarge a small window?
The question of how to decorate small window openings requires special attention. The decor should be quite modest, not overwhelming the small surface. The window is the most important element in any room; it allows access to daylight. The larger the window opening, the visually wider the space of the room looks. A small window will require different design tricks to help make it impressive.
Decorators use a number of simple techniques to transform a disproportionate space. With the help of a few tricks, you can make a metamorphosis of the interior, changing the style, improving the aesthetic value of the room. You don't always need to hire a professional to enjoy an impressive interior. You will need basic knowledge of basic principles and tricks. Below are some ideas on how to visually enlarge a window opening, what to do, and what to avoid.
- Use of lightweight fabrics. If you like heavy baroque fabrics, you will have to give them up. Heavy fabrics create the impression of chic and attract attention. For small window openings, light, airy, translucent curtains are better suited, creating a subtle, delicate decoration. Ideal - veil, organza.
- Only light colors - white, various shades of beige, muted pastels are perfect. Intense, strong colors will visually take away several centimeters.
- Lack of patterns . For small window openings, it is better to choose smooth, plain fabrics - all types of patterns are not recommended, they will visually make the interior smaller. Patterns can be successfully used on large window openings; on small ones they will give the impression of crampedness and chaos. Only horizontal stripes can show themselves well; they visually expand the space.
- Empty window sills . No need to clutter the window sill. Tall flowers, lamps, books will not look beautiful - they will visually reduce the window opening and limit the amount of incoming natural light.
Tips for window decoration
At the design stage, all issues related to the appearance and interior layout of your home are determined. And you may be wondering: why spend money on a large staircase window? Is this really necessary? The answer is clear - you can’t do without lighting. This will ensure a safe and enjoyable climb. Although if it is not possible to provide the stairs with natural light, then it is worth thinking about organizing good artificial lighting. Staircase windows can have a variety of sizes and shapes. Interesting contours of openings can be emphasized with the help of curtains, as well as correcting unsuccessful ones. In addition, in this way it is easy to complement and complete the interior.
When decorating a window on a staircase, some difficulties may arise due to the following problems:
- inaccessibility;
- the presence of non-standard parameters in shape or size;
- insufficient penetration of light due to orientation or some external obstruction.
The choice of design will depend on certain conditions:
- It is necessary to decide on the style of the premises in which the stairs are installed. This will allow you to choose the correct, harmonious window design.
- The second question you must answer is whether to hide or decorate the window.
- Well, the third condition is quite banal - how much are you willing to spend.
If the staircase in your home is lit by natural light, then here are some tips for window decoration:
- If you use curtains, then you need to choose their length correctly. They should not be allowed to lie on the platform or steps or, conversely, to be too short. It is also not recommended to tear off the curtain in the middle of the wall.
- If, however, you hung a curtain that is too long, but there is no desire to change it, because this process is not easy, you can assemble it on one side using a special cord. By the way, it can also be an excellent window decoration.
Blinds on the staircase window
- Blinds. Convenient to use. In addition, they now offer blinds with a pattern. Suitable for strict interiors in a minimalist style.
- Windows without curtains are suitable for people with high fences and no nosy neighbors. In this case, you can use borders to decorate the window. They are cut out according to a pre-drawn stencil.
- Tinted glass can be left without additional decoration if the window has a beautiful shape, an interesting shade and, perhaps, thin window frames that are fashionable now.
- If there is a wide wall and provided that the window is installed without a quarter or close enough to the surface of the outer wall, you can install small glass shelves in the window opening. They will not overwhelm the appearance due to their transparency, but can be useful for installing some beautiful trinkets or indoor plants.
- If the shape of the window does not inspire you, you can visually correct it with the help of curtains. To do this, its color should be as close as possible to the color of the walls of the room where the staircase is installed.
- Also, in order to distract the eye from the unpleasant outline of the window, you can use more remarkable objects to decorate the adjacent wall: for example, paintings or family photographs in beautiful frames. An unusual floor covering can also help solve this problem.
Here are some more recommendations for selecting materials::
- It is worth choosing light curtains. They will allow you not to interfere with the penetration of sunlight into the room.
- The choice of color for curtains is very important. It should be in harmony with the color of the walls or wallpaper, favorably shading or contrasting with them.
- To create visual spaciousness in the intermediate area, you need to eliminate the use of decorative details.
- If you want to make the ceiling visually higher, then you should use vertical ornaments.
- Since a lot of light enters through a large window opening, this can lead to fading of the fabric and loss of color. To prevent this from happening, you need to choose the right curtain fabric. It should contain polyester, viscose and cotton.
- To further emphasize beauty and elegance, you can install a stylish cornice.
Curtains - threads
Traditionally, the classic design of window openings is usually chosen for the bedroom and living room. Recently, original thread curtains are often chosen, dazzling with sophistication.
Small windows in the bedroom can be decorated with small crystals on a string or fishing line attached to the cornice. Crystals sparkling in the light will create the feeling of simple, light curtains on both halves of the window.
Roman blinds, roller blinds
Roman blinds or blinds made from decorative material are becoming popular. Usually raised by a special mechanism controlled by a decorative chain, the blinds will suit a variety of interior designs - classic and modern. Style largely depends on the material.
Japanese curtains
This style is the ideal solution for lovers of minimalism. It has absorbed centuries-old Japanese traditions, combining simplicity, elegance and lightness.
Read about: fabrics for roller blinds: textiles to guard coolness and privacy.
The design of the curtains consists of lightweight fabric panels that let in a lot of light - so they are an ideal option when decorating small windows. The fabric can be used plain or with patterns, but the overall background should still be light.
For installation, special fasteners are used that allow the curtains to be moved manually or electrically to the left, right or up, which ensures ease of installation and use.
Curtains for the bedroom - photo
Often, for interiors decorated in a modern style, they choose a somewhat extravagant approach to decorating window openings - refusing any decor, including curtains. By leaving the window completely open, you can visually increase its area and create a feeling of spaciousness. This solution takes away the comfort of home, slightly disturbs the home climate, and adds austerity to the atmosphere.
If you want to create a truly warm atmosphere in the interior, you should choose subtle decorations, hanging at least light curtains. When deciding on a thin ethereal fabric for the living room, bedroom, you can try using long options that hang from floor to ceiling. If you need to take care of an individual window design, you can give free rein to your imagination, creatively select and pin up the material.
Curtains can completely change the character of the interior. Correctly chosen curtains and tulle look great in modern interiors and will be a simple, effective way to warm up the strict ascetic atmosphere in a minimalist or futuristic interior. Interesting decorations will bring a feeling of warmth and coziness to modern rooms. Short colorful veils look beautiful in the small attic window of the bedroom. It’s good if the design of the window decor matches the colors and patterns with the design of the bed linen.
The design of curtains for small bedroom windows should create coziness. Curtains can reach the ceiling and cascade to the floor. This option looks impressive.
An interesting idea is to use 3 types of fabric:
- smooth,
- patterned,
- shaded in various shades of the main color of the bedroom, combined with bed textiles and wallpaper colors.
Particular difficulties arise when decorating the balcony door with curtains. A beautifully selected fabric that harmonizes in color and design with the color of adjacent furniture will help decorate the door. As you can see in the photo below, the right fabric can completely change the character of a metal-plastic double-glazed window.
For a small window and an interior decorated in a minimalist style, you should choose a delicate decoration. In such a room there is a problem of lack of natural light, so it is necessary to ensure good lighting of the room and let as much sunlight into the room as possible. It is advisable to use fabrics in light colors that filter light, giving the interior a unique climate, making the room lighter and more spacious. A curtain that is much wider than the window optically improves its proportions.
Classic curtains
Despite its centuries-old origins, the classic style of interior design remains relevant and in demand. With their charm they can transform any room beyond recognition, giving it rigor and elegance. A significant advantage in favor of choosing the classic style is the possibility of using it under almost any wallpaper and furniture, while maintaining clear and strict proportionality.
Read about: Greek curtains: harmony in simplicity and grandeur.
If you decide to turn to classic curtains, then you should pay attention to light, soft, discreet colors. These include beige, white, light yellow, soft brown and even honey. It is these colors that will allow your curtains not to stand out from the overall interior, but only to emphasize it, while letting a huge amount of daylight into the room.
You should not choose satin or silk fabric - they are quite difficult to process. The best solution for a classic style would be velvet, linen or cotton.
Curtains for country windows
Thin ethereal curtains will add lightness and sophistication to a modern arrangement. Lace curtains are ideal for a small window in a rustic or country style interior. An interesting choice is small checkered curtains up to the windowsill in the English style.
Glamorous curtains
An interior in glamor style would not be complete without decorative curtains made of velvet and satin. Smooth fabric topped with a cord with tassels will become a real decoration for the windows of different rooms:
- in the living room in glamor style, will emphasize the elegant, sophisticated character of the interior,
- in the bedroom will give the interior a boudoir climate.
Curtains for small kitchen windows
To decorate kitchen window openings, you should use fabrics that are easy to wash and do not quickly lose their appearance due to frequent washing. For kitchen decor, you can choose short curtains that reach the window sill or even shorter ones, allowing maximum natural light into the room.
