20 Window Treatment Ideas for 2024
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Updating your window treatments is an easy and affordable way to give your home a makeover. As an added bonus, some window coverings can even provide protection against drafts and help you save on energy costs. In this article, we’ll review window treatment ideas that you can recreate on your own.
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Window Treatment Ideas
Whether you’ve just replaced your windows and need to find new coverings or you’re looking to update your home decor, you’ll find there are many window treatments to choose from. Each one offers a different look and feel, transforming your space.
1. Double Layers
The double-layered look is often seen in hotels, but it can work in homes too. Double-layered curtains give your space a richer, cozier feel. You can also mix and match patterns and colors to add more dimension and personality to a room.
We suggest layering a lighter, more subtle color or print closest to your window and a bolder pattern and heavier-duty fabric overtop. This will allow you to close both layers for ultimate light, sound, and air blockage, or open just the heavier layer to let some light in while still getting privacy.
2. Roman Shades
Roman shades are a classic but rarely used window treatment. They’re ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, and areas where you have shorter windows—and they can help prevent the movement of air. Opt for a lightweight fabric that won’t hold moisture if installed in a bathroom, and play around with color and pattern to add visual texture to the room. You can also vary fabric weight based on how much light you want to let in.
3. Stained Glass
Stained glass provides color, texture, privacy, and personality to a room without sacrificing natural light. You can opt for designed glass panels, multicolored panels, or one cohesive color. If you want to save money or aren’t sure you want to commit to installing new glass, consider using glass paint or adhesive panels for a faux stained glass look.
4. Sheer Curtains
If you have a room that feels dark or closed off, sheer curtains can help lighten and lift the space to make it feel bigger and more open. You can go with a simple curtain for an airy feel or choose a color or design that lets you express your style without blocking light.
5. Solar Shades
Solar shades may be a good option if your room has too much sunlight coming in. These shades block UV rays, so consider them if you notice sun damage to your furniture, rugs, or wall art. They’ll also help lower your energy bills by keeping your home cool when it’s hot outside. You can choose from different weights to block your preferred amount of sun, and they come in various styles to suit your aesthetic.
6. Classic Shutters
Shutters are timeless, practical, and relatively inexpensive. The slats provide a lot of control over how much light comes through.
They’re especially great for coastal areas and bathrooms where window treatments are exposed to moisture, which can damage fabric window treatments or collect mold.
7. Dramatic Curtains
You may think there’s no point in outfitting a window that’s exceptionally tall or wide, but adding a window treatment can give a room an entirely different feel. Tall curtains that extend to the floor can strike a mood and ambiance, while adding curtains to a particularly wide window can make it feel less stark.
8. Eye Illusions
Most homebuyers don’t like low ceilings. While your window treatments can’t give a room extra height, they can provide the illusion of it. Try installing your curtain rod close to the ceiling so curtain panels start much higher than the top of the window, making your ceilings appear higher. Don’t go overboard—a foot or so above the window will do. Have your curtains drop below the bottom of the window as well. This will draw the eye upward and create the illusion of wall length.
9. Valances
Valances may seem outdated, but they’re making a comeback as more young homeowners want to give their homes a traditional, nostalgic feel. Valances look especially great on tall windows and add texture and warmth to a room. If your home feels too modern or stark, adding valances can soften it and add the character of a more traditional space.
10. Frosted Glass
Similar to stained glass, frosted glass gives you both privacy and plenty of natural light without obscuring the window. This is great for bathrooms or areas that feel dark or cluttered since you don’t have to hang any fabric or blinds to get the privacy you need.
11. Folding Screen
A folding screen is a practical and decorative option for those who don’t want to hang a window treatment. Folding screens add character, color, pattern, and function without the need for tools or a professional installer. They’re a classic way to update a room and impress with an out-of-the-box design choice.
12. Farmhouse Shutters
Farmhouse shutters may be too bold a choice for all the windows in your home, but a few can provide a rustic, vintage look and allow you to control how much light comes in. This could even be a project you tackle yourself if you’re not afraid of do-it-yourself (DIY) options.
13. Cafe Curtains
Cafe curtains give you the best of both worlds. These provide light on top and privacy on the bottom. The half-panel look can make a room feel more quaint, so many use them in bathrooms or kitchens to give a space a cottage-like look.
14. Tassel Details
Fringed drapes are fun and show you’re not afraid to play with design. Tassels along the bottom of curtains or a Roman blind add instant personality and make a statement in an otherwise minimal living room or bedroom.
Though you can purchase drapery with tassels, this can also be a DIY project if you’re handy with a sewing kit.
15. Lambrequins
It’s possible you haven’t heard of lambrequins. This design choice can make a room feel both more modern and classically regal at the same time. Hanging a bunch of fabric or loud valances can be overwhelming in rooms that have a lot of windows. Lambrequins sit back into the window, letting you add style without overpowering the room. These are great for formal dining rooms or spaces where you have several windows that would feel too heavy with a bunch of hanging curtains or thick upholstery.
16. Shelves
If privacy isn’t a concern, running two or three minimalistic shelves across a window can break it up without overtaking it. We like this idea for kitchen windows where you may want to have a few potted plants or quick-grab herbs but you don’t have a deep windowsill.
17. Pleats
You can’t go wrong with a simple pleated curtain to add a finishing touch to a window. You can keep your drapery panels understated or make them bold and eye-catching, but any pleated window treatment will make your window look more finished than plain window blinds.
18. Seagrass Blinds
Woven seagrass blinds offer light control without adding bulk. We like these for beachy spaces or when you want a more natural feel. They’re a great focal point without being too distracting.
19. Blackout Curtains or Blinds
Blackout curtains and blinds aren’t just useful for those who need to sleep during the day. They can also change the look and feel of a room. We like these for home theaters and entertainment spaces to not only help darken the room but give it a more enclosed, at-the-theater vibe.
20. Bay Window Dressings
Your bay window may have a nontraditional shape or size, but you can still give it a finished look with the right framing.
Full-length blinds, bottom-half shutters, hanging curtains, or a combination of window treatments can help a large bay window blend in while providing privacy.
Our Conclusion
Even if interior design isn’t your thing, there are plenty of ways to transform your home’s look just by switching up your window coverings. These ideas are affordable and don’t require major construction, so you can experiment with different options until you find what suits you. Have fun and make your space your own. Whether you prefer ruffles or vertical blinds, there’s something out there for everyone.
FAQ About Window Treatments
What is the current trend in window treatments?
The current trend in window treatments is to hang roller and solar shades. They’re increasingly popular as the market creates more design-focused color and pattern options. Long drapery and layered curtain panels are also making a comeback to give homes a more lush, dramatic feel.
What can I put instead of curtains?
There are many window treatment options instead of curtains, including blinds, valances, Roman shades, shutters, and window films.
What can I cover windows with instead of blinds?
The treatments you can use to cover windows instead of blinds include roller shades, vertical cellular shades, shutters, and drapery. These alternatives cover windows well if you don’t like the look of blinds.
What is the cheapest way to do window treatments?
The cheapest way to do window treatments is to use fabric blinds, such as roller blinds, Roman shades, and cellular shades. Window clings are also an affordable way to block light and add privacy if you don’t want to commit to a window treatment.
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