11 Tips for Choosing Window Treatments that Complement Interior Design
Window treatments are more than just decorative elements; they are essential components that can transform the entire look and feel of a room. This article delves into expert insights on selecting window treatments that perfectly complement your interior design. From balancing functionality with aesthetics to using fabric to choreograph light and emotion, these tips will help you elevate your space to new heights of style and comfort.
- Balance Function and Feeling in Window Treatments
- Consider Room Mood When Selecting Coverings
- Match Window Treatments to Overall Design Style
- Use Fabric to Choreograph Light and Emotion
- Transform Room Atmosphere with Linen Panels
- Enhance Living Experience Through Practical Aesthetics
- Layer Window Treatments for Versatility and Style
- Combine Functionality and Design in Treatment Choices
- Address Light Control and Aesthetics Simultaneously
- Rewrite Space Perception with Deliberate Treatments
- Soften Room Edges with Textured Window Treatments
Balance Function and Feeling in Window Treatments
When it comes to window treatments, our approach is always about finding the balance between function and feeling. It's not just about blocking light or adding privacy; it's also about creating the right mood for the room and supporting the way our clients actually live in the space.
A recent example is one for a primary bedroom with dramatic, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the water. The challenge? While one side opened up to those gorgeous views, another side faced directly toward the neighbors. Here's how we solved it:
Pocketing solar shades were installed to filter the light, keep the room cooler, and reduce glare without cutting off the view. At night, they block most of the light so the room feels restful.
On the neighbor-facing side, we placed a separate shade on its own switch, so our clients can close it for privacy without losing the water views elsewhere.
For softness and dimension, we added a recessed ceiling track with linen drapery. While the shade handles the practical side, the drapery brings movement and texture. When it's partially closed, it creates that airy, wind-blown effect that instantly makes the room feel like a sanctuary.
To tie the design together, the drapery fabric echoes the bedding, and we kept everything in a cohesive, neutral palette. Even the window trim was painted the same off-white as the walls to keep the overall effect calm and seamless.
This layered approach allowed us to give our clients flexibility (light control, cooling, privacy), while also making the bedroom feel elevated and serene. By combining function-first solutions with soft, mood-driven details, we created a space that works beautifully day or night and without ever distracting from the stunning view.
Tip for homeowners: Don't be afraid to layer your window treatments. Pairing a clean-lined shade with flowing drapery gives you the best of both worlds—practical control and an inviting, finished look.
Consider Room Mood When Selecting Coverings
For me, choosing window treatments always starts with asking how I want the room to feel. Light, cozy, dramatic, calming—window coverings have such a big impact on mood, sometimes more than furniture does. I think about the natural light first. Do I want to filter it gently, block it almost completely, or frame it so it becomes a feature? From there, I focus on texture and color. A soft linen curtain creates a very different energy than sleek wooden blinds or velvet panels.
I also try to see window treatments as a finishing layer. If the room already has bold patterns or rich colors, I'll keep them subtle. If the room feels bare or flat, I use them to introduce warmth, contrast, or a little softness. It's a balance of form and function. Bedrooms need something that helps you sleep. Living rooms need something that lets the sunshine in without overwhelming you.
One of my favorite examples was in my own home. I had a living room that always felt cold and unfinished. The walls were painted nicely, the furniture worked, but something was missing. I finally hung full-length curtains in a textured, neutral fabric, and the change was immediate. The room felt warmer and more pulled together, like it finally had personality. Even guests noticed—they'd walk in and say the space suddenly felt welcoming. What surprised me most was how the curtains softened sound and made the whole place feel less "echoey."
Match Window Treatments to Overall Design Style
When I'm helping clients choose window treatments, I always start with the overall design style of the room. A window treatment should never feel like an afterthought, as it's part of the architecture and atmosphere. The first step is to decide if the space needs softness, structure, or both. For example, in a modern home with clean lines and minimal furniture, sleek roller shades in a neutral fabric can emphasize that simplicity while still providing light control. In contrast, a traditional or transitional space may benefit from layered drapery panels that add depth and warmth.
One project that stands out was a living room with a lot of natural light but a very cool, industrial feel—exposed brick, steel beams, and leather furniture. The homeowners wanted the space to feel more inviting without losing the modern edge. We selected floor-to-ceiling linen drapery in a warm taupe and paired it with hidden motorized solar shades. During the day, the solar shades filtered harsh light and preserved the clean lines of the design. At night, the linen panels softened the room and gave it a cozy, livable feel. The transformation surprised even the homeowners, and the space suddenly felt balanced and much more comfortable to spend time in.
For me, the best window treatments are those that not only match a style but also change the way people experience their rooms every day.
Use Fabric to Choreograph Light and Emotion
When it comes to window treatments, I start with the same question I ask myself about a room's palette: what emotion should this space hold? Fabric and finish are not just decorative—they choreograph light, soften acoustics, and frame how we see the world from inside.
In a Nantucket project, I used unlined linen in soft oyster white. During the day, they filtered the sharp Atlantic glare, but by dusk, the fabric caught and diffused the golden light, turning the room into something quietly cinematic. It wasn't just a curtain; it was atmosphere.
They frame views, control light, and impact how we perceive scale in a room. In fact, the height, width, and transparency of fabric can alter proportions as strongly as crown molding or floor choice.
1. Consider Light Quality, Not Just Fabric
The first mistake many homeowners make is thinking curtains are about color alone. In truth, the weave determines how natural light enters. Linen sheers with an open weave can soften daylight into a glow, while velvet panels block sound and drafts, effectively insulating. I often remind clients that window treatments elevate not just the look, but the mood of a space.
2. Proportion Is Everything
Too-short curtains visually shrink a space. I always install drapery rods close to the ceiling line, never just above the window, to elongate walls. Even in modest rooms, this creates the illusion of grandeur. I've used floor-to-ceiling ripple-fold linen panels in small but tall condos to accentuate the height and make it feel even taller.
3. Function Drives Form
Bedrooms and media rooms benefit from blackout lining, while kitchens and baths need humidity-resistant options like woven shades or composite shutters. The choice of lining and hardware is as critical as the textile itself. A fabric that drapes beautifully in a living room might fail in a steamy bathroom.
4. Style as Storytelling
Sheers in coastal homes invite breeze and blur the line between indoors and outdoors, while structured pleats in wool or silk add gravitas in formal dining rooms.
5. Layering for Depth
The most successful rooms rarely rely on a single treatment. Layering woven romans behind fabric panels allows flexibility: light control during the day, softness at night. This duality gives rooms a lived-in sophistication.
Headshot available upon request.
Attribution: Rachel Blindauer, Interior Designer, Furniture Designer, Purveyor of Beautiful Things
Website: www.rachelblindauer.com
Transform Room Atmosphere with Linen Panels
In my living room, the issue wasn't privacy or decoration -- it was time. The sun in the afternoon was so strong that we could not sit there without straining our eyes. I didn't use heavy drapes, but light, almost transparent linen panels, in a pale sand color. It was initially not right - why use thin material when you need shade? But the rule was: diffuse the light, do not shut it out.
The result shocked me. The room remained bright yet soft with no glare. Then we began to spend every afternoon in that room reading, and visitors always remarked that it was like a café in the Mediterranean. The curtains didn't simply go with the sofa; they transformed the way the room was occupied.
What I learned: window treatments are most effective when you plan the space in a way that makes you feel the way you want, rather than how the space appears. After you have that figured out, style nearly takes care of itself.
Enhance Living Experience Through Practical Aesthetics
When choosing window treatments, I always start by considering three things: function, aesthetic, and how the two work together within the space. The right blinds or shutters shouldn't just look good - they should enhance the way a room feels and performs for the people using it. For example, on a recent project with Paul Simon Homes, we installed blackout roller blinds across 300 new-build apartments in Enfield. The developers needed a solution that was stylish, renter-friendly, and practical. By choosing neutral grey roller blinds with subtle silver pulls, we created a sleek, modern look that complemented a variety of interiors. At the same time, the blackout fabric offered tenants improved light control, privacy, and insulation, all important for everyday comfort. The end result was a set of window treatments that blended seamlessly into the design while adding real value to the living experience.
Layer Window Treatments for Versatility and Style
I approach window treatments as both a practical solution and a design element. My first step is to assess the room's function and light requirements. I want treatments that control light effectively but also complement the textures, colors, and furniture in the space.
For example, I recently renovated a guest bedroom with muted blues and warm woods. I chose woven bamboo shades paired with light, airy curtains. The blinds filtered sunlight beautifully, and the curtains softened the room's edges, making it feel warmer and more cohesive.
I also focus on layering and proportion. In larger rooms, heavier drapes can create a sense of luxury, while in smaller rooms, lightweight fabrics keep the space open and airy. The right combination of material, color, and length can dramatically change a room's feel.
Functionality is essential. I prefer solutions that can be adjusted for different times of day while still feeling elegant. Blinds, shades, and curtains each have unique strengths, so combining them strategically provides versatility and style.
Choosing window treatments is about balance. I look for options that enhance the room's architecture and decor while remaining practical for everyday living. When done right, even a simple curtain or blind can transform the energy of a room.
Combine Functionality and Design in Treatment Choices
I consider window treatments as both a functional and aesthetic element. Light control, privacy, and energy efficiency are as important as style. I evaluate how the sun moves through a room, which guides fabric choices and opacity levels. In my living room, I selected thermal-lined drapes that blocked harsh sunlight during peak hours while maintaining a soft, welcoming feel.
I often use color and pattern to reinforce the design theme. A simple neutral base can be enhanced with patterned trim or decorative rods. For example, in a recent kitchen renovation, I chose Roman shades in a soft geometric print that complemented the backsplash. The update made a noticeable difference in both style and mood.
Layering adds dimension and versatility. Pairing sheer panels with heavier drapes or blinds allows control over light and privacy while enriching the visual appeal. Every choice, from fabric to finish, contributes to a cohesive, polished look that elevates the room.
Address Light Control and Aesthetics Simultaneously
What's your approach to choosing window treatments that complement your interior design style?
You never want your window treatments to be an afterthought; they are one of the quiet power players in design. I treat them as a functional and atmospheric element - what light they let in, how they frame the room, how they ground the palette. For Des Moines, we get a lot of intense sun in the summer and long, low-light winters, so it's not just aesthetic but adapting to how you want to feel within your home as energy and mood shift seasonally.
Share an example of a time you selected curtains or blinds that made a noticeable difference.
One of my favorite flips was a 100-year-old house in the Sherman Hill area of Des Moines. The interiors had been updated, but the windows were covered in heavy dark drapes that weighed down the rooms. We replaced them with sheer Roman shades in a soft cream, and it was like night and day. The entire first floor seemed taller, brighter, and more alive. Afterward, visitors would often assume that the political architects of such a populist palace had knocked out a wall or put in new windows. That's the kind of difference a deliberate window treatment can make - it can quietly rewrite the perception of an entire space without altering the bones of your house.
Rewrite Space Perception with Deliberate Treatments
I have always viewed window treatments as an overall consideration, not simply for light blocking. For example, when I chose neutral linen curtains in my Shenzhen apartment, the room suddenly transformed from so-so to warm and lively, and it cost me very little to change the ambiance. The texture softened the hard edges of my furniture, and my late-night product sourcing calls felt more comfortable and less stressful.
At SourcingXpro, I make sure to tell my clients that details matter, whether it's nimble packaging design processes or curtains in a living area. I'm not saying that blinds don't work if you want clean lines; blinds are practical, while curtains add character. The curtains make the room feel whole instead of merely assembled.
Soften Room Edges with Textured Window Treatments
I've always been someone who loves lots of natural light indoors, especially since I have a significant number of indoor plants! As a result, I tend to favor simplicity and a "less is more" approach when it comes to window treatments, as bulkier options can obstruct natural light even when they're open. I think the biggest difference I've noticed is when I switched from traditional slat blinds to pull-down fabric blinds. This change made a huge difference in the amount of natural light coming in, even when the fabric blinds are pulled down. All the rooms in my home where I installed them instantly felt brighter and more open.
