Tall and wide windows are one of the attributes of a well-thought-out and balanced interior. If you’ve always dreamed of enjoying superb views and well-lit rooms, then you can’t do without such a solution. An essential advantage of large windows is their availability. If earlier such sizes of translucent structures were more often characteristic of spacious and respectable houses, today even small apartments have big windows.
For all its advantages, large windows require thoughtful design. In some cases, the windows do not even need a decoration at all – first of all, this applies to the so-called panoramic structures, which offer a fantastic view of the garden or surroundings. But if your apartment is on the second or more floor, the windows are visible from all sides, and you need more privacy, then well-chosen curtains become an absolute must-have. That is why it is worth finding out in more detail which curtains will add harmony without forcing you to sacrifice either lighting or the magnificent architecture of your home.
Selection of curtains for a large window: valuable tips
Expansive windows are always spectacular, and by using curtains, you can achieve true exclusiveness. Here are a few secrets and tricks used by decorators and designers – perhaps some of them will come in handy.
Take out the curtain rod outside the window frame
If you have dreamed of large windows for a long time, then you probably want to use their potential to the maximum, without sacrificing an inch of the excellent view that opens from them. In this case, the solution lies on the surface: if you want to decorate the windows with curtains – just install the curtain rod wider than the window frame. In this case, the illumination and the opportunity to admire the landscape will remain, and the curtains will not cover anything unnecessary, except for a part of the wall.
Add brightness
Happy owners of a house or apartment with large windows have every opportunity to turn them into a real art object. Use bright fabrics, spectacular and unusual prints, and the most daring combinations of panels – a large glazing area make any experiments appropriate.
Don’t be afraid of layering
Sometimes two straight panels on either side of the window will not be enough for you. In this case, you can significantly expand the field of experiments with curtains. One of the most popular solutions remains the combination of a denser fabric with a veile or tulle, as well as a combination of materials of different colors – including all with the same transparent textures. Thanks to the windows’ size, any of these solutions will not seem redundant or overload the interior. Also, using different types of textiles within a single-window design will help regulate the level of natural light.
Bay windows zoning
A large bay window looks spectacular and expensive, but it requires a more complex window treatment. In this case, it will not be possible to limit ourselves to just two panels since such a technique will significantly simplify the structure’s appearance. A more logical option would be a visual “breakdown” of the bay window into several parts using several textile cuts. This will not only provide a harmonious look for the dining room or living room but also allow you to control the view from the window and the lighting of the room. In this case, you can choose both traditional curtains and blinds, as well as roller or Roman blinds.
Stealth is not a vice
Large windows are like a coin, which is known to have two sides. On the one hand – the view and illumination, but on the other – the risk of making some aspects of your private life public domain. If you are decorating a room in your house or apartment, not on the uppermost floors of an apartment building, you should consider combining curtains with blinds. This way, you can ensure the privacy you need and keep the interior balanced.
The main “not”: how not to make mistakes when choosing curtains for wide windows
As we said earlier, large windows are an almost endless field for experimenting with curtains. However, this does not mean that you can thoughtlessly use absolutely any curtains you want. Some options may seem ridiculous, overly cumbersome or tedious, or visually distort the room’s proportions. That is why it is essential to avoid solutions that are taboo for tall and wide translucent structures. This is not so difficult since there are only three such prohibitions:
Curtains for large windows: the selection depending on the room
As in any other case, curtains for spacious glazing have a decorative and practical function. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure an impeccable balance of comfort and aesthetics when choosing a window treatment. To achieve this result, designers recommend focusing not only on the size and shape of the window but also on the room’s purpose in which it is located. Based on this, the type, volume, and material for draperies are chosen.
Kitchen
A large window in the kitchen is the dream of housewives who spend a lot of time here. At the same time, it is essential to understand that long curtains are categorically unacceptable in the kitchen – unless, of course, you want to waste extra time washing them. However, you can find many great options without the usual draperies. Airy and elegant Roman blinds, laconic and reliable roller blinds, or practical blinds will provide harmony and the proper level of illumination. You may have to order them for the size of your window, but the result is worth it.
Bedroom
Large windows in the bedroom create a rather romantic atmosphere, but the need to change the lighting depending on the time of day still comes to the fore. To feel comfortable, you can try the following window treatments:
Living room
Big windows in modern living rooms are striking in variety. Panoramic and with classic lathing, rectangular and arched, ordinary and bay windows – depending on the interior style you choose, the windows can differ. As for the selection of curtains, in this case, you have various options available. Let’s dwell on the more popular ones:
Depending on the ideas envisaged by the design project, you can use various decorative solutions – valances, canopies, unusual accessories, as well as a bright print, exquisite pattern, fringe, or embroidery.
Window treatments for large windows: interesting ideas
Big windows are beautiful on their own, but well-chosen decoration can turn them into a spectacular accent – and in some cases, a dominant element. We offer you some fascinating ideas, thanks to which the desire to admire the view from the window will arise more and more often.
Several panels from the same fabric
Who said that there should be no more than two dense panels? There can be three, four, or even more. You can hang them straight, create a beautiful drapery, or simply fasten them together with a stylish tie-back. This design is perfect for windows with complex shapes – and primarily arched and forming an acute angle at the top.
Blinds to the floor
Colored fabric or plastic lamellas reaching the floor are one of the total hits of the season. Their ability to organically fit into interiors in current styles – from modern to loft and hi-tech – has become a real discovery. The undoubted advantage of such window treatment is their practicality and affordability: their custom execution is much cheaper than decorating a large window with fabric curtains.
Straight valance with edging
If you have floor-to-ceiling windows with colored frames, then you can decorate them in a very unusual way. Today decorators use a straight, rigid strip of neutral tone fabric with bold contrasting edging. The same draperies will provide vertical harmony – however, you can do without them altogether.
Curtains on eyelets
Are you satisfied with the large windows in your living room or bedroom, but would you like to make them even larger? It is effortless to achieve this incredible visual effect thanks to the blackout curtains on the eyelets. This very modern and laconic solution will appeal to fans of contemporary interiors who have to spend time looking for a suitable fabric: it must be of very high quality and with an impeccably even texture since the slightest flaw is visible on a flat surface.
Ruffle curtains
Perhaps this solution will seem old-fashioned to you. Still, suppose you prefer the classical style. In that case, you probably know how elegant and even flirty such curtains can look in the bedroom or nursery – and thanks to the impressive size of the window, you can avoid visual disturbance and overload. Choosing the option with frills, stop at plain fabrics and discard any patterns: such decor is entirely self-sufficient and does not require additions.
Curtains for large windows: Conclusions + Photo Gallery
If you can afford large windows in your own home, this is a stroke of real luck in terms of design. You can give your interior absolute exclusivity by not limiting yourself to taking the time you need to select curtains and think over design options.
