When designing a space, adding curtains often seems like a given. Besides being functional, light-blocking pieces of fabric, these textiles have a way of tying a room together. At the same time, if something tells you your window doesn’t need this finishing touch, you may be right.
To prove my theory, I asked experts when you can forgo hanging drapes — whether it’s for a practical reason, like wanting to bring more natural light into a dark, drab room, or simply not obstructing a pretty outside view. And of course, you can always leave windows totally bare, but the pros also love a good curtain alternative.
Obstructed Windows
Ask yourself: Is there something in the way of my window? If the answer’s yes, maybe curtains aren’t right for this spot. “Drapery works best when it can be mounted above and beyond the window frame and draped all the way to the floor,” says Adam Skalman, vice president of brand experience at The Shade Store. “Windows that have radiators, HVAC units, or other obstructions under the sill are not well-suited to drapery. Additionally, windows and doors that open inward might not be great for drapery due to obstructed operation.”
Magnificent Views and/or Stunning Architecture
Whether you live in a house or high-rise building, don’t let excellent views hide behind curtains. “In our primary bathroom, we have a large double casement window that looks out over the backyard,” says digital creator Lexi Poer of @strollinginthesuburbs. “So, in an effort to not lose the beautiful view, we skipped the curtains so that nature remains the focal point. This window is also within a wall of marble, which is another reason we decided against any window treatments here.”
Lone Windows
Do you only have one window in your kitchen or bathroom? You may want to rethink installing curtains; otherwise, you’ll be preventing what little natural light you do get from coming in. A single window may also require custom curtain dimensions. “Kitchen windows can be a bit of an odd size, which makes finding the right curtains challenging,” says Tom Magill, senior home stylist at Anthropologie. “Instead, I like a simple shade in a textured neutral like bamboo for the kitchen. And, because no one sleeps there, you don’t need to worry about full light coverage.”
Curtain Alternatives
Sleek Shades
If you want a more streamlined aesthetic, curtains might not be what you’re looking for. Consider installing motorized shades that’ll create a fancy, hotel-like statement in your home. “A Roman shade made of fabric will finish the space and give a tailored touch,” says designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard. “This can work especially well in a space that has sliding doors, where the shade can be pulled high enough to allow access but lowered to finish the space and look of the room.”
Go Green
Besides the shades mentioned above, you can lean into the transparency of a window in a more creative manner. Consider cling-on privacy film, which now comes in designs that mimic leaded and stained glass windows in addition to the typical frosted “glass” styles.
Want a “living” solution? “For a bathroom window that needed a bit of privacy, another idea I’ve had is placing glass shelves attached to a wall in front of the window,” Poer says. “Then, I add plants on them to create a greenhouse-like window feature.”
When designing a space, adding
curtains often seems like a given. Besides being functional,
light-blocking pieces of fabric, these textiles have a way of tying a room
together. At the same time, if something tells you your window doesn’t need
this finishing touch, you may be right. To prove my theory, I asked experts
when you can forgo hanging drapes — whether it’s for a practical reason, like
wanting to bring more natural light into a dark, drab room, or simply not
obstructing a pretty outside view. And of course, you can always leave windows
totally bare, but the pros also love a good curtain alternative.Obstructed WindowsAsk yourself: Is there something in the way of my window? If the answer’s
yes, maybe curtains aren’t right for this spot. “Drapery works best when it can
be mounted above and beyond the window frame and draped all the way to the
floor,” says Adam Skalman, vice president of brand experience at The Shade Store. “Windows that have radiators, HVAC
units, or other obstructions under the sill are not well-suited to drapery.
Additionally, windows and doors that open inward might not be great for drapery
due to obstructed operation.”Magnificent Views and/or
Stunning ArchitectureWhether you live in a house or high-rise building, don’t let excellent
views hide behind curtains. “In our primary bathroom, we have a large double
casement window that looks out over the backyard,” says digital creator Lexi Poer of @strollinginthesuburbs. “So, in an effort to not
lose the beautiful view, we skipped the curtains so that nature remains the
focal point. This window is also within a wall of marble, which is another
reason we decided against any window treatments here.” Lone WindowsDo you only have one window in your kitchen or bathroom? You may want to
rethink installing curtains; otherwise, you’ll be preventing what little
natural light you do get from coming in. A single window may also require
custom curtain dimensions. “Kitchen windows can be a bit of an odd size, which
makes finding the right curtains challenging,” says Tom Magill, senior home
stylist at Anthropologie. “Instead, I like a simple shade in a
textured neutral like bamboo for the kitchen. And, because no one sleeps there,
you don’t need to worry about full light coverage.” Curtain AlternativesSleek ShadesIf you want a more streamlined aesthetic, curtains might not be what
you’re looking for. Consider installing motorized shades that’ll create a
fancy, hotel-like statement in your home. “A Roman shade made of fabric will
finish the space and give a tailored touch,” says designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard. “This can work
especially well in a space that has sliding doors, where the shade can be
pulled high enough to allow access but lowered to finish the space and look of
the room.” Go GreenBesides the shades mentioned above, you can lean into the transparency of
a window in a more creative manner. Consider cling-on privacy film, which now
comes in designs that mimic leaded and stained glass windows in addition to the
typical frosted “glass” styles.
Want a “living” solution? “For a bathroom window that needed a bit of privacy,
another idea I’ve had is placing glass shelves attached to a wall in front of
the window,” Poer says. “Then, I add plants on them to create a
greenhouse-like window feature.”
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