Pairing Curtains and Blinds
April 21, 2022
Pairing Curtains and Blinds
How you dress your windows has a huge impact both on the style of your room, and on how much light and privacy you have in that room. Each type of window dressing comes with its pros and cons, and people often find themselves trying to decide between curtains, with their aesthetic value and flexibility, or blinds, with their greater control over privacy and light levels. Why not get the best of both worlds by pairing curtains and blinds? This may seem like a larger expense up front, but at the end of the day, you will have a stylish and well-finished room while also being able to easily manage light levels and privacy in your home.
If you are open to pairing curtains with blinds, the opportunities to customize your décor are almost endless. If you want to have both privacy and natural light in your bedroom, you might want sheer curtains, but pairing those curtains with blackout blinds or roller blinds can help you manage light levels and sleep better. Conversely, if you live in a cold climate, you might want heavy curtains for insulation, and pairing these with a slatted or Venetian blind can allow you privacy even if you want the curtains open for more natural light.
Tips and Tricks for Pairing Curtains and Blinds
- Consider your needs and environment
What is the room used for, and how can window dressings help improve it? If the window faces onto a busy street, you may want to prioritize privacy when choosing your window treatments. If the room is a bedroom, consider how much control over light levels you want. In a very warm or very cold climate, consider how curtains and blinds can help insulate a room and keep the heat in – or out!
- Look at each room individually
Different rooms may have different purposes and also different decorative touches. Choose window treatments that complement the aesthetic of each room, rather than bulk-buying the same dressing for every window in the house and trying to make them fit.
- Choose blinds first, then curtains
Decide which blind best suits the room and then pair a curtain with it – both in fabric/construction and in aesthetic. Make sure patterns and colours complement each other.
- Hang with care
Make sure the height and size of the curtains and blinds in every window in a room are hung consistently. Also, hanging your curtains “high and wide” – with the curtain rod near the ceiling and the curtain hanging close to or touching the floor – creates the illusion of a more expansive space.
Pairing curtains and blinds allows you to maximize your decorative impact while also fulfilling the practical needs of the space. The possibilities are almost endless!