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People often overlook window treatments and the impact they can have on a space. In our opinion, they are 100% necessary - at a minimum the room won’t feel finished or complete without them. At most, they can totally transform and elevate your home.
Treatments we use most often include:
Drapery panels (in particular, we love ripple fold, pleated drapery and sheers)
Roman shades (relaxed, flat and cascade)
Woven shades
Solar shades
Cafe curtains
We usually opt for natural fabrics, like linen or linen blends, and high quality hardware such as iron hotel rods with rings or decorative track systems with sliders.
Above is an example of a gorgeous unlined ripplefold panel, installed on a concealed ceiling track, paired with a concealed black-out shade for when this space converts into a guest room!
Design by The Habitat Collective - Photography by Trevo Studios
When we first sat down to write this blog, we realized we could probably publish a book on this topic- and who has the time for that!? Instead we’re sharing our top 20 most helpful tips when it comes to selecting and installing window treatments, the HabCo way.
Design by The Habitat Collective - Photography by Trevo Studios
Another example of ceiling mounted, wall-to-wall ripplefold drapery, which we color-matched to the paintwork! Just imagine this space without the curtains to soften the millwork and hard lines - it would feel so different!
Design by The Habitat Collective, Photography by Jeanne Canto
Okay, without further ado, here are our top tips!
Consider the right fit in terms of aesthetics, light and privacy control, functionality and temperature control for your space. Ask yourself is total privacy necessary? Do you need a room darkening effect or are you looking to filter the natural light? Do you need to regulate your interior temperatures?
If privacy isn't an issue and you're after a more casual airy look, opt for unlined or sheer curtains. If you're looking for a more tailored aesthetic, a lined curtain will offer more structure and weight.
Opt for black out window treatments for the best privacy and/or room darkening effect. A double layer of blackouts - for example, a blackout roman shade with blackout curtains layered over top will block light more effectively, and is a great solution for nurseries and bedrooms that will be used for daytime sleeping.
Consider solar shades if you want to prevent heat build up but still want the light to filter through (solar shades can block up to 99% of UV rays!).
Hang drapery panels high and wide to enhance the feeling of space. We normally aim to hang the rod a couple of inches below the ceiling (if we’re not using a ceiling track) and extend the rod a minimum of 8” past the frame on either side of the window - but sometimes we’ll take up the entire wall either side of a window for added softness! If your ceilings are extra tall, start with placing the rod a min. 12” above the window, and adjust until the space above and below the window looks balanced.
Make sure that when your curtains are open they’re not covering too much glass; we like them to sit so that they’re just covering the window frame, allowing more light into the room and making your windows appear larger. This can be achieved by extending your curtain rods out on either side of your window (see #5!) - and don't forget - the larger the window, the more curtain fabric you'll have, so those rod extensions on either side will need to increase to accommodate!
Do layer window treatments, and consider using a combination of linings (blackout/standard/unlined). This will give you more control when it comes to light and privacy, adding a richer more layered feeling to the space.
In this nursery, we layered flat panel linen drapery on hotel rods with woven wood shades - both black out for best chance of sleep!
Design by The Habitat Collective, Photography by Jeanne Canto
Don't be scared to play with textures, colors and patterns. We often like to layer two different fabrics or textures with Roman shades and drapery panels.
Always take the curtains to the floor. We like the fabric to just "kiss the floor"! The same goes for cafe curtains on a window sill.
If it’s not possible to take the curtains to the floor or there’s some kind of obstruction, opt for a different treatment, like a Roman shade or cafe curtain instead.
In this kitchen, we installed a cafe curtain to obscure the view of the neighbor's house, while allowing you to catch a glimpse of the sky and let plenty of light in.
Design by The Habitat Collective, Photography by Trevo Studios
Consider what your window treatments will look like from the outside. The same treatments and/or liners will help with a consistent look from the exterior.
Consider a Roman shade or one-way draw panel if your window is off center or in the corner of a room.
Above is a beautiful example of a one-way draw; we just didn't have enough wall space with the bedframe in place but still wanted to add so softness and elegance with drapery. We went with black-out lining on the panels, hung on hotel rods which curve around and help to prevent light leak!
Design by The Habitat Collective - Photography by Christine Michelle Photography
Don’t use grommet panels- let's be honest - they look like shower curtains, and there are much prettier options!
Don’t forget about the correct support - is your window very wide? If so, you’ll need to consider center brackets to prevent your rod from bowing. If your rod requires multiple brackets, you may want to consider a track system (which can look like a rod but the brackets won't get in the way of the sliders - or closing your curtains!). If you prefer the look of a rod and rings, you'll need to look for bypass or c-rings that can slide over your brackets.
We needed plenty of support for this heavy drapery so went with a track system. We also layered in a motorized roman shade for privacy at the touch of a button in the evenings. Motorization is a great option for hard to reach or large/heavy window treatments!
Design by The Habitat Collective - Photography by Trevo Studios
Unless the style or history of your home calls for it, we recommend avoiding plantation shutters, as they can be quite bulky and tend to block a lot of light, even when the slats are open. If you must go with shutters, opt for painted wood so they can be updated if/when the paint colors in your home change.
Don’t scrimp on fabric/panel width - curtains should look full, even when closed. Make sure your panels have a combined width of at least double the window width.
Opt for inside mount rather than outside mount roman shades, if possible, for a more tailored look.
When selecting hardware, opt for something high quality with a classic look and finish that allows your beautiful drapery to shine. For this reason, we also recommend avoiding highly decorative or contrasting finials, as these can be a bit distracting and tend to date quickly.
Remember to take into account the weight and material for stretching/dropping, which can add length and cause curtains to puddle.
Do steam, train, and style your curtains once they’re installed for a finished look!
Above we used wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling ripple fold sheers. They add so much softness and elegance to the space, provide privacy from the neighbors and still let plenty of natural light filter through!
Design by The Habitat Collective, Photography by Jeanne Canto
Let us know in if you have any specific window treatment questions in the comments and we'll do our best to get back to you!
The HabCo team x
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