Black curtains look better in spacious rooms while white curtains are suitable for both big and smaller spaces. White curtains also make the room cooler than black curtains, but the thickness of the fabric still needs to be considered.
Light coloured curtains are good for rooms that get a lot of direct sunlight as they're less prone to fading from the sun. Dark and bright colours tend to fade faster. Good summer options as a white/lighter colour is more likely to bounce the sun's rays away keeping rooms cooler.
The curtain colors you choose can have a dramatic effect on your environment and your mood. Warm colors like reds, oranges and golds tend to feel inviting. Cool colors like blues and greens incite relaxation. Stark colors like black, white and gray are refreshing to some, but unsightly to others.
White or light coloured curtains and blinds are better at reflecting heat and light away from your home. If you have thick, dark curtains, closing them will only trap heat in the room.
Opting for a curtain color that is lighter than the color of your walls can help to open and uplift a space. Of course, this can depend on your chosen paint ideas for the wall, but a lighter color can be a great option for windows in small rooms that lack a lot of natural light, or for walls painted in a dark shade.
Dark curtain benefits
Strike a balance between relaxing and romantic. Dark curtains lend a sense of drama, contrast and elegance to a room and, when used right, can be very inviting. Dark curtains don't show dirt and dust like light coloured curtains will so a good choice for high traffic areas (if the size is right).
Go with lighter curtains
Heavy curtains make the room feel dark when you want to lighten the room to make it feel brighter. Focus on the lighter curtain colors as well. A warm yellow or soft blue can help turn any room airier. You want your curtains to help spread light in your room while adding privacy.
Brighten A Room With Window Treatments
I usually decorate with light colored curtains because I love the way that light pours through – it creates a prefect a soft glow and really brightens up the whole room. My favorite curtains for general living spaces are these simple white cotton curtains from Amazon.
Over time white curtains can become dulled, even looking grey after years. Dirt, dust, steam, and smoke all discolour the once pristine finish.
White curtains and sheers will help keep the room feeling light and airy. Be forewarned that heavy and dark drapes will absorb some of your light, so keep them light and airy!
Which color curtains go with everything? Neutral curtains in tones such as beige, taupe and gray, as well as white and nearby shades such as ivory and cream can be the go-with-everything choice.
Keep it Cozy
A warm beige or taupe curtain is a great way to add warmth to your living space. Keep the rest of your furniture light and airy and let the curtains add a moody element to your room.
'Cool colors, green, blue, and purple, are calming so they work best for bedrooms.
The greatest benefit of using blackout curtains is they'll block light better than any other curtain. Other benefits of blackout curtains include: Blackout curtains improve energy efficiency by helping to insulate a room. Blackout curtains are thick, so they also help soften outside noise.
Living rooms and family rooms with double-height or two story windows, luxurious bedrooms and formal dining rooms are all a perfect area for black drapes. If you happen to have an open floor plan home, the black curtains can delineate spaces while creating a unique backdrop to separate areas.
Blackout curtains are fabric drapes or shades that cover your windows. They block out sunlight and artificial light from passing cars, streetlights, and other sources. These shades can provide an extra layer of protection over blinds, which tend to have gaps that allow light to leak through.
The easiest way to give your living room an airy, bright look is with sheer or semi-sheer white curtains. The breezy treatment can even help soften the line between the indoors and outdoors, as it does in this space decorated by David Mann.
The color white reflects light rather than absorbing it, as other shades do. Choose a white curtain, and you'll instantly see it can instantly make a room feel larger by bouncing light around the space. White curtains are also easy to maintain.
The colors are not altered (the light received by the room is nuanced without coloring it). But using curtains in white, neutral tones or soft earths is a trick that works to make the room bigger, visually enlarges it because it does not saturate and lets everything fill with light.
Darker colours can be overwhelming in a small room and make it appear even smaller. Planning your interior design theme based on dark colours can be tricky as even the slightest mistake in the design gets highlighted. Drapes should be complementary to the wall colour for the best results.
Try to avoid curtains with heavily coloured horizontal patterns or large floral prints as these can dominate a room and make the space seem more cluttered. Instead, opt for light, airy designs and always hang them high.
It is important to consider the right paint finishes when choosing colors to make a small room look bigger as Helen Shaw, director of Benjamin Moore highlights. 'Lighter paint colors like off-whites, light neutrals, pales, and pastels give the illusion of larger, brighter rooms.
Heavy treatments or dark-colored curtains block out light and make a space feel smaller. Ideally, opt for curtains that are as light and airy as possible. To do this, remove any heavy window treatments and choose light colors such as white, linen, or soft tan.
Floor-Length Curtains
Floor-length curtains run from the top of the windows to 1/2" above the floor. They do not touch the floor, which protects them from dirt. Since they hang perfectly straight, they create a polished, uniform, and elegant appearance and increase the height of your walls.
If your sofa is dark, match the curtains with another dark colour to keep the room feeling cosy, or choose a lighter shade to brighten it up. Similarly, if your sofa is light, choose a light colour for your curtains to keep that airy feeling, or a darker colour – perhaps in the same shade – to add some contrast.