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.
Curtains should complement the furnishings in the room
The colour of your curtains should ideally be in sync with the rest of the furnishings. You could either choose drapes that harmonise with the decor or contrast with it. For a pleasing look, choose drapes in a colour that complement the shade of your walls.
Thick curtains and dark curtains are known for making a regular room look slightly smaller, while sheer curtains made of lightly-colored fabrics are ideal for helping to visually expand a room's size.
But really, any white curtains will give you a similar effect. You can even choose to go with a light grey, or beige color – any curtains that are light and neutral will let plenty of light through.
Pick a Curtain with Colors that Match
Select a color that has a slightly darker or lighter tone than your walls. But, if you are planning to use contrasting colors, then you need to pick an accent color from the room. It can either be a shade from your rug or the color of your couch or throw pillows.
It is always a good idea to match your curtain color with home decor pieces. A double layer of one sheer and one blackout is a classic and functional choice. If you are looking for minimal and modern style, pick a color that is close to you wall color or a slightly darker 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).
So, what colors make a room look bigger? For an optimum effect, go with soft tones like off-white, blues, and greens, and always remember that brighter rooms feel bigger and more inviting. And here's another hack: Try painting your wall trim and moldings in a lighter color than your walls.
1. Making Your Room Look Larger or Smaller with Curtains. The length of your curtain, the stripe pattern, and the style affect the height illusion. It's best for a small room with a low ceiling to hang the curtains close to the ceiling and let them run the entire length to the floor.
"Extending your draperies from floor to ceiling and from wall to wall surrounding your window makes them appear bigger," explains Francesco Bilotto.
Big floral patterns make a room appear larger. Install wallpaper with horizontal stripes to make a room seem wider, or commit to vertical stripes to stretch the room visually and raise the ceiling. A busy pattern featuring chevrons, simple geometric designs, or a texture that mimics marble can make a room seem bigger.
It is normal for curtains to touch the floor. Some styles even need more length to produce a certain look. Using any of the curtain length styles is fine as long as it enhances the beauty of your home.
What colour should bedroom curtains be and should they be lighter or darker than the walls? It is a good idea to consider soothing and peaceful colours such as green, blue or pink in a bedroom. These colours are all known for their soothing and calming qualities.
Naturally, white is an obvious choice for making a room feel bigger. It's no secret that light colors make a room look larger, especially if the space is bathed in natural light. Eggshell or satin finishes will help reflect the light, creating the appearance of even more space.
It's a misconception that dark walls shrink a room. Dark wall colors do not make a room look small just like a light color will not cause the room to look any larger. Dark wall colors tend to recede.
Blackout curtains can trap heat in during the winter and keep light and heat out during the summer. 10-25% of thermal energy loss goes out the windows. Blackout curtains can curtail this loss by a 25%, reducing your utility bills and greenhouse gases. How Much Do Blackout Curtains Cost and Where Can I Get Them?
Blackout curtains and shades will reduce the amount of heat which is transferred via your windows by as much as 24 percent, keeping the rooms where they're installed cooler in summer and warmer in winter. This will allow you to use your heating and cooling system more efficiently and save energy.
Remove Curtains With Dark, Heavy Fabrics
Curtains made from heavy dark fabrics will make your room feel drab and dark. Replace them with sheers! Sheer drapes will let natural light diffuse for the room and will visually lighten the space too! If you don't like sheers add drapes made from light colored cotton or linen.
Sheers are a must in 2020
Not only do sheer curtains look elegant but they also offer a light breezy feel and are perfect for living rooms, bedrooms and kitchen windows. Curtains crafted of sheer fabric can be used separately or behind heavier drapes for an appealing view.
Consistency is key in good interior design, and mixing and matching different styles of drapery in one room shouldn't be done without good reason. “Generally, if all the windows are the same size,” Jacobson advises, “I would recommend the same style window treatment throughout.”