We often get asked the question 'do curtains and blinds work together? ' The answer is, for the most part, 'yes' – when paired, the two can bring out a flexible décor and ensure adequate blocking of light and privacy control.
And pairing the two is a great way to make a surprising statement in your space—while giving yourself plenty of control over ambiance and lighting. “Drapes and [blinds] together give you the ability to dramatically control the amount of light that comes into a space,” Torossian says.
These curtain fabrics allow natural light to filter into the room, helping you create a brighter atmosphere while maintaining a modest degree of privacy. The beauty of layering blinds and curtains together is that you can have both styles. You can use a blackout blind and pair it with a sheer curtain.
Here's the thing - you don't have to just choose one or the other when it comes to curtains, blinds, venetians and shutters. Plenty of homeowners are discovering the benefits that come from using dual products or layering in order to achieve the desired result in each room.
Layering two treatments really amps up your room's style by providing texture, depth, and visual interest. Many homeowners keep their curtains stationary and just use the blinds to allow light into the room. Others like the double layer of insulation and light blocking for sleeping and movie watching.
There's no right or wrong here, and the answer usually comes down to personal choice. If you prefer the appearance of curtains, that's probably the best choice for you; that said, there are some functions and finishes that can only be achieved with blinds for the bedroom, which is worth bearing in mind as well.
Can you have different window treatments in the same room? Yes, you can, but it should be noted that if windows are right next to each other on the same wall, you're better off matching the two of them and choosing a different window treatment for windows on adjacent walls or separated in some way.
How Wide Should Curtains Be? To ensure that panels look ample and drapey when closed, they should have a combined width that is 2 to 2½ times the width of the window. Exceptions: If you're hanging curtains just to frame a window and don't intend to shut them, you can round down to 1½ times the width.
The short answer is: it depends! We recommend sticking to a common element in terms of color, fabric, or style. For example, if you want some blinds and some shutters, you could use the same color wood. For homes with varying styles in each room, you may want to focus on cohesion on a room-by-room basis instead.
So, in answer to your question; yes, different window treatments in the same room can look fantastic!
"Blinds offer the most light control with a variety of tilting options. Blinds or shades can be paired with drapery to enhance windows in any part of the home." While each type of window treatment has its own unique set of characteristics, all of them can be used to transform any room.
To do so, let one of your layers be the main focal point and let the other layer fade into the background. You might go with a bolder color or pattern for the outer layer curtains, so then consider a neutral color of blinds, shades, or shutters for the inner layer. Voila!
Full-length curtains are best suited for spacious rooms while blinds are a better option for compact spaces and other moisture-laden areas like the bathroom and kitchen. Note that if there are any furniture pieces like a bed, or a sofa below the window then it is advisable to go for window blinds.
A Day & Night blind fitted inside of the window recess means it can be partnered with curtains. This is an outstanding combination for spaces around the home be it the living room, dining room or bedroom.
While window treatments can help to add value to your home, there are some cases when the opposite holds true. If the blinds or shutters are outdated or in disrepair, that may end up lowering the value. Likewise, inexpensive plastic blinds purchased at hardware or home goods stores won't add anything to your home.
Using blinds will almost always make a room look bigger than it would do with curtains, both because curtains protrude into the room more and have a fussier appearance than blinds, and they generally cover more of the walls around the window too.
Matching Colours
If you're asking whether all your blinds and curtains should match colour, you can answer yes, but only if that's what you prefer. We recommend choosing achromatic colours, such as white, grey and black. These colours will match any colour room if you choose the right shade to match your paint.
Blinds can be lighter or darker than your walls, but there are a few things to keep in mind before choosing a color. To ensure that everything blends well together, the blinds and walls should be at least one shade lighter or darker than each other, but most importantly, they should also be a similar tone.
I often choose a color that will work with either the trim or the wall color if the trim is similar. To me, wood blinds are less a statement on their own but a functional part of your house. And since most blinds fit inside the trim, they generally should match or be slightly darker than the trim.
Designers tend to agree that curtains that don't touch the floor are less common in contemporary homes. However, interior designer, Sarah Montgomery, explains: 'You can float the curtains up to 1" off of the floor, and this will give the illusion that they go to the floor,' Sarah says.
The Solution
The best way to make a window appear taller and block the light from the arch is simple: outside-mount blackout shades. To help disguise the off-center position and make the window look wider, tall and wide curtains are the way to go.
Short curtains and drapes are not ideal, and most often you don't want curtains that hang more than an inch above the ground. Too short curtains can not only look outdated, but they can also sometimes make the ceiling look lower.
By utilizing floor length, thicker curtains, you can give the illusion that the window space is bigger than it actually is. ' Louise Wicksteed, Design Director of Sims Hilditch agrees, 'Floor-length curtains frame a window beautifully and lead the eye downward, helping a window to appear larger.
Your window treatments don't have to match perfectly. You can choose to pair different styles, colors, and textures, but you want to carefully consider these before you make any decision. The biggest deciding factor is not whether your window treatments match, but what use you're looking for in your window treatments.
The type of windows that are in your home right now give you a good starting point in the window replacement process. But they don't have to box you into a certain style or design. The only things your windows have to match are the unique needs of your home and everyone living in it.