Some people tend toward stark and modern, while others prefer bohemian, colorful and eclectic. The sky is the limit when it comes to your window coverings. If you're asking whether all of your indoor window coverings should match, the short answer is no; they don't have to.
Of course, matching curtains in the same room is a given. But what about adjoining rooms such as living and dining rooms or kitchens and dens? While you should not have drastic color or style changes, subtle differences in fabric, texture, and tone are perfectly fine when mixing window treatments in different rooms.
Overall, you should be looking to have a coordinated curtain and wall color combination, helping to add texture and help make your curtains look expensive and stand out, but not matching, unless a coordinated room is the look you want to achieve.
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.
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.”
So, are there any set rules on whether your curtains should be lighter or darker than the walls? Ultimately, experts agree that your curtains can be whatever color you want them to be, it completely depends on the style, mood and function of the room you're decorating.
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.
As a general rule of thumb, curtain width should be two to two-and-a-half times the width of the window.
A general rule of thumb is for curtains & walls to be one shade lighter or darker than each other, or be a complimentary colour to each other. Although light or dark curtains can influence the mood of a room, provided they match the colour, hues & shade of the walls, it will be a good choice.
You don't need to stress over matching your curtains exactly to your walls, sofa, or carpet. In fact, using a different color can actually add visual interest to the room, breaking up the walls so that the curtains don't “disappear.”
Mirror your wall color
Whether you embraced dark or light paint ideas, choosing curtains that match your wall color will blend both elements together as one, and work to establish a more calming and restful atmosphere where there are fewer visual disruptions.
Now how do you select the curtain colour? You can opt for a pleasing look by going for drapes in a colour that complements the shade of your walls. Alternatively, if you want the curtain design to be the focus, pick a hue that contrasts with the furniture and walls.
While you don't want every room to look the same, Baker notes that consistency is important for a home to feel cohesive. “We like to use similar window treatments throughout the home, playing them up or down depending on the room,” she explains.
But you can also feel free to take cues from surrounding furniture, Demin says. "Select [curtains] based on the complementary color, meaning the opposite color of the main piece of furniture in the room." Peltier appreciates white linen curtains when designing modern, clean-looking spaces.
A surprising trend we're seeing in the decor world is mismatched curtains. Don't let the word “mismatched” scare you off! A tasteful look can be achieved with strategically contrasting patterns.
There's definitely no rule that says you should have the same color curtains in every room. Instead, plan to hang curtains that complement the room's style as well as fulfill the need to regulate light and create privacy as each space demands.
Dark coloured curtains work very well in spacious interiors or high-ceilinged rooms to visually shrink the space and give it a cozier vibe. Use them to anchor the space without overwhelming the setting; repeat the colour of the curtains somewhere else in the room so they don't look out of place.
Making Your Room Look Larger or Smaller with Curtains
High-hanging curtains with long vertical stripes create the illusion of height, which is excellent for low ceilings. However, short curtains and horizontal stripes shorten your wall height and make the room appear smaller.
Cons: The disadvantages of white curtains, on the other hand, is that its colour is hard to maintain over time. The colour can fade and turn darker, especially when the colour is not maintained. The dirt in the curtain is also visibly seen, and they get dirty quickly, which is why they need to be cleaned regularly.
Upgrade basic panels by adding thicker, more substantial hardware to your window treatments. The larger your room, and the longer (read: heavier) your curtains, the more over-sized your hardware should be. For a more textured, eye-catching look, opt for pieces with a metallic finish.
As for a general rule, floor length or just a little above it is the preferred look. Maggie Griffin, founder and principal designer of Maggie Griffin Design, recommends, 'The drapery panels should skim the floor. '
The answer isn't necessarily intuitive, especially since most windows in a home don't extend all the way to the ground, but more often than not, curtains and drapes look best when they reach the floor.
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.
Curtains don't necessarily have to match sofas, but they must blend in or contrast beautifully. The overall style of your space dictates the color scheme, guided by the color wheel. Style, pattern, and throw pillows also come into play when choosing curtains.
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.