Dress your windows up to the nines with some guidance on curtains and blinds.

Window dressing is a brilliant way to add some colour, texture and pattern to your room without going too overboard. Whether you need a light blocking blind or a pair of curtains to add some warmth and softness to the space, there are so many options out there that it can be a little overwhelming. Here are some tips to get your window dressing spot on.

Pairing shutters and fabric curtains is a great idea, providing privacy and the ability to darken the room. Voiles look lovely teamed with shutters, they soften the look. 

Pick voile curtains also if you want to add some softness but still want lots of light coming in. Think about this especially in a North facing room which will have minimal light coming in.

Always go for floor length curtains, never short. They just look so much more luxurious, so it’s worth spending extra on more fabric. You ideally want the curtains to run beyond the edge of the window, so that when open, they don’t block the edges of the window. But remember that this will mean they will eat into floor space. Any furniture sitting in front cannot be positioned right against the wall, but must sit at least 30cm away from it to allow the curtains to drape.

Roman blinds are a great way to add some colour and pattern to the room, whilst looking neat and clean. They tend to have a panel of fabric at the top which can obscure the light, but if fitted above and outside of the window recess, you can avoid this, so don’t forget to consider the positioning when measuring up.

Roller blinds are good for a very discreet, minimalist look, as they roll tight up and can be fitted neatly into the recess.

If you’re looking for a shutter effect, venetian blinds are an inexpensive way to get the look and the wooden ones can look really smart. 

Shutters are lovely if you’re going for a more architectural style, and can be made to look as if they have always been part of the house. With shutters, you can adjust each of the panels individually to let more or less light come into your home, or for privacy. You can also throw shutters wide open to really maximise the light.