Final month, I did a cheat sheet window coverings publish, and there have been so many feedback requesting for me to go deeper and extra particular, so we determined to open it as much as the plenty as a Repair It Friday subject. And also you all delivered! We obtained some actually nice submissions, some that have been tremendous difficult, and many who gave the impression to be widespread ache factors. I attempted to tug out what felt probably the most common (or the most effective of the bunch of a sure sort of downside I saved seeing within the e-mail submissions), and provide up how I might go about it.

There are some things I wish to convey about curtains, first, although: the choices can really feel infinite as a result of they’re. On the planet of customized draperies, particular person options are cooked up for each window/room that most accurately fits the design + window sort + window want. There are wonderful firms devoted to entire residence material plans (like our mates at Decorview!). However as a result of I wished this publish to be a bit extra approachable, nearly all of the window coverings I prompt are ready-made (or customizable by way of dimensions wanted).

Additionally, needless to say there are a lot of methods to slice this cake, that means, I’ll provide up an thought and I might have accomplished it three different methods (and anybody studying may also have one other approach to deal with the window). A lot of that is desire, although there are methods that work higher than others relying on what you’re after. To not point out the course that your window faces. This could enormously affect the quantity of sunshine you get in a room, so let’s go over that shortly to ascertain the overall guidelines:

• East-facing home windows: Vibrant, direct daylight within the mornings
• West-facing home windows: Vibrant, direct daylight within the afternoons/evenings
• North-facing home windows: Virtually no direct daylight, decrease gentle circumstances (however retains rooms cooler in the summertime)
• South-facing home windows: Daylight all day (and may be highly regarded in the summertime)

Now that we’ve got that established, I’m going to reshare a graphic from my unique curtains publish (see that right here) as I feel it could be useful to everybody studying:

As is widespread with these Repair It Friday posts, we obtained dozens and dozens of submissions and belief me once I inform you I want I might have shared all of them. But when there’s curiosity, I might see myself doing no less than two extra posts on the topic, masking extra particular conditions like home windows in a nook and transoms, in addition to an entire publish on home windows with obstructions (A/C models, pipes, tough ceiling slants, and so on.).

Earlier than diving into reader houses, let’s discover some EHD rooms with stable window coverings to whet our palates.

Caitlin’s front room is a good instance of two issues: layered material since she used each panels and shades, in addition to treating two side-by-side home windows as one. Usually, when home windows exist inside the identical paneling encompass and casing, it’s finest to simply go forward and deal with them as one, which might seem like one lengthy material rod with curtain panels, or one massive pull-down shade or Roman. If home windows exist housed in their very own particular person casing, you’ll be able to nonetheless deal with them as a single unit (preserve studying for an instance of this from a reader!), or put up a number of window coverings relying on how distant they’re from one another, and the way busy of a glance the room can deal with.

I wished to point out you one other instance of side-by-side home windows, besides this time, they’re totally different shapes and sizes. I’ve seen any such factor in mates’ houses and it paralyzes them. They suppose they should cowl each home windows individually, after which don’t know the way to accomplish that. However actually, if they’re shut sufficient to one another (say, lower than 12 inches or so), simply deal with them as one with both a shade hung on the peak acceptable for the best window in the event that they aren’t degree on the prime, or with material panels (although a shade is my desire).

Talking of a number of home windows, I feel it’s pretty widespread to suppose that each one the home windows in a given room must have the identical therapy, however they don’t have to. A great rule of thumb is that if the form and dimension of the window adjustments, you’ll be able to change up the window masking. Take the lounge above, for instance. The massive span of home windows behind the sofa would have been too massive for shades, so draperies have been the most suitable choice there. However as a result of there are additionally panels on the perpendicular wall (you’ll be able to see a sliver of them to the left of the photograph), having them on the TV wall would have been extremely overwhelming. SO MUCH FABRIC. The smaller, narrower home windows flanking the media middle labored finest with Roman shades. (You possibly can choose the identical colour as your drapes or do one thing totally different with a sample, too!).

Simply one other fast instance of a mixture of material panels and Roman shades in Em’s outdated LA front room. Ensure in case you’re putting in Roman shades above a window that opens in a casement fashion that when absolutely nested, they clear the highest of the window so you don’t have any points working the window. The identical goes for panels masking French doorways. You’ll need to set up the rod vast sufficient that each one the panels can gather absolutely to the correct and left of the doorways and there’s no cloth in entrance when it is advisable to open them.

Another excuse you’d need to set up a Roman shade absolutely above a window is to stop any gentle from being blocked. When you have a full-sun scenario, that is much less of a consideration, however for anybody involved with blocking even a small proportion of treasured daylight, that is how you’ll need to cling your shades.

Welcome to my new favourite material sort: the ripple fold. These are held on a observe system put in both on the ceiling or on the wall. There isn’t a middle assist on the material rod which implies you’ll be able to transfer your panels absolutely left and proper with out having a mid-way stopping level. They give the impression of being so clear and trim, and work finest in contemporary-style rooms, particularly when you’ve got a really massive span of home windows or doorways to cowl (or perhaps a full left-to-right, floor-to-ceiling wall).

And lastly, one other instance of one thing somebody with out skilled expertise may overthink: home windows of various sizes hung at totally different heights in the identical (small) room. My recommendation could be to go together with a easy shade fashion both inside or exterior mounted (relying on the sill depth) just like the workplace within the Portland challenge.

Now that I’ve coated among the inspiration posts which are straight associated to the wants of our readers at the moment, let’s take a look at particular bother spots and the way I might remedy the design conundrum.

When Three Change into One

From the reader: “I’ve struggled with what to do for the window remedies on this room. It undoubtedly wants one thing to ‘end’ the room however I haven’t been in a position to determine what that ought to be. Would LOVE some assist!”

Let’s begin with one thing fairly easy right here. The reader submitted their eating room as a result of they’re on the lookout for some polish to the house however don’t know the way to strategy this trio of home windows. They’ve a couple of choices: blinds, shades, curtains. Since they requested for a “end” to the room, blinds would simply be practical to supply privateness. And whereas I’m not saying don’t add blinds, it actually doesn’t seem like the window is deep sufficient for them. They might set up blinds on the prime of the home windows to go in entrance of the casing, and the identical goes for shades. BUT…

My opinion is that they go together with panels for a extra ornamental look. Plus, three cloth shades really feel like it will be so much for the attention, particularly as a result of there are 10 chairs, a heavy chandelier, and a shelving unit packed stuffed with bar goodies.

I feel they need to go together with an oil-rubbed bronze or black steel material rod to match the opposite metals within the room, and cling it excessive and vast atop all three home windows (a couple of inches under the crown molding ought to suffice). For a scenario like this, be sure that you should have sufficient panels that whenever you shut them, there’s a good quantity of motion within the cloth and so they aren’t simply flush straight throughout. A great rule of thumb is to calculate the width of your window, then multiply it by 2 or 2.5 to get the material width wanted to look full slightly than skimpy. I don’t know these measurements right here, however my guess is that 4-6 panels ought to do the trick (so when the curtains are open, they find yourself with both 2 or 3 panels on all sides of the window grouping). IMHO, 6 panels right here would really feel the richest, particularly in the event that they go for a thinner, lighter cloth comparable to linen.

As for what panels, sufficient is happening on this room {that a} principally stable possibility could be finest. This room will get good smooth gentle, which might be stunning by way of some white or cream linen sheers. I additionally suppose a grayish-blue linen panel would work properly with the artwork and rug in the event that they wished so as to add in some extra colour right here, and for a bit of sample and heat, I like the beige grid pinstripe panels.

Left: Sheer European Flax Linen Curtain | Center: TwoPages Doublewide Pinch Pleat Fake Linen Drapes | Proper: Double Pinstripe Grid Window Curtain Panel

Divide & Conquer That Solar

From the reader: “The wall with two home windows faces north, and there’s a coated porch, after which our avenue. The one window faces west. This association has the next consequence: the room is kind of darkish, besides throughout meal time within the late spring and early winter when everybody on the desk will get concurrently roasted and blinded by the setting solar. Ahhh! In consequence, we’ve left a crucial however boring picket blind on the west window, however eliminated them from the north aspect. The home is from the early twentieth century and we’re not afraid of colour or sample. I’ve thought of Roman blinds for the west-facing window, however don’t need to lose gentle on the north ones, however gosh they need to all be the identical, proper?”

“…ought to all be the identical, proper?” Nope! Free your self, pricey readers, of this false impression. In case your home windows on totally different partitions have totally different features, you completely can go for blended window coverings. On this home, because the two home windows on the north wall doubtless don’t let in a lot gentle, I feel the most effective transfer is to do an extended material rod with curtain panels for some added sample and drama. To verify not an oz of sunshine is misplaced, they need to cling the rod vast sufficient so the panels can absolutely relaxation on the surface of the window. I feel one panel to the left and proper and two in the course of the home windows would work nice. In the event that they’re on the lookout for privateness in the course of the day, they’ll additionally add in some light-filtering interior-mounted Roman shades.

Talking of Roman shades, let’s add one to the window on the left; you realize, the one which roasts and blinds the diners in right here each night. As a result of the reader loves colour and sample, I feel this window masking ought to be contrasting to no matter panels they select (i.e., not the identical cloth).

As for whether or not to mount it inside or exterior, that each one relies upon. If they’re including Romans to the north home windows and mounting these on the within, then this window also needs to be inside mounted. If they’re simply going to do draperies and skipping the shades, I’d mount the Roman right here on the surface of the window so the peak of it matches the curtains.

I picked three groupings of prospects under. I’m obsessive about these RHODE curtains from West Elm and suppose they’d be stunning on this room with these emerald-green partitions. I feel they’d play properly with a light-colored woven Roman shade. A second possibility could be a enjoyable addition to the butterfly-wrapped eating chair seats with a playful botanical that may complement the wall with out feeling overly heavy (although on this case, I would think about swapping rugs for one thing that may coordinate higher). I’m equally obsessive about Everhem’s new Heather Taylor Residence assortment and suppose a candy gingham Roman shade is a good distinction to the floral curtains. And at last, one thing a bit extra elegant and upscale: going with a colour block strategy right here with deep inexperienced velvet drapes for the north-facing home windows which might add extra texture and lusciousness to the room. A drapey Roman in a crisp white matches the vibe.

High Left: Premier Fashionable Pure Wooden Shades | High Center: Everhem x Heather Taylor Residence Customized Roman Shade in Cream | High Proper: Calm down Roman Shade | Backside Left: RHODE Batik Scallop Edge Curtain (Set of two) | Backside Center: Priyanka Curtain | Backside Proper: Darkish Inexperienced Natural Cotton Velvet Curtain Panel

Go All of the Means In (& Throughout)

From the reader: “We’ve obtained a curtain scenario in our front room. I don’t know if the brand new window entrance in our residence is correct for it (one image window, the opposite sliding door). And there’s the issue of the ceiling, I wouldn’t even know the way to mount the rod (on the window body? two rods on both aspect of the transecting?). We’ve all the time been sheer curtain individuals, and I like the additional privateness, heat and scrumptious homey feeling of sunshine curtains catching the sunshine and flapping within the open-window-breeze. Are you able to perhaps assist?”

YES!!! I hoped for a chance to counsel a full wall of superb ripple fold drapes and THIS IS IT. However first issues first, I’m full-body jealous of this beautiful front room and that beautiful view. Are you kidding?!? The fashion of this house is ripe for one thing fashionable and light-weight but dramatic. I do know the reader talked about not realizing the place to hold issues, contemplating the ceiling wouldn’t enable for something ceiling-mounted. My suggestion is to maneuver the 2 globe lights on the left and proper of the sliding door/window combo, transfer the oil portray from the left aspect to elsewhere within the room (perhaps to the correct of the hearth if room permits), and simply go all in with beautiful sheers. Grasp them on a observe system *simply* under the ceiling beams on the wall, and go all the way in which throughout…don’t simply cowl the window. The house to the left of the image window could be an ideal spot to gather all of the drapes when it’s open.

That is doubtless the job for a customized possibility, which may be fairly expensive. With observe methods, you need to ensure you’re shopping for one thing high quality in case you can, so it’s safe and clean. And with a wall this huge, you need to be sure that all of the curtains are hemmed to precisely the identical size, or else it should look sloppy. A customized producer would be capable to pull this off fantastically, although count on to pay a couple of thousand for it.

If that’s not an possibility, I discovered a extra inexpensive model (within the middle under). It will get the job accomplished visually and nonetheless permits for some customization by way of dimension so the reader can get the measurements excellent.

Left: Customized Ripple Fold Sheer Material | Center: Custom-made Ripple Fold Linen-Like Sheer Curtains | Proper: Wave Fold Customized Drapes

They’re Cousins, Not Twins

From the reader: “We’ve had the mini blinds practically 20 years and so they present some put on, but additionally let all of the morning gentle in (too early!). I preserve waffling between Roman shades and curtains. Home windows are usually not the identical dimension—left is slightly below 50” throughout, proper is about 1/3 smaller. Hoping to get one thing with a comparatively clear, easy fashion with room darkening earlier than the summer time.”

I’ve to marvel why builders do this sort of factor. Truthfully, WHY?!? The one factor I can consider is there’s something behind the wall subsequent to the home windows (pipes, electrical, and so on.) that needed to go there and couldn’t match a bigger window, however in that case, simply go together with two smaller home windows. UGH. Anyway…

Earlier than suggesting window coverings, I do need to provide up one potential resolution: transfer the mattress. I’m unsure of the scale of the house or the restrictions of the wall to the correct with the dresser, but when the mattress and nightstands match, it could possibly be good to simply shift the whole lot. The dresser would match nice between the 2 home windows.

HOWEVER, we nonetheless would want to unravel a few of this reader’s plight, particularly getting this room darker within the mornings for them. That is the job for an interior-mounted blackout shade. And since there’ll all the time be a bit of gentle that escapes out the perimeters of a shade, added curtains can assist mitigate that.

When it comes to squaring up the dimensions distinction right here, this may merely be achieved by faking the attention. A great ol’ trompe l’oiel, if you’ll. Mainly, the reader ought to add two curtain rods, one above every window, hung on the similar width essentially to cowl the widest window (and for a way excessive, simply cut up the distinction between the highest of the window and the ceiling). This manner, she will be able to pull the drapes sufficient on every window to make them look the identical dimension (if she desires).

I picked three various kinds of clear, fashionable shades because the reader talked about wanting one thing easy: a blackout pull-down shades with a linen-like texture, a blackout mobile shade (which additionally helps with insulation of sound and warmth/chilly), and a blackout Roman with a flat entrance. Any of those would work with any of the panels I picked: one is a reasonably celadon for some added colour, one is a whispy white cotton, and the opposite is a impartial plaid for sample and extra light-filtering since they’re room darkening.

High Left: Designer Components Blackout Curler Shades | High Center: Premier Blackout Cellulars | High Proper: Customized Flat Blackout Roman | Backside Left: Celadon European Flax Linen Blackout Curtain | Backside Center: Cotton Slub Curtain | Backside Proper: Preston Plaid Room Darkening Curtain Panel

Aaaaand there we’ve got it! As I discussed at first, my recommendation isn’t the one approach to go about masking these readers’ home windows, but it surely’s a begin with principally ready-made options. For those who’re focused on seeing extra of those—like the way to take care of window obstructions (A/C models, bizarre ceiling slopes, and so on.), renter options, transom home windows and extra—tell us and we are able to preserve it coming!

Your buddy in window coverings,

Arlyn