Curtains and blinds for windows and French door

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Curtains and blinds for windows and French door

by Megan
(Ireland)

I have just come across your website and am very impressed. I am hoping you might be able help me with a living room problem.

My living room has 2 corner windows with French doors between. There is only 1.5 ft wall space between the windows and door.

My problem is with the curtain and/or blind. Which would look better, floor length curtains for the door and roman blinds on the corner windows or run a curtain pole the full length of the room and treat door and windows as a single unit? Is the 1.5ft wall space too little to do this?

I have two other 3 ft windows in the room on opposite wall so I need as much light as possible but I want the room to have a lovely warm look and feel to it.

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Aug 30, 2011
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Some blind and curtain options...
by: Charlotte

Hello Megan

Thanks very much for your kind comments about my site.

Obviously, I haven't seen your room, but from the sounds of it, and just from my own point of view and preferences, I think it would be best to have the floor-length curtains for the door/French window, and Roman blinds (or other blinds) for the other windows....

Here's why...

You say you have corner windows - are these just flat windows in the corner of the room, or windows that actually meet in the middle at a right angle?

Either way, I think the amount of fabric for curtains the complete length of the room may be rather large - and if the windows abut the edge of the room, there will be nowhere for the fabric to go, when open, except to cover the windows, and you could lose a considerable amount of light in this way.

If your windows actually do go around the corner of the room, your curtain track/rail will need to do this too, which, while not impossible, will certainly make things more awkward for you, and, I'm sure, more expensive.

Also consider the other windows in the room, you say you have 2 more on the opposite wall. I think, for the sake of a cohesive design, these should probably be treated in the same way as the other windows, so if blinds are to be used on these, the same would suit the opposite ones too.

I think you can get away with using curtains on the door, though, even with blinds at the window, as it's clearly such a different entity, and indeed, does serve a different function.

If you do choose to have curtains at the windows, definitely choose floor-length ones, though, to match the door curtains.

If you did fancy curtains the whole length of the room, you could hang/fit them in parts, with the door having a set of curtains, and then the window either side having its own curtain, pulled from the end.

I think 1.5ft is quite a small space for a curtain to hang when open (although we have curtains at home hung in smaller spaces than that!) so you certainly wouldn't want too much fabric gathering here, but I think it would be plenty of room for a door curtain to hang either side of the door.

But if you wanted to use a very thick, full or bulky fabric, this, too, could block out a little of the light, or could block either window or door from opening, so do check this out when deciding.

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Aug 30, 2011
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Continues from above comment...
by: Charlotte

Continues from above...

Having curtains at the door will certainly help to soften the look and make it feel 'warm'.

If you are worried about having blinds making the room feel cold or a bit 'harsh' or unwelcoming, you can load up your room elsewhere with soft fabrics and textures...

Or consider having 'dress curtains' at your windows, that are just for show, not actually to close at night, that could be nice and light (and narrow) at each end, or even just a drape over a curtain pole at the top with a simple voile or net (which would still let the light in) if you do find you need that extra softening after all.

I hope some of these ideas help you make your decision.

Let us know how you get on, or if you need more help and ideas.

Best wishes

Charlotte

More about curtains and blinds, here...

Aug 30, 2011
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LIVING ROOM CORNER WINDOWS
by: Anonymous

Thanks Charlotte

Yes my windows are flat windows that meet in the corner, therefore if I have a curtain it would have to have to be hung on the 1.5ft wall space.

The dress curtains are a good idea and maybe fit a warm coloured roman blind to the windows

Aug 31, 2011
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Warming it up... not too much!
by: Charlotte

Yes - using warm colors in blinds - and elsewhere in the room, will definitely help to keep the room feeling warm.

If you want to keep the light feeling in the room, plus a feeling of space, don't get too much too dark, though, as, as well as creating that warm, cozy feeling, darker warm colors can make a room feel smaller, and darker.

Paler warm colors (pinks, pale yellows, apricots etc and even rich creams) will warm up a room without making it feel too dark - and deeper and brighter touches can be added as accents and accessories (including curtains and blinds).

Greens are also good for adding a bit of color without getting that 'cold' feeling you can sometimes get with blues and pure white.

Hope it helps.

Good luck with your room makeoever - let us know how it works out.

Charlotte :o)

Find more help with Decorating with Color here...

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Interior Design It Yourself
Perfect Personality Palettes
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Curtains and blinds for windows and French door

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Curtains and blinds for windows and French door