Budget-Friendly Decor: Stylish Solutions for Student Living on a Budget

Sprucing up your living space as a student comes with its financial considerations, and we get it, being a student often means tight purse strings, but worry not – style and comfort need not be casualties of budget constraints. Meant for all the decor-savvy scholars running on a tight budget, this blog brings you tips and tricks to make your dorm rooms or shared flats instantly Insta-worthy without burning a hole in your pocket.

Our team of experts, who may or may not have taken a nostalgic trip back to their own college days, are here to spill the beans on achieving style on a budget. So, let’s cut to the chase and discover how you can transform your home away from home into a chic sanctuary that reflects your personality without sending your bank account into a panic. Ready? Let’s get started!

The Importance of Room Decor for Academic Success

Room decor plays a pivotal role in shaping an environment conducive to academic success. Beyond mere aesthetics, a well-designed space can significantly impact one’s ability to focus, stay organized, and maintain a positive mindset. 

An organized and clutter-free environment reduces stress, allowing for better concentration and improved cognitive function. Inspirational quotes, meaningful artwork, or personal achievements displayed in the room serve as constant reminders of goals and aspirations, contributing to a positive mindset. Moreover, a well-lit and comfortable study space promotes a healthy work-life balance, preventing burnout and supporting overall well-being.

Now that you understand why your room decor is not just for Instagram likes but also for your own well-being and academic success, let’s move on to how you can decorate your room on a budget:

Thrifty Furniture Finds 

When designing a student apartment on a budget, repurposed items can save the day. Search garage sales, online marketplaces, and local thrift shops for affordable furnishings. DIY projects may give secondhand objects a creative edge. A new coat of paint or hardware can revitalize an old dresser, and a decoupage can make an old coffee table stand out.

You can often find cheap furniture on online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or even sites that are just for students. Keep an eye out for moving sales or clearance events where you can get good things for a lot less money.

However, keep in mind that while you cut down your expenses with thrifty finds on other furniture pieces, invest the saved amount in a good ergonomic chair and desk. You will be spending long hours sitting at your study table, so make sure you’re comfortable and eliminate any chances of ending up with constant backaches, neck stiffness, spondylitis, and a frozen shoulder.

Decorative Lighting on a Budget

To decorate your student housing, use creative, economical lighting that looks like art. Many affordable lighting alternatives can help you create a well-lit and appealing space.

String lights are inexpensive and a versatile way to make any room spectacular. To create a lovely, warm space, hang them from the ceiling, drape them along the walls, or wrap them over furniture. LED strips are another modern and affordable way to improve your room. They’re easy to install and change colors!

While you may go for thrifty finds and inexpensive options with decorative lights, you’ll need to invest in a good task light or study table lamp. Trying to study in the wrong light will only cause migraines and more headaches, and you might find yourself relying on online help, googling ‘write my research paper’ in the last moments to meet tight deadlines. Remember, bright and focused lighting not only enhances your study environment but also contributes to better concentration and productivity, making it a worthwhile investment for both your academic performance and overall well-being.

DIY Decor Projects

You can add a touch of your style to your student living space with easy, cheap, and do-it-yourself decor projects. Find the artist within you by making personalized wall art or creative changes to furniture, which not only add a personal touch but also let you express yourself creatively.

For a start, go for something easy yet impactful – like an accent wall. You could frame fabric scraps, use thrift store frames to make a gallery wall or use painter’s tape to make a geometric wall painting. Small on the bucks, big on the visual effect!

Smart Storage Solutions 

Learning smart storage solutions could make all the difference for students with limited room. Affordable, attractive storage options cut the clutter and maximize every inch of your living space.

Buy multipurpose furniture like beds with drawers, ottomans with storage, or desks with in-built storage units. These components maximize space and keep things neat. 

Repurpose everyday items for storage, such as using hanging shoe organizers for toiletries or school supplies. DIY projects, like creating storage from recycled materials, can be both economical and eco-friendly. Old boxes or wooden crates can be used as wall shelves for a rustic look. 

Invest in stackable bins and shelves to maximize vertical space, keeping belongings tidy and accessible. Open shelf is a stylish, affordable storage alternative. Showcase books, plants, and other art on floating shelves to keep the floor clean. 

By adopting these budget-friendly storage strategies, students can maintain an organized living space without breaking the bank.

Trendy Textiles

Change the look and feel of your student apartment or dorm room by adding textiles that are warm and comfortable, and also show off your style. Keep your focus on soft furnishings like rugs, fabric window treatments, and throw pillows. 

When choosing window treatments, consider steering away from curtains as extra yardage equals to higher costs. You’ll find a better option with roman shades and fabric blinds that offer similar benefits being fabric window treatments themselves, but at a more affordable price. Plus, you’ll save on hardware costs too since roman shades come with their own hardware that is included in the price.

Be mindful while choosing the material of the roman shades too. Shopping on a budget is all about making clever and well-planned choices. So, go for blackout fabric shades to avoid paying for the lining. Blackout roman shades also provide insulative benefits and light-blocking, helping you steal a quick midday nap while hustling through your day.

Next comes area rugs that further add to the warmth and insulation in your space, besides looks of course! Search for rugs on sale or head over to Amazon, Wayfair, or Walmart to find affordable and stylish options that suit your preferences and budget. If you have enough creative legs, then you may even try DIY projects like stitching carpet scraps for a distinctive and affordable floor covering. To get a designer look, bring in a mix of patterns – like floral roman shades with striped rugs, and geometric throw pillow covers or bed runners.

SHOP NOW: CUSTOM ROMAN SHADES FROM SPIFFY SPOOLS

Space Planning and Layout Tips

Student living areas have limited space, thus space design and layout are essential. Smart space designs maximize every square inch and improve functionality and appearance.

Start by dividing your room into activity areas. Make learning, leisure, and sleeping areas distinct to feel more organized. Furniture, sheer curtain screens, or area rugs can divide these sections without walls.

Opt for light-colored and transparent furniture to create an illusion of more space. Mirrors strategically placed can also enhance the perception of openness.

As mentioned earlier, opt for dual-purpose furniture and utilize vertical space. Look for items like foldable tables or modular shelving units that can adapt to different needs, providing both versatility and practicality in your living space.

Conclusion

Decorating on a budget means creating a room that suits your style, makes you happy, and inspires you. These recommendations will help you transform your living space into a fashionable retreat, proving that a limited budget doesn’t prevent you from personalizing your property. 

Remember that incorporating personal touches, such as DIY projects or repurposing existing items, can add unique character without breaking the bank. Embrace creativity and resourcefulness to make your space truly your own.

Also, don’t forget that the journey of decorating is an ongoing process. There’s no need to spend all your money in one go or buy everything at once. You may take a gradual approach to your purchases, allowing you the flexibility to save over time and carefully curate your space to ensure each addition aligns perfectly with your vision and stays well within your budget. In the end, a well-decorated space is not just about the price tag but about the comfort and joy it brings to your everyday life.

Last but not least, we invite you to browse through Spiffy Spools’ collection of roman shades, featuring engaging geometric patterns, conversation-starter black & white prints, soft florals, embroidered beauties, ombre shades, and more. Happy shopping, spiffy decorating!

READ MORE: STUDY ROOM TIPS TO BOOST PRODUCTIVITY

Top 20 Curtains for a Teen Boy’s Bedroom

The perfect bedroom drapery for a teenage boy is one that fulfills the function of providing light control and privacy while hinting at his personality and tastes. But it is easier said than done. When choked between choice abundance and shortage of guidance, trust visual inspiration. So, stay tuned as we take you on a pictorial tour and help you with tips to choose drapes for your teenage boy’s bedroom.

1. Make the Little Man’s Bedroom Feel Larger with Wall-Colored Drapes

Designer: Platemark Design

Grey drapes and straight-hemmed valance keep this undergrad boy’s bedroom pared-back, mature and manly. With tone-on-tone elegance, the drapes are intentionally kept the same color as the walls to create visual continuity and make the small bedroom feel a lot larger than it is to the eye.

READ MORE: HOW TO MAKE A SMALL APARTMENT LOOK BIGGER

2. Introduce Pattern in a Plain Bedroom

Designer: Tineke Triggs

Blue is the stand-out theme of this early teen’s bedroom, emphatically conveyed through the printed drapes and the ‘crayon’ picture. In this small-ish bedroom dominated by solids, momentum and liveliness is brought about by the blue-white geometric pattern on the drapes. Hone in on the power of straight-edged geometric patterns when decorating the bedroom for boys of any age.

READ MORE: GEOMETRIC BLACKOUT CURTAINS: MERGING FORM INTO FUNCTION

3. Layer Sheers & Blackout Drapes for Versatile Light Control

Designer: Bellas Artes

Make sure that the young Mister has everything done right for him to support his study and sleep schedules. Layered curtains offer multiple options for light control in this teen boy’s bedroom which doubles as his study. White sheer curtains filter light in softly and soften the harsh sun glare for his routine academic work. Blackout curtains block light completely for a good night’s sleep.

4. Use High-Contrast Drapes to Highlight a Statement Window

White drapes have been mounted on briny blue walls to create a focal point of the bow window – the statement feature of this bedroom. Offsetting the darkness and creating an allure with the stark contrast, crisp whites etch out a calm within the dark sapphire alcove that draws all attention to its architectural beauty.

5. Opt for Grey Curtains for an Older Teen

Designer: Studio Geiger Architecture

Let your young champ’s personality guide your design decisions. This bedroom’s drapes display a steely gray to stay in tune with the monochrome palette and the macho personality of the teen occupant. His appetite for the rugged manifested in the band sawn wood and metal fittings, and his flair for industrial rawness evinced by the boxer’s punchbag and model aircrafts, are fittingly addressed in the minimalist window decor.

6. Top Curtains with Valance to Visually Elongate Room

Designer: Kim Armstrong

A blue scalloped board-mounted valance with inset trims crowning a set of striped curtains rings in a maximalist aesthetic  in this youngish teen boy’s bedroom. With its striking color contrast and imposing structure, the valance pulls the attention upward, visually elongating the window, while also hiding the drapery hardware. The curtains add to that illusory effect with their vertical stripes in a subtle way.

READ MORE: HOW TO HANG CURTAINS WITH VALANCE

7. Break Monotony with Ombre Drapes

Designer: Soucie Horner, Ltd.

In this older teen boy’s bedroom, a minimalist palette and clutter-free decor keep it sauve and timeless. However, the burnt orange and the gradient hues of the ombre curtains keep it on a lighter note.

READ MORE: TRANSFORM YOUR HOME WITH BURNT ORANGE CURTAINS

8. Bring Textural Variety Through Drapes

Designer: Drew McGukin Interiors

Emphasizing the raw elegance of the exposed brick wall, embossed curtains join a textured wallpaper and lush rug in bringing layers of texture and warmth to a mature teen boy’s bedroom.

READ MORE: HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR BEDROOM INTO A WARM RETREAT

9. Go with a Classic Palette

If you’re looking for a palette that looks attractive, dynamic and timeless for the bedroom of a man-to-be, let this moody but not somber scheme inspire you with its seductive dark blue softened by earthy beige accents. This perfect balance of colors and neutrals is encapsulated perfectly in the colorblocked drapes at the patio door.

READ MORE: PATIO GLASS DOOR CURTAINS: IDEAS & TIPS

10. Use Ribbon Trims to Add Visual Interest

Designer: Jami Abbadessa

Ribbon trims on fabric accessories make all the difference in this teenage boy’s bedroom that stays on the minimalist side with a compressed palette entailing solids for the most part. It’s that tad bit of embellishment that breaks the monotony while retaining the commitment to a straight-edged manly appeal. The white trims on the blue drapes inversing the blue trims on the white bedding accessories ring cohesiveness.

11. Make Focal Point with Bright Curtains

Designer: Amanda Nisbet

Proffer a light-hearted dimension to your puckish boy’s bedroom with a generous dose of lemony yellow. The sunny drapes in this blue bedroom garner all the attention and become the focal point of this bedroom. Your young teenager will appreciate this playful twist and the joyful color will keep his moods high.

12. Embrace Straight Lines for a Sporty Boy

Designer: Jeanne Campana Design

The striped curtains and bedding in this bedroom indicate the young masculinity of this bedroom. Their straight lines symbolize movement, energy and resoluteness that is so characteristic of a sporty teen.

13. Voice the Palette Through Color-Blocked Curtains

Designer: Jami Abbadessa

When chances of finding drapes that nail the room’s color palette are slim, consider color-blocking. With this technique, you can incorporate a band of fabric of the desired palette or pattern over the base fabric. Take inspiration from this youngish teen boy’s bedroom where cream/blue colorblocked drapes conclude the thread of sea blue accents of the decor.

14. Go Dark with the Drapes

Designer: Studio Peck LLC

Black drapes bring rich contrast to this pale grey bedroom sprinkled with accenting streaks of orange. Enhanced with blackout lining behind, the drapery also blocks light more efficiently than light-colored drapes for a good night’s sleep.

15. Opt for Drapes with Bustling Prints for an Imaginative Boy

Designer: Laura U Design Collective

Creativity and adventure are to be the soul of the space when it comes to an artistic teen. Saturated colors and wavy irregular patterns manifest the infinite imaginative potential of the young mind of the occupant. Abstract print drapes most fittingly join the chorus to complete the symphony. Notice the surprise twist in the ceiling and the drapery rod dressed up in a coordinated wallpaper that makes this room uniquely charming and cohesive.

READ MORE: CURTAIN ROD IDEAS & TIPS

16. Keep Them Quiet

When a statement bed like this one is the star, keep the drapes less colored and less busy to maintain focus on the bed as you see in this bedroom. Where colors are attention seekers, neutrals are great cheerleaders and you can always trust beige to ground the decor and recede into the background.

READ MORE: DECORATING WITH NEUTRAL CURTAINS: TOP IDEAS & TIPS

17. Let Drapes Accent the Overall Palette

The steel blue curtains and the pillow make a delightful shift from a black-and-white palette in this older teen boy’s bedroom. While the rest of the room is clad in neutrals, the curtains and shams steal the show without over-indulging in pattern.

18. Bring Dynamism with Vibrant Patterns

Photo By: Ed Ritger Photography

Joining hands with the ceiling-mount net bed atop, curtains with knot-like prints match the energy and add visual interest to a plain neutral bedroom. Designed in a black and white theme that summarizes the palette of the bedroom, the drapes go from floor to ceiling, drawing precious attention to the playful hammock and its rope ladder that only a macho gym enthusiast or a sportive boy can clamber.

READ MORE: FLOOR TO CEILING CURTAINS: A COMPLETE GUIDE

19. Bring Sunshine Glow to a Moody Room with Resplendent Drapes

Bring a warm color pop to a teenage boy’s bedroom, especially if the overall palette is too inky. The deep yellow drapes here are a dash of energy in this moody room. Joining hands with the pops of orange in the grey room, these drapes don’t let you miss sunshine even when the sun is low.

20. Let All Fabric Accessories Adhere to a Tight Palette

Designer: Inna Svyryba

Bind all textile elements in one color palette to keep the young man’s room simple and sorted. See how the patterned beige drapes in this bedroom echo the palette of the beddings while their curvy shapes join hands with the scalloped frame of the shelf.

Wrapping Up

Looking at these thoughtfully designed teenage boys’ bedroom curtains, we hope you have found a direction now for your own project. Enjoy the process of designing the drapes now and know that you are making his precious coming-of-age times more interesting and memorable with suitable home decor. 

When you’ve made up your mind on the palette and material, check out our collection of custom curtains that has everything from lazy linens to luxe velvets to appease your requirements. Whether you want it moody or cheerful, plain or patterned, Spiffy Spools has got you covered. Browse our site for more inspiration and do contact us with any queries!

READ MORE: TOP 20 CURTAINS FOR YOUR TEEN GIRL’S BEDROOM

Top 20 Curtains for your Teen Girl’s Bedroom

When the nervousness of picking curtains for your teenage daughter’s bedroom is as rife as the excitement, pause for a minute and treat your mind to some inspiring work. As you try to nail the palette and go after her favorite patterns and themes, you need to reserve your focus on the functional requirements of light control and privacy. We take you on a pictorial tour of our favorite teen girls’ bedrooms that have accomplished this arduous task perfectly while we highlight the lessons you can take home to execute your own project in the most excellent way. Dive in!

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Turn a Specialty Window Into a Focal Point with Floor-to-Ceiling Sheer Drapes

Designer: Younique Designs

Feminine glamor in Hollywood Regency style – just what a blooming teen is looking for! A bow window gets dressed up with the spell-bound beauty of a spuming ‘waterfall’ in floor-to-ceiling sheer drapes that meet a fur carpet in a sparkling white palette. Punctuate an array of windows with sheer curtains to unify them while perfect-fit treatments dress them individually to ensure privacy and light control. Also, personalize the decor for your uber-chic diva with stylish medallion holdbacks replacing conventional drapery poles.

READ MORE: FLOOR TO CEILING CURTAINS: A COMPLETE GUIDE

Gift Your Teenager a Whimsical Treat with Ombre Drapes

Designer: JK Designs

Give a well-put-together room to a young Miss who is unapologetically in love with rainbows and butterflies. Featuring a rainbow of its own, the ombre drapes here lace the space with color and whimsy but on a simplified stance. Notice how the azure drapes visually connect all the cyanic accents scattered across the space in tiny doses. Delight your teen’s imaginative mind with a fun touch of color and pattern but let a cohesive palette guide the endeavor.

Use Color-Blocked Drapes to Introduce a Tiny Dose of a Catchy Pattern

Photography by Blackstone Studios

A bubbly adolescent girl deserves a bedroom beaming with joy, color and wonder. But going overboard with a color or pattern may not be ideal either. Take a cue from this prairie-styled bedroom where the owner employed color-blocking to introduce a pattern with restraint. A band of patterned fabric crowning the white sheer panels on the edges brings a dash of color and whimsy in just the right amount. The blue-white polka-inspired motif echoes the organic shapes and joyful colors of the bed runner and the barrel handbag perched on the console.

Introduce a Fun Twist with a Thunderbolt Surprise

Are you looking for a way to symbolize the youthful exuberance of your young teen in her bedroom decor? Take inspiration from this exquisitely designed girl’s bedroom that brings upon an overwhelming surprise with its flamy orange flat panel drapes in a blue-green territory. Yet, they don’t seem out of tune with the space because of the fiery accent tones of the pillows.

Bring Simple Elegance with Monochrome Drapes to an Older Teen’s Bedroom

Photography by: Peter Rymwid

Cut the clutter for an older, more mature teenager with a monochromatic bedroom. And use the window treatments to voice the palette as the blue-white patterned drapes topped by a white valance do here. Notice the attention to detail in the usage of trims. The curtains and the valance accent each other – broad white fabric bands on the lead edges of the blue drapes and narrow blue ribbon trims that mark the silhouette of the white valance.

READ MORE: HOW TO HANG CURTAINS WITH VALANCE

Dress Your Young Damsel’s Dreamy Boudoir with Victorian-Styled Multi-Layered Drapes

If your belle has fallen for traditional maximalism’s florals and opulent excesses, pamper her refined taste with drapes that nail that aesthetic vision. Multi-layered drapes crowned by a valance complete the maximalist abundance of this Victorian-style girls’ bedroom. Sheer panels and framing non-sheers in the bottom layer, floral curtains layered over them and a ruffled valance atop them complete the picture. Notice how the canopy curtains add to the opulence of the bedroom and complement the window treatment. Cohesiveness is ensured by coordinating the fabric and trims.

READ MORE: MAXIMALIST HOME DECOR: KEY PRINCIPLES OF ELEGANT ECLECTICISM

Double Functionality & Looks by Pairing Roman Shades & Drapes

Designer: Inna Velichko

Ensure a sleep-friendly bedroom for a blossoming teenager girl by providing layered window treatments. Roman shades are paired with drapes in this tiny bedroom to block light more effectively, where left to themselves, they would have done poorly. With complementing palettes and a solid-pattern mix, they play off of each other. The window behind the bed is spared so as to avoid curtains being pinched by the furniture while the adjacent window is dressed with a single-paneled curtain that increases accessibility for convenience of operation.

READ MORE: LAYERING ROMAN SHADES WITH CURTAINS

Furnish a Color-Aficionado Teen’s Bedroom with Bold-Hued Drapes

Designer: Bankston May Associates

A quintessential color-obsessed aerie for a spirited ladette! Go all-out bold if that’s what defines her style. Let this bedroom saturated with rosy hues inspire you with its choice of pink-purple full-scaled drapes. There is no space for shyness and no reluctance to take the road less traveled. Choosing to drive the color narrative of a room dolled with variants of the same hue, the drapes make the overarching statement of the color palette.

Allude to Feminine Aesthetics with Scalloped Valances

Photography by Yves Lefèvre

Forget florals and laces, sometimes it takes just bright colors and curved profiles to express the verve of a spirited teen. What defines the feminine personality of this bedroom, going beyond the fiery orange and baby blue is the delicate scalloped valance. Avowing organic beauty, the curved bottom of the valance symbolizes gentleness and softness. The wee bit of swag formed by the small folds on the edges is a decorative touch to a bedroom that is otherwise quite minimal.

READ MORE: MINIMALIST HOME DECOR: THE ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES

Go for Pinch Pleated Curtains in Traditional Girls’ Bedrooms

Designer: Spruce, LLC

An opulent suite for the young maiden! Dress an older teen girl’s room with ornate finishes and soft colors rather than kiddie patterns and blazing colors. Take inspiration from this traditional bedroom’s twin windows that are dressed up with light blue pinch pleat drapes. The elaborateness of those architectural flowery pleats, brought out better by the solid coloring, echoes the detailing of the intricacy-loaded wallpaper behind.

Highlight Statement Art with Drapes that Share the Palette

Photography: Rikki Synder

Flower power in full vigor! Design a bedroom for an artistic teen with colors and brush strokes that are in perfect consonance with her personality. The pink lilies on the accent wall stand out as a strong statement in this color-packed bedroom. And the vibrantly patterned drapes lend more visual power to this theme by echoing its dominant hues.

Bring in the Seductive Blacks for a Glamor-Struck Diva

Designer: Greg Natale

A royal treat for the modern femme fatale! Nothing less than black velvet drapes can please a teen on the brink of adulthood whose mature taste is evident in her wardrobe flooded with little black dresses. Both ritzy and functionally brilliant, black velvet curtains sync in with the chic glamor of this modern bedroom while also performing as terrific insulators due to their deep piles. With inset ribbon trims on their lead edges, they accent the sheers and bring a sense of coordination.

READ MORE: HOW TO LAYER SHEER & BLACKOUT CURTAINS

Express the Mature Sensibilities of a ‘Grown-Up Teen’ with Neutral Drapes

Designer: Johnston Parke Interiors

Go neutral to give a modern twist to the traditional bedroom of your young lass as she walks towards adulthood. Drape the windows with minimally detailed monochrome patterned curtains. And top them with a straight bottomed board-mounted valance, as you see here, to unite them visually. Use subtle contrasts for the most part and sprinkle few dark accents only to break the monotony. Stick to neutrals and keep up a cohesive flow to keep the bedroom visually calming.

READ MORE: DECORATING WITH NEUTRAL CURTAINS: TOP IDEAS & TIPS

Offer Floral Splendor in Muted Hues to a Teen with a Refined Taste

Designer: Dual Concept Design

Floral charm in classical style! Paint your ‘tweenager-turned-teenager’s bedroom with floral elegance that’s not too ‘girly’. With vine-themed neutral-hued drapes, the cherry blossom wallpaper finds accompaniment. Soothing feminine energy is rampant in this bedroom without resorting to the cliched pinks and high-contrast floral motifs. Offer such sophisticated decor to a demure young lady who likes it refined and clutterless, but not without some playfulness and romance.

SHOP NOW: CUSTOM FLORAL DRAPES FROM SPIFFY SPOOLS

Delight a Bubbly Adolescent with Colorful Drapes

Designer: Kelly Rogers Interiors

A euphoric treat for your chirpy birdie! A girl who’s thrilled with rainbows and flowers deserves such floral exuberance. Take cue from this kaleidoscopic bedroom that has found a way to show all its defining hues in its bustling drapes. Every hue from the golden yellows of the wall to the aqua blue of the couch has received its honorable mention in those vibrant floral prints.

Let Plain Drapes Balance a Vocal Wallpaper

Designer: Brightland Homes

Hollywood glam for a ‘little fashionista’! The sparky pinks and yellows and the statement wallpaper that fittingly vouch for a youngish teen’s fashion preferences stand out in this sassy bedroom thanks to the dominating black and white theme. The drapes accentuate that neutral base with their black panels and white accessorizing. If you find a wallpaper that vocalizes her passions, as in the stilettos-and-clutch-bags theme of this cheeky bedroom, provide beddings and curtains that stay on the reticent side to let it shine.

Go for Timeless Drapes for a Lady-in-the-Making!

Designer: Eminent Interior Design

Lighten the burden of a revamp when your early teens have outgrown their bunker beds and gingerbread taste. With a classic striped wallpaper and color-blocked full-scaled drapes that complement its palette, this bedroom will be spared of changing these two pricey elements. Be assured that the charming young ladies of tomorrow will enjoy it as much as the excited teens of today – that’s the power of an ageless design.

Use White Drapes to Set Off the Vibrance of Pink

Designer: Katie Scott Design

Splendorous rosy hues for a youngish teen! Pink is the delightful element of this room and yet, it is non-invasive because of the counterbalancing act of the drapes and bedding. Also, notice how the white wallpaper and drapes connect the floor to the ceiling without visual breaks and elongate this dwarfed room.

SHOP NOW: WHITE CUSTOM DRAPES FROM SPIFFY SPOOLS

Introduce Energetic Palettes & Patterns for a Zippy-Zappy Teen!

Designer: Sarah Richardson Design

Is your young Miss a happy lively girl who can’t get her feet to stay on the ground? Tap that energy in a vivacious decor with tangy colors and sportive motifs. The lemony yellow drapes with geometric patterns contrasting the sea blues in this lovely bedroom can ignite even a melancholic heart with joy – exactly reflective of her cheerful personality.

READ MORE: GEOMETRIC BLACKOUT CURTAINS: MERGING FORM INTO FUNCTION

Opt for Beige-Orange Partnership in a Gender-Neutral Teen’s Bedroom

When designing a twin teens’ bedroom for a boy and a girl, orange is the flavored hue that designers use to appease both masculine and feminine tastes. And for a neutral hue that has to ground it, white is too soft and grey too raw, but beige saves the day. The drapes in this bedroom stick to beige so the vibrant oranges can unleash their exuberant energy with full vigor without overwhelming your eyes. Try the beige-orange trick to design a gender-neutral bedroom for your funky teen.

READ MORE: TOP 20 CURTAINS FOR A TEEN BOY’S BEDROOM

In Closing

So, have you gathered enough ideas for your young teenager’s bedroom drapes? Whether the choice is for a vibrant or muted palette, a modern or a traditional taste, or a juvenile or a mature theme, you will find the drapes of your choice in the vast curated collection of Spiffy Spools for sure. From cozy linens to ritzy velvets, and airy sheers to light-blocking blackouts, our premium drapery fabrics can satisfy a range of functional requirements. Explore our site and shop from the comfort of your home for your favorite drapes today.

READ MORE: STUDY ROOM TIPS TO BOOST PRODUCTIVITY

Top 35 Canopy Bed Curtains: Ideas, Tips & Images for Bedrooms

Looking to make your bed the focal point of your bedroom? Install canopy bed curtains. By adding a vertical dimension to the bed, they elongate the bedroom and with their enclosing structure, they transform it into a luxurious, cozy snuggery. While their historically original purpose was functional – to provide privacy, warmth and insect-repellency for ancient royals –  bed canopies are loved today for their surreal charm.

Based on how decorative or functional you wish them to be, bed canopy curtains can be all-encompassing or offer partial coverage, ornamentally detailed or simply casual, and heavy drapes or light see-through curtains. 

Looking for inspiration and ideas to figure out what’s best for you? Stay tuned for styling tips as we tour together our favorite bedrooms that have nailed it in their own way.

Pinch Pleat Curtains with Lace Trim Mounted from Brass Pole

Designer: Pearson Design Group

Powder blue, double pinch-pleated puddled curtains embellished with white woven lace trims make this charming wood cabin’s bedroom even more cozy and intimate. The warmth generated from the fireplace is sustained throughout the cold night as the bed canopy hung on the four-poster bed envelops the bed from all sides.

Tie-Top Sheer Curtains Add a Boho Vibe to this Beach-Style Canopy Bedroom

Designer: Mimi Snowden Design

Cream tie-top sheer curtains with pompom trims add to the breezy vibes of this beach-styled bedroom. The gauzy composition of the fabric allows for air passage even as the curtains cover the bed on all sides of this four-poster bed.

White Ceiling-Mounted Canopy Curtains Grace this Mediterranean Bedroom in Rustic Style 

Designer: Stephanie Bradshaw

Luscious white, semi-sheer curtains hung from a ceiling-mounted canopy add to the raw elegance of this rustic Mediterranean bedroom. Tied up in stylish knots, they overshadow the bed like a cloud rendering substance for visual interest. Air circulation is facilitated by the flimsy composition of the fabric when the curtains are in use.

Checkered Canopy Bed Curtains & Valance Sink into the Wallpaper & Window Treatments of Same Pattern

Designer: Atelier Armbruster

Evidently, the tattersall check is the statement feature of this bedroom! The bed canopy comprising of lush floor-to-ceiling, double pinch pleated curtains crowned with a simple valance join hands with coordinating wallpaper and window treatments to celebrate the straight-edged beauty of the geometric motif.

Semi-Sheer, Tie-Top Linen Curtains Hang from Ceiling Mounted Sleek Black Curtain Rods

Designer: Volantes Decorating Service

The bed canopy in this bright and airy bedroom blends gracefully with the overall theme of black and white. The pristine white linen curtain panels hanging on sleek black drapery rods mimic the window curtains to foster cohesiveness. But the casualness of the fabric loops that attach the curtains to the poles and the slightly puddled excess on the floor give it a more relaxed appeal that invites you to wind down.

Opulent Silk Puddled Drapes Paired with Rope-Tasseled Canopy Valance Create a Bewitching Maximalist Bedroom

Designer: Hutton Wilkinson – Tony Duquette Inc.

Bewitchingly glamorous, a sumptuously pleated silk canopy on a Baroque bed makes this Parisian apartment bedroom seductively inviting. Color-blocked with tangy pink and understated green, the puddled drapery on the floor and the stylish swags pinched by tassel tie-backs speak of opulence at its best. The scalloped valance dotted with colorful beaded trims and rope tassels takes it to the next level.

Double Sided Canopy Curtains Balance Solids with Pattern in This Rugged Farmhouse Bedroom

Designer: Cameron Stewart

A farmhouse bedroom celebrates the ruggedness of its architecture in a chunky jute-textured curtain canopy. The double-sided canopy strives to achieve a balance between solids and patterns with a patterned interior and solid exterior. With a bed and canopy wrapped in the same heavy-knit fabric, this bedroom has been intentionally designed to counter a cold winter with naturally generated warmth. Earthy hues and organic materials keep this well-designed bedroom connected to its humble rustic roots.

READ MORE: HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR BEDROOM INTO A WARM RETREAT

Decorative Fringe Canopy Curtains Hang from Ceiling Mounted Track, Covering Four Corners of the Bed

Cream fringe curtains hung from sleek ceiling-mounted tracks further the modern boho aesthetics of this tastefully designed bedroom. Making a brief coverage on the four corners of the bed, this canopy is purely decorative. A bespoke bed skirt with fringe trims continues the theme of the canopy curtains completing the picture on a softly elegant note.

READ MORE: BOHO CURTAIN IDEAS: FREE-SPIRITED WITH A PURPOSE

Ceiling Mounted Scalloped Canopy Create a Bespoke Accent Feature in This Otherwise Plain Bedroom

Photo Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

A grand bed canopy is a remedy for a bedroom that lacks a focal point on its own. In this shiplap walled white-on-white bedroom with an uneventful ceiling, this canopy with oversized motifs garners visual interest. With a cream-brown palette, these ceiling-mounted scalloped curtains echo the solid brown accents of the embellished four-poster bed.

Canopy Bed Curtains Beautifully Balance Floral Patterned Interior with An Elegant Solid Exterior

Designer: Emily Tucker Design, Inc

Mixing solids and patterns is a great way to elevate visual appeal in any space. A warm-hued floral treat adorns the interior of this tester bed canopy while a calm and composed solid blue paints its exterior. Inset braid trims provide contrast on the simple non-pleated valance and the heavy drapes. The monochrome blue also serves as a beautiful accent to the floral inner as well as the headboard.

White Lace Canopy Curtains with Valance Extend the Palette & Theme of this Coastal Bedroom

Designer: Amanda Lindroth

Bed canopies can be as light and airy as this white lacy drape in a coastal-themed bedroom. With a ruched ceiling, lace valance and coordinating curtains, all in pristine white, this canopy vouches on a serene, relaxed theme. By confining to circling only the headboard side and keeping the fabric semi-transparent, the canopy stays on the lighter side.

A White Canopy Creates a Refreshing & Sophisticated Look in an Aqua-Blue Bedroom

Designer: Amanda Lindroth

A white bed canopy on a four poster bed accents the bedroom walls dripping with a refreshing aqua blue. A lacy fabric that blocks neither light or air wraps around the headboard and the canopy with a box-pleated valance, keeping the bed dressed up yet light and sophisticated.

Pink Trimmed Tie-Top Canopy Curtains Are Casually Draped From a Crown Canopy to Lend A Laidback Feel

Designer: Amanda Lindroth

A delicately designed crown canopy with four metal posters takes advantage of the pitched roof in this loft bedroom. Brown & white floral print drapes trimmed with soft pink fabric on the lead edges tie in with the overarching palette of the room. The tie-top loops and the casual draping of the curtains on the canopy’s frame lends a very laid back appeal to this cozy sleeping space.

Canopy Curtains Bring Visual Interest to This Black and White Bedroom

A black and white kids bedroom gets a fitting bed canopy with white grommet curtains and a tad bit of black in the hardware and accessories. The curtains can cover the bed from all sides and offer a barrier to the light flooding in from the adjacent window for a sumptuous catnap during the day.

Subtle Sheen Coupled With Puddled-Look Brings Glam to This Traditional Bedroom

Designer: Janet McCann Design

A traditional bedroom makes a romantic haven with pink sheer canopy curtains on a four poster bed. The curtains’ subtle sheen and trained puddles ooze luxe vibes that are verily echoed by the floor-to-ceiling drapes and grand velvet lounge teeming with rich royal hues.

Glitter Laden Sheer Canopy Curtains Make this Little Princess’ Room a Fairytale Landscape

Designer: Elza B. Design, Inc

A little girl’s bedroom is not left wanting for whimsy with a dazzling crown canopy hovering over the headboard of a little white bed. White sheer curtains with gradient overlayered silver sequins can take any little heart on a flight to the starry skies. The snowy canopy adds to the softness of the bedroom relayed through misty hues and animal motifs.

‘Unmethodically’ Draped Canopy Curtains Add to the Rustic Flair of this Colonial-Style Bedroom

Photo by Panageries

A British colonial canopy bed draped somewhat ‘unmethodically’ with embossed, golden curtains brings a sense of informality to a carefully laid out eclectic bedroom. Continuing the theme of the dry reed vase, agrarian wall trim motifs, and earthy hues, this canopy bed tries to strike a rustic note with its sandy colors and freehand draping.

Coordinating Play-Tent Canopy & Bed Canopy Make for a Fun-Filled Kid’s Room

Photo by Ansel Olson.

Pastel-y peach-orange awning stripes coupled with the softest of plain blues make this kids’ bedroom light-hearted and whimsical. The beautifully carved white headboard is dressed up in a ceiling-mounted crown canopy that is the customized accompaniment of the roman shades and the play tent canopy. An enveloping scalloped valance with large golden tassels completes the visual treat.

White Tab Top Canopy Curtains Bring Warmth to This Bedroom While Keeping Up the Masculine Look

Photo by Tony Soluri

White linen tab top curtains adorn a dark wood fluted four-poster canopy bed in a monochromatic bedroom. Tied to the headboard’s posters with fabric hold-backs, these canopy curtains are a decorative element designed to gauge the vertical space of the vaulted tray bedroom ceiling and the statement chandelier. Void of laces, puddles, tassels and rosy hues, this canopy bed has a masculine vibe that preserves the serenity needed for a place of quiet rest.

Black Trimmed White Canopy Curtains Create a Room Within a Room in this Bedroom

Designer: Tobi Fairley Interior Design

A low-ceiling bedroom gets an intimate enclosure for the sleeping area with a ceiling-mount canopy. The black and white track-mounted curtains make seamless contact with the ceiling, making a room within the room when wrapped around the bed, undisturbed by the sounds of someone lounging in the seating area. Secure as it were in a soothing white envelope, the all-white bed is a cozy escape after a long hard day.

READ MORE: BLACK AND WHITE CURTAINS

Arched Brass Canopy Frame with Custom Tab-Top Curtains Create a Riveting Focal Point

Designer: Studio Ashby

Sometimes a canopy can make a striking statement without depending on its curtains for the same. The arched brass bed canopy frame in this traditional bedroom is the showstopper in its own right. Custom tab-top curtains coordinated with the bedding and headboard make a cohesive blend. However, they are confined to two sides of the bed and tied back to the rear so that the star of the show, the golden coronet, can rock the stage.

Crown Canopy with Crested Valance Adds Whimsy in this Girlie Bedroom

Pamper your little princess or teenage diva with a creamy pink crown canopy. With curtains streaming from a scalloped crest valance mounted close to the ceiling, the canopy elongates the tiny bedroom and accentuates its sweet whimsy. Blending beautifully with the creams and pinks of the girly bedroom, this canopy demonstrates how a tight palette can help even a small bedroom feel large.

READ MORE: TOP GIRLS BEDROOM CURTAINS: IDEAS & TIPS

Deep-Hued Canopy Curtain Breaks the Sterility of this Small, Uni-Toned Bedroom

Designer: Studio Duggan

A yellow crushed linen canopy hung from the ceiling breaks the sterility in a small, uni-toned bedroom. Covering just a tad bit around the headboard, this canopy seeks to provide substance for visual interest without making the tiny space feel crowded.

Pencil Pleat Curtains Hang from Ceiling-Attached Drapery Rods to Cover the Bed from All Sides

Designer: Beata Heuman

Off-white linen pencil pleat curtains flank the four corners of the bed in this refined transitional bedroom. Attempting to stay on the lighter side, the canopy avoids making a sweeping coverage of the bed and with its drapery rods attached to the ceiling, offers the opportunity to fully open up the bed by rolling up the curtains. Accompanying the window curtains and light fixtures, these light-hued curtains also counterbalance the multiple saturated colors at play in the space.

Checkered Crown Canopy is the Highlight of This Well-Designed Bedroom

Designer: Beata Heuman

Bespoke bed and canopy are the highlight of this bedroom designed with great forethought. The sage green-white buffalo checks echo the green accent tones of the wallpaper and the carpet. The generous-sized crown canopy with scalloped edges renders a decorative touch not only to the bed but also to the uneventful white ceiling.

White Sheer Canopy Bed Curtains Add Dreamy Elegance to this Transitional Bedroom

A white bed canopy on a four poster bed enhances the tone-on-tone decor of this calm bedroom. Offering the textural richness of a snubby weave, the white sheers beautifully contrasted by the stark black of the wrought iron frame make a cohesive pair with the window curtains. Drawing the eye to the pitched ceiling, this white canopy adds a dreamy elegance to a sophisticated transitional bedroom.

Floral Canopy Curtains Welcome Nature Inside this Bedroom

Welcome floral beauty with a serene palette into your bedroom with a canopy that frames a summer garden. Extending the theme of the wallpaper with full commitment, the stationary canopy curtains adorn the four corners of the bed and the bed skirt closes the thread emphatically. With a ribbon trim that voices the hints of lavender hidden in the floral print, the curtains and valance of this poster bed are a delicious creamy hue on the inside.

White Curtains with Checkered Inner Face Add the Perfect Finishing Touch to this Bedroom

Designer: Mary Patton

Soothing greys and balanced use of patterns are what make this crown canopy find its place in a modern bedroom. Streaming out from an elegant straight-edged valance, the canopy curtains’ white outer and striped inner make a balance between solids and patterns. With a fabric that is matched in the upholstery and pillows, this bedroom speaks of the careful forethought invested in the design.

Pristine White Decor is Enhanced in this Bedroom with White Euro-Pinch Pleat Canopy Curtains

Designer: Mel Bean Interiors

Floor-to-ceiling euro pinch pleat semi-sheer panels make this four-poster bed sumptuous. Honing in on the pristine whites of the decor, this canopy bed builds on the serene palette for the patterned bedrunner and pillows to shine. The curtains leave the wall side free for the tapered shade sconces to offer light for bedtime rituals.

Forest Twig Shaped Canopy Frame with Tie-Tops Create a Rustic Laid-Back Bedroom

Photo by Emily Followill

It’s a relaxed vibe that pervades this neutral toned bedroom. A canopy frame that recalls the organic shapes of forest twigs and tie-top loops of curtains with a gentle puddle on the floor together define the easygoing aesthetics of this bedroom. Bearing multiple solid colors of beige, white and grey, this canopy is a statement of hues that tie together the overarching palette of the bedroom.

White Sheer Canopy Curtains Paired with Rustic Wood Frame Bring Gentle Softness to this Bedroom

Designer: Marie Flanigan Interiors

The simple elegance of this all-white bedroom is enhanced by the rod-pocket curtains on the four poster bed. White sheer curtains combine with the light wood tones to foster a gentle softness that is soothing and inviting. The lightweight composition of the curtains serve to keep up the bright and airy feel of this quiet bedroom.

Symbolism-Led Asian Fabrics & Intricate Motifs of the Canopy Add a Rich Eclectic Touch to this Bedroom

Designer: Colette Van Den Thillart Interior Design

This bedroom takes an eclectic turn with Asian fabrics and their rich symbolic motifs. Eluding to the ‘tree of life’ amidst a dry desert, the wavy vines, foliage and animal life depicted here have deep philosophical connotations. The solid mauve color on the exterior side of the curtains offers a vibrant contrast to the busy patterns on the inside. And, a patternless, white wall background enables this statement canopy bed to stand out distinctly.

White Sheer Curtains on this Wooden Four Poster Bed Stands out with its Swag even as the Palette Blends in

Designer: Colette Van Den Thillart Interior Design

Enhancing the visual height of this low-ceiling bedroom, a white four poster canopy offers soft elegance in bright soothing hues. With magnificent swags created by the overlapping rod pocket curtains tied back to the four posters, this canopy makes its presence felt even as it recedes into the background with a tone-on-tone palette.

White Sheer Canopy Curtains Stand Out as an Island of Serenity in this Vibrant Maximalist Decor

Designer: Pooja Gupta

A white canopy offsets the vibrant colors that occupy voluminous space in this maximalist bedroom. The white sheer back tab top panels that surround the bed help shut off that vibrance visually to rest the mind. Making an architectural appeal with its well-tailored pleats attached to the wooden structure directly, these curtains emphasize their presence as they are immovable.

READ MORE: DECORATING WITH NEUTRAL CURTAINS: TOP IDEAS & TIPS

White Tab-Top Panels add Contrast to this Bedroom’s Moody Ambience

Designer: Rohit Bhoite House of Design

Solid white sheer curtains offer a beautiful contrast to the solid wood four poster bed and the deep, moody hues of this modern eclectic bedroom. With narrow tab top panels that cannot offer a sweeping coverage, these curtains seek demarc the sleep zone from the rest of the bedroom in a non-invasive manner.

Make Your Bed an Idyllic Haven with Canopy Bed Curtains

Having been in and out of style for centuries now, canopy bed curtains have always found new iterations in every age with functional and decorative nuances. They’ve aged like fine wine, exchanging the heavy Victorian ruffles for modern sleek refinement. Whether you love maximalist excesses or minimalist simplicity, there’s a canopy bed that befits your style. Solid or patterned, gauzy or chunky, half-tester, fortified or crowning, every type of canopy bed has a unique personality. Introduce these remarkably chic, cozy and whimsical accessories to your bedroom and create a sense of peaceful enclosure, shut off from the hurly-burly world where you can sleep deep and dream high! 

And once you know exactly what you want and are ready to order curtains for your canopy or windows, even doors, whatever your purpose, we have the perfect drapery for your space. Browse over 3000+ fabrics and make your choice, customize as you like with trims or tassels, add a tie-back, purchase matching accessories, and complete the custom look of your home.

READ MORE: TOP 20 CURTAINS FOR YOUR TEEN GIRL’S BEDROOM

WINDOW TREATMENT IDEAS FOR ARCHED WINDOWS

An amalgam of refined artistry and iconic architecture, arched windows come in several variations – each, a marvel in their own way. However, as much as they are prized for their unique and dramatic form, they are the bane of existence for home stylists who are tasked to find suitable window coverings for them. If this situation is relatable to you, this blog on window treatments for arched windows might break the deadlock and help you find the right window dressings for your arched beauties. 

Order custom window treatments for arched windows from Spiffy Spools. Pick from over 3000 fabrics handstitched to the exact made-to-measure sizes and styles!

Covering Arched Windows: The Challenges & Pitfalls

It may be apt to say that arched windows were not historically and inherently designed to be covered as much as to enable cross-ventilation, increase air circulation and bring in unhindered light when regular-sized windows below them were closed for privacy and security. No wonder it’s hard to cover them and if you try to, these are the struggles you might face:

• Window treatments, whether side-stacking ones or top-stacking ones, are typically mounted on straight drapery poles, tracks or blind headrails. While straight hardware is still an option for many arched windows, many clients prefer to accentuate the curves of the windows, and therefore are forced to explore arched hardware options – which are not as readily available at hardware stores. 
• Given the non-standard shape of windows, clients are often also met with the grueling demands of precision measurement and heavy bills for customized window treatments.
• Arched windows are specialty windows, but sometimes the type of arch it is makes it even more special. The arch whose height is exactly half its width, rightly called the ‘perfect arch’, is (relatively) easy to measure and dress. But all arches don’t adhere to this style, making them more creatively blessed and that much more difficult to dress.
• An architectural feature so gorgeous as an arched window needs a dressing befitting of its grandeur. This can limit client choices aesthetically, as they try to ensure that the dressing offers coverage without robbing the architectural value of the windows.

Despite the challenges that come with arched windows, these windows are timeless architectural features that never stop piquing the visual interest of homeowners and designers. That’s because the complex profiles of arched windows, being better aligned with the organic shapes of nature, is more appealing to the human eye. 

Besides, challenges mother inventions. So, for every complex window, there’s a window treatment that will save your day. 

No matter what type of arched windows you have – the perfect arch that reminds of the half moon, the palladian windows that are flanked by sidelights, or the pointed arches of Gothic lineage – you’ve got a stunning showstopper at your hand. You need window treatments that provide coverage and also celebrate their architectural novelty. And to this effect, we present to you our top favorite ideas to dress up your arched windows. Enjoy!

Curtains Cover the Lower Half of this Arched Window Balancing Privacy & Natural Light

In this Mediterranean-styled bathroom of a Dallas home, designer Laura Lee Clark has adorned the arched window with a pretty set of white cafe curtains. Blending into the tone-on-tone setting of delicious warm whites, these petite curtains offer sufficient privacy and a generous dose of sunshine at the same time. This minimal dressing tacitly shifts the spotlight to the pitched roof and carved sculpture beyond, both of which tie in with the arch of the window.

Blue Cellular Shades Add Contrast to a White Room While Providing Complete Insulative Coverage

Beautiful blue cellular shades paired with cellular arches make this minimalistically designed living room come alive with color and personality. Providing thick insulative cover from excessive heat with their honeycomb-style air pockets, these blackout shades help maintain room temperature and guarantee privacy in a busy neighborhood.

Honeycomb Shades Provide Functional Benefits While Stationery Curtains Add Visual Interest

In this cozy, traditionally-styled bedroom, cellular honeycomb shades flanked by curtains provide the perfect mix of function and style. The shades further the well-coordinated scheme of tasteful greens while adding a textural delight to the mix. The arched cellular shade on the top offers permanent coverage from sunlight while the shade below with its top-down/bottom-up feature offers versatile options for privacy and light control.

Specialty Arched Curtains in Front are Layered with Drapes Mounted on Straight Hardware to Provide Full Coverage

Double-layered curtains make a riveting focal point in this well-put-together bedroom. With plain white curtains mounted on a straight pole covering the lower part of the window and arc-shaped patterned drapes highlighting the arch, this arched window is the showstopper of the room.

Arched Hardware Hides Within the Arch of these Windows, Putting Spotlight on Curtains

In this tastefully designed living room, designer Rachel Kate has beautifully merged understated glamour with the architectural excellence of perfectly semi-circular arched windows. The silk puddled curtains flaunt their tailored appeal by seamlessly blending their hardware with the arch. The delicate embellishments of tassel trims and statement rope tie-backs complete the visual treat.

Ceiling-to-Floor Curtains Hang from Angled Hardware, Draping the Wall Columns Between Arched Windows

In a sunroom ready to welcome the golden sunrays through its stately arched windows, these ceiling-to-floor patterned drapes accentuate their grandeur. Draping the walls between the windows, these tailored beauties tie the separate windows visually into one continuous unit. And their delicate trellis motif in pared-back monochromes join hands with the dramatic curves of the upholstery and the windows themselves.

READ MORE: SUNROOM WINDOW TREATMENTS: IDEAS, PHOTOS & TIPS

White Curtains Mounted on a Sleek Straight Curtain Pole Cover the Entire Expanse of This Majestic Arched Window

A set of white curtains with grand floral trims offers sweeping coverage of the entire arched window in this English Manor-inspired home. Keeping affinity with the straight lines of the exposed wooden beams, the straight drapery rod offers a fitting contrast to the several curved features of the room.

READ MORE: WHITE CURTAINS WITH TRIMS: AKA ELEGANCE ON ELEGANCE

Drapery Pole is Positioned to Leave the Top Arch of the Window Bare, Welcoming Natural Light in this Sunroom

Curtains and roman shades dressed in blue-beige floral motifs scaled appropriately to the size of the window verily define the palette of this grand living room designed by Dane Austin Studio. Hung on a straight rod over the rectangular portion of the palladian window, plenty of light streams in through the exposed arch, tinging the seaside-inspired space with a golden sheen during the day.

Drapery Mounted on Short Drapery Poles Covers the Side Windows while Leaving the Arched Middle Pane Permanently Bare

Clean-trimmed modern palladian windows in this transitional living room get a sophisticated dressing in textured white drapes color-blocked with solid taupe, finished with a geometric trim. These neutral-toned floor-kissing drapes fulfill more of a decorative role than a functional one. This is ensured by using short drapery rods that cover the flanking windows only, while leaving the middle pane uncovered at all times. The mullions-free arch frames a stellar Sputnik chandelier most beautifully while the rectangular portion below the arch fosters the unbroken visual connection with the pool garden beyond.

Curtains Provide Full Coverage While Woven Shades are Placed on the Lower Half of these Arch Windows for Versatile Light & Privacy Control

A pair of pristine white curtains pair with bamboo woven shades to deck the arch windows of this bright and airy beachy-toned living room. The drapes cover the entire window while the shades cover the rectangular portion alone, leaving the lounger with multiple functional options – draw the curtains for full light control or draw the shades for privacy while leaving the arch open for light inflow. Mounting the hardware so close to the ceiling enables this ceiling-to-floor drapery to woo the eye upward and thereby create illusive height, making the ceiling appear higher than it actually is.

Sheer Cafe Curtains Covering the Lower Half of Arched Windows Are Paired with Opaque Floor-to-Ceiling Drape in this Opulent Bathroom

‘Sumptuous elegance’ can aptly summarize this traditional bathroom. Floor-to-ceiling, textured, euro pinch pleated drapes frame the entire span of the arched windows while white sheer curtains cover the lower rectangular portion. Mounting the hardware close to the ceiling makes the eye gauge the vertical span, making the ceiling appear higher than it is and the room more spacious. This additional sense of height adds to the luxe vibe which is well-articulated through the brass hardware, frosted glass chandelier and ornately curved furniture.

READ MORE: BATHROOM WINDOW CURTAINS: IDEAS & TIPS

White Plantation Shutters Adorn these Triple-Arched Windows Inside-Out, Adding to the Curb Appeal of this Home

The triple-arched window in this traditional home get a fitting dressing in white plantation shutters and sunburst arches that speak to the architectural details of the home. Offering versatile control over light inflow and privacy, these slatted window treatments don’t only ornament those specialty windows in the interiors but also on the exterior facade, elevating the curb value of the home exponentially.

Black Plantation Shutters Cover the Lower Half of Arch Windows, While Letting in Abundant Light from the Bare Top

Sleek-slatted black plantation shutters adorn the arched windows of this traditional living room, tying in with the black accents and offering a stark contrast to the plain white walls. Covering only the lower half of the window, the arch on the window panel makes its statement while letting in abundant light.

Arched Roller Shades Provide Full Coverage to these Oversized Picture Windows

A walkway with an array of oversized arch windows gets a sleek covering in white sheer roller shades. The curved shades make seamless contact with the arches highlighting the artful silhouettes of those shapely picture windows further. The transparency of these shades ensures a continuous visual connection with the fabulous landscapes while softly diffusing the harsh sunlight.

Wooden-Textured Venetian Blind Covers the Lower Half of the Arched Window, Offering Veiled View of the Outdoors through its Slats

A modern venetian blind gels beautifully with a space packed with country-style organic elements by furthering the beige palette of the rattan baskets and damask print carpet. The space will never be cut off completely from natural light as the exposed arch atop the window gives it free rein throughout the day. Offering a veiled view through the slats, this blind ensures privacy while allowing light and air in.

Wooden Slatted Blinds Cover The Lower Half of the Arched Windows in this Traditional Home Office

A traditional home office wrapped in solid wood from ceiling to floor carries forward its obsession with solid wood in the wooden slatted blinds covering the arched windows. Designed in a soft brown tone, the blinds leave the arch open for light inflow while covering the lower rectangular portion. Being a perfect-fit inside-mount treatment, it allows for the inbuilt seating right below the window sill to be used without any hindrance.

Specialty Arched Roman Shades Cover the Wide Arch of this Window Seamlessly

A custom cut, fabric floral roman shade in creamy pastels brings life into a bathroom wrapped in black-and-white tiles. The extraordinarily wide-angled reveal of the window draws focus to the arch and the inside-mounted arched roman shade that is customized to hug the curve. The stationary semi-circled upper portion of the shade permanently covers the arch while the lower portion of the window can be opened and closed as per the need.

READ MORE: ROMAN SHADES FOR BATHROOM: BEST IDEAS & TIPS

Outside-Mounted Roman Shades Hide the Top Arch of these Windows, Drawing Focus on Other Elements in the Room

This home office gets a massive facelift with coordinated upholstery and roman shades in a blue-white wavy chevron print with mint green accents that rhyme with the ceiling’s wallpaper. Roman shades mounted outside the window frame so close to ceiling, give freedom to treat the arched window like any other window and not be limited by its specialty shape. When the shade is completely closed, it gives no clue that the window it veils is arched.

READ MORE: TOP FIVE MISTAKES TO AVOID IN HOME OFFICE DECOR

White Sheer Shades Blend Into the White Walls to Highlight the Lake-View in this Sunroom

The arched picture windows of this lake-facing sunroom are minimally dressed to make the most of the views and light. With sheer roman shades covering the lower portion and the mullioned arches left bare, this sunroom can be fully trusted for its purpose. The sheer shades accord daytime privacy and protection from harsh glare while taking nothing away from those picturesque views. With a solid off-white that calls no attention, the shades sink into the white walls, letting the waterscape be the statement feature of the room.

READ MORE: ROMAN SHADES FOR SUNROOM: LET LIGHT IN WITH STYLE

Specialty Blinds Permanently Cover the Arch of the Windows While Lower Half Provides a Versatile Light Control Option

A bow window comprising a row of tiny arched windows in an artist’s studio gets detailed attention with inside-mounted beige Vignette specialty shades whose arched upper portion is stationary while the rectangular lower portion is operable.

Arch-Shaped Roman Shades Complement the Arch of Windows & the Vaulted Ceiling of this Bathroom

Interior decor celebrates architecture in this opulent bathroom. The arch-shaped roman shades highlight the barrel vault ceiling that culminates its journey at the partial arch head window. Each of the custom shades traces the shape of their respective arch at the top and displays a delicate swag at the bottom. Their tasteful botanical print ties together the theme of the framed views to the palette of the floor tiles.

Custom Drapes & Coordinated Valance with Arch Cut-Out Add A Bespoke Touch to this Arched Window

Custom drapes topped by a coordinated valance dress up this room glamourously. The board-mounted valance covers the drapery rod and by making seamless contact with the ceiling, it draws the eye upward, elongating the tiny room optically. Instead of using an arched curtain rod, the designer has highlighted the arch of the window with a matching cut-out in the valance. Sticking to the two-tone palette of the room besides embracing the specialty shape, this window’s decor speaks of serious forethought and a keen eye for detail.

READ MORE: HOW TO HANG CURTAINS WITH VALANCE

Vaulted Ceiling in this Room is Further Emphasised by the Arched Custom Valance Paired with Roman Shades

A custom-made arched valance and coordinated roman shade counterbalance the rosy vibrance of this seating area with neutralized blues and tiny motifs. The arched shape of the valance highlights the vault of the ceiling while the pink trim echoes the wallpaper’s hues. The fabric roman shade with its perfect-fitting frees the space under the window for the built-in seating to be used conveniently.

Arched Woven Shade Provides Permanent Coverage on Top While the Lower Portion Offers Functional Benefits

A seaweed woven shade overlays this traditional bathroom with textural variety and an organic vibe while its pastel green is echoed suitably in the cabinetry and sidings. With a stationary arched portion that permanently covers the arch of the window, the shade seeks to highlight the unique shape besides ensuring light control. When the shade is completely rolled down, it still allows access for light and air through its weave without compromising privacy.

Wooden Woven Shades Cover The Lower Halves of the Picture Windows, Leaving the Top Arches Permanently Bare in this Sunlit Sunroom

A huge arched window that beautifully frames the giant tree beyond is the pride of this grand living room and is befittingly left bare to be its own statement. An array of picture windows beneath soaked in picturesque greens are suitably dressed in woven wooden shades that relate to the outdoorsy theme in essence. The shades can be completely closed for privacy and the dabbled shadows they cast by their textured weave will be a visual treat on a golden day.

Drawing a Full Circle on the Arched Window Situation

We hope that this blog has proven to be a comprehensive reference for you to consider various options for your arched window coverings in detail. Do research in depth about the window covering that piqued your interest the most before you dawn on the final choice. And ensure that the selection process satisfies the architectural features and functional requirements of your arched windows. 

If your heart is leaning towards fabric treatments, we invite you to browse our website for more inspiration. Spiffy Spools’ consultants are only a call away if you have any queries. And regardless of which treatment you choose, may it be a show-stopper well deserved by the architectural gem it dresses! 

READ MORE: WINDOW TREATMENTS FOR BAY WINDOWS: IDEAS & TIPS

MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE: HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY & ESSENTIAL TRAITS

An ingenious design style of the early twentieth century, roughly the 1940s-60s, mid-century modern design is all about functional, open, and uncluttered spaces. More aptly called a design movement, it caused a paradigm shift from the overdone traditional decor to a simplified design language of clean lines, simple shapes, and minimal decor. It worked towards democratizing design by prioritizing function over form in visual aesthetics and adopting advanced production techniques. 

Down the centuries, newer design styles emerged, but certain elements of this iconic style remain popular. Offering a healthy mix of retro and modern, practicality and aesthetics, indoors and outdoors, natural and artificial, the mid-century modern design style often appears as a nostalgic tweak in contemporary design styles.  

If you’re smitten by this style’s simplified aesthetics – perhaps a homemaker trying to incorporate its aesthetic in your home, or an influencer playing with the Vista Create Tool to create an informative booklet for your readers, we invite you to an enjoyable reading on its history, traits and rich philosophical core.

Mid-Century Modern: A Brief History

Understanding the origin of a design style often helps to assimilate its essence better. If history had been essayed differently, the mid-century modern design movement would have probably not seen its day. All credit goes to the landmark events of the early twentieth century.

It was a war-torn economically beaten world, further challenged by the baby boom, that had to reconstruct the battered society and economy with fewer resources at hand. There was also a growing understanding of human rights and social responsibility due to a collective contemplation of the war and its aftermath.

Traditional design style’s overembellishments, luxurious materials, and heavy excesses rung ostentatious against this scenario, besides being too expensive and non-practical for the thriving middle class. Affordable and accessible design was visibly the need of the hour.

Despite the trauma and struggle, optimism pervaded due to the foray into space and the invention of the computer and television. Add to this mix the availability of new synthetic materials like vinyl, plywood, and plastic and technologically-backed mass production techniques and you have all the ingredients needed for a ground-breaking design style.

Incorporating the wisdom of the 1920s’ German Bauhaus movement and the budding Scandinavian design style, the mid-century modern movement gradually took shape. It replaced superfluous details with svelte designs, made-to-order handcrafting with mass production, overly embellished architecture with pared-back structures, and meaningless excesses with minimal decor.  High-quality, low-maintenance, and beautiful design with economic viability, functional efficiency, and easy accessibility was the goal of this ambitious modern design style. 

Function-oriented aesthetics and harmony with other design styles make the mid-century modern design style ever-relevant. Its iconic furniture, simplified structures, open-plan concept, and decluttered design continue to influence architecture and design globally. 

Essentials of Mid-century Modern Design Style

Post-war optimism and Atomic Age influence played a key role in the formation of the mid-century modern design style. This historical context is largely visible in its essential traits. Form follows function and materiality enjoys the spotlight. Structures and decor are pared-down and practical ease is emphasized. 

The mid-century modern style is so ubiquitous that even if you know nothing about this design style, you’ll surely have its furniture in your home right now. Not just the quintessential Eames chair, but several design inventions of this style remain timeless.  Let’s take a peek into the essential traits and time-honored gifts of the mid-century modern design style –

Streamlined Finishes 

The departure from the swirls and twirls of traditional maximalist decor is the most evident trait of this style. Art, architecture, furniture, and design exhibited simple forms, clean lines, and gentle curves. The emphasis is on creating more airy spaces with less clutter and visual noise.

This simplicity helped in three ways: Reducing items to their base form reduced investment of resources and labor, making them more economical. The simple design was more adaptable to the newly invented mass-production techniques. For the end user, the design was made cheaper and regular maintenance easier as dust accumulation was minimized. 

Minimal Decor

Since the post-war era was one of economic challenges and seeking maximum utilization of available resources, the decor was reduced to the bare minimum. Natural light was valued and the spaces were left minimally furnished and least decorated so that light could percolate into every nook and cranny.

Decor for decor’s sake is rare in a mid-century modern home and when present, it features organic and geometric shapes. Extensive gallery walls are given up for a single emphatic modern art installation that works as the focal point. Functional accessories are designed beautifully, but all the frills, laces, and artful additions exchanged for simple silhouettes and clean lines.   

Openness in Architecture and Layout 

Open floor plans and huge windows were for the first time introduced in this era. And, they are still found in contemporary design styles today.

The practical purposes of a growing middle-class family were better served in large seamlessly connected spaces than in secluded smaller rooms. The cost of production could also be kept to a minimum.

In today’s context, bigger windows, usually picture windows, continue to be introduced to integrate the outdoors into the indoors and let in plenty of light. Window treatments are often removed totally or kept on the lighter side in order to maximize the incoming light.

Bold Colors & Patterns

Neutral colors were – and still are – used extensively in this style. But the bold and generous pops of color are visually emphatic and effortless focal points. Anything from furniture upholstery to accent walls is seen as an opportunity to introduce a stark contrast or bright hue to the space. 

Although there is no over-indulgence in patterns, the few that appear are grand in scale. They are intentionally oversized to garner attention and anchor the space. Graphic wallpapers and patterned floor tiles with saturated colors and clean simple lines are typical of the mid-century modern style.

A Mix of Natural & Artificial Materials 

Since this style emerged at a time when synthetic materials became available and their low cost of production proved a godsend, we can see a carefully wrought intermingling of natural and artificial materials. 

There is extensive use of wood, especially teak and walnut wood, in the flooring, wall paneling, and furniture. They are minimally finished so as to highlight their natural beauty. Metal and leather are other natural materials that are used substantially, and juxtaposed with the easily sourceable glass, fiberglass, plastic, molded plywood, and vinyl. The malleability of these newly available materials made many innovative designs possible which were hard to achieve with solid wood.

Iconic Furniture

The furniture in this style is not only designed to be practical and long-lasting but also sculptural and elegant. They are the most apt examples in the design world of a marriage between form and function.

Clean and sleek with no embellishments, furniture is often left in its bare-boned state to highlight the beauty of the materials. Multi-purpose furniture and nested tables are the timeless space-saving innovations of this style. Function-oriented ergonomic furniture was also the contribution of this style as newly available materials could be molded easily into any shape. 

Tapered peg legs and hairpin legs were used to elevate the furniture from the floor for an unhindered flow of light in the space. Although solid wood was a popular choice, a mix of materials like wood and marble, plastic and metal, and wood and glass are classic mid-century modern looks.

The furniture produced in this era is a testimonial of the immense talent that was invested in the process of design. Several designers contributed of which Charles and Ray Eames and Hans Wegner are most prominent.

Final Words on a Timeless Design Style

It is visibly clear that the mid-century modern design style was a revolution more than just a decor style. It bears the imprint of the cultural and technological shifts of the age and the futuristic vision of the post-war world. It boldly converted its challenges into opportunities and made the most of the little that was available. The optimistic spirit of the times is visible in its innovative and creative ventures while the newly realized values of justice and human rights left no stone unturned to make design democratic and accessible. Although it is rare to see a home styled completely in the mid-century modern looks today, its influence on modern architecture, design, and furniture is phenomenal and enduring.

To learn about more decor styles and get interior design and window treatment tips and tricks, explore our Spiffy Speak blog page which is sure to serve as your personal interior design encyclopedia. Lastly, if you want to shop for new fabric window treatments or accessories like bed runners, curtain trims, tie-backs, or table runners, we wholeheartedly welcome you to the Spiffy world where we have over 3000 fabrics in store to match every decor style and taste. Stay spiffy and shop Spiffy Spools!

READ MORE: WINDOW TREATMENT IDEAS FOR ARCHED WINDOWS

5 Tips For Dressing A Window For Privacy

When it comes to interior design, there are two things you need to think about when you move onto the windows: style and privacy. For instance, while it might be great that your lounge has a lot of light, that light is there because it has a lot of windows – and more windows mean less privacy.

This is especially true if you are living in a city or a suburban area and trying to decorate an apartment, where you have no front garden to hinder or distance the view. When you think about dressing your windows, you have to do it with both style and privacy in mind, and neither should sacrifice the other.

You might be thinking: well, okay, I’ll just buy some curtains. But that’s where a lot of homeowners trip up. Completing your room – and your household, for that matter – involves picking dressings that are both aesthetically pleasing and practical, and to do that, you’re going to need a few tips. Whether you’re hanging curtains in a small dorm room, decorating a large condo, or redecorating a luxe bungalow, some window dressing principles hold true for all spaces and need to be followed.

So, without further ado, here are 5 of the best tips that should help you plow forward with your interior design and keep your private life secured within the house:

Think About Your Light

Before getting into anything else, we need to discuss your lighting situation. Apart from your privacy, this is the single most important thing to get right. For instance, if you’re looking for bedroom window treatments, you need to prioritize a high level of darkness, meaning you should go for heavyweight, blackout bedroom curtains or room-darkening roman shades for the bedroom. If you are trying to brighten up a dark room, or buying curtains for your sunroom or lounge, you need to let in as much natural light as possible. Any living space needs to be well-lit, and the last thing you want to do is choose a window treatment that might block the view but will also block the light at the same time. So, your solution lies in buying light-filtering sheers or choosing lightweight linen curtains and roman shades.

What Works For Your Household?

You also need to think about your household. By that we mean, who is living in this home? Do you have kids? Teenagers? A particularly mischievous pet? If you do, then you might want to look at blinds that have safety devices keeping chains and cords fastened out of reach. Even with these features, it’s also important to angle your furniture away from the blinds and eliminate the temptation for your children to climb. Although a homeowners insurance policy will generally cover window damage as long as it doesn’t result from general wear and tear or lack of proper maintenance, it’s best to do everything you can to avoid damage, especially considering…

Your Budget!

Your budget is an important factor in this. If you buy wooden blinds or Venetian blinds, then you will need to clean your blinds more regularly, either with a vacuum or by removing them carefully and giving them a wash. If you don’t, then the blinds will degrade over time, and you’ll only have to replace them. Even before this, however, you should think about your budget before you go for the most expensive thing on the menu. By and large, you should be able to find great privacy window dressings that have higher-end styles too, but every price will vary, so keep it – and the dressings longevity – in mind before you buy.

READ MORE: CUSTOM CURTAINS COST GUIDE

What’s The Local Climate Like?

Heat is another important factor. It’s all very well using thick, darkened dressings to secure your privacy, but what about your comfort too? Everyone deserves to feel comfortable in their home, but if you live in a hot climate and choose heavy-duty roman shades, because they are made from solid fabric without any gaps for air, they’re going to act like insulation and keep the heat of the sun in the room. On the other hand, if you choose Venetian blinds because they look pretty – but you live in a cold part of the country, then you should know that they are designed to keep the heat out of a room rather than in. Think about where you live, and prioritize your comfort as well as privacy.

READ MORE: WHAT ARE ROMAN SHADES: A COMPLETE GUIDE

Think About Your Style

Style is also important, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. For example, many homeowners choose Venetian blinds because they look nice and are good for privacy, but Venetian blinds only block views from below or above, which might not be exactly what you are looking for. In this case, vertical blinds might be the best way to protect your privacy, as they can prevent views from left to right, which is good if you live on a street and are worried about passersby. With this in mind, you should work out where you are trying to achieve the most privacy and think of a style that best suits that.

Only after that can you have fun with matching your home decor, choosing dressing colors, and providing a beautiful finishing touch. For instance, if your house flaunts the clean lines of Scandinavian decor, you will choose the svelte look of white roman shades or if you want to add a touch of finesse, you may go for white curtains with trims while for coastal decor homes, you will want beach curtains like blue or white sheers. Furthermore, you may add charming embellishments to your window treatments like trims or matching curtain tie-backs to give your space a truly customized look.

As mentioned before, you will be able to find the best window dressing, it’ll just take some looking, maybe a bit of patience, and an online shopping spree with Spiffy Spools!

READ MORE: ROCK THE COASTAL LOOK WITH BEACH CURTAINS FOR BEDROOM WINDOWS

Order Custom Window Treatments from Spiffy Spools

Now that you can make informed decisions, we invite you to the fun part of this journey – the joyful shopping spree. To make it all the more enjoyable, we offer a vast range of over 3000 fabrics, and surfing through the entire collection while adding your favorite ones to the cart is nothing but pure happiness. Be ready to experience ‘oohs’ and get ‘ahhs’ from your guests as you check out with your virtual shopping cart. This entirely wholesome experience awaits you, so start exploring Spiffy Spools now!

READ MORE: 2022 INTERIOR DECOR TRENDS: A CHARMING MIX OF RETRO, NATURAL AND ZEN

ESSENTIAL MASTER BEDROOM CURTAIN IDEAS

Master bedrooms are often tricky spaces to dress up because if you go form over function, you risk its sleep-friendliness and if you keep it underwhelming, it’s unfair to your happy place. When it comes to choosing your master bedroom curtains, there needs to be a careful balance between function and aesthetics. So, light control, noise absorption, and privacy assurance are your prime motives but while chasing them, you need to adopt a design language that best defines your personality and aesthetic preferences. With this goal, we invite you to explore these essential master bedroom curtain ideas and tips from our expert drapery stylists, so you can create the perfect retreat for yourself!

Order custom curtains and drapes from Spiffy Spools online in any size. Pick from over 3,000 fabrics and patterns! Shop Now

Five Essentials of Master Bedroom Curtains

What is a bedroom meant to be? A piece of paradise? A cozy laid-back lounge where you can sleep like nothing else matters? A soothing oasis where you replenish your energies after a long weary day, or all of the above? Whatever your idea of the perfect bedroom or the defining traits of your decor style, there are five essentials of master bedroom curtains that one must never miss. And they are –

Light Control & Sound Deadening

Of all the good things that curtains can do to your master bedroom, light control, and noise reduction are the topmost. You need a sleep-inducing soothing bedroom space – a place so secure, dark, and silent, that you may fall asleep with the ease of a leaf dropping to the ground. 

The curtains must be explicitly designed to control incoming light, enable room darkening when needed, and contain noise so you can rest without disturbance until it’s time to wake up. Therefore, bedroom blackout curtains and roman shades are the surefire way to dress your bedroom windows. 

Blackout fabrics are chemically treated multi-layered fabrics that effectively block unwanted light and sound. They prevent light and external noise from entering your bedroom. Their thick textured surfaces are excellent sound absorbents as well as sound retractors that ultimately strip sounds of their shrillness. So, if you have young kids or pets or creaking floors, rest easy, your curtains will largely insulate you from their sounds.

You have two ways to go blackout. One is to choose blackout drapery fabrics and they come in impressively diverse colors and patterns. They can be as playful as our Vamizi dimout curtains or as soothing as the cream Warm Snow blackout curtains. But if you want to widen your choice spectrum, choose the second method, which is to select any drapery fabric and back it with blackout lining. 

However, the journey toward a darkened silent bedroom does not end with selecting the most insulative fabric or lining. To know about further steps to be taken, read our blog post on styling blackout curtains wherein our expert stylists spill out the secrets of creating the perfect room-darkening drapery.

READ MORE: ROOM DARKENING VS BLACKOUT VS DIMOUT CURTAINS: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Privacy

The sense of safety and enclosure is the next thing that a bedroom must provide. Privacy is imperative, and more so if your bedroom windows overlook a busy neighborhood. Master bedroom curtains are tasked with making your sanctuary a confined zone reserved for you. 

• ENSURE DAYTIME PRIVACY WITH SHEERS: Even if bedrooms are used less during the day, protecting them from outside view with sheer curtains is advisable. And, in doing so, they do not block incoming light or cover those precious views. Take a look at our softly charming Cloud White sheer curtains that can let plenty of sunlight in through their misty veil while making the indoors appear hazy from the outside.
• AMP UP WITH SHEER CURTAINS: Bedroom sheer curtains should be layered with non-sheer or blackout curtains to provide nighttime privacy. For foolproof privacy, keep blackouts as your top choice because they don’t reveal even the shadows out, leaving it for guesswork whether your bedroom is lit or not when viewed from outside. 
• ADD THE FUNCTIONALITY OF BLINDS: If you like the idea of layering but prefer sleeker combinations, consider pairing curtains with roman shades, designing either of them in sheer or blackout fabric. With one layer opening sideward and the other upward, you get a more versatile arrangement for functional purposes.

 READ MORE: 5 TIPS FOR DRESSING A WINDOW FOR PRIVACY

Insulation

During extreme weather conditions, curtains can be trusted with insulating the bedroom better than any other window treatment. Vents and windows leak thermal energy during winter, and allow external heat inside during summer. Neither of these circumstances is conducive for a good night’s sleep! Therefore, we highly recommend blackout drapes and double-layered window treatments for bedrooms. 

Blackout fabrics and linings help retain the thermal energy of the room within its seams during winter. Similarly, they keep your home cooler during summer by obstructing the cool air from an air-conditioned bedroom from mixing with the hot air in the external environment. 

The insulative capacity of curtains is inversely related to your power bills. The more efficiently you seal up the windows, the less you spend on energy to heat/cool the home. That saves you almost 20% on your energy bills and is also consoling for the environment so aggrieved with air pollution.

READ MORE: HOW TO SAVE ON ENERGY BILLS USING WINDOW TREATMENTS

Aesthetics

Since curtains take up much optical real estate, it would be a lost opportunity if they don’t bring in the most needed design elements. Whether you need color, pattern, or texture, curtains can do the best job as fabrics come with a gargantuan choice spectrum. 

Although the aesthetics of your bedroom window treatments are essentially a matter of personal choice, we have a few tips to help you get the best out of your curtains.

BE INTENTIONAL WITH THE PALETTE: Neutral curtains and pastel curtains are top choices for bedroom curtains as they are less engaging and more soothing. As your personal style evolves with time, you’ll find this choice timeless as it blends with any palette and decor. Our Quiet Sky drapes is one such example of ageless decor and compatibility with all decor styles with its pink neutralized to a mellowed blush.  However, evaluate your choice on the basis of how it syncs with your light control goals too as lighter shades admit more light while darker ones block more. 

BALANCE SOLIDS WITH PATTERNS: If you have patterned wallpapers or murals on the walls or you tend to buy patterned bed linens, consider solid drapes to offer counterbalance. Or, au contraire, if your bedroom is dominated by solids and begging for some spice, consider patterned drapes.

CHOOSE THE PERFECT FABRIC: Do you prefer your bedroom to be a warm retreat and give off a homely lived-in feel? Or, have you fallen for the crisp dressed-up hotel suites? The choice of material will highly hinge on the answers to these questions. For a relaxed look for your bedroom, we recommend linen and cotton curtains. For a more dressy and formal look, check out our silk and velvet drapes.

SYNC WITH OVERALL DECOR: The feel that you wish your bedroom to emanate and the decor style that you have followed in the rest of the room must be voiced eloquently in the choice of curtains. For a modern look, consider contemporary stylings such as neutral solid drapes done in grommet tops or ripplefolds. For a traditional look, consider floral curtains or printed pinch pleat drapes.

PICK THE RIGHT HARDWARE: How well your curtains integrate with the bedroom’s decor depends to some extent on the hardware choices as well. With tracks, your curtains enjoy all the focus, but with drapery poles, the attention will be shared. You can choose to show or expose the hardware, and accordingly, choose colors and finishes that get highlighted or recede to the background. If you have your hardware installed already, be mindful of choosing heading styles that are compatible with it.

Personalization

While most other rooms may be toned down or spiced up to entertain visitors or be usable for kids and pets, bedrooms are your private quarters that can be stamped by your personality unapologetically. So, personalize your drapes to make them a heartwarming visual treat. After all, why should your master bedroom curtains look like the run-of-the-mill kind hoarded on the aisles of big-box stores when custom drapery lets you have them bespoke? 

So, aside from the obvious choice of fabric, how can you personalize your bedroom drapes? We have three options for you at Spiffy Spools – 

• TRIMS: Accessorizing spells out all the fun, in drapery as much as in fashion. Tassels, fringes, pompoms, braids – the world of passementerie, of artfulness, whimsy,  and dexterous craftsmanship is open for you. Use our delightful drapery trimmings to add a tone or texture or just a handmade element to the mix. As they soften the lead edges and add personality to the room, the bespoke nature of your drapery will speak for itself.

• COLORBLOCKING: This is a marvelous technique by which you integrate two fabrics into one curtain panel. You may use this opportunity to mix two colors or to juxtapose a solid with a pattern. One thing that can be guaranteed is that it will be a one-of-its-kind drapery that has no duplicates anywhere in the world. If you cannot find a drapery fabric that rings in the desired palette or if you’re keen to introduce patterns but without letting them drown the chorus, colorblocking your drapes is a great option.

• COORDINATING FABRIC ACCESSORIES: For a cohesive look, add some accessories that coordinate with your drapes. Spiffy Spools provides cushions and pillow covers, bed runners, curtain tiebacks, valances, and more in the same fabric as your new drapes. Small but thoughtful details like these will really bring your master bedroom together.

READ MORE: STYLING DIFFERENT FABRICS IN YOUR ROOM: THREE TIPS

Curtain Ideas for Small Bedroom Windows

Unfavorable architecture brings out the best in a designer. Small bedrooms or small bedroom windows can put you in that tough spot where every design decision has to reconcile with the limited availability of space. But hold on. There are tested-and-true ways to design your curtains for small bedrooms to make the space/windows feel larger. And here are our recommendations – 

CREATE CONTINUITY WITH PALETTE: Match the curtain color to the wall paint as best as you can, and you’ll blur the contours so well that the whole space looks like one unit. Where contrasting colors highlight the shape and size of the window by causing visual breaks, a seamless flow of color makes the bedroom feel larger and more spacious to the eye.

EMPLOY PATTERNS TO ADD HEIGHT: Any patterns that run on the vertical axis like stripes, chevrons, and climbing vines pull attention upward. Curtains with vertical patterns make the ceiling seem higher and the windows seem longer than they are.

GO CEILING TO FLOOR: Any element in the room that spans the entire vertical space makes you gauge the height which would not happen otherwise. Full-scaled ceiling-to-floor curtains force the eye to travel upwards, making the bedroom look more grand, both in scale and in glamor.

KEEP FULLNESS LOW: Curtains are typically stitched with fabric double or triple the width of the window, to allow for sumptuous gather and fullness. The wider the panels, the denser the pleats. But in a small room or on a small window, a wide panel with too much fabric can overwhelm. Hence, we recommend curtains with lower fullness for small rooms and windows.

PLACE HARDWARE CORRECTLY: Mount the track/pole at least 6 inches above the window trim. It helps to make the window look taller and contains light leaks from above the curtains. Similarly, extend the pole by at least 6 inches on both sides so that the curtains can be stacked on the walls when they are not in use. Otherwise, they will stack in front of the window, blocking that much-needed access to light and air.

CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES: If you cannot spare space to hang curtains, perfect-fit treatments are the next best option. A gorgeous fabric bedroom roman shade is all you need to bring in the beauty and softness of drapes without commanding space from the walls or the floor. Or, if you cannot part with the elegance of drapery, make short curtains your friends.

READ MORE: WINDOW TREATMENTS FOR SMALL WINDOWS: IDEAS & TIPS

Order Custom Curtains from Spiffy Spools

We hope you find these master bedroom curtain ideas resourceful for your own design project. In your efforts to add flavor and mojo with tastefully designed curtains, may you enjoy the process as much as the result. If you’re ready to start shopping, order your custom curtains from Spiffy Spools today. We make it easy to design curtains that fit your exact specifications and style. Explore our site to find the perfect options for your bedroom, and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions!

READ MORE: WINDOW TREATMENT IDEAS FOR BEDROOMS

Maximalist Home Decor: Key Principles of Elegant Eclecticism

‘Maximalism’ was once synonymous with over-embellished Victorian homes lavishly stylized with colossal chandeliers, plush furniture, and heavy draperies – all fine-finished with labyrinth detailing and gilded trims. Fast forward two centuries, and we see its happy resurgence, making maximalist homes a convergence of art, history, and drama. However, the difference is that maximalism today is not confined to the classical; it may be entirely modern or a mix of classical and modern. 

Brimming with mixed patterns and saturated colors, excessive collections and unusual finds, detailed embellishments, and heavy layering, maximalism forges a bold visual treat with an ode to sterling craftsmanship. With its characteristic excesses, maximalism quenches the need for creative bandwidth and freshness. And, if you’re fascinated by this interior design style, it may be because of these signature traits:

A Bold Cohesive Color Palette  

In a maximalist space, the ‘more is more’ concept takes on a kaleidoscopic definition by its bold foray into saturated colors and striking contrasts. The intensity, variety, and volume of colors that interact with each other within a single space are phenomenal. 

And yet, this color riot, as it may seem to an untrained eye, is in fact a fine-tuned color story that segues effortlessly, nonetheless, with purpose and strategy. 

The purpose is clearly to induce joy and to express one’s personality unabashedly through an artfully bold and colorfully pleasant statement of personal tastes. 

Walls are dripping with deep rich hues that not only make a vibrant statement by themselves but also offer a wholesome backdrop for the decor accessories on them to pop. And everything, from furniture to accessories, is deeply tinged with color and personality.

The strategy is to choose a few colors to dominate, in both intensity and volume and then build the color narrative with tints and shades of that elite group. Then repeat this color scheme rhythmically throughout the space. Other colors pop up generously throughout the room in small volumes and accent the dominating hues, complementing them beautifully. Together, they become a compelling visual treat as a whole.

So, although maximalist decor features an audacious festival of bold colors, cohesiveness, and intentionality form the golden thread that binds the whole program together. 

A Well-Considered Mix of Patterns

Patterns are a huge part of the maximalist manifesto; and their scaling, palette, and design speak of a keen eye for detail. Just like colors, patterns are generously strewn around to anchor attention with their dynamism. It’s usually a wide-ranging mix of motifs, both native and exotic, traditional and modern, simple and elaborate.

Several patterns may be at play in the same space – but none compete with each other nor look too busy together. This masterful feat is the result of a thoughtful mixing of simple and complex patterns as seen, for example, in the magnificent swirls of damasks being counterbalanced with the sharpness of stripes. 

Further, coherence is achieved by adhering to a controlled palette and scale. So, patterns that co-exist share a common base color or adhere to a color scheme with full commitment. As regards scale, the visual impact of large motifs is set off with a strategic grouping of medium and small ones.

The secret behind this crowding of assorted motifs still feeling like a visual treat – not clutter – is the substantial neutral space that often grounds them. Solids interspersed between patterns allow for the eye to rest before it falls on another pattern. So, there is a pattern-fest, but the fine line between liberality and judiciousness is discerned tastefully.

Eclecticism at its Best 

Maximalism draws on an eclectic understanding of beauty and highlights it with style and drama. It pays homage to history but also celebrates the present. It’s a meaningful melange of the old and the new, the traditional and the modern, the local and the global. Therefore, it offers immense scope for personalizing the space to its minutest details accommodating even the most polarized choices with cohesiveness and elegance. 

Maximalism hallows your geographical and cultural roots but also solemnly honors your contemporary eclectic finds. The idea is to create beauty by tapping into the visual power, historical value, and aesthetic richness of many decor styles, from cultures and traditions across the world.

Where most design styles will only be able to feature art, architecture, and decor of a particular period or origin, maximalism lets you lay down your varied interests on one platter. The focus is not on following a design trend or committing to a particular design style but on appeasing your personal tastes accrued over time with gleanings from several decor styles, eras, and geographies. The maximalist home is literally a three-dimensional statement of your curated design style.

The Art of Layering and Grouping

There is indeed much going on in a maximalist setting, yet everything seems well put together. How? Maximalism discerns the fine line between clutter and curating and brings about order in abundance, and coherence in variety with the help of two strategies: Layering and Grouping.

Layering: Layered compositions bring multiple shapes, colors, and patterns to play within a given space – all playing off of each other and making a visually compelling whole. ‘Layering’, as the word rightly denotes, is arranging layer upon layer, creating multi-dimensionality, depth, and volume. 

Every surface is layered with various colors, patterns, and textures. For example, window coverings may be composed of inset roman shades and outside-mounted curtains topped by valances. With a coordinated color palette, all the elements look perfectly put together – a wholesome visual treat.

Our stylists recommend layering up on other elements too – sofa throws, bed linens, lighting for instance – to bring more warmth, depth, and insulation to the space. Read our blog for more ideas and tips on how to enhance depth and texture in your homes with layering.

Grouping: Abundance and variety coming together is an assured recipe for a hot mess, if not for strategic grouping. Collectibles are often displayed in groups formed on the basis of commonality. To avoid seeming like a hoard for its own sake, groups of odd numbers are formed with varying heights, widths, and volumes to make it look like an eclectic treasure curated organically and evolved over time. 

A figurine collector, for instance, may lay out his treasures in groups of marble and bronze, each displaying varied dimensions – a mix of robust and lean, tall and short, busts and torsos.  

Visual pleasance and appreciation of the unique character of each item are given weightage over geometrical symmetry to foster perfection as a whole from the seeming imperfection of the individual.

READ MORE: LAYERING ROMAN SHADES WITH CURTAINS

Art that Tells Your Story

Maximalism’s key intent behind the intense display of art, color, and curated collections is not about making a style statement, but about expressing yourself, your passion, lifestyle, culture, beliefs, core values, and aspirations. The space you live in becomes an extension of you, and not a presentation of big-box store finds. Maximalism, therefore, puts ‘you’ at the center, not the designer or the design style. 

The decor highlights your history with heirloom pieces, nostalgic mementos of estranged homelands, precious memorabilia of loved ones collected from travels, and hobby-based collections. Your personal works of art displayed as a vignette of your life and personality often become ice-breakers and conversation-starters with visitors. 

And in doing so, maximalism is bursting with artfulness in every jot and title. It does not content in making a focal point of a large art piece but goes all out with a ceiling-to-floor gallery wall. Over and above formal living rooms, dining rooms, transitional spaces like hallways and stairways also feature walls covered with art, photographs, and memorabilia.

Collectibles are laid out at various spots like fireplace mantles, side tables, and coffee tables, where their color, texture, and artful shapes come under the spotlight. A chinoiserie connoisseur may exhibit antique ginger jars, a shell hobbyist may lay out precious seashore finds and an artist might line up one’s own favored handiworks.

Whichever direction you turn to, there is something that piques your heart, brings nostalgia, and sparks joy. Even functional accessories have a creative twist to them and often double up as decorative accessories. The fringe trims on furniture slipcovers, hand-carved finials of drapery poles, and the lace puddle-drop of table runners are testimonial samples of this incredible amalgam of function and style.

Renowned designer Mario Buatta’s profound words, “A house should grow in the same way that an artist’s painting grows; a few dabs today, a few more tomorrow, and the rest when the Spirit moves you” ring true. A maximalist home seems like a frozen moment in the middle of an evolution – it is never completely done as it evolves with the owner.

Bold, Eccentric, Dramatic

Maximalism does not only bring variety into the picture but also daring design choices that command attention. The idea is to frame a focal point even as there are plenty of visually gripping items in the room. So, you go bold on scale, color, or shape.

A grand crystal chandelier, a hot pink wallpaper, a multi-colored deep-pile rug, or all of the above may be rolled into one grand living room. There’s scope to go over the top, but without losing commitment to cohesiveness and purposefulness. 

Whether it’s a quirky contour, a dazzling hue, or a busy pattern, if that’s what you want to decorate your space with, maximalism has open doors. It’s all about channeling your identity and passion and pleasing none other than yourself.

Get the Ball Rolling

Brimming with glitz, extravagance, and tons of flavor, maximalism is a celebration of individual aesthetics, personality, and heritage in home decor. 

Collectors, globe-trotters, and color enthusiasts are instinctively wooed by maximalism’s natural scope for abundance and variety. However, it is also a style that anyone can incorporate into their home with careful consideration and self-exploration. Maximalism is timeless and will keep reinventing itself by drawing upon the richness of varied styles, cultures, and histories for ages to come.

READ MORE: MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE: HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY & ESSENTIAL TRAITS

Minimalist Home Decor: The Essential Principles

Simplicity, serenity, and sustainability – three ‘S’s to sum up one of the most powerful movements in interior design: minimalism. More than just another decor style, minimalism reflects a lifestyle philosophy that focuses on minimizing material belongings to maximize life experiences and well-being. Therefore, it entails stripping down to the very basics and exalting only the inevitable essentials. Translate that purpose-oriented downsizing into a design language, and you get light-filled spaces, clean lines, and minimal details.

Renowned German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe said it right that the philosophy of “Less is More” is at the heart of this modern interior design style. Functionality enjoys precedence over meaningless excesses and practical ease over high-maintenance frills. If minimalism’s forthrightness and easy elegance interests you, learn more about this design style’s essence in this blog.

The Defining Elements of Minimalism

Minimalism believes in keeping to the essentials and editing out superfluous clutter. 

The architecture itself exhibits simplicity through unadorned geometric shapes and neutral hues. The facade is not an imposing structure that commands attention but one that blends with the environment and lets the landscape speak for itself.  

Anything that does not offer a functional purpose or does not contribute to your sense of well-being fails to justify its inclusion in a minimalist space. Decor for decor’s sake is a rare sight in a minimalist home. The result is a sparsely – but thoughtfully – curated home that is decorated with things that hold meaning and purpose to you.  

The minimalist home does not revel in the accumulation of things but in a judicious ensemble of necessary possessions that enables you to focus on your desired lifestyle in terms of hobbies, activities, and interests. The design is elevated not by adding more to top it but by keeping it refined in its most simplified form. And so, every minimalist space has some prime characteristics:

Maximum Functionality, Minimum Hassle

Neat, organized, unfussy – that’s the first impression of a minimalist space. Functional efficiency and practical ease are the top priorities. This is ensured by a clear layout and simplified decor that makes regular cleaning and maintenance less time-consuming. 

The elements of the space are tightly edited and the layout worked with great forethought. Everything within the space has a reason to be and a clearly designated place to be at. It’s a well-organized space that is easy to maintain in its spick and span prettiness.

The aesthetic of the space consists in its simplicity, not in complexity or artful details. Every component, from architecture to furniture, is a bare-boned beauty with unfussy silhouettes and clean lines. 

The storage solutions of minimalist decor are a great example of beauty with simplicity and primacy to functionality. Closed ceiling-to-floor storage units that blend into the architecture are very typical of minimalist homes. This is done with a view to ensuring ample storage without calling for attention. Open shelves and display of items over them are avoided and the cabinetry usually features hardware-free flat-panel frontages. This helps to promote a clutter-free appeal and functional ease in multiple ways. Firstly, all the visual clutter gets masked and warrants lesser cleaning schedules. The absence of protruding trims, handles, and knobs makes the cleaning of the exterior easier and the seamless flow makes it optically less engaging. 

The purpose is served with ‘less’ instead of more. The maintenance is made less demanding and the design more svelte. Now that’s how every detail in a minimalist home is worked out – function first, foremost, and last.

Abundance of Natural Light

Natural light is an essential ornament of any minimalist space. Much like other contemporary styles like mid-century modern, huge picture windows maximize the view of the external environment. Further, they are dressed minimally with window treatments that sink into the architecture so the views get to be center stage and the light is maximized.

The sun-flushed interiors of a minimalist home are credited to careful layout and restrained decoration as well. Limited use of furniture and careful selection of those with neat and sleek profiles allows for light to navigate with minimum hindrance. It also helps to make small spaces look larger and dark spaces brighter.

Little to no embellishments may be seen on the walls or surfaces, so every element in the room is bouncing light or at least not blocking its flow invasively. This contributes to making the space feel calming, light, and airy. 

Neutral or Monochromatic Palette

A restrained palette is characteristic of minimalism. Neutral hues dominate the scene and bold colors are often only used as accents. In fact, white is the oft-repeated background theme in most minimalist homes because of its unparalleled innate power to reflect light. 

Stark contrasts are appreciated in this design style as they help to carve out those clean lines with more clarity and sophistication. Hence, black and its close shades are often present in accent roles. 

This cool color mix of white, black, and greys is often balanced with warm hues like browns and beiges. And it is brought about through the organic touch of wooden textures generously strewn around. They draw from the richness of nature and adhere to the low-key color scheme. 

Patterns are shunned totally or kept to a bare minimum at best, and the few that show up are simplistic ones like stripes, made further self-effacing with neutral or monochrome palettes. Solids dominate the space but textural richness is often introduced to make it cozy and inviting.

Generous Negative Space

Sparseness, usually seen as a ‘defect’ in many design styles, is the celebrated trait of minimalism. It is intentional and worn on the sleeve with pride. There is no urge to fill every inch with something that woos the eye, instead, the openness and bareness are the allure. More neutral space translates into a calming oasis with less matter to engage the eye and the mind.

Less furniture, seamlessly integrated storage, and plenty of open space are very characteristic of minimalist homes. The sharp angles of the architecture and the richness of the natural landscapes incorporated through oversized windows are the showstoppers while the interior decor is quiet and demure. 

Embellishments are kept to the minimum both in volume and in detail. Not gallery walls, but a single statement art installation; not a jungle, but a curated set of plants; not jarring wallpapers, but simple white walls – that’s minimalism’s pared-back elegance. 

Surfaces are kept as free and uncluttered as possible. So, the dining table may have nothing more than a sculptural vase with live plants and the living room couch just a pair of pillows. 

This tight editing may seem like austere renunciation, but what it factually does is put the spotlight on the few accessories that are there. The negative space around them leaves them without competition for attention so they can shine as they truly deserve. 

Minimalism is not busy with abundance and not stimulating with colors; there’s just enough for the purpose to be fulfilled and the mind can now focus on the more important things –  thoughts, ideas and events. 

Sustainability – the Farsighted Goal

Minimalism makes more with less, but why? Is it because of a lack of appreciation towards the artful or disdain for extravagance? The answer, in fact, is just the opposite and is couched in its historical origin. 

Minimalism started as a response to the erratic displays of wealth and complicated detail in interior design up until the dawn of the twentieth century. It was also the post-war strategy to make decor cheaper and readily available to the then economically challenged society through mass production and base model designs. Fast-forward a few decades, and environmental issues gained global attention for their detrimental effects that challenge our very survival. 

Minimalism today is an aggregate of all these responses. People are increasingly aware of their social responsibility and the need to minimize their footprint on the planet with eco-friendly homes and living. The more the accumulation of things, the faster will resources be spent to produce them, and the sooner will landfills be thronged. Minimalism seeks to offer a solution for environmental pollution and exploitation of natural resources by reducing consumption.

For the same reason, the quality of materials is given top consideration. The materials used for the construction and decoration of the house are typically sustainably sourced and capable of aging gracefully while withstanding depredation due to the elements of nature. Stone, wood, and metal are used generously for the construction of the house to ensure longevity. For the decor, biodegradable materials are preferred over non-sustainable ones like plastic, vinyl, and polyester.

And, thanks to mass production, modern interior design is fairly democratized as high-quality functional and decor accessories are made more readily available and economically viable. 

Minimalism has a far-sighted approach to global socio-economic and environmental issues and is not just about a lifestyle or a decor style but also about futuristic thinking and sustainable solutions.

READ MORE: SIMPLE HACKS FOR CREATING MORE SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Go the Minimalism Way: Make More with Less

Minimalism exchanges complex shapes for streamlined profiles, opulent embellishments for minimal details, and expendable accumulation for judicious and responsible use of resources. The goal is to embrace simplicity tangibly, promote maximum functional efficiency, and in the long run, ensure maximal sustainability. 

With a rich philosophy at its core, minimalism is about ‘making more with less’, and not about living with less. We hope you have acquired the secrets to making your home a cleverly curated, light-filled, functionally efficient, and futuristically sustainable space – the true minimalist way!

READ MORE: DECORATING WITH NEUTRAL CURTAINS: TOP IDEAS & TIPS

The Return on Renovation: How Upgrades Impact Home Value

The value of your real estate can increase manifold with strategic investment in house upgrades. This makeover is not limited to aesthetics but also includes well-planned functional upgrades that add value to your home.

So whether you are a real estate agent trying to guide your clients or a homeowner trying to increase your home’s resale value, this blog is meant for you. If you are trying to understand the impact of renovation on property value and how to go about the renovation process to maximize ROI, read on. 

How Do Upgrades Impact Home Value?

The right upgrades can have a significant impact on home value, making them a crucial consideration for homeowners and investors. Here’s how upgrades can influence the worth of a property:

Increased Aesthetic Appeal: Improving a home’s visual features, such as updating the paint or installing stylish fixtures, can raise curb appeal and overall appearance. As a result, prospective buyers might perceive your property to be well-maintained and therefore of a higher worth.

Improved Functionality: Upgrades often involve making a home more functionally efficient, which can be a major selling point. Examples may include adding a new bathroom, updating the kitchen with new appliances, expanding living spaces, or creating an open floor plan. These improvements can make the home more appealing and justify a higher price.

Energy Efficiency: Upgrading to energy-efficient features, like insulation, windows, or HVAC systems, can lead to substantial long-term savings on utility bills. Buyers are increasingly looking for homes that are eco-friendly and cost-effective to maintain, which can drive up the home’s value.

Adaptation to Market Trends: Renovating to align with current decor and technology trends can make a home more appealing to contemporary buyers, potentially commanding a higher price.

READ MORE: SUSTAINABLE HOMES: THE FUTURE OF ECO-FRIENDLY INTERIOR DESIGN

Things to Consider Before Starting House Renovation

By considering these elements, you can tackle your renovation project from an informed standpoint, increasing your chances of achieving a successful renovation of your home with a long-term value and yielding a good return. So, before embarking on your renovation project, consider the following: 

Assess Market Trends: Start by assessing your local real estate market taking the help of a real estate agent if needed. Take note of how nearby properties are faring – are they selling quickly or lingering on the market? Are they fetching high prices? This insight can help you gauge the potential return on your renovation investment and tailor your project accordingly.

Plan Your Budget: Establish a clear and realistic budget for your renovation project. Include not only the primary costs but also create a contingency fund for unexpected expenses. Setting aside a portion of your budget for unforeseen problems is a prudent financial strategy.

Understand the Scope of Work & Prepare a Timeline: Define the scope of your renovation work and consider your timeline. If you need to sell your home within a specific period, plan your renovation accordingly to ensure you meet your target. Balancing the scope and timeline is crucial to achieving your goals.

READ MORE: WHY HIRING A REAL ESTATE AGENT CAN MAKE SELLING YOUR HOUSE EASIER

Home Renovation Ideas & Tips

Once you have decided on your budget and timeline, you can start with your renovation. The most common upgrades for homes to elevate resale value are:

Roof Repair

Regular roof repairs, such as addressing leaks, replacing damaged shingles, and addressing signs of wear and tear, are essential to ensure its durability and performance. A well-maintained roof signals to potential buyers that the home has been cared for, reducing concerns about hidden maintenance costs. It also enhances the property’s visual appeal, making it more attractive to prospective purchasers. Additionally, a sound roof helps prevent water damage and leaks, safeguarding the interior and preserving the home’s value. Therefore, a repaired roof not only improves the aesthetics but also assures buyers of a solid investment, thereby increasing the home’s marketability and value.    

Bathroom Remodel

Bathrooms are one of the most scrutinized areas in a home. A stylish and functional bathroom can significantly boost your home’s value. Consider upgrading fixtures and tiles, and adding modern amenities like a rain showerhead or a spa tub. Neutral color schemes often appeal to a broader range of buyers.

READ MORE: BATHROOM WINDOW TREATMENTS: TOP IDEAS FOR YOUR ‘ME’ SPACE

Kitchen Remodel

The kitchen is the heart of the home and a focal point for many buyers. Invest in quality countertops, appliances, and cabinetry. An open floor plan and an island can also make your kitchen more inviting. White kitchens with pops of colors or metallic punches can create a fresh, modern, and visually appealing space. White provides a timeless and clean backdrop, while colorful accents add personality and vibrancy. This design approach can make a home feel more inviting and up-to-date, potentially attracting a wider range of buyers. Ultimately, an aesthetically pleasing kitchen can positively influence a home’s perceived value, potentially driving up its selling price.

READ MORE: TOP FIVE KITCHEN WINDOW TREATMENTS IDEAS

Exterior Upgrades

Curb appeal is crucial for attracting potential buyers because it is the first impression a potential buyer gets of a house, and it plays a vital role in enticing them to explore the interiors. You may enhance your home’s exterior by adding a well-maintained lawn, landscaping, or a patio. Outdoor living spaces are highly sought after, providing a perfect spot for entertainment and relaxation. A fresh coat of paint or new siding can also give your home an inviting look. Ultimately, exterior upgrades are pivotal for potentially increasing the likelihood of a successful sale.

READ MORE: SEVEN TIPS FOR DESIGNING A STYLISH OUTDOOR AREA FOR ENTERTAINING THIS SUMMER

Basement Upgrade

Don’t let your basement space go to waste. A finished basement adds additional square footage, increasing a home’s value and appeal. They can serve multiple purposes, including home offices, play areas, or even guest rooms. This versatility is particularly attractive to remote workers seeking a dedicated workspace and families looking to provide a safe and enjoyable play area for their children. Ensuring proper insulation, lighting, and ventilation in the basement not only enhances comfort but also ensures that the space is functional and inviting, making it a valuable asset for both current use and potential resale.

READ MORE: BASEMENT WINDOW BLINDS & ROMAN SHADES: IDEAS & TIPS

Conclusion

Investing in home upgrades goes beyond mere aesthetics; it involves making strategic decisions that yield a substantial return on investment. The exact ROI may differ depending on the renovation and prevailing market conditions, but the improvements given in this guide can significantly boost both the value and appeal of your home.

Beyond these major structural changes, don’t forget to focus on the details that make your decor. Invest in new soft furnishings like window treatments, sofa covers, throw pillows, and add house plants, paintings, or accent pieces to give your house a designer showhouse look. With that in mind, we wish you luck on your renovation project and welcome you to browse through our collection of 3,000 fabrics for custom curtains and roman shades!

READ MORE: SPRING HOME RENOVATION TIPS & TRENDS FOR 2023

How Long Should My Curtains Be?

When designing curtains, one of the key decisions you will make is regarding the curtain length. The decision highly hinges on the look you’re trying to create, the level of formality you want to achieve, and the type of window you’re covering. Whether it’s for your guest-friendly living room or a casual kitchen, getting the length right begins with knowing what’s the right length. How long should my curtains be? – that’s what we are going to answer here today.

Order custom curtains from Spiffy Spools and dress your windows and doors with perfection. With over 3000 fabrics and customization options that let you choose the exact curtain length and width, you’re sure to create a designer window treatment for your space!

Sill-Length Curtains

These are curtains that stop exactly at the sill. They are oftentimes mounted within the window recess so the curtains brush the sill lightly. 

When you have to resort to short curtains and your windows are deep enough for curtains to be mounted inside the recess, sill-length curtains are the perfect choice. This length is especially recommended for nursery curtains, kitchen curtains and bathroom curtains.

Sill-length curtains are great options for small windows with radiators or inbuilt seating underneath. Being lightweight and off the floor also makes it easy to keep them clean.

Apron Curtains

Apron curtains run past the sill by six inches or less, and ideally never more. That slight overlapping helps to keep the curtains from billowing roughly and also reduces light leakage from the bottom.

Apron curtains are great solutions for small windows and small spaces, especially when the wall beneath the window is not free. For instance, if you need curtains for your small bedroom windows where the bed is placed against the wall with the windows, which can often be the case with spare guest bedrooms, apron curtains would be your perfect fit. They are easy to maintain as they do not meet the floor and offer a very casual homely feel to the space.

For all situations where sill-length curtains are ideal but the window recess is not deep for inside mounting, or if you need better coverage for privacy and light control, think of apron-length curtains.

Floating Curtains

‘Floating’ curtains stop at about half to an inch off the floor. Note that the gap should never exceed an inch as that comes across as a design mistake or fabric shrinkage. Since the curtains make no contact with the floor, it appears as though they are ‘floating’, hence the name. 

The gap below the curtains allows airflow that prevents it from gathering floor dust, pet hair and mold. Since they don’t drag on the floor, it is easy to maintain the elegance of the pleats as they fall straight down without any hindrance to their flow, needing no manual dressing for the pleats. Besides, the length also guarantees drapery’s longevity and enhances its functionality. So, they are best for high-traffic areas and frequently operated windows.

In summary, when you need the elegance of long curtains with minimum maintenance and cannot compromise functional ease and longevity, floating curtains are the smart choice.

Grazing Curtains

Also known as the ‘kiss’ position of floor-length curtains, ‘grazing’ curtains lightly touch the floor. You achieve this look by taking exact ceiling-to-floor measurements. This look is hard to pull without flawless measuring skills and even floors. At this length, curtains impart the most tailored look as they stand in a perfect-fit position and look very elegant without being too formal. Also, light leaks from the bottom are minimized because of the seamless contact between the drapes and the floor.

However, you need to be very careful with the fabric selection. Make sure the fabric does not have the tendency to stretch or shrink in relation to climatic situations, so you can maintain the ‘grazing’ look over changing seasons and years.   

For zero light leaks from below the curtains, consider ‘graze’ over ‘float’. Also, if you want to be formal but not go overboard with the vibe, consider ‘graze’ over ‘puddle’.

READ MORE: FLOOR TO CEILING CURTAINS: A COMPLETE GUIDE

Break Length Curtains

Also known as ‘break-puddle’ and ‘trouser length’, this style of curtains is an intermediary between ‘graze’ and a true ‘puddle’. In this look, curtains touch the floor and then extend by an inch. The modicum excess cancels light leaks from the bottom as in the case of ‘float’ length and the pressure of achieving the designer-perfect seamless contact of ‘graze’ length. 

So when you want the curtains to barely touch the ground but may fail to make seamless contact across the width due to uneven floors or stretchable/shrinkable drapery fabrics, consider break-puddle as the best solution. 

Puddle

Curtains that extend 2 to 18 inches on the floor after touching it fall in this category. As the name suggests, this length allows the fabric to ‘pool’ on the floor. The pleats formed thus are amazingly opulent and stylish. Suited especially for velvets and silk drapes, this is the dream look for a dressed-up formal room because of its highly dramatic appeal. 

Based on the extent of the excess, puddled drapes are further divided into categories, with 2-5 inches excess for ‘medium puddle’ and 6-18 inches for ‘true puddle’. The medium-puddled drapes are opulent but not dramatic, excess but not over-the-top. True-puddle, on the other hand, is a bold design statement. The longer the drape, the more opulent the puddle. Dressed in statement fabrics like velvet and silk, this style accentuates the formality of the space whereas, in cotton and linen, it epitomizes casualness. 

Medium puddle drapes may be best left at a semi-open level permanently and avoided for windows of frequent use and high-traffic areas. True puddle curtains are recommended as decorative panels only that are meant to frame the windows, not for functional drapes that have to be operated often. 

Puddled curtains need to be trained to fall into neat uniform folds. They can also get hard to maintain as they trap dust, pet hair, and mold but are well worth the strain if they match your aesthetic preferences. For guidance and tips on designing puddled drapes, refer to our Puddled Curtains Guide.  

READ MORE: HOW TO WASH CURTAINS & DRAPES

Now Make the Call with Confidence

Besides fabric, palette and pattern, length is the make-or-break factor of perfect drapery. Miss the mark and they’ll look miserly; cross the maximum drop point and they’ll compromise their functional ease. Hopefully, treading this thin line between the ‘half-baked’ and the ‘overdone’ is no challenge for you now. So whether you’re looking for full-length sliding door curtains, sill-length bay window curtains, or cafe curtains for laundry rooms and kitchens, you can go forth and shop your custom length drapes with confidence from Spiffy Spools now! 

READ MORE: BACK TAB CURTAINS: RAW ELEGANCE FOR WINDOWS

Top Five Mistakes to Avoid in Home Office Decor

In the last few years, homes everywhere have evolved to accommodate nifty workstations and efficient home offices. But working from home – where your personal life is just a head-turn away –  has its own unique set of challenges, including how to design your home office for maximum productivity. To help you work from home efficiently and thrive in style, this blog brings you the top five mistakes to avoid in your home office decor. Let’s dig in! 

Separate for Sanity: Draw A Line Between Home & Office

When home meets office, the boundaries between the two start to blur, and getting down to business or winding down after a long day can both become a challenge. It’s often because many make the mistake of placing their office in the same room where the TV plays their favorite show, or choosing makeshift offices near busy areas like the kitchen. 

To maintain the sanctity of both your professional and personal life, establish clear physical boundaries between the two. If you’re blessed with a spare room that can function as your office, you’re golden. But if this isn’t the case, pick a quiet, low-traffic area that is relatively free from distractions. 

To further carve out and define your work area, employ room dividers like solid screens or glass walls. If you don’t want to make permanent structural changes, use foldable screens or room-dividing curtains that can be drawn apart to unify the space whenever needed.

READ MORE: ROOM DIVIDER CURTAINS: IDEAS & TIPS

To Shine in Success, Deploy Good Lighting

If you want your work to steal the spotlight, how can you ignore the importance of good lighting in your workspace? A badly-lit, dark office will not only have you struggling to stay awake after lunch, but may also affect your vision in the long term. 

An ideal lighting setup should strike a balance between ambient and focused lighting to help you stay alert and engaged at work. 

Start by choosing a well-lit area of the house and maximize natural light by keeping your windows/curtains open. To further enhance lighting, opt for good LEDs that mimic daylight. Make sure the light is softly diffused across the room, avoiding any harsh glares. Lastly, employ task lights that focus the light on your desk where you are getting most of your work done. 

If you have no option other than a dark corner of your home, use these simple hacks to brighten up a dark room/ home office.

To Avoid Workspace Woes, Invest in Ergonomic Furniture

Ergonomic furniture isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a lifestyle upgrade to ensure that your workspace doesn’t double up as a torture chamber for your back, neck and wrists. Yet, many of us decide to make do with less-than-optimal, available home furniture or – on the other end of the spectrum – choose form over function.

Truth is, neither the kitchen bar stool nor a designer dining chair can fulfill the requirements of an office chair. The right chair will feel as good as it looks with a deep seat and adjustable lumbar support. It’ll help you follow the 90:90 rule while sitting – 90 degrees at the knees and 90 degrees at the waist, which according to experts is the best sitting posture for long hours of work. 

And don’t forget the desk. Kitchen islands and dining tables are rarely eligible for heavy-duty office work. Invest in a desk with optimal height that suits your own height. It should allow you to work without having to slouch or stretch. Your mouse and keyboard should be at the same height as the elbows and forearms, so your shoulders can fall relaxed by your side. All this can only be ensured if your desk is ergonomically sound. 

Tidy Up to Level Up: Prioritize Storage & Decluttering

If you find yourself dedicating five minutes every day looking for your stapler, you likely are guilty of keeping a cluttered home office with zero storage space, while your productivity and sanity both take a serious hit.

The solution starts with committing to one dedicated – instead of ‘roaming’ – workspace which is regularly cleaned, decluttered, and organized. Empty and allocate a drawer (or closet if you need) only for your work-related stuff so your desk stays tidy. Invest in a sturdy desk organizer for stationery items. Untangle the wild wires laid all over your space with a well-considered cable management system. You can also get a small file drawer that is movable so you may keep it near your desk while working and then move it to a different location for storage once you’re done with work. 

Remember, a tidy office is key to a tidy mind. So ensure that your home office is equipped with dedicated storage and office organization tools to get you on track for maximum efficiency.

Reduce Noise, Amplify Productivity

Most home offices are within the vicinity of sounds of life. From honking street cars outside to arguing siblings inside, a lot stands between you and the quietude you need to end your workday. But worry not, we’re here with some sound advice (pun intended) to stop you from making the grave mistake of skipping sound insulation for your home office.

Start by choosing a quiet space for your office. It can be a loft, a sparsely used guest bedroom, or your basement. Next, layer up on soft furnishings because these tend to absorb sound waves, instead of bouncing them off,  thereby reducing noise considerably. 

If you are using single-layered window treatments, choose tight-knit fabrics instead of loosely woven ones. If you are layering your window treatments, sheers with opaque/ blackout curtains are a popular choice. You can close the blackout curtains during the noisiest hours of the day and draw them aside on early mornings or late afternoons to let soft diffused light flood in through the sheer roman shades/ curtains. You can also consider floor-to-ceiling curtains to create an accent wall in your office that adds an eye-catching dimension to your space and also significantly adds to the sound insulation of your home office. 

Place a thick rug on the floor, or jump in on the hanging rug trend. If you happen to have a knack for curating and displaying art, you can add another decorative yet functional layer with canvas paintings to muffle noise. Bring in a few cozy throws and cushions to further enhance sound insulation and make sure to wash and clean the decorative pillows periodically so they look clean and fresh. If you want to completely drown out background noises, invest in a white noise machine for office spaces to help you concentrate. 

READ MORE: MASTERING THE ART OF LAYERING: ENHANCING DEPTH AND TEXTURE IN YOUR HOME 

Inspiration Corner for Home Office Window Treatments

Soft furnishings – especially window treatments – play a key role in making home offices visually pleasing as well as functionally optimal. To help you get started on your shopping spree for the perfect dressings for your home office, let us introduce you to a few of our favorite picks: 

Spotlight On: MARIANNA ARIA

Featuring a big-block plaid pattern of pale beige and mocha brown on a crisp linen white – hues that lend a contemporary twist to the otherwise traditional pattern, this roman shade is sure to add a serene sophistication to your home office.

Spotlight On: KRIMSON LAKE

Add sanctuary style to your office with this alluring fabric. Krimson Lake is printed on a texturally rich, herringbone weave base and features a soothing color palette in navy blue and soft shades of brown. Its repeating stripes enliven its look to balance with its calming tones.

Spotlight On: SILVER SPREE

Muted blues and leaf ribs all over – a still from a nostalgic cloudy evening sidewalk! This understated beauty that taps the coolness of bluish-gray in foggy shapes offers a contrast of forms with the neatly outlined leaf motif layered on top. With a vast capacity to mingle with varied decor styles, curtains in this lovely fabric are a timeless addition to your home office.

Spotlight On: FURLING FOSSIL

Introduce a power note in your office with this gray blackout fabric. Very lightly textured to show a faint check weave, it looks unfussy, sophisticated, and subtle. It cuts down on irritating external noises. Pair this curtain with one of our sheers for a perfect blend of looks and light control. 

Spotlight On: POSTA

Posta stands out with its ‘traditional pattern meets modern treatment’ look. The base off-white fabric with pale beige detailing gives a texturally rich woven feel. The oversized botanical motif with buds, tendrils, and decorative elements is reminiscent of French palaces and Moroccan mansions. Its slightly smudged look and diagonal placement add an interesting dimension to it. Very sober yet very stylish.

Calling It a Day

While you meticulously tick through the above list, don’t forget to add your own personal touch to the decor. Small but meaningful knick-knacks, bits curated during travels, and other prized possessions can all contribute towards making your workspace feel more ‘you’. Use your soft furnishings and window treatments from Spiffy Spools to bring in your favorite color and enliven the space with a splash of patterns. On that note, happy shopping and happier decorating!

READ MORE: STUDY ROOM TIPS TO BOOST PRODUCTIVITY

TOP TIPS TO BRIGHTEN UP A DARK ROOM

A ‘light and bright’ home is the aesthetic goal and ultimate dream of many homeowners and interior designers. But what do you do if you find yourself stuck in an under-ventilated house with little to no light in most areas? How does one reconcile these two extremes of dream and reality? 

Well, there are some obvious ways and clever design hacks to transform your room from gloomy dark to soothing bright. Here are some of them:

Opt for a Light Room Palette

In a room with very little access to natural light like basements, the goal should be to make the most of the little. The color scheme of the room should therefore be oriented towards brightening up the space. While dark surfaces absorb the light that falls on them, lighter-hued surfaces reflect it and accentuate its effect. So fill your room’s palette with whites, creams and light pastel-y shades. From your wall (and ceiling) paint and wallpaper to bed linens and upholstery – go for these lighter tones so the light can bounce around in the room.

Choose the Paint Finishes Wisely

When picking paint colors for a dark room, not just the palette, even the textures and finishes should have a say. The matte finish is relatively coarse and tends to absorb some of the light that falls on it. Whereas glossy finishes reflect more light in the specular direction which makes it work almost like a mirror. To maximize the effect of the incoming light, go for semi-gloss or high-gloss finishes. Notice how lacquered walls shine bright even with a dark palette, so how much more reflective they will be with a bright color scheme!

Make Strategic Use of Mirrors

The light that enters your home can be doubled by reflecting it at its full intensity with the help of mirrors. This is a tried-and-tested, age-old method used to bounce light. Unlike other objects of decor, mirrors don’t absorb any light, rather they offer the spitting image of anything that faces them. So, place them opposite windows and double the natural light. And you don’t have to limit yourself to one oversized mirror, rather use multiple mirrors of varied sizes at various points in the room such that they bounce each other’s reflected light.

Introduce Metallic Accents 

Prefer materials with reflective quality over those with light absorbent quality. So, for example, prefer polished nickel or steel hardware to wooden ones. Wallpapers with golden or silver details can reflect light that falls on them from various directions and angles. Instead of a painted canvas, consider a metal wall sculpture. Even a detail as small as door handles and drawer knobs matter. Switch over from matte black to brushed gold, for example, to bounce the light instead of absorbing it. The metallic sheen adds to the reflective quality of the space.

Install Light Window Treatments

If your house has not been updated in terms of decor for a few years, your windows may be sporting heavy draperies topped by bulky valances. They must go if you want more light. Replace the heavier drapes with lighter sheer panels stitched with streamlined heading styles such as flat panel tops or grommet tops. Keep window treatments light and airy to let in maximum light even when they are closed for privacy. Or go for window treatments such as roller shades that clear the window totally when they are closed. In rooms where privacy is not even a concern and you have small windows, you may even do without window treatments.

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Do Away with Storm Windows

Sometimes, a blessing comes with a cost, and storm windows are a great example. They protect you from a disaster and insulate your house better for immunity to harsh temperatures, but they admit lesser light into the room. If you think your home can do without storm windows, better remove them. And the good news is that you can always put them back later when you feel the need.

Clear Obstructions to Natural Light

If your room’s darkness is an unusual event, inspect your house’s surroundings. Perhaps there are overgrown vines on the facade or surrounding trees bending with heavy boughs that are begging desperately for a trim. Or, there might be an umbrella canopy that you had spread out for summer and never bothered later to retract. Perhaps there are no obstructions to be cleared but the window is not ‘clear’ enough to admit unadulterated light. Call it a ‘deep cleaning day’ or take up the pruning shears and settle the issue.

Rearrange the Room

A faulty layout may sometimes be to blame for at least some of the darkness in the room. Why let the couch block the light pouring in through a window when it can be made to face it instead? Or, why keep a bulky wingback chair at the corner below the window where a low-seat chair could have provided the same function without blocking the light? And what about that gargantuan chandelier that verily illuminates the room at night but obstructs all the natural light during the day? Wouldn’t it do better in a room that justifies its size and sculptural quality rather than a small dark room that needs the sleekest of light fittings? Rethink the layout of the room and you may find genius ways of making the room brighter without spending a dime.

Go For Layered Lighting

Adding light sources might sound like a no-brainer but strategically arranging multiple light sources at different points and levels to make a dark room bright does need some brains. At the moment the room may be lit by only the bare minimum overhead ambient lighting. Now throw in some task lights and accent lights to the mix to light up any dark pockets in the room.  

Making a well-considered combination of light sources that are directed to the walls, ceiling and floors is key to layering a space with lights. Light up a reading corner with an overhanging pendant light or extendable sconce. The ceiling can be lit up with an oversized torchiere lamp or LED light strips lined on exposed beams. Light up alcoves, glass cabinets and gallery walls with wall-mounted accent lights. Or place good old tapered shade lamps of various heights in different nooks. Make sure that every part of the room receives some sort of light – natural or artificial.

If it rings with your aesthetic preferences and the nature of the room, consider introducing decorative lights to the space. They not only add a source of light but also cheer up the heart. A neon sign voicing your favorite life mantra can light up not just the space, but also your mind. A string of fairy lights will not just exude a lambent glow but also warm up the heart with infectious joy. A desk tree lamp or a bottle lamp lifting a boring side table to an effervescent vigor besides brightening an uneventful nook is just the right kind of decor for a room gone too dark.

Use Translucent Light Accessories

Multiplying the sources of light is helpful, but watching the opacity levels and finishes of these light fixtures is also important. If the light fixture is meant to highlight a decor item or a specified area, it should be made of opaque materials. If the light that a semi-transparent light fixture provides is not sufficient to brighten a dark corner, check its palette and finish. If it’s a dark-hued tapered lampshade with a linen-like finish, for example, there’s no surprise that the light is so dim. Swap it for a white smooth-surfaced lampshade and see the difference. As regards ambient lights, translucent materials will help to spread the rays in all directions. So, prefer clear glass for overhead light fixtures such as chandeliers and other ceiling-mounted and wall-mounted lamps. And, maintain them fresh and clean to make the most of their potential for light diffusion.

Go For Light Flooring Or Rugs

The floor, though below eye level, needs the most careful palette choice because a dark floor can make a room seem immensely dark even if all other elements are bright-hued. Light-colored floors will reflect natural light and the light generated by overhead fixtures. But changing the flooring just to have control over the palette is a far-fetched idea. If you’re having a dark-colored floor, layer it with a light-colored rug. If you’re worried about maintaining them spot free, consider low-maintenance stain-resistant jute rugs.

Choose Furniture That Allows Light Flow

If the room is dark, we recommend picking furniture with low profiles, less height and minimum contact with the floor. Ensure ergonomic design so you don’t miss the comfort factor. Compactly designed furniture with clean-lined contours let light move around and under with ease. 

Not just shape and size, the palette of the furniture can also be a strategic choice. Going for a light palette helps immensely as furniture usually takes up much visual space in the room. Also, consider reflective materials like glass instead of wood for a table surface so it can throw back the light that hits it. Try transparent furniture like those made of glass, lucite, or see-through acrylic as they let light pass through them, providing little scope for shadowed regions behind/below them.

Keep Embellishments To A Minimum

The more the space is layered with objects, the less light it will bounce. If your walls, windows, and floors are all completely decked with decor accessories, the flow of light gets obstructed at multiple levels, leaving many areas of the room shadowed. So, fall back on minimalist styles like mid-century modern or Japandi to keep furnishings and embellishments to a minimum, and let the light have smooth surfaces to fall on and be bounced back.

Winding Up On A Bright Note

Whether it be an basement or a non-ventilated powder room or a living room saddened by tiny windows, you have most of the tricks up your sleeve now to brighten it up. And remember that brightening a dark space is not just about bringing in light literally, it’s also about making it ‘feel’ bright and cheerful. 

A large painting or art installation with bright colors that pop out of the muted backdrop can really anchor the room on a cheery palette. Or look out for pillows and throws in sunny hues like red, orange, and yellow that remind of the April blooms or a winter campfire – happy memories and cozy pastimes. Or, go the cool way with refreshing your bed’s linens in pale blues and greens reminiscent of summer skies and verdant countrysides. These hues elevate the mood to a springtime joy besides topping up an already bright palette. 

Depending on the particular situation you face, choose a combination of the above-elaborated tips to solve the problem. And, for any other design anomaly that you face, make use of our blogs for a handy reference. It’s our pleasure to assist you in designing your spaces and for all your fabric window treatments, we’ve got you fully covered at Spiffy Spools.

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KID COUTURE: THE BEST ROMAN SHADES FOR NURSERY

One of the most enjoyable moments for a new parent is decorating the nursery of a newborn. Your inner child unabashedly indulges in color and whimsy to create a space as charming as a dream. And when your baby blissfully sails to the ‘world of dreams’ on a sleepy ferry without a fuss – that’s when you know you have truly nailed it!

The transition from a fairytale page to a dark cocoon must be smooth, instant and effortless, and the right window treatments go a long way in making it possible. With this goal, if you’re out shopping for roman shades for your baby’s nursery, find yourself in safe hands as you travel through our stylists’ tips, and get a sneak peek into our catalog for inspiration.

Shop for custom roman shades for nursery from Spiffy Spools. Like your baby’s own fairy godmother with a wand in hand, we can style your nursery as you desire- from pretty blackouts to dreamy sheers and cartoon prints to checkered flair, our vast collection of over 3000 fabrics has got it all for you!

Reasons to Love Roman Shades for Nursery Windows

When the expectations are soaring high, designers put the best players on the frontline. If asked what’s the best nursery window dressing, we’d say it in a heartbeat – roman shades. And here’s why – 

• SAFETY FIRST, LAST, AND ALWAYS: With roman shades, you need not worry about your baby getting entangled in long flowing trails of fabric because roman shades stop at the sill. The pull cords can easily be secured with anchors to keep the dangling cords inaccessible to the kid, ensuring complete safety. Parents can also consider cordless roman shades to avoid cords completely. Furthermore, they also have the option to choose hypoallergenic, natural fabrics like cottons and linens for their nursery roman shades, avoiding man-made, chemically treated materials.
• NEAR-PERFECT LIGHT BLOCKAGE: With a continuous single-panel structure backed by a blackout lining, roman shades are capable of blocking a high degree of incoming light. 
• HIGHLY CUSTOMIZABLE: Unlike industrially produced roller shades and slatted blinds, roman shades allow you to choose the palette, pattern and texture of your liking – making them the favorites of imaginative designers as well as doting parents.
• HIGH-END APPEAL: Roman shades add to your nursery decor a handmade goodie and a personalized high-quality curated product in an exquisite fabric. It’s an elevated look that no factory-made shade or blind can offer.
• VERSATILITY: Where curtains might be too traditional and industrial blinds too modern, roman shades vouch affinity to both tastes. Depending on the fabric chosen, you can bring the complex decorativeness of the yesteryears or the clean lines of contemporary times to any desired degree into your nursery. 

Elegantly Efficient: Nursery Roman Shades at Their Best

Since you’ve found out why roman shades are the perfect mix of style and function for nurseries, you’re probably as impressed as we are. The most beautiful part of the deal is that you can design every single part of the shade to suit your specific liking, decor style and needs. So, let’s introduce you to the tips and tricks that will make this journey of styling and decorating a cakewalk for you – 

Daylight, Dimlit or Deep-Dark: Have the Control At Your Fingertips

A nursery is a place for magic and fantasy, but the hardest feat to be performed here is the instantaneous transition from a bright sprightly hub to a dark soothing cave. And that has to happen at your hands, at your will. The fabric choice for your roman shades will have a lot to do with making this act effortless, and that’s why, decide on the fabric base before anything else.

BLACKOUT SHADES AS STAND-ALONE

For roman shades that are intended for use as stand-alone treatments, you need blackout or dimout fabrics, backed again by a blackout lining for maximum darkness even during afternoon nap times.  

Blackout fabrics block incoming light fully whereas dimout fabrics achieve this goal substantially, not totally. They also keep away noise and external heat from entering the nursery and maintain its temperature. For a better understanding of room-darkening fabrics and tips to use blackout lining, do read our extensive blog on this topic.

And have a peek into our blackout and dimout roman shades collection. Our Cap Ferret blackout roman shades are wisely crafted in grey-yellow chevrons for a timeless and gender-neutral addition to any nursery. And dimout Orchid Bay roman shades make their classy damasks look solemn yet fanciful in a gentle gray-pink palette.

ROMAN SHADES AS SECOND LAYER

On the other hand, for roman shades that will be layered on with blackout curtains for nursery or a second set of blinds, you can consider light-filtering fabrics such as sheers, semi-sheers or loosely woven linen. Light-filtering fabrics ensure privacy and protection from harsh sunlight without making the nursery dark. Blue Penny roman shades from our collection are a lovely example of semi-sheer cotton shades that sport artful embroidered floral motifs in stunning blue and beige tints.

So make the choice of your fabric keeping in mind its light blocking properties, your overall plans for window treatments,  local overall climate, window position and size of your nursery windows in relation to the exact type of light control you wish to have.

Inside Vs Outside Mounting: Position the Shade Correctly

The light control aspect of roman shades is not just dependent on the fabric from which it is created but also on how it is mounted. The shade can be made in a perfect-fit size to sit snug within the frame recess close to the pane – known as inside-mounting the shade. Or, it can be installed on the wall outside, sealing the whole window – known as the outside-mounting position. Both positions have their own plus and minus points which we discuss at length in our blog post here. 

The decision to mount the shade inside or outside the window will largely depend on the depth of the window frame besides your personal taste and light control requirements of the nursery. Key details follow below: 

INSIDE-MOUNTING POSITION

This is the most popular way of mounting sill-length window treatments. Sitting taut within the window frame, this shade commands no wall space and is non-accessible for the baby, making it the most minimalistic and safe window treatment for a nursery. These are the key things to keep in mind:

• The window must be at least 2 inches deep so our shades can be mounted within it comfortably. Furthermore, no handles or other obstructions should come in their way.
• The shade must make seamless contact with the window frame, leaving no gaps for light leaks in between. This requires precision in measurement and the result is a window treatment that relays the custom look at first sight. 
• Remember that with this style, the shade’s stacking room is accommodated within the window. Hence, it is better to avoid this mounting position for small windows. An outside-mounted shade might be a better option for small windows as the shade can be positioned to stack on the wall above instead of covering any window space, thereby maximizing light and air when the shade is folded up.

OUTSIDE-MOUNTING POSITION

In this position, the shade is mounted on the wall outside the window frame overlapping the window on all sides, and thereby providing better coverage. You also reserve the possibility to mount another shade/blind within the recess by mounting the roman shade outside.

Keep the following things in mind to outside-mount the shade:

• The headrail should ideally be mounted a few inches above the window trim. If it’s a small window, make sure that the folded stacks are accommodated above the trim so that the shade does not obstruct light, air or the views when it is folded up. It also helps to make the window look larger than it is.
• Extend the shade 4-6 inches in every direction beyond the window trim. This will help minimize light leaks from edges, making for a darker, sleep-friendly room when so desired. 

Flat Fold Vs Scalloped: Choose the Apt Style

The next important decision regarding roman shades is regarding their fold style and structure which is directly responsible for their functional aspects. Our roman shades come in three popular styles that may be classified into two broad groups: flat-fold shades and scalloped shades. 

Determine the style based on whether your roman shade is a stand-alone or a primary treatment. In a nursery, a standalone shade can be expected to be used several times during the day for naptime, so make sure your choice prioritizes your practical needs. Flat-folds are better for stand-alone shades and scalloped shades are better kept stationary under other functional over-treatments that can be operated easily.

Stitching Stories & Mixing Hues: Palette-Pattern Palooza

The most enjoyable part of planning your nursery’s roman shade is coming ahead. So use the tips below and let the creative in you take over!

PALETTE

Let your decor style, overall room palette and the amount of optical real estate your windows occupy have the primary say on the palette of your roman shades. The following tips may help along the way:

• While babies love saturated colors, too many exciting elements in the ambiance can make it difficult to catch sleep. Soft pastels, on the contrary, are cheery yet soothing to the eye, never making the little one too alert to fall asleep. So, for a small window, opt for saturated colors if you wish, but for a large window, a soothing tone may prove better as it occupies more visual space. 
• If cave-like darkness is your goal, once shades are drawn, darker colors of the spectrum will be better friends than lighter ones, even on a blackout fabric.
• If you foresee changing the room’s palette in a couple of years as the nursery’s inhabitant grows, opt for a neutral palette for your roman shades so they can work with the renewed palette. 
• We recommend picking the roman shade fabric first before the paint color for the walls so you can find the perfect complementary or contrasting shade. Remember it’s much easier to find a paint color that perfectly matches your textile elements than vice versa. 

PATTERN

An easy way to bring lightheartedness to the nursery is to include patterns in the decor. However, your pattern choices must be based on your future plans regarding the nursery and your overall decor style.

• WISE CHOICE OF MOTIFS: While one may be tempted to choose thematic patterns like superheroes or popular cartoon characters, designers are quick to advise against over-investment in such themes, unless the plan is to refresh every couple of years with fickle obsessions of your tot. Otherwise, it might be wiser to choose a fabric featuring classic patterns like polka dots, stripes, florals, etc. that are playful, while also being relatively age-proof. If, however, your heart is set on introducing a cute-sy, theme-based pattern, at minimum, consider keeping the motifs broad in themes so they are somewhat adaptable to changing preferences. For example, a fabric like Princess Pink will sync with many fairytale settings – from Cinderella and Snow White to Frozen and Sleeping Beauty. Similarly, our Peter Pan roman shades have proven to set an adorable cityscape for many nurseries, easily adapting to changing preferences from Superman and Spidey on to a superhero-free decor altogether.  
• CHOOSING CORRECT SCALE: Let the size of the window inform the choice of scale. On a small window, tiny and medium scaled patterns match proportions. Whereas, on a large window, you have a choice to go large scale if you wish to make it a focal point of the nursery.
• FACTOR IN DECOR STYLE: Also, make sure that you voice your decor style aptly. A traditional nursery’s wow factor is ornate paisley or damask, a country-styled nursery flaunts its easygoing aesthetics with farmhouse-style roman shades, and a modern nursery wins applause with clean-lined patterns such as this black-and-white chevron print in Baki roman shades. 

Conclude with Charm: Add Tasteful Trimmings

If your creativity has not been satiated yet, here is your opportunity to do so by selecting trimmings for your roman shades. These thoughtful additions relay the custom look and color-coordinated design of the nursery effortlessly. Hence, don’t miss the possibility to add tone, pattern or handicraft that can elevate the nursery instantly. 

There are a variety of trimmings to choose from in various colors, weaves and finishes. Whatever your vision, be it textured velvet ribbon trims or shiny gimp braids or lush fringe trims, you cannot but find one that suits your taste from our vast catalog of roman shade trims. 

Apart from the playfulness and pop of color that they introduce to your nursery window, trims can be used with forethought to advance your design decisions. 

Perhaps, you could not find a fabric that relays your palette perfectly – solve the problem by finding a plain fabric that matches your primary tone and a trim that corresponds with the secondary hue. Or, you need to echo the golden details of your vintage accessories in the nursery and a gleaming silken tassel trim on your roman shade could offer the perfect company. Or, perhaps you simply want to convey the lightheartedness of your tot’s personality? Easily done with our plush and adorable pompom trims.

Whatever your goal, you can’t go wrong with these delightful add-ons to bring a truly bespoke look to your nursery roman shades.  

READ MORE: TOP ROMAN SHADES IDEAS FOR YOUR HOME

On to the Best Part

We’re at the end of the planning and the beginning of the action. Now, with all the input from this blog, take on the stage and put up the show. Your nursery windows are waiting for the best dressing of their lifetime. Explore our curated collections and start filling your cart. Happy shopping with Spiffy Spools for your favorite custom nursery roman shades! 

READ MORE: TOP TIPS & IDEAS FOR NURSERY CURTAINS