Above window decorations

Let’s get into 5 solutions for too much empty space above your windows.

So, why is this Important?

Designers and decorators tell clients to install their curtain rods high because we know that it looks far better to do that instead of plopping the rod right on or over the window.

Tall curtains emphasize the height of a room. This is VERY important, especially in small rooms.

When you bring the attention up in a small room, it makes the whole room feel larger.

It’s a total illusion, yes.

You can’t make a room physically bigger unless you knock down walls, but little tricks like this, that fool your senses, will make a huge difference.

When curtain rods are installed right on the window or right above the window, it creates a visual stop.

You glance up from the floor and your eye stops right at the top of the window.

This can make the room feel cut in half because now there’s a whole other half of the wall above that’s there without any purpose… Awkward.

Here’s something else to think about:

Say you have a few windows that are different heights or different styles in the same room.

If you install the curtains right above these windows it ends up feeling super awkward because it creates jagged sight lines that are confusing and distracting.

There’s this mis-mosh, hodge-podge, randomness that happens making the room you worked so hard to get right, feel so wrong.

On the flip side, when you install the curtains at the same height throughout the room, YOU control the line.

Now, the curtains align across the whole room and there’s a consistency throughout.

It’s not confusing and there’s a harmony and flow as you glance around the room.

Let’s Cover that Empty Space, mkay?

1. Curtains and a Shade

The shade covers the empty space. It’s functional and continues the sight line across the top of the treatment.

This is a great solution if you have stationary decorative panels. The curtains stay put and the shade goes up and down for privacy and light control.

The window appears larger than it is, and the entire look is finished and balanced.

2. Curtains & Sheers

This is a classic look that adds a filter to the window.

Light can still stream in but, more importantly, the volume of the sheer will provide some privacy and the line across the top is maintained.

Again, the space above the window is covered and the entire look is tall, symmetrical, and finished.

3. Cornice & Drapes

This is a bit more “formal”, but it covers that space above completely.

There’s endless cornice styles and tons of different shapes to explore.

You could even diy one if you’re handy.

It’s essentially an upholstered solid constructed box that gets fixed to the wall.

I like them because, depending on the size of the empty space above, you can customize a cornice to fit the space and it will make your room feel finished and professionally styled.

4. Valance & Drapes

This is a similar option to the box cornice above, but this is all fabric.

And like the cornice, you can customize how much of the empty space you want covered.

They’re available in many different styles and come informal or formal depending on how you want your room styled.

In addition to covering the empty wall space, they will give you another opportunity to bring in a color, texture of pattern.

Which is true for each option, really.

5. Split the Difference

This is an immediate solution for this blank area.

It’s simply measuring the space between the top of the window and the ceiling (or bottom of the crown trim) and then you divide that result by 2.

This is the height to hang your curtain rod.

It won’t completely eliminate the empty space, but it will diminish it to where you might like the look better.

If you already purchased longer curtain panels, you’ll need to hem them so that they break at the floor or 1” above.

This is a small trade off if the space above really bugs you.

What Not to Do

So, there’s a few things that really stick out for me…

You may disagree, that’s okay – potato, potato.

I feel a strong aversion to these, so I’m just gonna say them!

Shelves Above Window

Nope!

First, they do nothing to make the window look bigger and they absolutely force your eye to stop at the top of the window, which makes them feel dinky.

They are an open invitation for clutter.

There are other places to display tchotchkes. They don’t need to live on a tiny shelf above a window.

And who is going to want to get up there to dust?

No Thanks!

Metal Wall Art

So, you’d still need to hang the curtain rod high, so you’ll have a spot to hang the wall art…

That just highlights the space above.

It says, I don’t know what to do with this space so I’m going to draw MORE attention to it.

Pass!

Word Art

Please, no more word art!

Again, this is space filler.

There’s no need to have a sticker or plaque that says, “home sweet home.” That should be implied.

And Another Thing…

Think about all three of these examples and apply each to multiple windows.

Like, if you have 4 or 5 windows in a room…

Would you put a shelf over each? What would you put there?

Would you get 4 or 5 different metal sculptures?

What about the word art? You’d have room for your entire philosophy of life!

Just thinking about this makes me want to hide under my desk.

To Sum up:

Yes to:

No to:

Now it’s your turn. Tell me how you would handle this empty space above your window?

Is there one solution you like best? Is there something else I didn’t mention that you like more? Did I touch a nerve with my 3 don’t do’s and you want me to know that you love a shelf full of your treasure above the window? Tell me about it in the comments below.

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Michael is Principal designer and blogger at Michael Helwig Interiors in beautiful Buffalo, New York. Since 2011, he’s a space planning expert, offering online interior e-design services for folks living in small homes, or for those with awkward and tricky layouts. He’s a frequent expert contributor to many National media publications and news outlets on topics related to decorating, interior design, diy projects, and more. Michael happily shares his experience to help folks avoid expensive mistakes and decorating disappointments. You can follow him on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook @interiorsmh.

In How To, Infographic, Interior Decorating, Interior Design, Tricky Space Tags What do you do with empty space above a window, Area above windows, Blank space over windows, Blank space above windows, Space above the window, How to Decorate the Wall Above a Window, window cornice idea, window cornice valance, window cornice design, How high drapery rod

Stained glass window as a home decoration.

• Windows Sevastopol
• Articles
• Stained glass window as a decoration of the house.

Often, when building their own house, people think about the design of its interior. And this is no coincidence, because a person has long decorated his home to create comfort and coziness. This also applies to windows. Stained-glass windows are the most common decoration of window structures.

There are three ways to create a stained glass window :

• 1. Classic version. It represents the creation of a stained-glass window from a large number of small multi-colored pieces of glass. Needless to say, such production is painstaking and expensive work? In addition, it is unlikely that such a window will have good sound insulation and low thermal conductivity. Although this is a historical way to create a stained glass window.


• 2. Using foil. This is an imitation of a stained glass window by applying a bright film to any glass. The cheapest option to create a stained glass window at home. You can use it at any time: from ordering new windows to laminating products that have been standing for a long time. However, is it worth saying that, upon careful study, a fake will give itself away? After all, such a picture will have a flat surface. The disadvantage is also not the durability of such decoration. Over time, the film will peel off and look as sloppy as possible.


• 3. New technologies. In the modern production of stained glass, a pattern of multi-colored pieces of glass is applied to the finished glass, and under the influence of temperatures, the glasses are combined into a single window structure. Such an imitation of stained glass is quite affordable in price and looks like real art. In addition, just such a double-glazed window will have excellent sound insulation characteristics and keep heat in the house.

It should be noted that in order to install stained-glass windows it is not necessary to change the entire structure, but it is enough to change the double-glazed windows in the frames. Such windows will give your home not only peace and comfort, but also respectability and high status.