Curtain ideas for small window

13 Cute Small Window Curtain Ideas

Every house is bound to have at least one window that's relatively small. You might think that smaller windows are inherently less appealing and are thus more difficult to dress up, but this couldn't be further from the truth.

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In reality, small windows can be decorated in a variety of ways to match the aesthetic and vibe of practically any space. From regal elegance to rural farmhouse and everything in between, there is a small window curtain style for everyone.

With that said, it can be difficult to figure out where to start; as mentioned, there are numerous options when it comes to small window curtains, so the process can certainly be daunting.

But don't fret, because we created a guide to simplify the curtain selection process. Without further ado, take a look at these 13 small window curtain ideas!

1. Elegant Tieback Curtains

This dainty yet elegant curtain choice is great for small windows. Depending on the curtain ties, you can dress the look up or down to your liking. These particular curtains are goldish brown and feature a unique chevron pattern. They're elements that work harmoniously to create a look that exudes luxury without being too loud.

Pair these tiebacks with a set of elegant curtains to achieve a similar luxurious look.

Click here to see these curtain tiebacks on Amazon.

2. Tieback Curtains With Overhead Rod

If you need to dress up a window that's somewhat tall and skinny, consider mimicking this look. This window is adorned with a gorgeous set of gold curtains that are both tied back and suspended from a prominent overhead curtain rod.

The contrast between the dark curtain rod and the regal gold curtains is certainly spectacular. With a similar setup, you can easily give any small window an elegant aesthetic.

3. Dainty, Airy Curtains

If you want to dress up a small window with an aesthetic that isn't too common, consider going for a similar look. This window is wrapped in a set of breezy sheer curtains that boast a gorgeous floral pattern; you can practically feel and smell the breeze, right? This approach is fairly minimalistic, but the visual effect is certainly profound.

4. Farmhouse Aesthetic

There's no better way to immediately give your home a rural farmhouse vibe than with a similar set of curtains. These curtains have a ton of farmhouse personality thanks to the dainty white and the floral pattern. To really pull this look off, let the curtains fall naturally, ensuring that they don't look too perfect and orderly.

5. Light Aesthetic For The Kitchen

If you want to achieve a light and airy ambiance in your kitchen, consider dressing up a small kitchen window like so. This window features a set of light patterned curtains that almost seem vintage. If you opt for this look, consider closing the curtains halfway; doing so allows natural light to enter while still providing a great view of the unique curtain design.

6. Layered Tieback Curtains

A surefire way to make a smaller window look amazing is to dress them up with layered tieback curtains. This window is flanked by light sheer-style tieback curtains underneath thicker regal tieback curtains. This arrangement adds not only texture but dimension and elegance to the room. For maximum visual effect, taper the bottom layer of curtains while allowing the outer layer to fall more vertically.

7. Striped Roman Shades

Roman shades are never a bad choice when it comes to decorating a smaller window. They are easy to operate, providing maximum customization in regard to light filtration. This Roman shade features a unique striped pattern that really makes this window pop. Coordinate the color or pattern with nearby decor (like flowers in this case) for an incredible look.

8. Translucent Sheer Curtains

To achieve a moody look, consider mimicking this small window treatment. This window is covered by a mere sheer curtain that filters the sunlight in the perfect way to create a unique mood. What's more, this setup is unique because it utilizes one single curtain covering the entire window rather than two separate pieces. This setup makes it a bit more of a permanent fixture.

9. Cute Pink Curtain Arrangement

What better way to give a room some feminine flair than with this kind of curtain arrangement? This airy pink-and-white curtain flows gracefully from the curtain rod and flanks the window, framing it nicely. Such a setup doesn't provide light filtration, but it offers a timeless aesthetic that everyone is sure to appreciate.

If you need a touch of elegance on your windows, look no further than a dainty window scarf like this one.

Click here to see this pink window scarf on Amazon.

10. Understated Elegance

This small window curtain setup exudes intentionally understated elegance. This small set of curtains features an elegant pattern, but it isn't loud or bold. Thus, curtains like these would make an exceptional addition to virtually any home.

11. Dainty Purple Statement Valance

This purple valance, though small and dainty, certainly make a bold visual statement. Though it's situated at the very top of the window, it commands attention due to the color and texture. Consider a similar curtain arrangement to make a strong aesthetic statement.

12. Roman Shades With A Contemporary Aesthetic

This window features a Roman shade with a contemporary look. The color and pattern of the shade is perfectly coordinated with the other elements in the bedroom, resulting in a balanced, cohesive look. And again, these shades are easy to use and can be adjusted to the desired position.

This beautiful striped Roman shade adds just the right amount of warmth and pattern to any window.

Click here to see this Roman shade on Amazon.

13. Cool Neutral Color With Layering

This window treatment approach is fairly simple, but it doesn't lack in visual appeal. The small window is covered by a single sheer curtain and flanked by two blue-gray curtains. The combination of a soft white base layer and a neutral outer layer makes for a captivating setup.

In Closing

We hope this guide has given you the creative inspiration you need to dress up that small window. Before you go, be sure to take a look at these other great guides that might be of interest to you:

How To Hang Sheer Curtains With Drapes [5 Steps]

What Curtains Go With Gray Carpet?

10 Window Treatments Ideas for Small Windows

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Selecting the right treatment for a small window can make a room seem brighter and more spacious

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If you have a small window in your kitchen or bedroom, smothering it with drapes isn’t usually the best approach. When dressing a small window, you want to let in as much natural light as possible to avoid making a space look smaller. Here are 10 inspirational window treatment ideas for small windows—from the best treatments to new colors and patterns to try.

1. Window Shades

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There are various types of shades that work well on a small window.

Roller Shades

Roller shades come in a wide variety of materials, colors, patterns, and sizes and are ideal for use on small windows. It’s a one-piece flat fabric that rolls up neatly, fully or partially, into a cassette. The sleek, minimalist design doesn’t overwhelm your window, fitting snugly within the frame, and they aren’t expensive to buy or complicated to fit. They’re perfect for a modern, streamlined finish.

By selecting a fabric with a decent amount of opacity, it can still let light into the room even when the shade is down.

Roman Shades

Another one-piece design, when lifted, the fabric on Roman shades stacks in folds. This offers an elegant, soft, and timeless look while more streamlined than drapes—but it might be too heavy for the smallest windows. If you’re looking for more insulation, the fabric tends to be heavier than a standard roller shade.

Cellular Shades

Also known as honeycomb shades, these small window treatment options use layers of pleated fabric with varying degrees of light filtration that fold away neatly when raised. Their modern design offers additional insulation, making them a good choice if your window is draughty. Because they can trap moisture, they aren’t always the best choice in a humid space, like a bathroom.

Solar Shades

Solar shades, also known as “window sunglasses,” preserve your outside view while still filtering incoming light. Like roller shades, they roll up into a cassette when raised, leaving very little fabric to obstruct your small window. Solar shades let in the most natural light of all window treatments, making your small window extremely functional regardless of size.

2. Blinds

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Blinds are another popular option for small windows as you can measure them to fit within the window frame. Both shades and blinds are more functional than curtains. Pleated blinds or wide-slatted wooden Venetian blinds let lots of sun into a space, and vertical designs are better for tall and thin windows.

Available in a variety of materials and to suit any budget, you’ll have plenty to choose from.

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Custom-made estate shutters made by a local window treatment specialist will fit neatly into a small window space, and, depending on how you adjust them, they can make the most of the available light or completely block it. This makes them a versatile choice for ventilation, privacy, and temperature regulation. Their classic look also makes them a good choice for historic homes.

Because they’re usually custom-made and often made from wood or faux wood, they’re more expensive than a typical roller blind or shade.

If you want to add a decorative touch to your small window without blocking out any available light, you could opt for a valance that covers only the top of the window.

This is a good choice in a room where you don’t need the added security or privacy you get from a full shade. It also works if you want to add some subtle layering to soften the look after fitting a plain fabric roller shade.

5. Small Window Curtain Options

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Typically, sill-length, short curtains work for small windows. Reaching the top of the windowsill, they won’t overwhelm the space.

Alternatively, you could opt for café curtains. They cover the bottom half of the window, allowing light to still enter while offering a degree of privacy. Café curtains are a popular choice in bathrooms or for small windows that lead out to a public footpath or street; you hang them using adjustable height curtain rods that sit within the window frame.

You can use the power of illusion and hang long curtains on small windows to make them look larger. If you want to go for this look, hang the curtains as high and wide as possible to help the petite window look bigger.

Steer clear of fringes, tassels, or swags, as these can make the window look smaller and obscure the light.

6. Frosted Glass

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Frosted glass can work well as a treatment for a small window in a space like a bathroom or a hallway, where you want permanent privacy or the sun’s glare is a problem. Because there’s no need for blinds or curtains, it keeps the space clean, and light is still let in effectively. You can achieve a frosted glass effect by using sprays or decals that you can remove when you want a change.

7. Stained Glass

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Fitting stained glass on a large window is expensive, time-consuming, and can sometimes be an overpowering look in a room. On a small window, it won’t cost so much, and it can be a lovely decorative element that allows you to maintain privacy, avoid bulky window dressings, and let in natural light.

If you want a window to look bigger from the outside, opting for a reflective glass finish is another option.

8. Colors and Prints for Small Window Treatments

Select any colors or prints for small window treatments mindfully. Light, cool shades can help to make the space and the window appear larger.

If you’re using bold colors, match the curtains to the wall shade. That way, you’ll draw more attention to the window and outside space, creating an illusion of more space inside.

Small, subtle details that match the rest of your decor are a good idea for patterns.

9. Avoid Complex Layering

Adding a simple valance above a plain shade or blind can work on a small window, but fussy or complex layering will make the window and the room look smaller. Avoid things like long drapes over bulky Roman shades.

10. Go Minimalist

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Sometimes, you can leave your small window without any window treatment at all. This works best for those positioned high on a wall with no privacy concerns or for architecturally significant ones you don’t want to cover. In rooms like this, adding decorative touches on the window ledges can add some style and personality while letting in the maximum amount of natural light.

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112 photos of ways to visually enlarge a small window

Nowadays, curtains are not only an interior item that protects the room from the penetration of sunlight and other people's eyes, but also a decorative detail that makes it possible to emphasize the stylistic direction of the situation or focus on the window opening .

Modern apartments do not always please us with large rooms. Cramped rooms with a low ceiling in many ways limit the design solutions for curtains. But even for small window openings, it is possible to choose original curtains that allow you to visually increase their area, and, at the same time, perform their direct duties.

Article content:

Choosing curtains for the kitchen

People spend quite a lot of time in the kitchen, they invite guests there, the whole family gathers there after a hard day's work. Therefore, this room must be comfortable and bright. Many apartments cannot boast of spacious kitchens and wide kitchen windows.

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The choice of modern curtains for a small kitchen is usually complicated by the location of the window opening - most often it is located near the working area and electric stove, which makes it unacceptable to use floor-length curtains. The solution is curtains suspended from the ceiling and removed from the sides with a drawstring. The finishing touch will be an asymmetrical cut lambrequin.

Light-colored Roman-style curtains on a small window will visually enlarge the space, and floral patterns, supported by separate accessories, will bring harmony to the interior.

When selecting kitchen curtains, stain resistant fabrics should be preferred. A material impregnated with a special fire-fighting and dirt-repellent composition will be the best choice.

Choosing curtains for the living room and bedroom

The living room is usually the largest room in the apartment. Good lighting in the hall is welcome. The wrong choice of curtains can spoil even the most fashionable environment.

Choosing the design of curtains for a small window, the first thing to consider is the style of the room as a whole. For a living room decorated in a classic style, it would be appropriate to pick up two-color curtains made in the English or French design direction, while it is desirable that the cornice be about 0. 3 m wider than the window. Lambrequins will successfully complete the resulting picture.

Modern small sheer organza curtains with a stiff bandeau in a contrasting color will look great on a north window. They will add light and air to the interior.

Choosing curtains for a small bedroom is pretty easy. The fabric for such curtains should be dense. It is great if the curtains are lined with thick material. It will protect them from fading, and the room from the bright sun.

Curtains in the Austrian style look pretty good in the bedroom. In the daytime, they can be raised, letting the sun's rays into the room, and lowered in the evening.

Monochromatic roller blinds are good for a minimalist bedroom. Curtains of a gray palette look great in a black and white interior.

Sewing small curtains by yourself

If you had craft lessons at school, you can easily sew a regular curtain. Instructions on how to make small curtains with your own hands can be easily found on the Internet.

You will need to choose the material of your favorite color, make a pattern, baste and sew on a sewing machine.

If you have a table by the window opening, then you should not hang curtains on the floor there. It is best to stop at a half-window model and a hard lambrequin made of plain or colored material. Such a window will look very interesting and unusual.

The photo of small curtains shows that their width should not be less than the width of the window opening.

Ways to visually expand a small window

This topic deserves special mention. Curtains on a small window must be distinguished by modesty and conciseness. They should not suppress a small opening. Designers have some effective tricks to make a small window look big. Here is some of them:

The use of light materials. You must give up heavy materials that give the impression of luxury and attract all eyes. For small windows, it is better to use curtains made of light, airy, transparent fabrics.

Such a delicate and elegant window frame will decorate even the cramped room. The best option would be new organza curtains and veils.

Light color only. Pastel shades, for example, alabaster, sand, will be appropriate. Bright, saturated colors only visually reduce the opening.

No decoration. It is better to hang curtains made of smooth, plain material on a small window. Any kind of ornament is highly undesirable, as it will conceal centimeters. Only a horizontal strip is allowed, because it visually increases the width of the window.

Missing items on window sill. The window sill must be empty. Indoor plants, books, lamps here contribute to the fact that the window opening will appear smaller. They also block out sunlight.

Often this shortcoming is corrected by competent selection of curtains for small windows. And it is worth considering a few tips on how to do this.

Brief overview of the article

Basic recommendations for choosing

The design of curtains on a small window requires certain conditions to be met:

Preference is given to solid materials that make the opening visually wider. And they remove the semantic load from the window.
Décor is excluded, which in this context is perceived as an additional obstruction to light. At most, it is permissible to use simple patterns in a cage, polka dots or a flower.
The ban applies to long curtains that, due to their size, form an unfavorable contrast to a small window.
For such a window, a cornice is taken wider than the opening itself. As a result, it will appear slightly larger than it is. And interesting nozzles on the cornice will additionally distract the attention of guests.
If the curtain is paired with tulle, decoration on the top of the curtain can be used. Sometimes a lambrequin is used in this capacity, which creates the effect of a heavily cropped curtain.
If the curtains are two classic canvases, you can use the assembly. If the collection point is closer to the bottom of the window, a smooth line will form on the extension.
An alternative to classic curtains will be Roman blinds, which will perform the function of a lambrequin when folded. And in the open state they will give the interior lightness.
Photos of small curtains prove that the choice should be guided by the stylistic design of the room. If the curtains on the windows are knocked out of the general atmosphere, they will attract attention. And they will give out a small window opening.

If choosing curtains to meet these requirements seems too difficult, it makes sense to consult an experienced designer.

Materials for curtains

Because lack of light creates heaviness, curtains are expected to be as light as possible. Here you should not place bulky curtains made of heavy fabric, which will take away comfort from the room. On the contrary, you need to pay attention to something airy.

For example, organza, voile or large mesh tulle can be used for tulle. A good option for decoration would be a muslin curtain, which is a thread fastened on top. Options with plastic beads look especially attractive.

When planning to make small night curtains with your own hands, you should give preference to linen and cotton. These fabrics transmit light well, and at the same time hide what is happening inside the apartment well.

For a small window, you can use silk, taffeta, satin, jacquard or blackout. The glossy sheen of the satin will help to highlight the individual elements of the curtain. However, its excess will cause the opposite effect.

Color features

To correct a window opening, you need to choose the right color. It is believed that the curtains here should be in tone or slightly lighter than the wallpaper. This creates a natural effect.

It is allowed that the design of such a room is based on the play of contrasts. For example, a combination of dark curtains with light walls is used. Or warm shades are opposed to cold ones. However, when planning such experiments, one must exercise caution and prudence. Otherwise, you can get chaos.

Drawing plays a corrective role. If you do not want to use a plain curtain, you need to give preference to a large pattern. Moreover, if the window is not high enough, you need to use a pattern with vertical stripes. If the opening is too narrow, you need the pattern to visually expand it.

Window decoration in the bedroom

Curtains in a small room that will become a bedroom are chosen with the expectation of creating an intimate, peaceful atmosphere. Considering that the curtain here is aimed at protecting privacy from outsiders, you can use a combination of:

blackout curtains;
translucent roll sheets;
tulle.

In this case, it is important to take care that the composition looks harmonious. If you need to design a window in a minimalist style, you can stop at the blinds, stylized as wood. Or use a Roman or roller blind with a lambrequin at the top.

Selection of curtains for a small window opening in the kitchen

When choosing curtains for a small kitchen, it is important to think about practicality first of all. Here, textiles are exposed to fumes from pots and pans on the stove. In addition, the material may be contaminated with food or drinks.

Therefore, it is better to use fabrics that are easy to wash. For example, fabrics made of synthetic fibers impregnated with compounds that repel water and dirt. These curtains are easy to wash and dry quickly.

In addition to traditional curtains, Roman or roller blinds are also available. They don't take up space. And when rolled up, the risk of contamination is reduced.

If your window needs a curtain with more light transmission, you can opt for tulle in white or pastel colors. The material practically does not absorb light, but does not completely cover the imperfections of the window.

And does not hide from prying eyes in the evenings. Therefore, this option is used in rooms where a small window opening is combined with access to the north side.

Curtains for the living room

Given that this room used for receiving guests is of impressive size, appropriate curtains will be required to decorate the window here. To make the curtain look decent, but not bulky, it is recommended to use light dense materials.

At the same time, given the lack of a small window, flashy colors and decorations will have to be abandoned in favor of simplicity and minimalism. In some cases, to achieve the necessary balance in the design of the window, the curtains will have to be sewn by hand.

Village house window decoration

Considering that village houses are built in such a way that it is almost impossible to peep through the window due to the distance from the road or a high fence, blackout curtains are rarely required here.