It wasn’t till I used to be deep within the design world that I ever actually thought of another window overlaying in addition to a curtain panel. It was the one variety my dad and mom utilized in my childhood residence (in addition to mini blinds and the dreaded vertical blinds). And it’s protected to say the vast majority of the non-design individuals in my life who’re adorning their very own houses additionally use panels as a default. As elegant as they are often, they don’t seem to be at all times one of the best choice for the window you’re attempting to cowl.

Say you’ve gotten a small little window above eye peak that panels would look foolish on. A curler or Roman shade goes to be your greatest guess. Or possibly you’ve gotten a wonderful image window that faces the road the place you don’t wish to block the view however you additionally would moderately individuals strolling by not see you hours-deep right into a Golden Women marathon. Mild-filtering cafe curtains will do the trick.

For those who’ve ever struggled with what route to go along with overlaying your home windows, this submit is for you. Oh, and also you’re going to wish to Pin this data to avoid wasting for later, too, as a result of it’s recommendation that can by no means not be helpful.

First, right here’s an *precise* cheat sheet for you on when and the place to make use of the 4 commonest kinds of window coverings: Roman shades, pull-down shades (like rollers and honeycomb), panels, and cafe curtains:

After all, there may be an exception for all the things, and these usually are not die-on-the-hill guidelines, however I’d guesstimate that they’d apply about 90% of the time. And sure, there shall be home windows the place any of the above choices would work, and in that case, it’s actually only a visible, funds, or upkeep desire. Let’s check out all of those extra intently to point out you examples of why they work the place they’re pictured (and another ideas).

Roman Shades

First up: Roman shades. Tremendous versatile, clear and tailor-made and an excellent choice for lots of difficult areas.

That’s my kitchen up there (and that cute child can be mine). I’ve a large window in my breakfast nook that frankly was very onerous to determine. I may have performed panels, however there isn’t a lot clearance above the window to hold draperies, plus I didn’t wish to take care of panels kissing the ground of a VERY energetic kitchen (anybody who has ever fed a toddler is aware of what I imply). In her eyes, they’d be two big napkins and…a tough no for me. So the subsequent choice was a shade of some kind. Frankly, a light-filtering curler shade may need been probably the most sensible resolution since I don’t wish to block daylight, however I knew I needed a extra ornamental look to actually spruce this facet of the area up, so Romans it was. I went with an out of doors mount as my sill is tremendous shallow and the shade stack would have protruded awkwardly with an inside mount.

How cute is this bed room? EHD contributor Ajai Guyot had a tiny little window (above an ornamental ledge, no much less) that didn’t have many choices. A Roman is ideal for a window like this since panels would solely draw consideration to how small it’s.

One other spot the place a Roman is clutch is above furnishings. That is Emily Bowser’s bed room, and due to the sq. footage of the room and her residence, she actually wants to maximise her area. Pulling her dresser out six or so inches to depart room for panels to drape behind was simply not a great resolution. The drapey Roman she selected is each sensible on this software in addition to visually tender, not stealing an excessive amount of consideration from anything within the room.

One other Bowser area the place a shade (or cafe curtain) was one of the best transfer. As I discussed, there are going to be loads of instances when you’ve gotten your choose of what to make use of, and there isn’t a fallacious reply. A restaurant curtain would really feel charming and Outdated World, whereas a Roman is polished and absolutely covers the window when it’s down at night time, and so forth.

Roman Shade Recap

When to make use of:

• On a small window the place panels wouldn’t work aesthetically or functionally
• If you would like a clear, tailor-made look
• In an informal area like a kitchen or breakfast nook
• On a window above a bit of furnishings, radiator, or baseboard heating
• As a complement to draperies in a room with plenty of home windows
• For those who don’t have sufficient wall area to assist material rods/panels

Material Panels

On to panels. Okay, so this was my previous eating room (I MISS YOU!!!) and searching again, I 100% ought to have opted for Roman shades right here. It was one in every of my first tasks, so, as talked about, panels had been my go-to. And look, I like the drama of the deep inexperienced velvet panels flanking each casement home windows, however may by no means truly open these home windows each as a result of I had stuff on the credenza in entrance but additionally as a result of the panels didn’t nest absolutely to the facet of the window so that they acquired in the best way. Plus, they collected SO.MUCH.DUST beneath. Fairly, sure, however not sensible.

(Scorching Tip: For those who’re utilizing a Roman shade on a casement window, ensure it’s put in excessive sufficient that when the shade is absolutely up, it doesn’t block the window from opening. It’s not one thing it’s good to fear about with a regular single-hung window, however it’s for this kind.)

I needed to point out you my previous lounge to speak by two various things: #1 – panels are nice for overlaying a really giant window or set of home windows you wish to make really feel like a single window. Actually, I’m unsure a Roman shade of this width is even a factor (possibly however it might seemingly have been three as a substitute of 1 and would have felt uneven). Plus, I needed to intensify the ceiling peak, which is at all times a job greatest performed by curtain panels. #2: You see how the panels to the precise the place the ceiling slopes down don’t line up with the {hardware} on the massive entrance window? It actually wasn’t the tip of the world and didn’t hassle me that a lot in individual, however panels on the image window and Roman shades on the 2 decrease, smaller home windows would have been a nicer combine, for positive. You reside, you be taught, (you snicker/love).

I suppose I can’t cease exhibiting my previous house. However for actual, it’s simply simpler for me to speak by the “whys” since I do know them. In my previous bed room, I picked curtain panels as a result of I needed a tender, romantic look, which is strictly what drapes ship. Cafe curtains would have felt too dinky with the massive scale of my furnishings (plus it wouldn’t have given me sufficient privateness), and Romans would have been too stiff for my styling.

Right here’s Caitlin’s lovely, eclectic lounge. She opted for a combo of woven Roman shades and panels each for texture, privateness, and drama. I like this mixture in an area that’s layered and wealthy. Any materials of shade would work in order for you the 2 window overlaying sorts, although usually you’ll wish to select one thing light-filtering and never too heavy.

We’ve but to see curtain panels on any doorways on this submit, however in the event you’re attempting to cowl one thing sliding and even French, panels are an excellent alternative. This eating area by EHD alum Julie makes nice use of the lengthening energy of panels by hanging the curtain {hardware} all the best way as much as the ceiling line to match the cabinetry on the wall and provides clear, continuous traces to the world.

This candy little breakfast nook had nearly any choice accessible to it for overlaying that window, however the panels hung excessive make it really feel a lot grander and extra dreamy than it might have with any sort of shade or perhaps a brief cafe curtain.

This complete room is actually jaw-dropping, however it’s additionally a really perfect instance of how dramatic (but tailor-made) panels could be. These are inset into the ceiling so there isn’t a seen {hardware}. It’s a element that must be labored out within the design and renovation technique of a room, however man is it price it. ::chef’s kiss::

Material Panel Recap

When to make use of:

• In any room you wish to intensify ceiling peak
• In any room you desire a grand, elegant feeling to
• On a window you wish to make really feel bigger (by hanging a material rod excessive and huge)
• While you wish to make a number of home windows subsequent to one another really feel like a single “unit”
• When you have a big window or sliding/French door to cowl

Cafe Curtains

Shock! It’s me exhibiting my residence once more. A variety of you adopted my rental kitchen refresh, and those who did will know I swapped out the wooden blinds that had been within the window above my sink for a restaurant curtain (additionally referred to as tier curtains). I did this each for appeal but additionally for max gentle.

One other rental area, this time by Julie in a earlier house of hers. As renters, your choices are restricted, and cafe curtains held on a stress rod are so nice in a small window that wants privateness however will also be reverted again to move-in situation.

After all, all of us bear in mind Emily’s farmhouse eating nook the place she added in a DIY boro material cafe curtain. As she doesn’t have a privateness concern essentially, she opted for the cafe curtain particularly so as to add print and influence to the area. Cafe curtains are an effective way to make use of up a small piece of material you completely love however both don’t have the funds to purchase tons of yardage or can’t get extra as a result of it’s classic.

Cafe curtains aren’t only for small home windows, both. The attractive, tall home windows in Emily’s farmhouse main tub let each gentle and tree views in with out letting any ::cough cough:: undesirable views out.

Cafe Curtain Recap

When to make use of:

• In a room you need each privateness and lightweight/views
• If you wish to add some dreamy appeal to an area

Pull-Down Shade

I left probably the most trendy and sensible window overlaying sort for final however that doesn’t imply it is best to. Non-Roman shades are usually curler or honeycomb, although you’ll discover a couple of different sorts. These are often inside mounted (so that you want no less than 2-3 inches of window sill), and are available in each light-filtering and blackout. As a result of they sit tight to the window, in addition they present nice insulation for each sound and temperature. I opted for a honeycomb black-out shade in my daughter’s room behind fairly panels, and whereas the shade itself isn’t probably the most aesthetic factor, it form of disappears and is immensely practical.

In the Portland venture from a couple of years again (above), most of the home windows went the best way of the shade for the reason that structure of the house was fairly trendy and clean-cut. Might you add panels across the window with one of these shade, too? Yup, completely, however in order for you one thing easy and unfussy, that is the window overlaying for you.

The identical applies to the mountain home, which was Emily’s tackle trendy Scandi lodge. The ceilings, home windows and views on this home did the heavy lifting, and overlaying these up with something that made an excessive amount of of a press release would frankly steal from that. You possibly can see how minimal they’re when absolutely open above within the spa toilet and in one of many visitor rooms under.

Pull-Down Shade Recap

When to make use of:

• While you desire a easy, trendy look
• For those who want privateness with both light-filtering or black-out qualities
• For those who want higher insulation of sound and vitality in your window
• In an area that wants a low-maintenance and low-profile choice

And there you’ve gotten it! I hope that was useful and helpful for you in the event you’re attempting to determine window coverings in your house. Once more, plenty of it’s private desire, however like I walked you thru, there *are* proper and fallacious solutions relying on the scenario. Whereas material panels are probably the most versatile (learn: you don’t often must go the customized route such as you would for a Roman or pull-down shade), I hope this submit opened the window to the world of coverings (pun very a lot meant right here).

See you subsequent time, buddies!

Opening Picture Credit: Photograph by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Portland Undertaking: The Residing Room Reveal