Curtains on small windows are not just an interior detail, but a decorative element that can make a room more interesting and visually larger. Modest in size, such curtains become a real highlight in the overall design.
Small windows are often found in small rooms.
Photos of stylish options for small windows
We have compiled material that will allow you to wisely choose fabrics for draping small windows. But, so that what was written was supported visually, we compiled a selection of photo ideas for curtain design.
Selection rules
If you are choosing a stylish curtain design for a small window, then consider not only the texture, density and color of the fabric, but also the color of the walls, furniture and the level of lighting in the room.
The easiest way to choose drapery for a small window is to use the services of a designer. He will choose curtains that will organically fit into the room. But you can handle the selection of textiles yourself if you study all the intricacies of the issue.
Fabric options to match the interior
Small window openings come in not only different sizes, but also shapes. When choosing mini-curtains, you need to pay attention to the size and position of the window opening on the wall.
When choosing, consider the following:
- Do not choose multi-colored or printed curtains for small windows. This will attract attention to them. Use curtains of the same tone, which will visually make the opening larger;
- do not use grabbers, lambrequins and other decor that will add unnecessary volume to the curtains. Hang straight fabrics. It is possible to use a small ornament;
- to drape a small window, use shortened curtains;
- A short ceiling cornice will not work. Choose it 20-25 cm wider than the window. This will visually enlarge the opening slightly. The edges of the tubular cornice can be decorated with finials;
- if the room is in modern, high-tech or Japanese style, then you can hang curtains with a lifting mechanism on the windows;
- the palette of curtains should match the color of the surrounding space. Volumetric patterns and contrasting colors will make the curtains an accent, drawing the eye to the imperfections;
- if the curtains still need to be gathered at the edges, then use grips that match the tone of the fabric or thin metal ones with magnets.
Combination examples
If the small window is located so that no one else can look into it, then you can hang translucent curtains made of voile, organza or tulle. Hang unusually shaped curtains and they will decorate a small window opening.
For example, you can use snow-white organza curtains, assembled with vertical tiebacks made of satin or silk. They gather the bottom edge of the curtain into subtle semicircular folds.
As a method of decoration, you can consider curtains attached to the top and bottom of the window opening and assembled with central grips.
When selecting organza and curtains, do not create contrasting combinations. The curtain can have a discreet vertical or horizontal pattern, and tulle or organza can be snow-white or ivory. The grips are sewn from textile curtains.
Ways to visually expand a small window
Sometimes you need not only to decorate, but also to visually enlarge the window opening. Curtains should be modest and laconic. To make a small window wider with curtains, there are several techniques:
- hang curtains made from translucent fabrics such as tulle or lace. Thick curtains, characteristic of classics and baroque, will attract unnecessary attention;
- curtains should be pastel colors. Acceptable color is ivory, ivory, light beige. Contrasting deep shades will make the window even narrower;
- do not use patterns or prints. Hang smooth curtains of the same color on a narrow window. Flowers, patterns, geometric shapes will make the window smaller. As an ornament, you can use a horizontal stripe, which will expand the space;
- remove flowers in pots, vases, figurines and other decor from the windowsill. They reduce the opening area and interfere with the free access of the sun's rays.
Nuances of choosing textiles
There are many ways to make a small room appear larger and brighter. To do this, you need to choose the right combination of curtains and wall coverings. A small window opening requires a special approach. For it you need to choose curtains that will emphasize the advantages and hide the disadvantages.
To visually make a small window larger, you need to hang light translucent curtains. When choosing fabric composition, give preference to natural fabrics. If the style direction requires the use of prints and ornaments, then let them be as small as possible. The window opening should not stand out against the general background, but become a complement to the interior. Otherwise it will be overloaded.
Roller blinds with a lifting mechanism can have horizontal stripes. At the same time, keep in mind that deep tones narrow the canvas, and pastel ones make it wider.
Floor-length designer curtains in contrasting colors will draw attention to a window with non-standard parameters. For this reason, choose curtains of the same color.
Japanese curtains
This style is the ideal solution for lovers of minimalism. It has absorbed centuries-old Japanese traditions, combining simplicity, elegance and lightness.
Read about: fabrics for roller blinds: textiles to guard coolness and privacy.
The design of the curtains consists of lightweight fabric panels that let in a lot of light - so they are an ideal option when decorating small windows. The fabric can be used plain or with patterns, but the overall background should still be light.
For installation, special fasteners are used that allow the curtains to be moved manually or electrically to the left, right or up, which ensures ease of installation and use.
Color solutions
Wallpaper is changed more often than a sofa, cabinets or kitchen unit. Therefore, choose a tone for the curtains for a small window that matches the furniture.
Color combinations can be as follows:
- bright walls will go well with curtains in calm pastel shades or snow-white;
- the combination of coffee shades with a beige palette is often used;
- curtains in chocolate shades will make a small window wider. Coffee shades can be combined with cornflower blue and pistachio shades;
- if there is a small window opening in the bedroom, then use muted shades for drapery;
- a rather complex combination of black curtains with other tones. But when chosen correctly, curtains will add elegance to a space;
- cornflower blue or deep azure tone in combination with snow-white will create either a light interior in a marine style or a strict and restrained one;
- If you want to make an accent on the window opening, then use rich fabrics of the same color or with horizontal stripes for drapery. The number of colors in this case on the canvas should not exceed two. For example, this could be a combination of sea green and golden tones;
- curtains should be chosen a couple of shades darker or lighter than the wall covering.
Curtains for country windows
Thin ethereal curtains will add lightness and sophistication to a modern arrangement. Lace curtains are ideal for a small window in a rustic or country style interior. An interesting choice is small checkered curtains up to the windowsill in the English style.
Drawing
If ornament is an integral part of your interior, then choose fabrics for curtains with small floral or berry patterns. You can also choose discreet ornaments and small patterns.
The main condition is that all applied images should not stand out too much from the main background of the canvas. For example, these could be beige curtains with coffee-colored flowers.
How to decorate a small window in different rooms
There are separate ways to decorate a window for different rooms in the house.
In the kitchen
When choosing curtains for a small window in the kitchen, pay attention to the practicality of the fabric. In the room where food is prepared there are a lot of extraneous odors and high humidity. Therefore, curtains should also have a dust- and dirt-repellent composition. In this case, you can consider fabric roller blinds made from synthetic textiles. Roman blinds are also suitable.
If the kitchen is located on the shady side and the window is small, then decorate it with airy lace or tulle.
It is possible to hang a laconic lambrequin in the shape of a narrow rectangle. It will distract eyes from the non-standard opening.
To the bedroom
When choosing curtains for the bedroom, choose curtains that do not allow sunlight to pass through. These can be curtains for a small bedroom made of backout fabric, which blocks more than 80% of the sun's rays, or use roller blinds made of thin fabric in combination with heavy curtains. But choosing the right combination of sliding and lifting curtains takes a lot of time. Therefore, you can simply hang curtains with a lifting mechanism in subdued colors.
In the living room
The living room occupies one of the largest rooms in the house. It should be well lit. To ensure a large flow of light, you need to choose the right curtains for the hall. When decorating a living room or studio in a “classic” style, hang a cornice 30 cm longer than the window opening. For shortened curtains, choose two light colors from heavy fabric. In the hall you can combine the following colors:
- coffee and creamy;
- silver with apple green color;
- lilac and dusty rose color;
- muted peach with ivory.
It is possible to use a small lambrequin on curtains in the living room.
In a village house
A cafe curtain would also work. It consists of an upper curtain, which is attached to the cornice, and a central one, which is fixed on a wire. X-shaped curtains, where the fabric is attached between glazing beads and intercepted in the center, are also suitable for a private home.
Choose curtains for a country house with small windows from linen, cotton and chintz fabrics.
In a private house, curtains can be on the windows not only in the rooms, but also in the hallway. The selection rules are the same as for the living room. Curtains in the hallway should be made from straight, dense fabrics. They can be combined with tulle or a veil. Avoid sharp contrasts, voluminous ornaments and accessories.
Curtains for the bathhouse
When choosing curtains for the dressing room, take into account the high humidity in the room. To decorate a window opening in a bathhouse, hang linen, chintz or cotton curtains. But natural fabrics can become smaller in size due to specific conditions.
To avoid this, the fabric must be thoroughly steamed. The ratio of synthetic to natural fabrics in the material should be approximately 30:70%. This will help maintain the original appearance of the fabric for as long as possible.
Examples of designing small windows in a private house
An interesting solution for two small windows located side by side. Mirror design looks creative.
If the wallpaper in the kitchen has a pattern, the curtain should be plain and vice versa.
A curtain made of two canvases with the same print is a comfortable and cozy design in a country house.
Using a cornice, you can visually add a couple of centimeters to the height of the ceiling.
In this case, it is not the window that attracts attention, but the peach curtains.
Light curtains are considered a win-win option.
As you can see, window size is not a problem. A competent combination of fabrics, the right choice of model and the desire to create a creative element will help to “color” any design solution.
As a result, even a small room will become very cozy and comfortable.
Types of short curtains
Curtains for small windows can be of different types. We have selected the most common ways to drape an opening.
Long curtains
Often found in classic interiors. For a small window, choose a combination of tulle and curtains. They will fit in the living room. Thick curtain textiles should match the palette of the room and be 1-2 tones darker or lighter.
Short curtains
Shortened curtains of any style are perfect for a small window. These can be shortened straight fabrics or cafe curtains. It is especially convenient to use short curtains in rooms with a sofa in front of a window opening or to hang in the kitchen.
French
French curtains are similar to Austrian curtains, but more voluminous due to wavy ruffles along the entire length. They come with a lifting mechanism or a fixed length. They are most often made from translucent or silky fabrics.
Light curtains
Small windows, through which prying eyes cannot penetrate, can be hidden behind translucent curtains made of voile or tulle.
Roman curtains
Roman blinds can be hung on any windows. They are easy to install and use. They don't take up much space. A large number of colors will allow you to choose both contrasting shades and calm ones. For a kitchen window, you can choose a moisture-resistant fabric.
Models with eyelets
Eyelets will make the drapery beautiful and uniform. Depending on the density of the fabric, rings of larger or smaller sizes are selected.
Curtains with lambrequin
For small windows, the presence of volumetric structures is undesirable. But if the style of the room requires it, then hang a rectangular lambrequin without volumetric details.
Roll structures
Fabric roller blinds are compact curtains that are suitable for a small window. They take up virtually no space. They would be appropriate in rooms with a restrained style, such as minimalism or hi-tech.
Blinds
Blinds made of plastic can be chosen in any color. Choose curtains with horizontal slats that will widen the window opening. Plastic is not afraid of moisture and is easy to care for, so the blinds can be hung in the kitchen.
Roman blinds, roller blinds
Roman blinds or blinds made from decorative material are becoming popular. Usually raised by a special mechanism controlled by a decorative chain, the blinds will suit a variety of interior designs - classic and modern. Style largely depends on the material.
