The main functional purpose of curtains is to cover the room from prying eyes and protect it from the penetration of sunlight. In addition, window curtains can not only transform the interior, but also adjust the design features of the room. Such products are an integral part of the interior of any style, and they come in many varieties. Among them are narrow curtains for the windows.
Specifics of narrow high windows
Often high, but narrow openings present some inconvenience to the owner of the house. To decorate a narrow window with curtains, non-standard decoration of the space is used so that the opening does not visually appear narrower.
To do this, use a number of techniques:
- Install a cornice whose width is at least 2 times the size of the frame. Curtains for a narrow window cover part of the wall on the sides of the window. This visually increases the space around the narrow but tall structure.
- On a narrow and high opening, curtains can be hung not on top, but slightly below the frame. This solution helps give the structure more proportional dimensions.
- They widen the opening by edging it with an additional decorative frame. To do this, use wood, gypsum stucco or laminate in the color of the main frame.
- To visually increase the width of the frame, choose curtains of the same shade as the walls.
- Curtains for narrow and tall windows can be placed at an angle to the frame, thus breaking the rectangular surface into several asymmetrical elements. The solution is called the "bishop's sleeve".
- To visually expand the space around a narrow frame, curtains with horizontal stripes are used.
When thinking about how to drape a tall window of small width, make sure that the room does not turn out to be dark or gloomy due to the wrong style of curtains .
What is the main difference between short curtains and long drapes?
First of all, practicality. In addition, shortened curtains can be made in the form of a pair of curtains that conveniently open the window to let more daylight into the room. Moreover, the main curtains can be on the floor.
In most cases, the choice of housewives falls on short curtains for the kitchen if the space below the window sill is occupied by a set or household appliances. Short curtains fit very harmoniously into any interior.
In living rooms they are used as an addition to multilayer structures for window decoration.
Classic style
A good classic style will add elegance and create a cozy atmosphere in the room, which is why this particular solution is often used for curtains on narrow windows. Basic requirements for classic curtains for narrow openings:
- rectangular shape of the canvas
- additional decor - tiebacks or lambrequins
- floor length
- the mandatory presence of curtains made of tulle, veil or other airy material.
A thick curtain is draped with soft folds, so the fabric is chosen wider than the frame. In this case, narrow curtains are used, which extend only 5-10 centimeters beyond the edge. The width of the cornice should allow the curtains to be placed outside the frame, so that straight vertical folds do not narrow the already small space. The classic style is still the most popular when decorating interiors.
Classic style
Curtain options
Among the wide variety of curtains for small windows, it is necessary to take into account which room they are located in, that is, take into account the purpose of the room. Design options for non-standard windows in rooms of different uses:
- Kitchen. Quite often there are kitchens with narrow openings, since this is the best option especially in conditions of limited space. you have to wash it often, so the curtains should be made of durable material. For this room, it is better to choose short canvases that match the width. It is recommended to combine the color with the color of either furniture or wallpaper. Roman blinds, roller blinds or straight-cut curtains are perfect here.
- Living room. This is a public place where not only the owners, but also guests of the house often gather. Therefore, a room equipped with ribbon windows may have more options than other rooms. In this case, it is important to maintain the integrity of the design concept and style of the room. For the classic style of the living room, you need to use long, rectangular-cut canvases that reach the floor; lambrequins, both hard and soft, are also used. In any case, it is necessary to maintain a balance in the decor. Draped curtains and light translucent curtains look beautiful on strip openings. Asymmetry and a combination of several plain curtains, tied in the form of a “bishop’s sleeve” or freely falling down, will be advantageous.
- Bedroom. The principle of choosing curtains for this room is not much different from choosing curtains for the living room. The main thing is protection from sunlight, especially if this is a children's bedroom. Curtain options also depend on the overall design. They have a wide variety. French curtains with many folds look very beautiful; these curtains will create a feeling of coziness and comfort both in the bedroom and in the living room. A large number of options for curtains for the bedroom.
- Bathroom. Often, chip windows are located under the ceiling, and curtains are not used, but if the bathroom is decorated in a certain style, lifting curtains, such as roller blinds or Roman curtains, are possible.
If you take into account the characteristics of the room, the style, color scheme of the room and use a creative approach in the design of narrow windows, you can create coziness and comfort in any room.
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Italian style
Italian curtains consist of two panels, which are tightly connected to each other at the top of the frame, and, stepping back a little from the edge, they are tied diagonally from the center to the upper corners. Narrow curtains are suitable for this model, since the curtains are not planned to be moved or pulled apart. The Italian curtain forms a kind of arch above the frame, which in the upper part has a shape resembling a triangle or a pointed dome. Changing the geometry allows you to abstract from the frame configuration.
Fashionable curtains for narrow windows are designed, slightly modifying the Italian style.
- The curtains are not joined end-to-end at the top of the frame, but are left at a short distance from each other, complementing the model with a lambrequin.
- The tiebacks are not positioned symmetrically, emphasizing the non-standard design and distracting from the small width of the frame.
- Place the fabrics overlapping, additionally hanging a light curtain.
The Italian style will suit many rooms, but it is not advisable to use such curtains on a narrow window in the bedroom. The design of the models does not involve curtaining the room, which is unacceptable in a room for sleeping or relaxing, when you want to hide from prying eyes.
Italian style curtains are ideal for tall, but not wide frames, as they allow you to adjust the shape of the opening, giving it a shorter and wider configuration. To do this, you need to choose a fabric that will flow freely in soft waves at the top of the frame.
The drapery should not be too tight. Italian-style curtains are decorated with soft folds in the shape of a semicircle.
The Italian curtain lets a sufficient amount of light into the room, since it does not block the opening, but serves only as its decorative frame. Smooth curves of the fabric will add sophistication and grace to the room.
The Italian style is suitable for curtains on a narrow window in the kitchen, which does not need to be completely curtained.
Living room and bedroom design
In the bedroom and living room, narrow curtains connected with a ribbon will look beautiful and harmonious. When using this model of window curtains, two narrow curtains are hung at the level of the window sill. This option would be appropriate only for spacious rooms with high ceilings. With the help of such an unusual design, the interior of the room will become more elegant and attractive.
Narrow versions of curtains with eyelets are also quite common. Eyelets are plastic rings on which fabric sheets are attached. These rings are used to attach the curtains to the cornice. The best material for curtains with eyelets is light tulle, mesh, organza, silk.
Horizontal stripes
Horizontal stripes are a classic for decorating narrow rooms.
Another good option for a narrow living room is fabric curtains with horizontal stripes. But textiles with large ornaments and “heavy” designs should be abandoned: such options attract attention and visually narrow the room.
Short curtains for the kitchen
From the photo of short curtains you can evaluate interesting ideas for using this option in the kitchen in modern interior solutions. Moreover, designers advise moving away from the classics, using the styles “minimalism,” “romantic,” “high-tech,” “modern,” and “loft.”
Short curtains fully comply with the safety precautions that must be observed in the kitchen. In addition, short fabrics are easier to wash and iron; they do not require the purchase of bulky fastening systems.
Note!
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Short curtains for the kitchen are made from mesh materials; blinds with vertical slats are also acceptable. Housewives often choose horizontal aluminum blinds for kitchen windows, which are attached directly to the window frame.
The preferred fabrics are cotton, linen, chiffon, and other natural materials, which are supplemented in production with synthetic threads for greater strength, practicality and wear resistance.
Unusual installation of cornice
To make the windows appear wider, a cornice is installed that is significantly larger than the width of the window itself. Curtains, in this case, cover the walls.
Eyeleted narrow curtains
So don't put the first one in the window right now.
Before purchasing, make sure that curtains and curtains are used to completely shade the window, which is very important if you are doing homework or as a decorative element, for example. Pendants hanging from the ceiling and freely falling to the ground optically extend the window and relax the space. Currently, "vertical" and horizontal stripes, frames, flowers, various modern "zigzag" patterns are "flying". Striped curtains evoke a feeling of warmth in a person, especially if you choose warm color shades such as yellow or orange. Another option is to place the curtains 20-30 centimeters below the frame itself. The window will appear square.
French shortened curtain designs
When you open such curtains, you get a lot of small folds. They are visible even when closed. When gathered in height, these curtains look very impressive.
To create beautiful scallops, when sewing French curtains you need a lot of fabric. Due to this, they can cost a little more than standard curtains and curtains.
However, if you choose lightweight materials: chiffon, organza, mesh, you can reduce the cost, and such designs do not look so bulky.
Window decoration in children's rooms
Short curtains for a child's room are no less practical than for the kitchen or bedroom. Children often tug on curtains or accidentally step on long curtains. Shortened versions of window draperies will not allow them to be damaged, wrinkled or pulled down.
Advantages and disadvantages of short curtains
They are lighter and easier to wash. It's very practical. In addition, it is worth using several sets of curtains in turn to decorate the windows of the room.
Not all of them have to be short. When you get tired of hanging long curtains, you should change them to light ones. This is more appropriate in summer.
If roller shutters, blinds of any type, Roman or Japanese blinds are used as curtains, they are even easier to care for. It is enough to wipe them with a dry or damp sponge, depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations, and do not wash them at all, since the fabrics have a special dustproof impregnation.
Flaws:
- Do not cover the old battery under a window.
- Low ceilings in rooms with short curtains are not harmonious.
- If your window has a narrow opening, they don't look right.
The advantages of short curtains
They give free access to the window. In addition, short curtains do not block the heating system, which allows you to maintain the optimal temperature in the room. It is much easier to care for short curtains and drapes because they are less susceptible to contamination.
If the housewife decides to sew such curtains to order, less fabric will be suitable for their production. Due to this, the products will cost less.
Curtains to the window sill in the sleeping room
Short curtains for the bedroom are an excellent solution when decorating non-standard window openings. Often in private households they are made in the shape of an arch, a triangle, or too narrow, wide, or round.
In this option, you should choose a curtain made of thick fabric and sew neat short curtains, adjusting them to the size and other parameters of the window.
Use lightweight fabrics
For narrow and small rooms, curtains should be the length of the window sill or even shorter.
The main mistake is to completely abandon the drapery of windows, which in narrow living rooms are often small in size. Little light penetrates through them, so in a narrow room you should not use curtains made of thick and heavy fabric.
The ideal option is light transparent or translucent curtains made, for example, from organza, tulle, or veil. Their use allows you to maintain maximum light in the space and at the same time protects the room from the annoying views of neighbors.
Mount to the ceiling
Curtains can serve as a bright accent in the interior.
Transparent and translucent curtains can be combined with thicker curtains, which are used only in the evening or at night. There is a little secret that will help make a narrow living room visually more spacious. To do this, try to attach the curtains as close to the ceiling as possible. Choose curtains of sufficient length - let them lightly touch the floor, which will also expand the space.
Minimum accessories
In a narrow living room, you should completely avoid heavy curtains.
There is one point that should be taken into account when choosing curtains for a narrow living room. Various decorations and accessories (for example, tiebacks, magnets, clips) make the window smaller than it actually is. The best alternative is to abandon such elements and opt only for curtains.
Varieties of materials and fabrics
The following materials are used for sewing short curtains:
- Veil.
- Organza.
- Darkening.
- Goat.
- Linen.
- Chiffon.
- Sackcloth.
Hanging curtains on a small window: photos and design techniques
A cornice wider than the opening itself will help transform a small window. The main thing is to correctly measure the width and height of the window. It would be a good idea to pay attention to the stylistic characteristics of the room and the degree of its illumination.
A photo gallery of finished works will help you make the right choice. Based on the information provided, you can place an order.
If a person feels strong, then you can make a cornice with your own hands.
In this case, the decorator tips listed below will help:
- The geometrically correct shape of the frame can be emphasized using a contrasting color;
- It is not recommended to completely cover the frame with a curtain - leaving a small space can visually add a few centimeters to the room;
- In a well-lit living room, a pleated curtain equipped with a tension system is appropriate;
- If there is not enough light in the room, then attention should be paid to small curtains, the upper and lower edges of which are equally fixed;
- The presence of a window niche can be advantageously played up by using a combination of Roman and traditional curtains, which are hung on the sides;
- If a double-glazed window is installed in the room, then medium-length curtains with lace will help to complement it.
The geometric shape of the window and frame plays an important role when choosing between blinds and curtains. It is necessary to measure the height, width and depth if we are talking about a niche. Based on the information collected, the fabric, its length and width are selected.
