Let’s Discuss Draperies!

They are not going to block your view, I promise.

As a professional in interiors, I encounter homes every day that have vast expanses of naked windows, and often the echo that accompanies an empty space. I will be upfront that I have fairly traditional and southern taste, so I am usually a little biased towards putting a sweet floral drape, or a relaxed Roman shade trimmed in a contrasting tape on a window, but I’m here to tell you that draperies and shades can be modern, and I believe they are necessary in most spaces no matter your style. I’m going to break down some of the most common complaints and hesitations that I encounter when talking to clients about options for soft treatments in their decorating projects.

“I don’t want to block my view.”

I want to say that I understand why there is belief that this is going to happen. People think that draperies will block their view because of inexpensive, poorly done treatments that are mounted in the wrong place, or because they have seen overdone treatments with swags and trim and ballooned valances that are decades out of style, as well as having gotten used to staring at a naked wall.

A window treatment done properly will frame your view – colors, textures and patterns are chosen by your designer to accentuate both the architectural elements of a window and the view outside. By now, everyone should have seen the little sketch that made its circulation on Pinterest about how to properly hang curtains to “make your windows look bigger,” and that rule of thumb has not changed for years. In fact, over the last couple years, the trend has been to take your curtain rod all the way to the ceiling or crown molding. Now, not only does this add amazing drama to your space and make your windows have more of a presence in the room, but this allows the space to transition from indoor to outdoor and give the view the justice and attention that it deserves.

I do also want to point out that when you are shopping online for ready-made curtain panels, they are purposely spreading them out over the window because they want you to see what the fabric and the full width of the panel is. They aren’t showing the window in a maximum way because that is not what they are selling you. If you are on a budget, you can still hang treatments in a way that works best for the decor of the room, and ignore how it’s presented online.

“I want my space to be modern.”

This might be my least favorite of any feedback regarding window treatments. It, to be frank, shows a lack of creativity. Inspiration and examples of drapery exist in abundance, and this includes ultra-modern spaces. The current overarching trend is draperies are simpler as a rule; straight panels with no trim regardless of fabric selection are often hung as stationary accents that allow hard treatments to take over the light-filtering function of the window covering, while providing decor and sound diffusion. The hallmark of modern design is simplicity, the trend is there already. Taking it a step further by scaling down the hardware, being particular about the materials being used, and choosing a solid or textured fabric that echos an existing design element rather than introducing something new gives way to a minimalist treatment that is wholly modern in its style.

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“We don’t need draperies.”

I’ll concede, there are architectural beauties that would be done a disservice by having fabric forced around their windows. Even in such homes, every room is different, and what works for a grand vaulted living area with floor-to-ceiling custom windows is definitely not going to translate to an office or bedroom with a 32″ double-hung frame. A naked widow in a room full of furnishings and art can really make your space look incomplete, which many clients find frustrating after spending thousands on furniture. Adding the finishing soft accents can really make your home feel like a home and elevate the decor in your home. More importantly, and probably contributing to the last point, point of the two, draperies provide a ton of sound absorption. In today’s market, the dominating style is open concept spaces that account for the living, dining, and kitchen, often open to the second floor and a hallway. This is a lot of space for sound to bounce around in, and draperies really do a good job of muffling the echo.

“I don’t want to spend a ton of money.

I can’t really help with this one. My mama says, “There’s no such thing as a cheap window treatment.” There are sacrifices that you can make to bring the cost down, but if you want your home to look nice, it is more than worth the investment to do it properly in its entirety. I would like to add, and I have had clients tell me this verbatim, that investing the larger expenses to decorate will contribute to the resale value of your home. When people walk through the showing of a house that is fully decorated, they see a move-in-ready home, and are willing to spend more. It’s typical that since every home and every window is different, that the new home buyer will want the existing window treatments, and will pay for them!

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I think that the conversation about window treatments needs to be had at the start of any redecorating project, and I hope that my counterpoints to anti-drapery propaganda was helpful to you all.