56 Window Treatment Ideas for Every Budget and Space

While window treatments are often considered a finishing touch to a room, it’s a mistake to think of them as merely decorative. Window treatments that are adapted to each room in your home are foundational elements that can impact your daily quality of life. Today many spaces feature bare windows that allow natural light to flood in for a clean modern feel that shuns the fussy window dressing of times past.

But naked windows can leave you cold, expose you to excess UV rays, and fail to provide the necessary privacy for street-facing or neighbor-adjacent rooms. Adding window treatments such as curtains, drapes, shades, blinds, or shutters that are adapted to your home and decor can do everything from providing light and privacy control to helping keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer without wasting energy.

From modern curtains to unique blinds, find the perfect solution for your home with these window treatment ideas for every budget, style, and space.

A window treatment is a fancy term for anything you use to dress your naked windows. Everything from roller shades to shutters to blinds to black-out curtains or drapes, or any combination of the above, can be called a window treatment (or window dressing, to use another term).

How to Choose a Window Treatment

To choose the best window treatments for each room, start by identifying practical concerns such as how much privacy, light, and temperature control you need for each window. Keep in mind that south-facing rooms will require more shading than those facing east, for example.

Prioritize rooms such as bedrooms and bathrooms to ensure that you are able to relax and sleep, using black-out shades for the bedroom and privacy blinds or half-curtains for the bathroom. You can layer simple blinds with curtains for a more decorative look, or to give yourself options for light and privacy control throughout the day.

Remember that windows come in a variety of shapes and anything but standard sizes, making buying off-the-rack shades and shutters challenging and custom curtains, drapes, and blinds relatively expensive. Be sure to measure twice before buying anything you can’t return, and keep in mind that there are many professional companies who will do the work of measuring and installing blinds if you have the budget and plan to stay in your home for a while, or forever. And if you have the desire and the budget, choose motorized smart blinds that can open and close at the touch of a button.

All-White Curtains

Curtains can be used to add color and contrast to a room, or they can blend in with and complement the existing color scheme. In this all-white bedroom from Leanne Ford Interiors, floor-to-ceiling curtains on the wall behind the bed start at the ceiling and puddle on the floor, creating a light and airy cloud-like feel.

Floral Patterned Roman Shade

Roman blinds work well as permanent window dressing, particularly on fixed windows that don't get opened and closed frequently. A colorful Roman shade in a floral pattern softens the black framed windows of this neutral modern laundry room from Michelle Berwick Design and doesn't need to be shut in the evening unless desired.

Wooden Shutters

Interior window shutters have an integrated feel that makes them feel like part of the architecture rather than an add-on or an afterthought. While there is an upfront cost to investing in wooden shutters, they're easy to maintain and will pay off over time.

The interior painted wood window shutters in this space from deVOL Kitchens are classic and durable, filtering light even when closed and providing privacy from onlookers when desired.

Hand-Painted Curtains

For a custom look, try matching the curtains to the wallpaper. Forbes + Masters kept this traditional approach modern with neutral beige and black hand-painted curtains and matching wall decor to give this dramatic dining room a cohesive and dimensional custom look. Tall wainscotting painted bright white helps keep things bright and prevents the pattern from overwhelming.

Warm Neutral Curtains

If your dining room has wrap-around windows, you can soften it and make it feel cozier with wrap-around curtains on the walls. Just be sure to use a fabric that doesn't weigh down the feeling of the room, such as linen, or make it feel too closed in.

Tyler Karu Design + Interiors hung wrap-around curtains in a warm neutral buttery beige that complements golden wood tones and woven elements that make this space feel warm and inviting during the daytime and private and comfortable at night.

Light-Blocking Layers

Don't feel you have to choose just one window treatment depending on your needs. Louis Duncan-He Designs layered window blinds and lightweight curtains to filter and block light in this moody basement bar and lounge space.

Wall of Curtains

This Washington State bedroom from Cathie Hong Interiors had wrap-around windows, so a wall of pleated curtains was hung behind the bed to control light and create a dramatic headboard effect that adds texture to the neutral space in the process. Keep in mind that curtains need to be dusted regularly and cleaned periodically in order to keep them looking their best for the long haul.

Cellular Shades

Cathie Hong Interiors fit street-facing windows with cellular shades that can be easily raised or lowered depending on the time of day and degree of privacy you require. The top fixed panel is left open to let natural light come through and a glimpse of the tree-lined street.

White Blinds

This crisp bathroom design from Sissy + Marley Interior Design has a strict palette of black and white that includes white blinds on the windows that blend in seamlessly and can be adjusted as needed.

Window Film

Opaque privacy glass or removable window film can be used directly on the window panes themselves as an alternative to window dressing such as curtains or blinds. In this London kitchen, Pluck Kitchens gave the bottom third of this large window a sense of privacy while leaving the upper two-thirds of the window open to allow natural light to flood in.

White Linen Curtains

Simple and classic white linen curtains and matte black rods wrap this light and airy sunroom from Kate Marker Interiors. The curtains are hung from high up on the wall above the windows and end just above the floor for a tailored look that doesn't distract from the room's vaulted ceilings and exposed beams.

Wooden Blinds

The corner windows in this space from Cathie Hong Interiors are equipped with wooden blinds that match the wood-framed windows and echo the view of trees beyond the windows. Wooden blinds are easy to wipe clean and will hold up over time.

Colorful Patterned Curtains

Curtains can either blend into the wall like wallflowers or make a statement by introducing color or pattern to the room. Mary Patton Design hung deeply saturated emerald green curtains in a striking pattern that adds personality to the space and complements the blush pink walls.

Loosely Woven Shades

In this New York State fishing village home from Becca Interiors, loosely woven natural shades help to control light while adding warmth to the white shiplap walls and retaining a light and airy appearance.

In a room with abundant south-facing sunlight, you might want to opt for more opaque shades or solar shades made from UV-resistant material that will block harsh direct rays and keep the room slightly cooler without having to crank up the A.C.

Roller Shades and Wood Shutters

In this British kitchen from deVOL Kitchens, a simple semi-transparent roller shade hung on the lower half of the window obscures the view from the outside without entirely obscuring the view from within. Slim built-in painted window shutters can be closed at night for total privacy or closed on very hot days to help reduce the interior temperature without turning up the AC.

Black Shutters

This black-and-white kids' room from Sissy + Marley Interior Design has black shutters on the window that create a black-out effect when closed but let light in during the daytime. Using black shades on the white window frame and panes helps to balance the two-tone color scheme throughout the room.

Patterned Solar Shade

A patterned roller shade adds interest to this basement bar window from Martha O'Hara Interiors. Solar shades can block UV rays in any space and come in a range of colors, styles, and transparencies.

Gauzy Curtains

Simple curtains are an affordable purchase or an easy DIY project for those who like to sew. Gauzy curtains frame a small window in this apartment living room designed by Ajai Guyot for Emily Henderson Design, helping to make it feel bigger when the curtains are open in addition to helping control light and offering privacy.

Color-Coordinated

In this coastal living room from Emily Henderson Design, a navy blue fabric accordion shade matches the curtains, throw pillows, and other decor accents in the blue-and-white room.

Opaque Window Shades

Jessica Nelson Design hung natural woven Roman shades with a tight weave on the windows of this bathroom above the tub that add warmth and can be closed when privacy is needed.

Gauzy White Curtains

Kate Marker Interiors hung gauzy white curtains that diffuse light during daytime for a window that doesn't need privacy thanks to a hedge outside.

Black and White Floral Curtain

Mary Patton Design softened the windows of this black-and-white bathroom with soft gathered shades that add a floral pattern that complements the vintage accents in the modern space.

Printed Roman Shade

Roman shades printed with a shellfish motif enhance the coastal feel of this Maine powder room from Tyler Karu Design + Interiors with its soft palette of grayish blues and shades of white.

Farmhouse Florals

Ashley Montgomery Design added Roman shades in a decorative floral fabric in muted tones to soften the windows of this modern farmhouse-style kitchen.

Dark Velvet Drapes

Hanging curtain rods close to the ceiling, rather than directly above windows, will make ceilings feel taller and rooms feel more spacious. Floor-to-ceiling dark velvet drapes complement the moody vintage glam feel of this home bar from Leanne Ford Interiors. If you live in a cold climate, heavy drapes will help keep heat from escaping and cold air from seeping in.

Matching Shades and Curtains

Curtains and window shades in solid colors and simple fabrics can add warmth to minimalist rooms. Mary Patton Design dressed the windows of this calming space in matching fabric on the window shades and curtains.

Lace Curtain

Don't hesitate to bring some timeless charm to a traditional or historic home by hanging a fixed lace curtain panel in the kitchen window that will help filter light and block views without having to be opened and closed, like this charming space from deVOL Kitchens. The rustic wood window frame keeps the lacy number from feeling precious. Try sourcing vintage lace at local flea markets or online.

Black Kitchen Shutters

In this NYC duplex kitchen from Sissy + Marley Interior Design, black window blinds complement the industrial-style windows and the overall black-and-white decor scheme to create a contemporary feel.

Bold Fabric Shades

Ashley Montgomery Design chose a colorful patterned statement shade for this ornate bathtub nook that stands up to the bold finishes and fixtures of the bathroom.

Simple Roman Shades

A simple white Roman shade softens the graphic black-and-white striped walls of this bathroom from Leanne Ford Interiors.

Mismatched Patterns

Mary Patton Design mixed and matched patterns in this bold blue sitting room for an eclectic feel, from the checkered ottoman to the zigzag throw pillows to the black-and-white printed floral shades.

Customize With Trim

Adding custom trim to simple curtains can personalize your curtains or help them tie into the existing decor. In this gray and white living room from Kate Marker Interiors, gray trim ties the curtains into the room while adding pattern.

Privacy Half Curtains

Curtains make this built-in bathtub nook from Becca Interiors feel private and cozy, perfect for a hot soak after a long day.

Great Room Drapes

A wall of great room windows that floods your space with natural light by day can feel foreboding by night. In this space from Desiree Burns Interiors, floor-to-ceiling gray curtains soften the wall of windows and can be drawn for privacy in the evenings.

Oversized Plaid Shade

Ashley Montgomery Design draped a dramatic plaid Roman shade across the triple windows above the sink in this spacious kitchen that lends it a genteel country house feel while adding color and pattern to the room.

Semi-Opaque Curtains

White semi-opaque half curtains add privacy without compromising the light and airy feel of this bathroom from Becca Interiors.

Check It Out

Mary Patton Design added large-scale check draped and a matching shade to the windows of this room that complement the light blue wall paint and give the space a polished feel.

Contrasting Shade

A black and white stripe shade adds a sober note to this colorful and ornate home office from Forbes + Masters.

Patterned TV Room Shades

This TV room from Brophy Interiors includes a home bar so that you can enjoy a cocktail with your favorite movie, or invite friends to help themselves to a drink while you watch the game.

False Ceiling Mounted Curtains

Hanging curtains from a false ceiling adds elegance and hides hardware for a flowing look. In this chic Parisian apartment from Caroline Andreoni Interior Design,

Pinch-Pleat Curtains

Caroline Andreoni Interior Design carried the same curtains throughout the semi-open-plan living space in this Parisian apartment for a cohesive look. The pinch pleat curtains blend in perfectly with the mix of classic architecture and contemporary style.

Tie-Back Curtains

Emilie Fournet Interiors added a curtain panel on the far end of a pair of windows flanking the fireplace in this London flat, tying them back to keep them from touching the radiators while framing the focal point of the room.

Neutral Shade and Patterned Wallpaper

A soft neutral-toned window shade allows the patterned colorful wallpaper in this dining room from Desiree Burns Interiors to stand out without competing.

Nursery Curtains

In this nursery from A Beautiful Mess, velvet black-out curtains help the baby sleep while the mustard color of the fabric stands up to the bright and colorful botanical print wallpaper.

Wall of Windows

Marie Flanigan Interiors hung semi-transparent white curtains from the top of a wall of windows in this high-ceilinged living room that helps to soften the room without blocking light.

Striped Tea Towel Curtains

Leanne Ford Interiors hung black-and-white striped half curtains that look like giant tea towels on the lower half of this bank of windows that complement the vintage feel of the room.

Match the Bed Linens

This romantic bedroom from Ashley Montgomery Design has vintage floral wallpaper and a soft rose pink window shade that matches the bedding for a cohesive and cozy look.

Blackened Shade

This living room from Tina Ramchandani Creative has a wall of casement windows that are fitted with a custom shade that is black to match the black metal window frames, but doesn't block all the light and complements the blue ombre walls of the room.

Romantic Florals

Mary Patton Design adorned the window of the unapologetically romantic bedroom with a floral shade that adds another pattern to the room decorated with vintage and antique furniture.

Natural Wood Shutters

Chunky pale wood interior window shutters lend a modern rustic feel to this kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors and can be used to block light and control temperature to reduce the reliance on air conditioning during the scorching days of summer.

Gauzy White Curtains

Ashley Montgomery Design hung gauzy white curtains on the window above this kitchen sink that allow the limited natural light to flow in while helping to minimize the less-than-scenic view.

Two-Tone Shades

Finding Lovely hacked the woven shades on either side of the range with a simple DIY to add neutral-toned striped fabric that makes them feel more custom, softening the bright white space.

Match the Sink Curtain

Mary Patton Design gave this bathroom a timeless feel with pillowy white gathered shades that match the under-sink curtain and complement the sky blue walls, silver fixtures, and Venetian mirror.

Opaque Cafe Curtains

Ashley Montgomery Design hung opaque cafe curtains on the bottom half of the kitchen sink window that can be swiftly pulled shut to block the view of the neighbors across the street.

Pastel Fabric Shades

Mary Patton Design painted this kids' bathroom in a bold shade of lilac, then chose pastel pink tulip Roman shades that add volume to the windows and reinforce the whimsical springtime ambiance.

Puddled Curtains

In this bedroom from Sissy + Marley Interior Design, light beige drapes around the French doors—leading to the small balcony—puddle on the floor, softening the crisp neutral-toned space.

What is the most popular window treatment today?

Roller shades are popular solutions for modern windows. Easy to use and affordable compared to other options, roller shades can be rolled up and down manually or by remote control. Solar shades are a variation of roller shades that offer protection against UV rays.

What is the drapery trend for this year?

After falling out of fashion for many years, drapery is making a comeback. Current trends include pinch pleat drapes, statement drapes in bold colors and patterns, and drapery made from sustainable, eco-friendly fabrics such as hemp and linen.

What can I put instead of curtains?

If you don’t like curtains, you can dress your windows with shades, blinds, shutters, or window film. Shade options include solid or patterned roller shades, solar shades, Roman shades, or black-out shades for privacy, light, and heat control. You can install window blinds or interior shutters made from vinyl, metal, or wood. Various window treatments can also be layered to create more light control options and visual effects, such as a plain white roller shade layered with a more decorative Roman shade in a different color or pattern.

Read Next:12 Tips for Choosing Window Treatments That Can Completely Transform Your Space