How to choose curtains, blinds
and shutters for your home
Do your windows and sliding doors need a new look?
With so many decisions to make, it can be daunting choosing the right window and door finishes for your home. As an experienced interior designer based in Brisbane, I can help in narrowing down the options and what you need to know before making your selection.
Start by asking yourself..
There is no “one” solution when it comes to choosing window and door coverings, however, I always start by taking into consideration…..
- Does the space need light filtering finishes or a block out solution for sleeping?
- Do you require easy access through a sliding or hinged door?
- Is the window fixed, louvred, casement or hopper?
- How high are your ceilings?
- Are there any objections to certain finishes? … some people are not a fan of roller blinds
- What is the budget?
- Is motorisation required?
Types of Curtains, Shutters and Blinds
Sheers
- Soft and Elegant letting light in and giving day time privacy
- Provide protection from UV rays reducing glare and protection of furniture
- Wide range of plain, printed and embroidered fabrics from Natural Linen, cotton and silk fabrics through to quality polyester and blends.
- Hand drawn, fitted or motorised
Solid Drapery
- Elegant solid fabric that offers filtered light but limited or no view.
- Wide range of plain or printed finishes that adds colour and privacy to a room.
- Often used in combination with a lining either Light 1 pass, Medium 2 pass or Blockout 3 pass.
- Hand drawn, fitted or motorised.
Blockout
- Provide total blockout and depending on the fabric have insulation and acoustic properties that are great for Bedrooms and Theatres.
- Can be used as a single curtain or in combination with a sheer curtain providing a blockout element.
Roman Blinds
- Option of a soft layered finish or a more structured flat panel with the rods concealed at the back of the roman.
- Offer a clean contemporary look for any home with a clear view when fully open to total privacy when down.
- A wide range of fabrics from sheer through to blockout can be used.
Roller Blinds
- There are 3 options available
- Screen
- Offering clear view and heat protection
- Great solution if you have a view but wish to reduce the heat and UV protect your furniture
- Translucent
- Allowing natural light and giving privacy day and night
- Blockout
- Gives total privacy and insulation properties
- Great for bedrooms and theatre rooms
Plantation Shutters
- Available in 100% renewable synthetic material and some timbers.
- Offer great insulation, light control, privacy and interrupted view
- Depending on the product, can be used internally and externally
Aluminium Shutters
- External use offering light control, privacy and interrupted view
Curtains, Blinds and Shutters
for Different Rooms
Each room in your home serves a different purpose and mood which you will need to take into consideration when choosing your window treatments.
Below I have recommended some of the best types of window treatments for your bedroom, general areas and bathrooms.
Bedrooms
Design Ideas for Bedroom Curtains
For bedrooms if you have a large sliding, bifold or French door I normally recommend using a double track ceiling mounted curtain or a glider rod with finials. Ceiling mounted curtains make a room look higher and give a more minimalist finish, with a glider rod adding a more decorative feature to the room. Sheer curtains give privacy and adds softness to the room with a block out curtain that can be pulled across for sleeping.
My two favourite heading choices are either an Inverted Pleat or an S fold, with either a 10cm double hem or a lead weight rolled hem. For curtains, where possible I use a 3m wide continuous fabric which enables a curtain to be up to 2.7m high with no joins. Sometimes the gorgeous fabric chosen only comes in a 1.4m width so we have no option but to join the fabric, with the upside being the height of the curtain is unlimited.
Bedrooms
Design Ideas for Bedroom Shutters and Panel Glides
If a curtain doesn’t appeal, Shutters or a Panel glide using either block out or translucent fabric is my preference. Shutters can be sliding, hinged or bifold whereas Panel glide stack back to allow easy access and give privacy &/or blockout for sleeping.
Depending on the width of your opening, the panels can vary in size and either stack to one side or centre open, stacking to both sides.
Bedrooms
Design Ideas for Bedroom Windows
For windows a double track sheer and block out curtain or a Roman blind once again give softness and privacy and can add colour and design to either an adult or child’s room. Roller blinds and shutters are also an option, yet are a harder surface and don’t give as much softness to the room.
I often use a combination of curtains and either shutters or blinds which gives a nice balance of softness and structure.
Living Room & General areas
Design Ideas for Living Room Curtains
For other areas of the home where block out is not required, I use the same principle as a bedroom, however, only do a single Sheer Curtain on a ceiling mounted track or feature glider rod allowing light to filter through and at the same time give privacy. If your curtain is subject to direct light, you must ensure that the fabric is UV resistant and I tend to use a fabric that has no more that 30 to 40% natural fibre (linen or cotton) and preferably 60 to 70% polyester with the polyester stabilising and being UV resistant.
I love natural fibres and where possible use 100% linen &/or cottons, however, usually in conjunction with either a light filtering or blockout backing fabric for both curtains and roman blinds.
Living Room & General areas
Design Ideas for Living Room Blinds & Shutters
Panel glides, roller blinds and shutters are also a good solution for general areas throughout the home. A wide range of fabrics from Clearview, to transparent or blockout are available for both panel glides and roller blinds.
I tend to use a white or off white Shutter as my standard as it always looks crisp and clean in any room.
If you need window coverings in a bathroom white waterproof, mildew resistant Shutters are always my first choice.
Roller blinds can also be used as can a curtain in a large open space with good ventilation, but you must be careful with your fabric selection.
Frequently Asked questions
Sheers are great if you simply wish to add some style and softness to a room without having a heavy look. They are great used in combination with a blockout on a double track in a bedroom or simply as a stand alone curtain in your living room.
This depends on what finish and look you want. A ceiling mounted track means you’ll need the height from floor to ceiling where as if you wish to use a decorative rod, the length will depend on where you wish the rod to be installed ie: on architrave above the window or part way between the architrave and ceiling. Your interior designer &/or curtain manufacturer can assist with this as they take into consideration the allowances that are required for the tracks and curtain headers.
This will depend on the size of the opening and overall room size, as you need to have a rod that is in proportion. If you have a small room and the window opening is small, you would look at a smaller 30- 40mm rod not an 80mm rod.
Your bedroom is a special room in your home where you can personalise the space. I recommend that you choose colours that you like and reflect your personality. Your options are to do a solid coloured curtain be it neutral or bright or a patterned fabric curtain. If you do a neutral colour you can then use your bed linen and accessories to bring in the colour with plain and patterned fabrics or if you do a bright coloured or patterned curtain you can use colours from these to coordinate your bed linen and accessories.
Still not sure which curtains,
blinds or shutters to choose?
choose the best outcome for each area.
- Book Consultation For a personalised chat with Jo
Jo has done such a great job with our house colours, drapes, wallpaper and bathroom finishes. We are very pleased with the outcome and would highly recommend Jo.
We have done the house in three phases and Jo has been our interior decorator each time.
Sheekey (Raby Bay)
We engaged Jo to assist us with some new furniture to incorporate with what we already had. She came to us with brochures and we went to the supplier to see the items. We have been extremely happy with the outcome. As our unit was new she sourced window coverings (blinds, shutters, curtains) this made the process very simple for us.