Decorating your windows with both curtains and blinds is a great way to layer textures, colors, and styles in your home. Combining curtains and blinds allows you to control light and privacy while also adding visual interest to your windows. Here are 12 ways to pair curtains and blinds together successfully, along with the pros and cons of each approach.
12 Easy Ways to Pair Curtains & Blinds
1. Choose the same color curtains and blinds
Selecting curtains and blinds in matching or complementary colors is a straightforward way to pull your window treatments together. For example, you could do navy blue blackout roller shades with navy blue curtains in a lightweight fabric. Matching your curtains and blinds creates a cohesive, coordinated look.
2. Contrast textures
Pair noticeably different textures between curtains and blinds for added dimensions and visual interest. For example, you could hang thick velvet curtains with hard, sleek wood or aluminum blinds. Mixing up the textures keeps things interesting while allowing the contrasts to play off one another.
3. Choose the same color family
Stay in the same overarching color family but use different shades, tones, or tints to add subtle variation. For instance, olive green Roman shades could complement muted sage green linen curtains nicely. Or try deep wine-colored velvet curtains with burgundy wood blinds. The colors are harmonious enough not to clash but still provide a slight distinction from one another across the treatments.
Read more : Top 10 Curtain Colors
4. Contrast patterns
Mix and match strongly patterned curtains with solid color blinds or vice versa. Geometric patterned curtains paired with plain white wooden blinds allow each element to stand out while still feeling connected through the contrast. Or brightly striped roller shades could complement a floral chintz curtain fabric. Contrasting patterns help catch the eye and add personality.
5. Hang curtains wider than blinds
Install blinds neatly within the window frame itself, then hang curtains from rods that extend well beyond the frame to amply conceal the blinds hardware from sight. It also allows the blinds themselves to still be fully functional and operational behind the curtain facade. Pay attention to properly coordinating widths depending on your exact window dimensions.
6. Layer with light-filtering curtains
Use soft, semi-transparent light cotton, linens, shoji screen style , or Sheer curtains to gently filter incoming light while still allowing wooden, metal or other blinds layered behind them to be subtly visible. Light-filtering curtains can add privacy while still allowing outside views and natural light to permeate through. Sheer, gauzy panels also beautifully diffuse and soften harsh sunlight.
7. Add height with floor-length curtains
Making windows appear taller visually can help rooms feel more grand and spacious. Floor-length curtains that extend down to the floor can draw the eye downward for that illusion of height, while mounted blinds above simultaneously draw attention upwards as well, framing the window area nicely. You get the functionality of blinds with the tall vertical accent from curtains.
8. Mix blackout and light-filtering
Blackout blinds or richly hued opaque curtains ensure no light penetrates for complete darkness and privacy. But pairing those with additional light linen or cotton curtains provides adjustable lighting options. This combination gives you the ability to block all light for sleeping while also filtering incoming sunlight.
9. Choose wide curtain panels
Extra wide, oversized curtain panels that cover a majority of the window surface lend a soft, billowy, carefree aesthetic compared to tailored blind treatments. This demonstrates how well wide panels don’t need to strictly frame the window strictly, letting the roller shades shine, too, in their narrow bands.
10. Contrast metals and fabrics
The mixture of luxurious metals like bronze, pewter, silver, or gold either in blinds or hardware combined with soft floating cotton, linen, or velvet curtains makes for an ultra-compelling style. Carefully selecting metal finishes that won’t clash with curtain colors is key, however, to ensure the pairing enhances rather than distracts.
Read more : Best Types Of Curtains Tracks
11. Pair printed curtains with textured blinds
Lively graphic prints or bold floral curtains lend a fun, playful energy, particularly in children’s spaces. Yet combine those statement patterns with earthy textured faux wood blinds made from bamboo, rattan, or jute, and you also build in a grounded, relaxed contrast.
The tones of woven shades keep exuberant print curtains from becoming overwhelming, letting them harmonize beautifully. Together, the duo makes a vivacious style statement. This textile mix works with most color schemes, from pastels to vivid primaries.
12. Hang curtains above the blinds
One way to visually maximize window height is to mount standard roll-up or Roman blinds directly at the ceiling-line top of the frame, utilizing every inch up to the molding or drywall edge.
This enables hanging coordinating or color-matching curtains above the blind mechanism, fully framing the windows for a polished designer touch. It also draws the eye upwards for the illusion of expanded height by topping the windows so completely with fabric.
General Pros and Cons of Curtains and Blinds Pairing
Pros of using both curtains and blinds:
- Ability to control light, privacy, and views
- It can block light/noise while also allowing adjustment
- Layers of colors, patterns, and textures
- Softens hard window lines and blind hardware
- Provides insulation for temperature control
- Allows you to change look for different seasons or occasions
- It is convenient to have blinds for the day, curtains for night
Cons of using both curtains and blinds:
- More expensive than just curtains or just blinds
- It can make window treatments look cluttered if not coordinated well
- Requires proper mounting and hardware
- Additional dusting and cleaning of two treatments
- Curtains may obstruct the operation of blinds
Final Words
When used together smartly, blinds and curtains can make your windows look complete. The blinds serve a purpose, and the curtains add style. If you follow 12 ways to pair curtains and blinds together like proportion and color harmony, your merged window treatments will look more stunning. Have fun, and don’t be afraid to mix up the colors, patterns, and fabrics!
