Which Curtains and Blinds Are Best For Each Room Of The House?

Much like the colour scheme, furniture and other interior decor choices, the type of curtains or blinds we decide on for a room can add to the overall look and feel of the space. What’s more, the window treatment we choose for each room inside the home may bring a range of benefits that make the room more functional or better suited to your needs. Yet window treatments can often be an afterthought or get overlooked entirely when it comes to renovating or redecorating a room.

When trying to think of ways to decorate or give a space a much-needed refresh, we tend to think about a fresh coat of paint, new flooring or updating furniture - but updating our curtains or blinds can also completely change the atmosphere of a room. The addition of beautiful curtains could add pattern and texture to an existing design scheme; installing blinds could provide a splash of colour while providing extra privacy, making a room feel more intimate.

But how do you choose which window treatments are best suited to individual rooms within your home? Although this decision usually comes down to personal taste, there are some pros to choosing curtains, blinds or layering both in particular areas of the house. To help you determine which option may be most suitable for your space below is a brief guide into which styles of curtains and blinds are best for each room of the house.

Lounge & Living Area

Curtains have long been the most commonly used window furnishing for areas such as the lounge and living room as they contribute to an overall comfortable and cozy aesthetic. As curtains come in a range of decorative fabrics, it’s easy to choose a fabric style that complements the existing textiles in this room such as upholstery fabric, carpets and other soft furnishings. If you enjoy adding visual interest to areas with the use of different textiles, then curtains are probably the best option for you as curtains often have more fabric options to choose from than blinds.

By choosing blockout curtains for your living room, you can not only tailor the look of the room but also have more control over the amount of light that enters the space and help keep heat in or out of the area, making it more comfortable for you and your family. If you love the way curtains frame your windows, but still want the light to enter your room, then perhaps try pairing a thicker pair of curtains with a more delicate set of sheer curtains. This way, you get the look of luxurious curtains, and the sheers provide a small amount of privacy whilst allowing light into the space even when your curtains are open.

If you feel that curtains are too traditional for your lounge or living room, or you want a more minimalist window dressing option, then white timber Venetian blinds may be a good alternative. White timber Venetians will give your windows a well-finished look that’s contemporary yet timeless.

Kitchen

As the kitchen is a more functional space within the home, it can be hard to choose a window treatment that looks great, but is also hard-wearing and will stand the test of time. Blinds tend to be the best-suited window treatment for kitchen windows as the material they are made with is usually easier to clean and less likely to stain or absorb odours. Roller blinds are a great choice as they can also roll up fully to further prevent them becoming greasy or getting splashed during cooking.

If you’re looking for a blind option that feels a little more luxurious, yet is still practical for your kitchen then you may also want to consider kitchen double blinds. Double blinds give you more light and privacy control then your regular roller blind and having the two layers of material can also make your windows look more finished.

For an even more hard-wearing kitchen option, choose white timber kitchen Venetian blinds. Although this blind option looks designer, it’s super practical and suitable for high traffic areas of the house such as the kitchen. The material makes them easy to wipe down and keep clean and will not absorb odours from cooking.

Bedroom

The great thing about choosing a window treatment for bedrooms is that it’s a private space where you can focus solely on your wants and needs. Therefore anything goes when it comes to choosing blinds or curtains for this room. Choose an option that compliments the style of the space and think about which, if any, beneficial qualities your window dressing option should deliver to make the room more functional for you.

If you’re decorating a large bedroom then extra long curtains could provide a real design statement to the room. Velvet curtains are another good choice if you’re looking to add sophisticated style to the bedroom. If you’re a shift worker, or you're choosing curtains for a child's bedroom then blockout curtains will make the area more sleep-friendly at any time throughout the day and look good whilst doing so!

If you’re considering window treatments for smaller bedrooms than blockout blinds will provide the same benefits as blockout curtains without taking up as much space. Blinds are also better suited to more modern or minimalist bedrooms as they tend to have less visual weight than a set of curtains do.

Bathroom

Similar to the kitchen, bathroom window treatments require a little more thought as you need to choose an option that is practical and still suits the space. When choosing your window treatments for this space the main thing you need to consider is that the bathroom gets quite humid and therefore, it’s best to stick with a material that can deal with this moisture.

Because of the amount of moisture that’s in the air curtains tend not to be the best option for bathrooms. Although they might look fantastic, the material is likely to absorb the moisture in the air and become mouldy over time. If you’re desperate to add the softest that curtains give to a space then perhaps a small pair of sheer curtains could work as they will dry out much faster than thicker materials and therefore less likely to stay damp and become mouldy.

Blinds are the most practical and therefore, commonly used window treatment for bathrooms. Bathroom Venetians can work really well and can give a coastal, beachy vibe to the room. Double blinds are also well suited as they are practical, providing benefits such as privacy and light control and you get the option of showing either one or two of the blinds at any given time. It’s also a good idea to keep in mind the bathroom windows tend to be smaller than most and made to measure blinds tend to be a less expensive option than made to measure curtains.

Home Office

Although the home office is a more practical area of the home, we commonly make this space look and feel more ‘homely’ in keeping with the style of the rest of the house. There are a few things to think about before choosing the correct window treatment for your home office. One consideration is who will be using the space? Will it solely used by you, or is the room more of a shared space where the kids can also complete homework in the evenings? Another thing to consider is if light entering the space will cause glare on your screens making it difficult to work at certain points throughout the day. If your chosen window treatment works for you and your families individual needs within this space then it’s the correct option for you.

As the slats on Venetian blinds can be rotated, it makes them suitable for those wanting to avoid screen glare without closing off the outside world entirely. However, if you want to stop light entering the room as much as possible then perhaps opt for a blockout roller blind or blockout curtain instead.

If light control isn’t so much of an issue and you’re instead looking to simile add visual interest to the room and make it feel more finished, then sheer curtains are the way to go. Sheers will allow light to enter your home office, making it feel bright and welcoming. They’ll also provide just enough privacy whilst still allowing you to see the world beyond your window.

Nursery

As kids curtains are readily available in a range of fun and exciting colours and patterns many tend to stick with this option when choosing their nursery window treatments. Yet it’s best to keep in mind that the nursery is an area of the home that’s best kept as clean as possible and therefore curtains may not always be the best option. Especially if your baby is mobile or if you have small children with very sticky fingers! If you do choose curtains for the nursery then it may be best to stick with more cost-effective ready-made curtains as it’s very likely the curtains in this room will need washing frequently and may also need to be updated more regularly as your children get older.

Blockout curtains or blind always a good option for nurseries as you may need to make the area dark and perfect for sleep at any point throughout the day. Thick blockout curtains may also aid with reducing the amount of noise coming from the outside world, which may be causing a distraction at bedtime.

When deciding which curtains and blinds are best for each room within the home, it’s always best to figure out which, if any, benefits you want your chosen window treatment to bring to the space. Deciding on factors such as light control, privacy, insulation or simply the size and style you're going for prior to looking into window treatments will ensure your chosen style works best for you and the intended space.