Small windows, despite their petite size, hold great visual and functional significance in a room. However, choosing the right fabric window treatments for small windows can be challenging, as you have small dimensions to work with. Therefore, maximizing the potential of small windows with the right window treatments is essential for both functional and aesthetic reasons. From a design perspective, the right treatments can even accentuate the window’s size, enhancing its charm rather than making its dwarfism more noticeable. Read through our top tips for dressing a small window to find the best window treatments that serve all your functional and aesthetic goals. So let’s dive in!

Tip 1: Opt for Lightweight Window Treatments

Lightweight materials allow ample sunlight to filter in, making the room feel brighter and more spacious, whereas heavy materials can block light and overwhelm small windows and make them feel even more confined. For small windows, fabrics like sheers or linens are ideal because they can maximize natural illumination, especially valuable in rooms that lack any other sources of natural light. Therefore, opt for lightweight window treatments like linen or sheer blinds or curtains that have an open weave structure that allows soft, diffused light inside the room, helping maximize the sense of space. To further enhance this effect, opt for neutral-toned fabric window treatments such as beige, white, or pale grey curtains or roman blinds. Neutral colours have a better light-reflecting property than dark colours, thus adding more illumination and accentuating the sense of space in your room.

Tip 2: Avoid Layering Your Window Treatments

Layering window treatments on a small window can overwhelm its limited size and block natural light and ventilation. Small windows benefit from simplicity; multiple layers, such as valances, drapes, and blinds, add unnecessary bulk that obscures the view and crowds the window frame. For a clean, streamlined effect, choose a single layer of curtains or roman blinds for windows. If you need a darker room or enhanced privacy, a single layer of blackout fabric is good enough to meet those needs. This is especially practical in spaces like bedrooms, nurseries, or home theatres, where complete light control and privacy are priorities. Small windows also lose less thermal energy than larger windows, making a single blackout layer sufficient for room insulating purposes. By sticking to one layer, you’ll achieve a neat, uncluttered look that beautifully dresses your windows instead of making them appear bulky and cluttered.

Tip 3: Mount Your Window Treatments Mindfully

Deciding on the mounting position of your window treatments is crucial to optimize both the functions and appearance of your small windows. Each mounting style, whether inside or outside, holds distinct benefits. An inside mount, which is about installing the treatment within the window frame, works well when there is a lack of wall space to mount the hardware outside. This style gives a custom, streamlined look that fits neatly within the window’s sills. On the other hand, an outside mount involves positioning the hardware outside and above the window frame. For this, mount your window treatments outside above your windows and extend them 3-4 inches beyond the window sills from all sides. This will allow all the light and ventilation that your windows can offer when you open them. From a visual perspective, the extended edges also hide the petite size of your windows and make them look both wider and taller! 

Tip 4: Bring Colour Cohesion with the Walls

Colour cohesion is essential to help small windows blend seamlessly with the room’s design and make their dwarfism less noticeable. Coordinating the colours of your window treatments with that of your walls’ palette creates a balanced, unified look, minimizing the windows’ prominence and integrating them as an intentional part of the wall. To achieve this, pick the colour for your window treatments from the colour palette of your walls. This way, you will make it difficult to discern the small size of your windows and create a harmonious, unified look on your windows. 

Tip 5: Thoughtfully Choose Patterns

Window treatments offer a fantastic opportunity to introduce patterns to add visual interest and charm to your decor, but selecting the right size and style of patterns is crucial. While large or intricate designs get the canvas they deserve on larger window treatments, they can overwhelm a small window frontage and make it appear even smaller. To avoid that, choose your fabric window treatments with minimalistic patterns such as small geometrics, simple dots, or thin striped roman shades or curtains. These understated designs can subtly add visual interest without drawing attention to the window’s size. Opting for patterns in colour tones that match or complement the wall colour can further make the window treatment blend smoothly with your walls, reducing any emphasis on its smaller proportions while adding a gentle decorative touch to your window treatments.

Conclusion 

While deciding on window treatments for small windows may come with unique challenges, you are now better equipped with the right approach to enhance the functionality and style of even the tiniest windows. Instead of seeing their size as a constraint, think of small windows as an invitation to be creative with simplicity! By thoughtfully selecting the right fabrics, colours, and styles that complement your room’s overall decor, rest assured that your small windows will maximize the functionality of your windows while dressing them beautifully. So keep these tips in mind while dressing your small windows and make their decor feel intentional while enjoying the best of light, privacy and ventilation!