What are the rules of thumb for choosing curtain colors?

16 years ago

I'd like to know if there are any rules for choosing the color of curtains. I don't know whether I should try to match my wall or carpet color (both neutrals) or go for a pop of color to bring out the accents in my room. Are there rules to follow or just go for what I think looks the best? TIA!

Featured Answer

no_green_thumb

16 years ago

I surely don't know the "rules", and would surely like to hear if there are any.
I am currently doing a reno to one of our bathrooms. The floor is pretty neutral, the countertop very light and neutral, the wall color very light and neutral and I have chosen a pretty bold stripe to make a roman blind for the window. The towels and rug I just bought are a dark rust and I wanted the drama against the light colors.
In the bedroom, I am going to do dead-hang panels and am going to widen them out from the window mainly because our bed is on one of the windows and it was suggested (Les, I believe), that it would help make a better backdrop for the headboard if I did this. There is no other place to put the bed. I am trying for a very calm, serene feel and have chosen a moire that is exactly the wall color. I think it will work well. For the most part, I really don't like drapes or curtains, especially anything heavy looking. I, too, am anxious to hear what others say.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

User
16 years ago
I'm curious to hear answers to this. I'm having a hard time figuring out what to pair with my light blue and gold damask bedding in the master bedroom!
Related Discussions
Any 'rules of thumb' for diameter of curtain rods?!
Q
Comments (5)
I've only used the tinyest rods on very small windows (one in my master bath actually), where a bigger rod would be too bulk. But you do need to take into account the visable and actual weight of the curtains you'll be hanging. I'm doing inter and outter lined curtains with blacklight fabric and two layers of silk. They'll be trimmed with a bulky fringe on two sides....something that heavy in visable weight, (and heavy due to the blackout fabric) should be supported with a pretty hefty rod both for looks (we talk about scale all the time here...it's the same thing) and for their ability to hold up the heavy drapes without drooping. Then you look at material. Iron rods are often thinner because a 4" iron rod would weigh a freaking ton LOL You could only mount something like that on studs, and visably they'd be HUGE given the dark structure of the rods. Normaly you can't find more than a 2" rod in iron for that reason, and an iron rod is definately going to be able to hold a light weight cotton drape, so you can go skinny with those. My basement window is 8' wide, so for it I went with a three inch diameter rod, both for stregnth (to span that area) and for visable weight. Often the rod sellers will suggest additional upport if you order say a 10' rod and no middle bracket....read their fine print, it normally covers recommended span areas.
...See More
What is the rule of thumb when looking at paint swatches
Q
Comments (4)
Color is nothing more than reflected light, and our perception of the parts of the spectrum reflected. So the answer to your question is, there isn't any way to tell until you see a big patch of it on the wall in the light conditions that exist in that space. Little paint chips are never enough, as you already know! So you have to bring home a handful in a range of each kind of color you're considering, and use those to eliminate and narrow down the options. In your other thread, I advised priming out any strong existing wall color before you test. A 2 x 3 piece of foam core with two coats of your test paint on it can be moved around the room to different walls at different times of day, held high and low on the wall, tucked in behind existing pictures or curtains, held up to existing woodwork - it's really the best way to be sure.
...See More
What is the style rule of thumb when ordering hinges
Q
Comments (5)
We replaced all of our interior doors and used square edge hinges. Personal preference really. The doors were pre-hung doors, and shipped with brass, radius corner hinges. We ordered antique nickel hinges to match the antique nickel doorknobs we'd gotten for the doors, so we got to choose the hinge corner style we liked. When DH removed the "shipping" hinges, he easily notched out the corners of the "cut-outs" (technical term escapes me!) with a small chisel, I think. The new hinges fit perfectly.
...See More
What is the decorating rule of thumb for this
Q
Comments (15)
I love the idea that red offers a splash of excitement. Semms like the rest of the decor is neutral. What I see is that your bedroom is all neutral. So, bring in that splash of excitement in the MBR because you can see it if you leave your door open. If the room is long, and there is some floor space at the foot of the bed, you might put a chair and table there that matches the LR open space. If not, you could put a red throw since it would the the closest to the door in view. A red pillow to bring your eye back a little. Or red flowers on the night stand. I would do this when you are entertaining friends and they can see into the room, this way that room is festive also. The other posters are right, the rule of thumb is to have it flow together. I also feel that when you decide to add drama with high contrast (a color that pops) you really need to carry that throughout because it becomes obvious if done only once. Decorating is easier to understand when working in layers. Your walls & floors, all the 'case' or 'box' all will sit in, then main pieces, pretend your room is empty of all else but major furniture and walls, drapery. Does it flow? Then supporting pieces, if they do not flow with main, do they flow together? Such as (to make my point easier to understand) all tree branch and natural shaped end tables, and metals flow together (you can always break the rules). Then lighting for task, general lighting done, then accessories, do they flow together, for example, all about birds and nests (reflecting the wood branch metal tables, etc.) again simplified to make my point easier to envision. Then you would have a cohesive look. Now, being creative, artistic, and adventurous, we can bend all the rules and decorate any way we want and move things around until it is pleasing to US first... don't worry about pleasing others, it is your nest, your home. I would love to see photos! Here is a link that might be useful: My home Blog
...See More
texashottie
16 years ago
I think it's all a matter of preference.

From what I've read in window treatment books, my preference is to go with the wall color or one shade lighter. I don't want my window treatments to scream "Look at me!" or take away from other elements of the room. It also allows for maximum flexibility in changing out accessory items and not being locked in to a color.

I go with one shade lighter than the wall so that when I retract the drapes at night, it covers up the black void in the room (the window) and it blends with the wall.

But really, it's all a matter of preference and how much of a role you want your window treatments to play in the room. If you want them to pop in color, you better downplay other elements.
prairiegirlz5
16 years ago
I could really use some rules, since I have no curtains, blinds, or shades in my LR and DR, simply because I have absolutely NO CLUE.

We've lived here for seven years. I did paint the walls, terracotta orange in the LR, red in DR. We have hardwood floors, and white trim. And lots of windows! Any ideas?
kim2007
16 years ago
Well...I probably did things @ss-backwards, in that I picked out curtains in a style and colors I liked and which generally coordinated with some other, lesser elements I had but we didn't have few pieces of permanent furniture and the walls/trim weren't painted! I just liked them when I saw them and decided to take the plunge and worry about the rest later. If you're a big fan of fabrics you may see something that really grabs you and you'll know they're the right ones.
chelone
16 years ago
You start with the drapery fabric and select your upholstery fabrics and wall colors using the palette of the drapery fabric.

A breeze!
annie1971
16 years ago
You probably want a neutral that you can live with for a while. That many curtains are a an investment. A "neutral" can be almost anything these days, as long as it's something that will work with your walls and trim color and you can change out your upholstery and other accessories without having to change your curtains. This is the way I like to look at wall color and curtains/draperies: If I move and take my furniture out of this house, do the walls and window coverings look like they still belong in the house? Your furniture should look like it goes with itself; the walls and window coverings are a backdrop. (that's only my opinion). You can still have texture or tonal combinations, or even wild geometric prints, as long as they go with the walls and aren't dictated only by the furniture. I probably wouldn't match the carpet, however.
Swati Saparia
3 years ago
This is great information! I have an open kitchen, should my patio.door curtain match with family room curtain or in harmony or doesn't matter?
Swati Saparia
3 years ago
please advise

What are the rules of thumb for choosing curtain colors?

no_green_thumb

Comments (9)

User

Related Discussions

texashottie

prairiegirlz5

kim2007

chelone

annie1971

Swati Saparia

Swati Saparia

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US