skip to main content

Windows Home Decorating Design Dilemma

window treatment for the formal living room

6 months ago

We are considering the different window treatment options for our formal living room. This room has northern exposure and we don’t really use this room too much. Most of the family activities actually take place in our family room which is right next to the kitchen and has a fire place. We are actually thinking of eventually convert this living room into a home office by adding some French doors.

This room has 1 big window and 2 small windows. I like the look of shutters but I think they might not be suitable for a room that don’t get a lot of natural sun light. I was initially thinking of drapes that go from ceiling to floor, but I don’t know if they will look good on the 2 small narrow windows.

Is it a bad idea to have shutters or blinds on the two small windows and drapes on the big window? Is it going to be weird to mix and match like that?

Thank you for all the advice.

Featured Answer

PRO

BeverlyFLADeziner

6 months ago

Usually, the style of your room would influence the selection of window treatments. Don't put the cart before the horse.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

PRO
JAN MOYER
6 months ago
last modified: 6 months ago
" Formal" in what way may I ask?

I see no furnishings at all, other than whatever is lined up on walls that can't really be seen in your picture. Window treatments are best derived from a flavor .... a feeling in a room. Privacy and light can be separated from the decorative, especially if you want panels.

What will be that flavor?

First, decide a purpose for a space you clearly are not yet even using. Adult space? Quiet space? Music? Office/library ? You can add french doors at ANY time...

Go find some inspo pics of rooms you love. Be that library, just adult space w/no tv.....etc

Make a plan for the space that includes the desk or the seating, a rug and to do that? You need to draw and measure your space, or there will be errors in size of anything. Don't buy in guesswork mode.

Post a drawing with all the dimensions!

Window treatments are best chosen when you have an extremely good idea what the room will look like and the space has a purpose: )

Neither are in place yet.
Imma S
Original Author
6 months ago
Well we just moved in so have not furnished the room yet. They just call it formal living room but we will most likely use this room as a play room or home office. We need to have some kind of curtains/shades now for privacy reasons as the room faces the street.
Related Discussions
Blank Slate - Help me decorate my formal Living/Dining Room (pics
Q
Comments (6)
Now I understand where you are headed. My suggestions will not be matchy matchy and are pretty eclectic in nature. So, hopefully you will get some ideas you may not have thought about. Let's start with the DR. Drapes: I like dramatic so, if the rug has bronze that would be my first choice though there is nothing wrong with gold. I like plain simple drapes. I think drapes like blacksplashes should not be a focal point of a room when you have other beautiful things going. They should help frame the room like the color on the walls do. You may not need pinch pleated drapes. It would save you money not to have the pinch pleats. You need to decide if you want to run them from ceiling to floor or with a rod (I saw some beautiful rods at Calico Corner's. I think JCP carries Kirsch hardware also) above the window not from the ceiling. Dining table: I notice most people select wood to use with oriental rugs. I am working with a designer for my family room and breakfast nook and he just taught me a good lesson: Print rug-glass table, solid rug-wood table. He said you want to show off the beauty of the rug at all times from every direction. They do make some very large glass tables that you can use with 2 wooden pedestals for support or a great square base. If you are having a lot of guests for dinner like Christmas than you can add a folding table and use the same table cloth. This is just a suggestion. You can use wood but I always like to share new knowledge when I learn something. I still like crystal for chandeliers in dining rooms. In this case I would use crystal with some funky lamp shades to add a little fun into the room. You may find these at Home Goods or on line. I would try leopard for shades. It's hard to visualize if this will work without actually seeing it in person. Maybe someone will photoshop. Do you know the size of the table you want to use? I also think you may be able to find dining room chairs on ebay or a used furniture store that might be in decent condition or you can buy them new. Remember the chair wood does not need to match the wood of the table. There is more interest created when they don't. Here is another idea for chairs: you can used entirely different ones for the head of the table. Actually, I am pretty good at decorating eclectically. My friends are always looking for my eye. The designer I am working with always says to me "what do you need me for". Well, he is a great buffer between me and my BF whom I share my new home with. He has made my life so much more easier and is worth every penny. I am also learning alot about decorating from him.
...See More
window treatment for this window in our living room.
Q
Comments (4)
Roman blinds would work, but I think curtains would be better. The window is really wide and short, which is making the room feel squat. Adding curtains would create the feeling of height. Plus, the window has pretty thin trim around it. Curtains would beef it up. If you want roman shades, I suggest you add some thicker trim around the window too.
...See More
Need Help - Window Treatments - Living Room Slider & Side Windows
Q
Comments (3)
Hunter Douglas makes a couple different shade product lines that come in co-ordinating fabrics/colors in both a horizontal and vertical version. These vertical options are not going to be the traditional PVC clanky, vertical blinds most are used to. You can get soft shades like Duette® Honeycombs, Skyline® Gliding Panels, or Luminette® Privacy Sheers. All these vertical products come in a horizontal version as well. Check out more at Hunter Douglas.
...See More
Need help with window treatment for 14 windows in Dining/Living room
Q
Comments (7)
Hey There: We suggest that you go with blinds or shades for each window individually. A window treatment must be functional at first and looking at your pictures, the new tenant needs privacy and light management. I assume that the bottom window blinds will never be used in the first place but they will allow for light coming in and for privacy. Check us out at www.fenstermann.com or give us a call at 619.665.9446
...See More
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 months ago
I think drapes on the big window and matching fabric for roman blinds on the small ones. I just read not a formal LR at all so I would just do roman shades everywhere and since eventually those larger windows will become french doors IMO a ba idea if this space faces the street .
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
6 months ago
From what you are saying, I am hearing that both the current and future use for this room are unknown at this time. Perhaps a play room now. A playroom is not conducive to drapes.

I also hear you saying you need privacy.

I would not add some sort of shades for privacy and leave it at that for now. You can always add decorative drapes later, if you want them.
Lyn Nielson
6 months ago
layering on any and all windows is a positive.

top down/bottom up blinds are great for privacy and light. Blinds.com

Sheer drapery panels with a rod at the ceiling is a great choice for Northern exposure to help difuse light without blocking it out. on rod with rings (drapery wand) for easy open/close. if it will start out as a kids play space, start with blinds, add the panels when you transition to an office. congratulations on the move.
PRO
SunCoast Blinds
6 months ago
You could do shutters on the small windows and drapes on the large window. What is holding you back from putting shutters on all windows and complementing it with a softer touch of side panels? It looks great, you just want to make sure that the panels are not in the window making them look smaller, but instead on the wall - just slightly touching the window to make them look larger.

I think a 4 1/2" louver, with mid rails where your window lock is, would look fabulous. The larger louvers allow you to bring in a lot of light but also make it dark with fewer gaps if you close them up. There are so many design options for shutters. I think it would add a beautiful touch to the room.
PRO
Everything Home
4 months ago
So since you want the room to be a playroom or home office, the window treatments you'd get would go with whatever funishings you'd have in the room. We might suggest figuring out what the room will be used for and the furniture that will be used before purchasing anything. Here are some of the home offices we have done for our clients:
European Country Flair · More Info

Posh Home Remodel · More Info

Aberdeen Living · More Info

Luxe Living in Zionsville · More Info

Stableside: Home Office · More Info
PRO
Kimberlee Marie Interiors
2 months ago
Since the space will either be a playroom or an office, it might be a good ideas to decide on that first. Below are some home office and playroom ides with window treatments options to look into.
Clyde Hill Home · More Info

Clyde Hill Home · More Info

Lakemont Luxury · More Info

Ravensdale New Build · More Info

Related Stories

ART Room of the Day: Art an Inviting Presence in a Formal Living Room

By Becky Harris

A redesign brings new energy into the room with a mix of contemporary furniture, forgotten treasures and appealing artworks

LIVING ROOMS New This Week: 4 Casual Living Rooms Moonlighting as Formal Spaces

By Mitchell Parker

Designers share their secrets to creating comfortable double-duty spaces with projects uploaded this week to Houzz

PRODUCT PICKS Guest Picks: Let 'Starry Night' Inspire a Formal Living Room

By Jami Abbadessa

Use van Gogh's masterpiece to create a living room that's a work of art

ROOM OF THE DAY Blush Pink Keeps This Formal Living Room Light and Inviting

By Erin Carlyle

A Connecticut designer uses vintage pieces and a neutral palette to create a welcoming space in her family’s home

ROOM OF THE DAY Room of the Day: Right-Scaled Furniture Opens Up a Tight Living Room

By Mitchell Parker

Smaller, more proportionally fitting furniture, a cooler paint color and better window treatments help bring life to a limiting layout

WALL TREATMENTS Room of the Day: Original Mural Brings Joy to a Formal Dining Room

By Becky Harris

French inspiration gives traditional style a twist in this Victorian-era home

ROOM OF THE DAY Room of the Day: A Living Room Stretches Out and Opens Up

By Annie Thornton

Expanding into the apartment next door gives a family of 5 more room in their New York City home

TRENDING NOW 4 Great Ideas From Popular Living Rooms and Family Rooms

By Becky Harris

These trending photos show how designers create living spaces with style, storage and comfortable seating

LIVING ROOMS Room of the Day: Redone Living Room Makes a Bright First Impression

By Becky Harris

A space everyone used to avoid now charms with welcoming comfort and a crisp new look

CONTEMPORARY HOMES Room of the Day: Parisian Pop Lifts a San Francisco Living Room

By Bryan Anthony

Turning bedsheets into curtains and drawing on the furniture with a pen are a couple of the decorating tricks used in this living room

Sponsored

More Discussions

Icon stone fabric

1

furniture for aging in place

10

I think I made a mistake. Grey couch with knotty pine? Floor ideas.

7

Updating Foyer in 1980’s Ranch

3

5 Expert Tips for Selecting a Dining Room Chandelier

0