Swags and Jabots Hold Sway Over Window Style
Elegantly draped, this window treatment adds a soft but stately touch to any room in your manor
The stately and elegant swag window treatment has appeared in some of the most famous homes in America. The king of rock 'n' roll, Elvis Presley, had them in floor-to-ceiling fashion at his Graceland mansion, and America's forefathers used them to adorn the windows in the White House. Purely decorative in style, the swag is created by hanging fabric across the top of a window and allowing the bottom to sag or droop, creating soft, horizontal scallop-like shapes. The accompanying jabot is the vertical portion of fabric that flanks the swag as a detail — either as a panel or placed symmetrically throughout.
Whether they're used to soften a room or just to add character, swags can add distinctive style to any window in your home.
Whether they're used to soften a room or just to add character, swags can add distinctive style to any window in your home.
Traditional swags. This dining room gets the royal treatment from the heightened center of the swag and the crowning decorative finial. Taking the side jabots to the floor and allowing them to balloon at the bottom creates an elegant look.
Style tip: Paint your walls the exact same color as your window treatments, and the eye will focus on texture rather than style.
Style tip: Paint your walls the exact same color as your window treatments, and the eye will focus on texture rather than style.
Swags with details. These symmetrical jabots with coordinating fringe not only add texture (which our eyes love), but they help dress up a very utilitarian room, the kitchen. Installing this swag treatment with decorative finials above each jabot is a great designer-quality touch.
Style tip: Anything made from toile fabric adds a great traditional touch to a space. It may appear busy in the beginning, but you will love it in the end.
Style tip: Anything made from toile fabric adds a great traditional touch to a space. It may appear busy in the beginning, but you will love it in the end.
Swags for her. Flank an architectural window in a girl's room in a whimsical manner to create a feminine and warm window treatment that doesn't feel overwhelming. The focus here is the window, not the window treatment. You never want to block a spectacular view.
Style tip: This swag treatment is very easily installed with little fabric and minimal effort. Use two decorative hooks in playful shapes and drape until you love it!
Style tip: This swag treatment is very easily installed with little fabric and minimal effort. Use two decorative hooks in playful shapes and drape until you love it!
Swags for him. Dress up a masculine den or office by adding a coordinating swag topper treatment over a full-length drapery panel. The heavy accent fringe feels plush and formless while remaining masculine.
Style tip: Make this accent swag topper out of leftover material from any upholstered piece in your room to tie everything together.
Style tip: Make this accent swag topper out of leftover material from any upholstered piece in your room to tie everything together.
Swags with a decorative rod. This formal swag and jabot treatment is downplayed by the decorative bamboo rod. The treatment says serious, but the rod says playful — a great combination.
Style tip: When using fabric in a kitchen, coordinate or match the fabric of your window treatment to the hard surfaces of most color. In this case, see how the countertop pops?
Style tip: When using fabric in a kitchen, coordinate or match the fabric of your window treatment to the hard surfaces of most color. In this case, see how the countertop pops?
Elegant swags. Take your bathroom from hard to soft by adding luxurious fabric. This swag becomes the focal point of this bathroom while still highlighting the tub. The sheen of the silk fabric almost reflects the shine from the crystal chandelier.
Style tip: Add an additional window treatment behind the swag and jabot combination for even more softness.
Style tip: Add an additional window treatment behind the swag and jabot combination for even more softness.
Grand swags. Grandeur and elegance are achieved in this great room with an abundance of swags and jabots. By applying the treatments to only the clerestory windows (those above eye level), the designer was able to place the focus on the ceiling height as well as the ceiling. See how the bottom windows go unnoticed because of the exaggerated length of the jabot tails.
Style tip: If you have high windows set over low windows like in this room, try adding window treatments just to the top ones for a slightly unexpected look.
Style tip: If you have high windows set over low windows like in this room, try adding window treatments just to the top ones for a slightly unexpected look.
Simple swags. This room may appear extravagant, but the swag window treatment is actually very simple. The detailed ceiling, elaborate moldings and heavy patterned wall covering are the main focal points, and the swag simply ties in to the sofa color.
Style tip: For simple swag designs, decorative finials and tassels are great ways to create a finishing touch.
Style tip: For simple swag designs, decorative finials and tassels are great ways to create a finishing touch.
Style tip: Use any fringe — fabric, glass or wood — to take your swag up a notch.