Except when you need to block it out… We want to throw open our windows and welcome in the sunshine, but too much can be as big a problem as too little, so it’s important to choose window dressings that are versatile. And as they’re the focal point in the room, it’s worth going for something totally gorgeous
Colour drench your room
Using the same shade on walls and woodwork, especially a soft creamy neutral, is a great way to make a space feel larger and more airy. Go for a matching hue for your window dressings and you’ve got a sleek, unified scheme that’s impactful and incredibly elegant. Tier-on-tier shutters like this have a timeless look and enable you to control the level of light – perfect for brighter days.
Bespoke hardwood shutters, from £349/sq m, Shutterly Fabulous
Make some waves
Floor-to-ceiling curtains are often quite traditional in design but, thanks to the pattern along the edges (scallop shapes are everywhere in interiors right now), these ones have a fun contemporary twist. It’s a confident look that’s particularly striking in this contrasting colourway.
Maeve scalloped cotton curtains, from £98 each, Anthropologie
Balancing act
A clever way to control the light levels entering a room is to install a double rod to layer blackout curtains and airy voiles. This will give you the opportunity to draw the panels independently and screen the window from outside to give privacy. Generally, a lightweight sheer positioned under a long sweep of pattern in a cosy heavy-weight fabric works best.
Folk Floral curtains, from £120/pair; Ivy Pacific velvet three-seater curved sofa, £599; cushions (from left): velvet, £14; frilled gingham, £14; Floral Vase, £22; Ludo mango wood coffee table, £299; all Dunelm
Add a bow tie
Create a pretty country-cottage look by choosing a roll-up blind and adding bow ties. This is best suited to windows with blinds that you don’t need to open every day, which also means it’s worth going for a statement pattern like this lovely leafy design that will be (more or less) permanently on display.
Blind in Antigua Pistachio, £104/m, iLiv
Embrace soft and delicate
How gorgeous are these blinds? The classic William Morris Strawberry Thief print has been reimagined in voile to create a subtle design that’s reminiscent of lace. Used as a Roman blind, the fabric allows gently diffused light to spill across the space while blurring the view inside for passers-by.
William Morris Strawberry Thief voile in Blush, from £86.45/m, Blinds 2 Go
Take control
If you find yourself squinting in bright light but don’t want to shut it out completely, these are the blinds for you. Consisting of two panels, one opaque and the other sheer, they’re adjustable so
