Spice Up Your Bedroom With Short, Stylish Curtains
When it comes to bedroom decor, selecting the perfect curtains can be a challenge. Long curtains promise elegance but block natural light. Short curtains enhance openness yet lack style. Why choose when you can have both? Read on to unlock the secrets of styling chic, light-enhancing short curtains.
We'll explore creative solutions for privacy, proportions and making small windows shine. Let's get started designing your dream bedroom oasis with short curtains full of flair!
Short Curtain Benefits
Openness and Height
One of the best advantages of short curtains is creating an airier, more spacious feel in bedrooms. Floor length curtains can make rooms appear dark and closed in. Opting for sill length or below sill curtains keeps the space visually open.
Shorter curtain lengths also allow bountiful natural light to flood in. This illuminates bedrooms during daytime hours, promoting an energizing yet relaxing ambiance. The sunlight also reduces reliance on artificial lighting, providing eco-friendly benefits.
Additionally, short curtains counteract issues with low ceilings. Hanging the curtains close to the tops of windows draws eyes upwards, counteracting the claustrophobic effects of a squat room. The minimal fabric prevents curtains from overwhelming or dragging down smaller spaces.
Easy Functionality
Compared to long, heavy drapes, short lightweight curtains offer increased functionality and ease of use. Their abbreviated lengths make opening and closing a breeze each morning and night. Shorter curtains won't get tangled or require perfect sweeping gestures to look good.
Cleaning windows or accessing them for repairs also becomes more convenient without yards of curtain material in the way. Simply tuck panels off to the side or temporarily remove short curtains with minimal effort.
For custom control over lighting effects, it's simple to raise short curtains partway up the window. This flexibility allows you to adjust lengths on the fly based on natural light conditions.
Affordability
One of the best benefits of short curtains is cost savings from utilizing less fabric yardage. Pricing curtains by the yard, short window treatments require significantly smaller amounts of material.
The budget buys don't stop there. For short curtains, you can opt for inexpensive fabric along bottom edges paired with gorgeous trims on top. This concentrates decorative details where they'll stand out rather than disappearing into elaborate draping.
If you love a DIY project, beginner sewers will find quick gratification creating their own custom short curtains. Less material and simpler construction make even novices look like expert designers.
Style Considerations
Window Type and Size
When selecting short curtains, pay special attention to window dimensions for ideal proportions. Smaller windows, like those framing headboards or alongside beds, provide the perfect canvases for sill length curtains.
Avoid overwhelming floor-to-ceiling or wide picture windows with abbreviated treatments. These call for the elongating effect of long graceful curtains. For medium height windows below the sill, adjust short curtain lengths accordingly.
Privacy Needs
To increase privacy with short curtains, layer whisper-thin sheers behind them. Close the sheers at night while keeping short curtains open for aesthetics. For daylight filtering, hang room darkening or blackout liners beneath short styles.
Another option is supplementing short curtains with adjustable blinds. Keep the slats tilted open just enough to allow light while maintaining coverage. Stack two short curtain panels on each side for full privacy when needed.
Design and Fabric
Since short curtains limit dramatic sweeping folds, materials become even more important. Lush velvets, embroidered sheers and textured linens help convey quality and beauty. Hang rods near the ceilings and extend widths beyond windows for maximum draping impact.
Don't forget the decorative touches too. Opt for shapely finials, swag valances and trims made from fancy tassels or thick cording. Punch up solid colors with striking patterns and colors complementing room palettes.
Bedroom Curtain Solutions
Sill Length Curtains
Sill length curtains measure between 18-24 inches, hitting right at the window sill. They provide a cozy feel while allowing abundant ambient lighting. For bedrooms, lightweight breezy cottons or linen blends enhance the airy vibe.
The shortened heights offer a balance of softness with sufficient privacy. Choose lighter opaque fabrics to filter harsh sunlight while avoiding a stark exposed feeling. Sill length curtains keep window views unobstructed.
Below Sill Curtains
For windows with lower sills, below sill curtains falling 24-30 inches maintain proportions. The extra length filters more light compared to sill length but still feels open and casual.
Silky flowing fabrics that move gracefully at this height prevent a blunt chopped off look. Material choices like delicate sheers or light linens enhance the airy ambiance. Below sill panels generate an approachable elegance perfect for bedrooms.
Layered Looks
Layering sheers behind short curtain panels boosts dimension and perceived height. Pair sheer white curtains with opaque boldly colored counterparts for interest. Mix sheer patterned fabrics with complementing solids to blend and harmonize.
Vary textures by combining sleek satins with lightly crinkled linens. Stack a short embroidered cotton over ethereal voile under-panels. Photos of professionally designed layered curtain treatments provide endless inspiring combinations.
Short curtains unlock functionality and style difficult to achieve with floor length versions. They open up small spaces and allow abundant natural light. With thoughtful design choices, even the shortest curtains can make stylish statements.
Follow the tips in this article to begin crafting your own spectacular short bedroom curtains. Then sit back, relax and enjoy your bright refreshed room decorated just the way you like it.