Putting Curtains Over Blinds Looks Stunning and Has Many Benefits
When deciding on a window covering, don’t limit yourself to choosing between blinds and curtains. Combining the two not only adds a completely different look and feel to your room but can bring benefits to suit your lifestyle too.
Putting curtains over blinds is a style that, although timeless, is also on trend. Adding both coverings to the same window will give a sophisticated, warm and classy finish to any room.
Curtains and drapes look great over roller, Roman, wood or vertical blinds, and the style, colour and texture combinations are endless.
Read on for ideas on how to put curtains over blinds, what types of blinds are best to pair with curtains, and the benefits of putting them together.
What Types of Blinds Pair Well With Curtains?
Most types of blinds and shades can be successfully and attractively combined with curtains, although each has its own characteristics to bring to the pairing. Some types of blinds to consider pairing with curtains include:
- Roller shades – a single piece of material that can be opened to any position on the window.
- Roman shades – fabric shades that pull up into soft folds when opened.
- Horizontal blinds – metal blinds featuring louvred slats that can be opened or closed to your desired position for light and privacy control.
- Wood and faux wood blinds – horizontal, louvred style blinds made from real or faux wood finishes.
- Vertical blinds – Ideal for glass doors, vertical blinds concertina to the desired opening position, and the louvres can be adjusted for light and privacy control.
- Honeycomb shades – popular, modern fabric shades featuring a cellular design that is highly insulating.
What Are the Benefits of Hanging Curtains Over Blinds?
Blinds and curtains are both good options for window coverings, with each having positive features.
Blinds provide good light control, privacy when desired and are energy-saving thanks to insulating designs and fabrics.
Curtains can block light and sound, provide insulation and bring a cozy, complete look to a room.
When you use blinds and curtains together, you get the advantages of both with the flexibility to use them as you need. Benefits include:
- Maximum insulation and soundproofing properties.
- Ultimate control over light and privacy.
- The ability to change the mood of the room from bright and open to cozy and intimate.
- Endless design and colour combinations to suit any taste and style.
- Create a focal point – blinds are functional but don’t often turn heads. Combined with a curtain, however, they can become the focal point in a room.
When you combine specific styles of blinds with curtains, they bring unique benefits. For example:
- Curtains over wood blinds – the warm, natural tones of real or fake wood offer a neutral base that pairs well with fresh or rich fabric colours. The combination of curtains over these horizontal blinds is the ultimate in light and privacy control.
- Curtains over vertical blinds – the gentle folds of curtains can help to soften the long lines of vertical blinds.
- Curtains over fabric blinds (rollers, Roman) – the solid material style of these shades provides a simple base that pairs well with curtains. Using two fabric window coverings together can result in a rich, warm look.
- Curtains over cellular blinds – these insulating shades benefit from the addition of decorative drapes, which also enhance their energy-saving properties.
How to Put Curtains Over Blinds in 3 Easy Steps
We know that blinds and curtains pair well together as window coverings, but it can be hard to decide which options to choose. This three-step guide will help you through the process.
- Choose Your Blind Type
When deciding which blind or shade is right for your room, you should consider:
- The window. Consider size, shape and how it opens.
- Functionality. What do you need from your blinds, i.e., light control, privacy, insulation?
- Operating preferences. Do you want manual or mechanical operation?
- Style. Are you looking for something modern and streamlined or traditional and warm?
- Choose Your Curtain Style
There are many types of curtains – to help decide your preferred style, consider:
- How many? Single or double-panel drapes?
- Opacity: Light, heavy or light-blocking fabric?
- Top finishing: Do you prefer flat panel, pleated or draped style? Will you add a cornice board?
- Length: Window length or floor length?
- Choose Your Fabric Style and Colours
- Consider the style of décor already in the room.
- Do you want the window to be a focal point or to blend in?
- If you want to keep the finished look interesting without being over the top, use bold colours or patterns on the blinds or curtains, but not both.
- If you are unsure what would look good together in your room, ask your custom window covering expert for their opinion. At Ruffell and Brown, our team can advise on the right choices for a classic style or something more contemporary and everything in between.
Top Tips on How to Style Curtains Over Blinds
Now you know that putting curtains over blinds is a great idea for both practical and aesthetic reasons, here are some top tips to consider when making your final style decisions:
- Make your windows look bigger: Place the headrail for both the blind and the curtain above the top of the window and choose curtains that fall to the floor. This combination results in the illusion of floor-to-ceiling windows.
- Make your windows look wider: Use curtains and a pole that extend a few inches on either side of your window to give the impression of width.
- Use wide louvred blinds: To give a high-end look and also allow more light into the room during the day.
- Use an accent colour: Choose a fabric colour that matches other accessories in your room, such as cushions or the carpet, for a coordinating look.
For some styling inspiration, see these layered window treatment ideas.
Trust Ruffell and Brown to Help You Choose a Blinds and Curtains Combination
At Ruffell and Brown, we can help you find the right curtain and blind pairing for your needs and style.
Our window fashion experts can offer suggestions for the style and fabric combinations that would best suit your room décor and also take into account special requirements such as the need for privacy or light filtering.
Located in Victoria, BC, we have been designing and fitting custom window covering solutions for over 35 years. Drop into our showroom on Bridge Street or contact us today for help with all your window covering needs.
