Thick curtains and light tulle – this is how window decoration looks in most homes. This is the most common option, but not the only one. In this article, we will tell you what you can do without curtains and what alternatives to curtains to use.
The simpler the better. The less, the more expressive. Minimalism, consumption reduction, decluttering, and the beauty of emptiness have been trends in recent years all over the world. They also apply to interiors. Increasingly, designers and their clients are abandoning unnecessary furniture and excessive decor. Including lush, multi-layered textiles on the windows. The openings are left free, allowing more light and air into the room. But not everyone is ready for such bold decisions. How can you close the windows instead of curtains?
What’s wrong with curtains and when can you not use them?
In fact, it’s the same with curtains. And most modern interiors are necessarily complemented by textiles. Therefore, you should not give up curtains just because of fashion trends. After all, they change much more often than we do repairs. If you like curtains, Roman, Austrian, English or French curtains, tulle – just choose current colors and styles. Preferably simple and discreet, which will be the basis for more than one year.
But still, there are cases when it makes sense to do without curtains at all.
- If the room is small and you need to save space.
- If the room is too dark, there is not enough natural light coming in.
- The room has large windows and a beautiful view behind them.
- The window has a non-standard shape and is an important part of the interior.
- Some family members have allergies.
- Do you have pets that shed a lot? Or maybe they also like to sharpen their claws on curtains.
In addition to the above, other factors need to be taken into account. For example, the presence of neighbors opposite. And in general, the location of the house. After all, curtains are also needed to protect from prying eyes.
How to replace curtains
If you don’t want to completely abandon decor, you can use alternative solutions. Next – about some of them.
Shutters
Good old shutters are experiencing a rebirth. With the light hand of designers, they moved from the facades into the buildings and became an element of the interior.
Internal shutters are called shutters. And now they are at the peak of popularity. But with some reservations.
In modern projects, lattice shutters and blinds are more common. They bring with them a Mediterranean atmosphere and remind us of the harmony of country life. As a rule, such structures are made of horizontal wooden slats in warm shades of wood, as well as white or gray. But you can also find colored shutters. A little less often, but still, designers use dull, smooth canvases.
Shutters as decor always attract special attention. This is a rather bold and unusual decision. However, there are several reasons why it is worth taking a closer look. And it’s not just about the decorative component.
- Shutters are a salvation for allergy sufferers. Compared to textiles, they hardly accumulate dust. And cleaning them is much easier – just wipe with a damp cloth.
- They reliably protect from direct sunlight, perfectly diffuse light, and create impressive lighting effects.
- When closed, they act as additional protection from noise from the street and also help to retain heat.
- Even shutters located inside can block the path of intruders.
- They take up little space and do not clutter up space, so they are suitable for small rooms.
- Shutters are used to highlight the shape of windows. This is especially true for apartments in the old building.
- Shutters can often be found in view rooms, where you want to keep the panorama open.
Shutters today can be safely used in a variety of interior styles: Scandinavian, loft, country, Provence, classic, and eco-style.
Blinds
If when you hear the word “blinds” you still imagine plastic or fabric office light-protection structures, you are in for a surprise. They have long moved from work offices to residential buildings and have won the love of both interior designers and their clients.
True, not without changes. In modern projects, they prefer to use bamboo, wood, or metal blinds. More often – from thin, horizontal strips. During the day, if there is no bright sun, they are raised up, they become almost invisible, and the window remains open. When lowered, they reliably protect from bright rays. Like shutters, wooden and metal structures are easy to maintain and are easy to clean from dust and dirt.
Blinds are universal. They will be equally appropriate in both the living room and the bedroom. And blinds for the kitchen instead of curtains are almost a classic. Such models are easily “mounted” in interiors of different styles: high-tech, loft, scandi, mid-century, and others. Pleated curtains should not be confused with blinds. These are sheets of fabric gathered in frequent, small folds. Unlike pleated blinds, they are solid, without gaps.
Roller blinds
The roll design can compete with the previous two. And first of all, for the price. It is much more affordable than shutters or blinds. And he copes with his tasks no worse.
Blackout roller shutters can completely block the flow of light into a room. If there is no such need, you can choose conventional models that will diffuse the sun’s rays. At the same time, roller shutters have the ability to become completely invisible.
Rolled panels are convenient to use, easy to care for, do not fade in the sun, and are wear-resistant. In addition, there is a huge selection of roller shutters of different colors and textures. There are not only fabric but also bamboo products. It will be easy to choose the one that suits your specific interior.
Convenient to use are the “day-night” models, which consist of two layers: thin, translucent, and dense. Roller curtains are universal. They can be hung in both residential and work areas. For example, they are often remembered when deciding how to decorate a kitchen window without curtains.
Japanese panels
Perhaps the least known of all options. Like everything associated with the Japanese tradition in the interior, they are distinguished by simplicity, restraint, and elegance.
Such models are made from fabric based on bamboo, linen, silk, or artificial fibers. By design, they are wide vertical panels that move horizontally along a special cornice, like sliding doors. The material remains smooth and taut thanks to the weights at the bottom.
Such curtains can be thick or translucent. You can combine several layers of Japanese panels at the same time.
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Frosted glass
The entire window or part of it can be frosted. For example, the bottom half.
This effect can be achieved using a special coating – a special self-adhesive film. It can be plain or with a pattern. Self-adhesive film with a mirror effect is also actively used. Thanks to her, everything that happens inside the apartment remains invisible from the street.
Another option is frosted glass itself. It can be smooth and even or textured. An interesting solution is the so-called smart glass. In their normal state, they are transparent, but one press of a button and the surface immediately becomes matte. Smart glasses are made using a special electrochromic film. It changes its transparency under the influence of electric current. This solution has only one significant drawback – a fairly high price.
Stained glass and colored glass
A very unusual and original way to decorate and tint a window is to use stained glass or colored glass.
We are used to seeing such solutions in historical buildings and cultural heritage sites. But they can also be appropriate in the interiors of ordinary houses. Floral, geometric patterns or simply colored inserts are used both throughout the glass plane and in the form of individual decorative elements. Stained glass windows can be found in living rooms, bathrooms, and staircase halls.
Window stickers instead of curtains
A good solution for a children’s room or playroom.
Such decorative details are easy to stick on, and then remove, change depending on the time of year, upcoming holidays, and just to suit your mood. But in other rooms, it is better to be careful with stickers.
You need to imagine how they will fit with the rest of the interior, and whether they will disrupt its harmony and style.
How to decorate a window without curtains and use the opening
If you decide to leave the opening free, without curtains, roller panels, shutters, or blinds, you can look at other options for using and decorating this space.
Beautiful slopes and window sill
Yes, ordinary window slopes and a window sill can be part of the decor. If instead of white plastic you use, for example, wood, brick, stone, or panels.
Winter Garden
What better way to decorate a window than indoor plants? The place for light-loving flowers is on the windowsill. And next to it you can hang a flowerpot and place tall outdoor plants. You will get a mini-green house. By the way, flowers will also hide the room from prying eyes from the street.
Resting-place
An interesting way to make a window the dominant feature of a room is to turn it into a relaxing place. This could be a soft sofa built into the opening, or a bench with soft pillows instead of a traditional window sill. In this case, do not forget to provide lighting so that you can calmly read a book in the evening. And yet, it is better to lay at least one socket. For example, right on the slope.
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