10 tips on how to dress oddly shaped windows

Windows come in an incredible range of shapes and sizes – among them are bays, circles, triangles, angular, arched, mismatched, double-height, skylights, church and conservatory! They all have their place and can look spectacular in your home, but dressing them to best effect can be a real headache.

Whether you’re drawing attention towards a beautiful window to make a feature of it, or away from a less than unattractive window or vista, there are many stylish and creative treatments to help solve awkward shaped window challenges.Here are the 10 most common problems you will come across.

1. Bay windows
Large and airy Victorian or Edwardian style bay windows are common in homes all over Britain and there are many ways to dress them depending on the size of window and the exact shape of the bay. 

To emphasise the grand and expansive shape of the windows, why not hang anarrangement of four curtains, as these will make an interesting change from a single pair, positioned on either side of the bay. While you’re at it include some made-to-fit, café-style shutters. This will give you a little more privacy and help balance out the extreme height of the windows.

2. Arched windows
Arched window can be difficult to dress with curtains or blinds. Have you considered replacing the lower glass panes with frosted glass or window film? Window film comesin a range of striking designs and in different degrees of opacity. There’s also a wide range of plain and coloured films available.

3. Arched windows with an angular frame

Individual Roman blinds can work well with this type of window. When raised, the blinds clear the top of the arch and this helps to maximises the light and show off the architectural beauty of the window shape.

Fitting shutters is another way to dress angular-framed arched windows. Rectangular shutters can be very effective as these will follow the decorative architrave around the window rather than following the arch of the window. Shutters also give you greater flexibility – you can control how much or how little light you want to let into your home.

4. Roof lights

Conservatory ceilings and large roof skylights in a kitchen can be a challenge to dress. Traditional wood-weave blinds work well because they filter the light and can be raised and lowered as you need. They can also withstand the intense heat and light of a glass roof and, unlike linen for example,they don’t fade. For an upstairs bathroom, you might decide to leave the skylights undressed and open to the sky, so you can watch the stars at night as you luxuriate in the bath.

5. Round windows

For a large, circular window, in a bathroom, perhaps, a lightweight curtain, hung at ceiling height would be a good choice. The curtain will blend beautifully into the clean whiteness of the bathroom and, when drawn, provide you with complete privacy.

6. Apex windows

Curtains that ‘puddle’ on the floor help to soften the angles of an apex window and create a soft romantic look. An upholstered box pelmet gives a stylish, crisp finish while concealing the curtain headers and tracks.

7. Church windows

So you live in that village church that’s been converted into a charming house. It has grand arched windows and you’re not sure how to dress them. Make a bold statement by using eyelet curtains hung on a pole just above door height. It’s a clean, simple and very effective way to deal with the ecclesiastical past.

8. Conservatory walls and windows

Roman blinds, in bold floral designs, can be a perfect solution for a conservatory. Light is filtered rather than blocked, and by using a series of individual blinds, you can adjust the shade throughout the day as the sun moves. Patio doors too can look stunning with Roman blinds.

9. Double-height windows

Whether you live in a Scottish castle or similarly proportioned property,you’ll have noticed that everything from ceiling heights to door frames and room sizes is larger than large. Your windows are sure to be double-height and some may even be shaped into corner bays.

To complete the grand proportions and scale of double-height windows,soft-flowing curtains with large coordinated pelmetsshould do the trick (pelmets should be about one-fifth of the overall drop of the curtains). Tiebacks can also be used to help create ‘drape’ and a gorgeous ‘waistline’ effect to the curtains. For maximum effect your tiebacks should be positioned just above head height.

10. Tiny windows

If you have a circular window the size of a porthole in a bathroom or on an end wall in a small room like a study, why not create a fantastic focal point by framing the window with wooden shutters. This will square off the window and still give you all the privacy you need. Obviously, the window doesn’t have to be round for this trick to work.

Article provided by Mike James, an independent content writer working together with Sussex based specialist The Window Shutter Company.