5 WINDOW DRESSING MISTAKES THAT RUIN A ROOM
We’ve seen it time and time again, a beautifully designed room where everything seems spot on. The furniture’s right. The palette works. But then we look at the windows, and something just isn’t quite right.
Dressing a window isn’t just about covering the glass. Window treatments manage light, support privacy, and help shape the way a space feels throughout the day. When they’re right, they elevate the entire room. When they’re not, they can quietly throw the balance off.
Here are five of the most common window dressing mistakes we come across, and how to avoid them like a total pro.
1. HANGING CURTAINS TOO LOW OR TOO NARROW
We get it. It seems natural to fit the curtain pole just above the window frame. But doing that actually shortens the look of your room, making ceilings feel lower and windows feel smaller than they really are.
What to do instead:
Go higher and wider. By placing poles or tracks closer to the ceiling and extending beyond the window frame, you give the space breathing room. It creates height and a more architectural feel.
2. NOT THINKING ABOUT HOW LIGHT MOVES THROUGH THE ROOM
Light changes everything, the way colour reads, how private a room feels, and the overall atmosphere. But too often, we see people choose window treatments without thinking about how the light shifts throughout the day.
What to do instead:
Consider how the room is used and when it gets the most sun. A sheer blind might be ideal in the morning but not practical in the evening. West-facing windows may need lined or layered options to manage low afternoon glare.
3. CHOOSING THE WRONG FABRIC OR WEIGHT
A curtain that looks gorgeous on a sample can fall flat in real life. The wrong fabric or the wrong weight can affect everything from how a treatment hangs to how well it performs in a space. Some materials don’t drape as expected. Others fade quickly in strong sunlight or lack the structure needed for a full-length drop.
What to do instead:
Don’t judge fabric on looks alone. Think about how it needs to behave, should it soften light, add warmth, or provide total blackout? Does it need to hold its shape or move freely?
With years of hands-on experience and wide range of fabric, our team can quickly narrow down the right options, helping you choose fabrics that don’t just look beautiful, but work beautifully too.
4. PRIORITISING STYLE OVER FUNCTION, OR FUNCTION OVER STYLE
We’ve all seen it: the sheer curtains that look stunning during the day but turn a bedroom into a goldfish bowl at night. Or the blackout roller blind that does its job but leaves the room feeling cold and unfinished.
It’s a common mistake, leaning too far into style without thinking about practicality, or solving the practical need and sacrificing the look.
What to do instead:
The best window treatments strike a balance between how they look and how they work. It’s not just about softness or sharp lines, it’s about privacy, light control, thermal performance, and how you move through the space.
That’s why we ask the right questions upfront: What’s the room for? When is it used? What’s more important, softness or blackout? Voiles or structure?
5. TRYING TO DO IT ALL YOURSELF
Measuring, choosing the right fabric, finding the right heading style, checking for clearance around radiators or recesses… window dressing can be deceptively technical and often takes more time than you’d think. What seems like a simple task can quickly become frustrating when things don’t quite line up as expected.
What to do instead:
Bring in a specialist early. Our team offers a free measuring service and practical advice to help you get everything right from the start. We manage the entire process, from design and production to installation and aftercare, with a complimentary steam to finish.
LET’S GET IT RIGHT FIRST TIME
A good window treatment should look right, work well, and feel like it belongs in the space. That’s exactly what we help our clients achieve, without the stress or second-guessing.
If you’re planning to dress your windows and want the job done properly, we’re here to help. Get in touch to speak with our team
