Short and wide windows are home elements that people often use to display a gorgeous view from outside the house. However, some people seldom desire to add these in their home designs because these items as often considered as disproportional.
Although so, sometimes this kind of window is just unavoidable. The example of the situation is when you rent a living place or even more serious when you buy one.
While the disproportional appearance might be real, it does not means that you cannot do anything about it. The fact is that you can.
The way is by choosing the right curtains for short and wide windows and knowing how is the right way to install them. This kind of treatment will not only create a visual that will conceal the disproportion. It will also affect the whole interior design.
If you are looking for information about all those right now, it means that you are in the right place. Here, we will share the list of 7 best curtains for short and wide windows.
Hopefully, with the list, you can find the most suitable treatment for the windows in your house. Besides, we also hope that you can make your home interior looks even more fabulous with your final choice.
1. Ceiling-to-Floor Curtains
The very first type that we want you to consider is ceiling-to-floor curtains. It is the one with rod installed very close to the ceiling. As for the length of the curtain, it should reach the floor or even longer, such as the ones you see in the puddle-style window treatment.
The primary reason why we recommend the floor-length curtains is because it will give a visual effect that the windows are taller. It also erases the disproportional look that can sometimes make the room quite unpleasant to see. Many homeowners have used it and found out that it is advantageous to deal with the problematic visual.
Another reason why you should choose this curtain type is that it will create a dramatic look in any interior you place it. Besides, it looks elegant too.
In some cases, it can even create an illusion that the room is more spacious than it is. The following picture is an example.
Here, you can see that the bedroom is not so spacious. You can also see that there are ceiling-to-floor curtains that have a function to cover the short and white windows behind them.
The design of the contemporary bedroom looks quite elegant with the choices of accessories and furniture that make it even better. The existence of the wide windows can ruin the view in there. It may be the reason why the designer chose the curtains.
If you see it from the size, particularly the width, these treatments do not only cover wide windows. They are enough to conceal the entire side of the wall.
When closed, these curtains can conceal everything entirely that people won’t even notice that there are short windows behind them. They can also cover the glass door you see in the pic.
It seems that the curtains chosen here are blackout type. It means they help avoid too much light from outside to enter the bedroom whenever needed.
Besides the primary function to deal with the disproportional look of short wide windows, ceiling-to-floor curtains are also excellent to use as a part of the color scheme in your interior. Because of the large size, they will surely look prominent and are ready to arrest attention.
Take a look at the picture, for instance. Here, the curtains are not only parts of the color scheme, but they are also essential items to erase the domination of white color on the walls.
This one is also an example of floor-length curtains, which function is not only to treat the short wide window but also a part of the room color scheme.
Here, the bright yellow color, as well as the pattern of these interior elements, create a quite interesting visual. That is why it is reasonable that these items can give a distraction so people won’t notice the disproportional appearance of the window.
2. Ceiling-to-Floor Curtains with Tiers
The second option that we recommend you to choose here is ceiling-to-floor curtains that come with tiers as the accessories. While this type also gives you all the benefits mentioned above, it comes with an extra advantage.
It is the fact that the curtains have higher decorative value. This way, people will draw their attention more to the whole curtain design, instead of the short and wide windows.
Another thing that you must know is that right now tiers are available in so many designs. You can choose the fancy ones that meet the general styling you pick for the room.
This bedroom seems to have an upper-level location. It makes the ceiling to be quite low.
The use of floor-to-ceiling curtains to treat the short wide windows in this room is an excellent idea. It makes the place seems more spacious.
The curtains here have a neutral grey color that fits in the room’s color scheme very easily. To erase the impression of looking too ordinary, the designer adds tiers.
They are in oversized style, which makes them visible more. The details, such as the enormous tassels and the round white decorations, create a fabulous look.
If you do not like tiers with too many decorations, you can always choose the simple ones. Take a look at the pictures, for instance.
Here, the off-white curtains have large and visible folds that already give a beautiful impression in the entire design. That is why choosing simple tiers would be the most excellent decision.
In this case, the tiers chosen by the designer looks like it is from a large rope material. It has the same color as the curtains and some other elements in the room, so it doesn’t break the color scheme in there.
Here is another example of tiers that you can pair with the ceiling-to-floor curtains of your short wide windows to create a fab. If you look closely, you will see that the accessories are in a huge braided style. If you cannot find this look at any store, you can always create it in a DIY project.
Another thing that you must notice from the curtains tiers is that they have a soft pink color. A simple detail like this can make it easier for the window treatment to fit in the room design because it is compatible with the color theme brought in there.
3. Cafe Curtains
The name of the cafe curtains is inspired by the type of window treatment that people used in old cafes. This treatment type will add a dramatic and classic touch in the interior, primarily because of the folds in the design.
Cafe curtains will only cover some parts of your windows, from the bottom to the desired height. A design like this is perfect for providing privacy. That is why the inside of your house won’t be visible from the neighborhood.
At the same time, it also creates an open impression because not all of the windows are covered. At day, you can still get some natural light from outside even without opening the curtains.
Although this window treatment is more familiar to use in a kitchen or dining area, right now the usage gets varied. It means you can use it in any room in your house if you want to.
This picture is an example that cafe curtains are always a suitable treatment for the short and wide windows in any traditional kitchen style. Here, you can see that these accessories are not available only in the design that we cannot open.
As you can see in the pic, the curtains can be opened whenever needed. It reveals that the short wide window is facing right to the neighbor’s house.
The existence of the cafe curtains here does not only add a decorative, classic, and elegant touch to the interior design. It also gives flexibility when it comes to privacy.
Whenever more privacy is needed, you can close the curtains. The best thing of all is that it doesn’t cause you losing the natural light from outside since the upper window is still uncovered.
Adding short and wide windows in your bathroom can be an excellent idea, particularly when you like the open feeling or the fact that you can get some natural light from outside to brighten up the place. However, it also means that your privacy is on risk.
In this case, cafe curtains could be the best solution you can pick, as shown in the picture above. With the window treatments, you can spend time relaxing in the tub comfortably without worrying that some curious eyes are watching.
The choice of sheer curtains, as shown in the pic, is also a good one. It does not only leave some open impression while providing you the best privacy. It still lets the light from outside to enter the room too.
4. Cafe Curtains with Valance
Cafe curtains also look good when you pair with a valance that will cover the upper part of the window. Since the windows are short and wide, you have to make sure that the accessory is not too long. It could block the light from outside, and even worse, it will create an awkward look. Therefore, you must remember to leave some part of the window open.
Back in the old days, valance must be in the same color, pattern, and material with the curtains. Right now, you can experiment with any choice of yours to create a stunning look.
Although so, please remember that your choice of valance material must be compatible with the appearance of the curtains. It must also be suitable for the interior theme in general.
Another thing you need to know is that valance is an accessory that can make any short window looks taller. It is as long as you can install it properly. The way is by installing it start from the ceiling.
Here is an example. As you can see, the installation of the valance in this window design starts from the ceiling. The fact is that the windows here are not that tall.
The type of valance chosen here also does not have the same color as the curtains. Although so, the tone is compatible with the overall color scheme, so it looks just fine.
As told before, now the cafe curtain is not only suitable to use in the kitchen or dining room. If you want an example, you can take a look at this bedroom, in which there are short and wide windows included.
Here, the curtains and valance provide enough privacy for the sake of the occupant comfort when staying in the room. At the same time, they also offer enough space for the natural light to come through from outside so the place won’t be too dark at day.
You can see that the folds and ruffles of the curtains and valance beautify the room quite significantly. It makes the short and wide windows don’t look like a problematic detail anymore.
There is even a bolster from the same material. A small detail like this can help create design compatibility in the room.
5. Sheer Curtains
Another problem you may face when having small wide windows is that there is not enough natural light enters the room. It can make the place gets dark at day. Turning on the light is not a good solution here since it possibly makes the electricity bill goes up.
It seems to get even more problematic because you cannot open the curtains all the time. Once in while you need extra privacy and it is just reasonable.
In this case, the right choice of curtains is one of the best solutions you should try. To be more specific, we recommend you to pick something from a sheer material.
This kind of curtain is enough to provide subtle privacy for your room. At the same time, it doesn’t 100% blocking the sunlight. It is such a fair solution, right?
This eclectic living room only has a pair of small wide windows. Although so, you can see that it is not dark at all.
This room has the perfect combo to avoid darkness at day time even if the windows it has is not too big. It is none other but sheer material and cafe curtain style.
The same use of a sheer curtain to treat a short wide window is also available in this picture of a contemporary bedroom.
The high placement of the window creates a chance for more natural light to enter the room. But when privacy is also necessary, the use of sheer curtain will be helpful.
The length of the window treatment chosen here reaches the floor. It also has visible folds that makes everything looks gorgeous.
As we told in the beginning, short wide window, especially the one with large glass, is beneficial in the way it can display the outside view excellently. Some people love to have this advantage in their bathroom, especially near the tub, so they can enjoy the scenery while submerging in there.
Sheer curtains are also beneficial in this kind of bathroom design. Closing the curtains can still leave an outdoor feel in the room since the sunlight can still pass through it even if it is quite subtle.
6. Curtains and Furniture Combo
Another thing that many homeowners consider as problematic when they have short wide windows in their houses is that it leaves an empty wall below. It often makes people notice about the disproportional look even more, especially when the placement of the window is quite high.
Even if they already use floor-length curtains to deal with the situation, the empty space is still visible whenever they open the window treatment. Something like this can be quite irritating sometimes.
If you also face the same case, there is an easy solution we suggest you do. It is by placing furniture under the window to cover the empty wall.
While the combo gives you a solution, it also offers another function based on the furniture type that you choose.
As an example, when you have a short wide window in your bedroom, and you already decorate it with ceiling-to-floor curtains. You can trick the emptiness of the wall by placing a dresser there. This furniture is a perfect choice for the room.
Besides the fact that it can solve the problem, you will get extra storage for clothes or other items with it. Other than that, you can use the flat top surface to place some decorations to beautify the room.
One thing to remember is not to place the dresser too close to the wall. This way, it will be easier for you to open and close the curtains whenever needed.
You can also place a table that is not too wide and a bench that you can slip under it as the match as shown in the pic. This one is an excellent example because it has some yellow elements that are matching with the long curtain designs as well as the color theme of the room.
You can use it in so many ways. If you place a standing mirror on it, you can use it as a dressing table. You can also put a lamp on it an make it a good place for reading and writing.
The empty wall that is not covered by the curtains of the short wide window also allows you to create a comfortable reading spot. The way to make it is so easy.
You need to place a chair on your choice, which size can fit in the space available. The reading spot can be even more excellent if you also add a small table on which you can stack the books that you want to read.
7. Curtains and Shade or Blind Combo
Another thing you can combine with your choice of the curtain for short wide window is shade or blind. Although so, this extra treatment is not suitable to pair with cafe curtain. On the other hand, it looks excellent to match with the ceiling-to-floor choices.
One interesting thing that you must know is that each of the shade and blind can give you different benefits. The blind is an example. It is beneficial in blocking the light from outside. That is why it won’t create any sunlight image on the curtains that will only make it obvious that the windows are short and wide.
Although you can choose any shades, in this case, we suggest you pick the ones with a highly similar color to the walls. It will be helpful to conceal the actual windows whenever needed.
On the other hand, window blinds are also an excellent pairing for the ceiling-to-floor curtains. In some cases, these are even better than the shades.
The benefit that we talked about is that blinds can help you to control the light and privacy better. Thanks to the adjustable opening mechanism.
As told in the explanation above, the combination of curtains and window shade is helpful in the way you can control the amount of light that can enter the room. The picture you see here is the example.
The fact that the room is not too bright because there are shades installed on the windows creates a cozy atmosphere in the whole interior.
The same combination is also suitable for the bedroom area. The addition of the shade gives you an option to create a cozy low-light environment without having to cover the window entirely.
8. Final Words
The seven types of curtains for short and wide windows that we shared to you above is the solution you can get quite easily at this time. The best thing of all, the design possibilities available for each kind that we mentioned in the list is endless.
You can always play with the choices of color, pattern, and material. The most important thing is that the curtains that you will choose must be compatible with the interior style as well as the color scheme in the room.
Do you have any experience in using one or more curtains types we told you in this post? Or, do you have your favorite treatment that you find suitable for dealing with the specific kind of window that we discuss here?