Window Curtains for Living Room Spaces: 8 Ideas

Mary Murphy

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White curtains and a bamboo shade framing a window in a bright living room.

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The ideas here run from classic panels and velvet to semi-sheer and linen, then on to swags and valances, and the right one depends on how much light and privacy the window has to handle.

If you need daytime privacy but want sun, a semi-sheer layered with an opaque beige panel gives you 2 settings, though it needs a double rod. If you just want a finished frame around the glass, one layer is enough.

1. Classic Panels

Brown curtain panels frame the window, creating a finished look for the wall. · 📷 @marina.b.style

Plain panels do more than most people expect. Two straight lengths of fabric, one on each side of the window, give the glass a frame and make the whole wall look finished.

I like a solid color that sits close to your sofa or floor tone. Brown panels like these stay warm and quiet, and they don’t fight with pillows or art.

Hang them so they can pull fully off the glass. Then the window gets all its light when they’re open.

2. Velvet Curtains

Brown velvet curtains add softness against white walls, enhancing the room's elegance. · 📷 @ixacurtains_official

Velvet looks rich and costs more than most fabrics, but it’s still a simple hang: a rod, rings or hooks, and 2 panels.

Brown velvet reads soft and deep, and I like it best against white walls, where the color has room to stand out.

A gold rod adds a little shine without much fuss. Keep the rest of the room plain so the fabric is the one dressy thing.

Velvet is heavy, so check that your rod and brackets are sturdy before you hang it. Screw into studs or use proper anchors.

3. Semi-sheer Curtains

Layered beige panels provide privacy while maintaining a calm, cohesive look. · 📷 @moraine.home

Layering a semi-sheer curtain with an opaque panel gives you 2 settings.

Close the sheer for daytime privacy while light still comes through. Pull the beige panel across when you want the room darker.

You need a double rod, or 2 rods, to hang both layers. Black hardware looks crisp against white walls.

I’d keep the 2 fabrics in the same color family, like white and beige, so the window looks calm instead of busy.

4. Linen Curtains

Textured linen curtains slide easily on a metal rod, adding relaxed style to the space. · 📷 @momandbabycreators

Linen has a loose, textured look that makes a room feel relaxed. Light beige panels on a metal rod with grommets (the metal rings sewn into the fabric) slide on easily, with no extra hooks or rings to buy.

The grommet style is also simple to hang. Thread the rod through each hole and you’re done.

I’d pick a color close to your wall, so the fabric adds texture without adding contrast.

5. Plaid Curtains with Bamboo Shades

Plaid curtains paired with bamboo shades mix patterns while keeping the look cozy. · 📷 @windowsbymags

A plaid curtain paired with a woven bamboo shade mixes pattern and natural texture on one window. Brown and beige plaid on a black rod stays muted, so it feels cozy and not loud.

The shade handles light and privacy, while the curtain adds color and softness. Mount the shade inside the window frame and hang the rod just outside it.

Let the curtains be the loudest thing in the room, and keep everything around them quiet. One pattern at the window is plenty.

6. Floor to Ceiling Curtains

Long beige curtains draw the eye upward, enhancing the height of the room. · 📷 @ddecor_curtains

Curtains that run from the ceiling to the floor make a tall room feel even taller. Long beige panels over large windows draw the eye up and add softness to a space that could otherwise feel hard and echoey.

Measure carefully before you buy, because extra-long panels can be hard to find and cost more than standard lengths. Hang the rod near the ceiling, not just above the glass.

Keep the color light and the furniture simple, as the curtains already fill a lot of the wall.

7. Swags

A maroon swag over white sheers adds depth and a traditional touch to the window. · 📷 @nuansa_gordenbm

A swag is a piece of fabric draped in a loose curve across the top of a window, usually over curtains.

Here it sits over maroon panels with white sheers underneath, so the window gets three layers of fabric in two colors.

I like that the sheers stay white. They keep the look light, and the deep maroon on top gets to be the one bold thing.

Pick a swag that matches your panels or sits close to them in color. A swag in a totally different shade can make the top of the window look busy.

Swags add a traditional feel, so they suit a room with classic furniture best.

8. Valances

Red floral curtains with a matching valance create a tailored, cohesive window treatment. · 📷 @nicolahardingandco

Red floral curtains with a matching valance give a window a finished, tailored top. Think of a valance as a short fabric topper: it runs across the top of the window and covers the rod and brackets behind it.

In a blue room like this one, matching the valance to the curtains keeps the pattern from splitting into two separate things. I’d always buy them as a set, or cut both from the same fabric.

Because the window already carries a pattern, I’d keep the nearby pieces simpler. A striped chair and a lamp are plenty.

A valance is also a good choice if you like the look of curtains but don’t want long fabric across the whole wall.

Choosing Curtain Colors

Start with the biggest color already in the room, usually the sofa or the rug. Pick a curtain shade that sits next to it on the color wheel, or one a step lighter or darker.

Hold fabric samples up in the room before you buy.

Look at them in morning light and again at night, because color shifts a lot between the two. Many sellers send free swatches, and I’d always ask for them.

If your walls are a strong color, go neutral on the window. If your walls are plain, the curtains can carry a bit more color.

Curtain Maintenance

Most curtains can go in the washing machine, but check the care tag first. Use the gentle cycle and cool water, and skip the dryer if the tag says so.

Between washes, shake the panels outside or run a vacuum brush over them. That clears the dust that builds up on the folds.

Take them down before washing. Hang them back up while they’re still slightly damp, and the weight of the fabric will pull out most wrinkles without ironing.

Curtain Styles

Fabric weight and fullness set the mood more than anything.

Thick, soft fabric in a warm shade feels cozy. Smooth, straight panels in a lighter shade feel more polished.

Check the size before you order.

Panels come in set widths and lengths, such as 52" wide and 95" long, so measure your window and the drop from rod to floor first. Many styles come in a wide range of colors and sizes, which makes matching easier.

Buy 2 panels per window, and pick the mood you want the room to have before you pick the fabric.

Each set includes (2) 50 inch wide window curtain panels, for a combined total width of 100 inches, and are available in 63, 84, 96, and 108 inch lengths.

— AllModern

Frequently Asked Questions

What color curtains are best for a living room?

Start with the biggest color already in the room, usually the sofa or the rug.

Bold walls do best with quiet, neutral panels hanging in front of them. Plain walls leave room for curtains in a richer color or a pattern.

What are the types of window coverings?

Common choices include curtain panels, semi-sheer curtains, woven bamboo shades, swags and valances.

A valance is a short strip of fabric hung up high to hide the rod and brackets. Many people layer them, like a sheer under an opaque panel, so one window gets both privacy and light control.

What are the typical prices for window curtains?

I can’t give a typical price, because it depends on fabric, length and size.

Velvet costs more than most fabrics, and extra-long panels cost more than standard lengths. Ask the seller for free swatches before you buy, so you don’t pay for a color that looks wrong in your room.

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