window treatments Archives

Green IKEA Curtains For Our Bedroom

Aug242016

We all know that windows treatments can make a big difference in the look of a room. But, start adding in custom details like blackout liner or a longer-than-standard length, and curtains can also make a big difference in the room’s budget. That’s why I couldn’t be happier with the IKEA WERNA curtain panels I found for our master bedroom. For $40 a pair, I got 98” of emerald green beauty. (A higher hung curtain can instantly elevate your room’s style. I wrote more about that here.)

So that the artwork and desk area didn’t feel too crowded, I opted for one panel on the outside of each window. Since the bamboo shades we hung don’t block very much light, we’ve started pulling the curtains at night. What a huge difference! It’s so much darker in our room than when we were just closing the blinds that were there before. The IKEA curtains feel like true, blackout treatments that you find in a hotel room. (The rods are also from IKEA—my favorite source for inexpensive, quality window hardware.)

IKEA GREEN WERNA CURTAIN

I also love the look and feel of this curtain. It’s a great weight—not too heavy and not too thin—and almost has a silky texture. The green color instantly sold me, but it also comes in a dark blue and dark red/burgundy.

A quick look at the original plan:

See more room details and sources:

Choosing a paint color and our bedding mix

I’m proud to serve as an official IKEA USA brand ambassador. This post is sponsored by IKEA, but all opinions and designs are my own.

Pairing Patterned Roman Shades With Curtains + More Window Ideas

Aug42016

One of my favorite looks for windows is layering a woven or bamboo shade under curtains. But, I sometimes forget how much I like the look of using a bigger, bold pattern on a roman shade and layering it with curtains in a smaller print or a solid:

Lonny

This is the reverse of how I usually approach windows, but I think it’s a good look. What do you think?

A few fun fabrics that could make really pretty roman shades:

Click image to go directly to fabric info.

And, a few more ideas—in case you’re up for a DIY project or have existing shades that could use a little love. In my latest article for Better Homes & Gardens, I’m sharing some easy do-it-yourself ideas for embellishing and making roman shades:

Cordless Roman Shades (Girls’ Bedrooms)

May192016

Just as I was about to pull the metal mini-blinds (circa 1986) straight off of the windows with one good, frustrated yank, Blindsgalore offered send us some cordless roman shades for the girls’ bedrooms in exchange for a review. If I never have to hear the sound of metal blinds or fight with the cords again, it won’t be long enough.

girls_bedroom_shades

The difference it made in the overall look of the room is pretty wonderful, but the ease of pulling the shades up and down is even better. I went with these roman shades and chose white with ebony trim for the room above and white with nautical (blue) trim for the “purple” room:

The great thing about ordering custom is that you can pretty much get any size you need. Hanging them just a few inches above your window can make a big difference. As a point of reference, we customized the girls’ shades to hang 7 inches above the top of the window. (I also ordered them 2 1/2 inches wider than the window.)

If you’re nervous about getting it right, don’t be. The Blindsgalore online order form walks you through each step—and there’s an online chat available for real-time help.

We’ve never had cordless shades before, but they are super easy to raise and lower. They come with these (optional) handles that I thought would help with keeping them cleaner from little hands:

Do you know how much I love having no cords??

I also added the blackout liner option, and it makes their rooms so dark and cozy in the mornings. I want these for every room in the house now. It’s like that dark, hotel room kind of window treatment.

shade_liner

(I’m expecting lots of late sleepers this Summer.)

You can shop all of their window treatment options here. (They also offer 15 free samples to help you get started.)

Thanks to Blindsgalore for partnering with me on this post.