Curtains on arched windows?

So many homes built in the last ten years are featuring arched windows. Some just have one or two on the front of the home, and others have them in every room. They are also sometimes called palladian windows, but that isn't always the correct term for the style we see everyday. That's a discussion that is best left to the architects. Most homeowners want to keep the arch visible, but still have a problem with sunlight. Here are a few solutions we have come up with in the last couple of years that might help you if you are on a mission to dress you arched windows.


This dining room as a triple window with an arch on top. Sun was not a factor for this customer. The windows just needed dressed. Even though the panels are a single width, we got the look we needed by adding the necklace swag with bullion fringe. The contrast color and added weight of the trim was just enough for this lovely window. Any more width would have covered too much window and the swags would not be to scale. It is a good idea to use a more decorative pole when so much of it is exposed.



Another dining room with a triple window, but with only a small arch above. The poor photography does not show the beautiful finials and tassel holdbacks that are part of the treatment. The color of the drapery hardware is very close to the color of the light fixture. Since the pole is closer to the light, we chose to match it. The table and chairs are a darker finish, as well. These panels were custom made to fit the wall space above the outside windows. They style is an inverted pleat which is very flat across the header to give a tailored look to the extra long panels. The fullness comes more from the back of the panels and falls into very pretty, deep folds.



Medallions are sometimes used for drapes on arched windows. This room already has a straight, horizontal line from the trim on the wainscotting. We didn't need to repeat that with a pole. We were also able to use the same medallions on a valance in the adjoining living room, which serves to tie in the two different treatments. Click here to see the earlier post about these two rooms.


A bathroom arch doesn't have the same problems as a living room arch---sunlight isn't such a problem. We used this asymmetrical treatment mounted below the arch to help offset this off centered window.


This window isn't actually arched on top. We just wanted it to look that way. However, if sunlight is a huge problem, this would be a good alternative. Then the blinds or shades could be mounted below the valance and used when needed.



It can be helpful to see a rendering of the proposed treatment and how it will work. This was done for the window in this office to not only explain to the client how far outside the window the drapes would extend, but to also help us determine the rod length. The sunlight was a problem in the morning, but by afternoon, the clients wanted to be able to raise the shades. Our solution was to use a window film (tinting) on the arch and a cordless Duette mounted inside the trim to cover the double window. The panels are stationary and really added the height and color we needed in the room. The shade is easily operated by pushing the bottom rail upward---no searching for the cords on the sides. The view into the tree tops is still there, but no sun is glaring through the arch. The panels and shade also provide a great deal of insulation during the winter, as well as summer.



A straight-on view was just not possible in the smaller room, so this is from the side. The right panel is somewhat distorted in size due to the angle, but you can see the finished product. The Duettes stack to a very small size when raised, which we see as a plus. The 2" wood blinds were considered, but because of the wood floors and large fireplace, it was decided that the room really needed more soft window treatments. The "echo" that was once a problem was eliminated and the office became a cozy retreat!

If you have an arched window or something out of the ordinary, you probably need to see us for a "fix". Call us to set up an appointment. You really can put curtains on arched windows.