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Living Room Curtain SOS… please help!

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You wouldn’t believe the design fail that happened to me over the weekend. I would show you and give you bullet points of all the things that went wrong… but I’m still recovering from the failure and am not ready to talk about it.

Basically… I love how curtains seem to finish a room.

BUT!

I have NO IDEA WHAT COLOR to use for our living room! I know for sure I just want long panel curtains in the living room… but that’s about where I’m stuck.

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And so?  I’m begging for your suggestions.

I think because I live here and look at it everyday, my perception is skewed, and I need an outsiders perspective! Keep in mind the couch is temporary, and we’re not ‘set’ on any certain color for our new couch yet.

I love the gray and gold pattern/texture that I stenciled above the board and batten, so I don’t want curtains that ‘steal the show’. I just want them to perfectly complement the room.

Also… does anyone know of a good Photoshop tutorial or software for ‘adding’ things to a room {photo} and ‘trying out’ different colors? I need that real bad.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.Bethany {Sawdust and Embryos}

Related:

Comments

  3. 62

    if you wanted to make your own lined curtains, there is a tutorial on the blog Sew Many Ways that is super easy. Then you could either pick out your fabric or dye your own or something crafty like that. No Matter, i know that whatever you come up with will be amazing. love your blog.
    Nancy

    Reply
  4. 63

    Hey Chika!! Sorry it didnt work the way u thought.. what about panels that are opposite as the walls… light gold or goldish w/grey feathers???

    See ya later:)
    ~dana~
    Danadashoop

    Reply
  5. 65

    Please don’t cover that beautiful woodwork with panels! A roman shade would look great and I would do something like Navy which is a color while still being a great neutral.

    Reply
  7. 67

    Your beautiful stenciling makes your room have a more formal look. Also, you have not settled on the sofa color style yet so I would suggest the flow of white panels with more formal feeling. They will not take away from the stencil and wood paneling as you suggested you preferred. Then when you choose your sofa you can leave them because they are neutral or change them at that time.
    You have not mentioned how you expect them to function – let in light, able to draw them to block light or peepers at times. Think about that also before you choose the fabric and rods or tie backs.
    I think the wide stripe you first chose was possibly too casual and I also think of Roman shades as a more casual treatment. I know fabric selection could change that look if you found a shade more functional for your situation.
    You have done such a wonderful job decorating so far. I know you will find your way here too. I remember buying a “perfect” fabric color and design for my first decorating project. It was “perfectly ugly” when I got it home so I didn’t even make it, though I did try to make a dress from it later.:^( I ended up with an open weave woven fabric which I made into pull draperies over a set of sheer stationary panels. I liked them so much they moved to our second home too.

    Reply
  9. 69

    I agree with the suggestion of blues or yellows. I copied the picture into photoshop to try it out and those two looked best.
    Oranges, greens, browns, and greys weren’t bad either.

    To check the colours I just made a new layer over the image and grabbed a bush and just painted blocks of colour in the windows. Not particularly realistic looking, but does the trick for a quick colour check.

    Reply
  10. 70

    Just a thought… I would hang panels floor to ceiling, but completely on the outside of the molding, so as not to cover the beautiful woodwork. It looks like you have the room on either sides of the windows to do that. Use decorative rods at the ceiling.
    Do you want privacy? being able to close them? Or just decorative panels?? Loved reading the comments & this will be fun to watch… : )

    Reply
  11. 71

    Another thought I had while viewing your photo again: a medium to dark grey would help tie in the orange chair and walls. With more neutral furniture I would go for pale gold panels.

    I know that you will find the perfect solution. Have patience with yourself 🙂

    Reply
  12. 72

    I like the golden/yellow color of your throw pillow. I think that color would look amazing with the room and kinda round everything out 🙂

    Reply
  13. 73

    I think linen panels would be ideal. It would have some of the texture of burlap, but be more refined. You can go as sheer or heavy as you like. I like the idea of a subtle gold or grey to accent those gorgeous walls.

    Reply
  15. 75

    My thoughts for what they are worth….The work you have done is amazing. The room is gorgeous. I’m thinking Gunmetal full length panels in dupioni silk. I think the weight would be perfect and give you the classy look the stencil calls for. That way you are not really as limited in the colors you bring in with furniture and accessories.

    Reply
  16. 76

    I like the idea of white, flowing panels. What about stenciling on the bottom of the curtain the same stencil you did up above in either the gray or the gold? I think that I would also like dark gray panels with a white stripe sewn on the bottom quarter of the panel. There are lots of good ideas! Hard to pick! Maybe you should do a couple of sets and change them seasonally.

    Reply
  17. 77

    I have read all of the comments and replies so far…. and I think I still stick to my original thought having been in the room, I feel like flowy gold with some texture to it to pick up on your gold in the stencil…. Now not sure if that’s too matchy matchy for you 🙂 I have an idea floating around in my head that is some sort of detail in the overall window treatment that is a gunmetal gray.

    I’m not for white if you are going for a really clean dining room…. I want to see some sort of color, even if it is a light and fresh color for the curtains.

    and for the record, I like the curtains in the bedroom, they add to the woodwork, not take away. When your house was built, the totally used curtains!

    Reply
  21. 81

    Whatever you do just don’t cover up that beautiful thick woodwork too much! I’ve been living in a ranch style house with the most boring trim for too long – I would love to have woodwork like that! 🙂 I think a clean white is the way to go. It will soften the room but not distract from the stencil and the paneling.

    Reply
  22. 82

    Well, I think it all depends on what kind of furniture you go with. If it were me, I’d pick the furniture FIRST, and then the drapes. But I think there are several things that would look great. I think if you had whispy white curtains it would keep your room really bright looking. I think you could do something more bold like gold or burlap-ish with gold trim for a more sophisticated look. And I think you could anchor it all in with some thick grey curtains. TOO MANY CHOICES! 🙂 The only thing I WOULDN’T do is patterned curtains. I still love love love the stencil. It’s brilliant.

    Reply
  23. 83

    I think that you should try some sort of pinstripe. You have a lot of pattern going on with the pillow on the orange chair, the secretary an the walls. A thin pinstripe would look great. If you could pull out the rust that would look great too. I would stay neutral though, with a ivory base maybe and a very think rust pinstripe

    Reply
  25. 86

    I love the look of curtains as well.. To me, it just makes the room ‘homey’ and ‘finished’ .. I don’t like only shades.. but that’s me! .. If this were my room (i wish!) .. I think I’d stick with white curtains (they will blend, but still make the room look complete!) or maybe curtains that match that bluish hue you have as your stencil background color.. it may possibly make your stenciling stick out even more! .. The stencil looks AMAZING by the way 🙂
    Jordann-

    Reply
  26. 87

    I have to say I disagree with a lot of the other comments. Please do NOT do burlap curtains! The stencil on your wall is so classy, art deco, and glimmery. I think burlap is a totally different look. You’re smart to try to let that stencil shine. It’s SO beautiful.

    My advice would be to go with plain white, sheer panels. The walls are already dark, so I think you want something that lets the light shine through the windows. I’m always in favor of lots of natural light. Plus the board and batten are already white. so it’s not like a contrasting neutral. It would blend right in when the sun isn’t out. If you want a pattern, pick something white on white. Sometimes it’s the simplest option that looks the best!

    Also don’t do lace. Gauzy, yes. Lace, no.

    Here are some examples
    http://www.houzz.com/photos/2096322/Camelia-Court-traditional-living-room-portland

    http://www.houzz.com/photos/157337/Living-Room-traditional-living-room-seattle

    http://pinterest.com/pin/109564203406647109/

    http://embellishinteriors.blogspot.ca/2010/11/delicious-tasting-room.html

    Then I would say go with a dark neutral for the couch–either espresso, stormy blue, or dark gray. If you want to keep it kind of casual (which I think you said you did), keep those turquoise and teal accent pillows and the orange chair. That’s an awesome color combo that keeps things bright and cheery, and they look great on a neutral backdrop.

    Reply
    • 88

      Theresa… I like your thoughts. Of the links you provided, I like the last one best with the simple white, clean lines. I wonder if those would look good being sheer? Hmmm…

      I like the texture of burlap, but I understand what you’re saying about it not fitting with the ‘classy’ feel of the room. So many things to think about!! Thanks for weighing in!

      Reply
  27. 89

    I’d go for a light filtering white weave over a colored roman shade either in gold, tan or a print (if you could make them yourself. If you did the roman shades in a print, put the same print as edging on the panels.

    Reply
  28. 90

    If I was doing curtains I would do plain panels in the same grey as the beautiful stencil. It would tie the room together and look great against the white. I would also NOT want to cover up to much of the BEAUTIFUL wood work around the window. I think what ever you put should be hung INSIDE those beautiful window frames. If I had those windows I would Flaunt them!!! Love everything you guys post!!! Your guys are so creative the answer will come to you!!! Have no fear.

    Reply
  31. 94

    I like the idea of sheers as well! Can you make a roman blind out of sheers? Does that even make sense?? I’m not sure I would even want to cover up that gorgeous trim though (I am so jealous of your trim…sigh) I personally would try for the gold colour myself maybe thrift store sheers dyed??!!

    Reply
  32. 95

    LOOOOOOVE that stenciling you did, and I agree that you definitely don’t want the curtains to steal that show. I would go with gauzy white (plain, but would look great with all that natural light) or something with a very small polka dot or similarly round pattern.

    ooooooooh, what if you stenciled gauzy white curtains with little metallic gold polka dots???

    Reply
  33. 96

    Beth, I’m so glad you got some advice on the photoshop thing (Lord knows I sure couldn’t). I really think you need to take some time and try different things. I do think a small print would look good. Your trim is so gorgeous it seems like a shame to cover it but I really like the softness you get with curtains. I love the look of light colored sheers in the summer. I actually have ‘summer sheers’ for my bedroom and living room. Thrift stores always have lots of light colored sheers. You could still see your trim, get something on your windows now, and have time to figure out what you really want. So sorry for your curtain fail. Been there. Hate it when it’s not at all like like picture in my head.

    Reply
  34. 98

    I like the idea of using the dark gray that is in your stenciling. I also think that roman blinds would allow you to keep seeing the loveliness that is your trim.

    Reply
  35. 99

    Beth,

    Ok here’s my thoughts over here. Yes your trim is gorgeous, but honestly roman shades just wont do the room justice. They can be beautiful but don’t give the living room the “finished” look as would regular drapes. http://alluring-window.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Roman-shades.jpg
    If your gonna go the roman shade route, I think you need a valance to go with it.

    As far as full length drapes go, it really depends on the style you are looking. Are you more casual? http://www.louisvilleblinds.com/products/drapery/files/page32_blog_entry70_1.jpg Or are you more formal? http://www.osmonddesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Drapery-Designs-Traditional-Osmond-Designs.jpg

    Color wise: I would stick to neutrals that are already in the space. Pull out your paint colors, and try and match the drapes to the grey you used, or use a slightly darker gold. That way they still give a little pop without taking away from your beautiful walls. Find something that compliments all the pieces you are keeping; i.e. the orange chair. You might even want to match the colors to a paint fan deck and bring them with you when you shop as a visual reminder. I would keep the material relatively simple, a solid or a textured fabric would be really nice. (go for the texture!!) So now that I wrote a book, I hope that helps!

    Reply
  36. 103

    You mentioned photoshop so I’m assuming you have that 🙂 To mock it up just open the picture of your livingroom in photoshop and then add a layer with the image of the curtains/roman shades you like. You can use the pen tool if you’re comfortable or quickmask with the brush tool to cut out the curtains so there is no white background or whatever. Then you can mess with your layer styles to do a color overlay to “try out different colors.” Hopefully that make sense! (I’m a graphic designer with a home decor obsession so I do this all the time! Feel free to message me if those instructions didn’t make enough sense!)

    Reply
    • 104

      Lauren THANK YOU! We do indeed have Photoshop, I just have no idea how to use it! 🙂 Nick understands the basics, so I’ll have him give this a try. I’m so clueless, I don’t even understand the ‘layers’! But this is an important enough thing that I should really learn how to do it. Especially with all the interior design stuff we do. I can’t afford to spend a ton of time on things, only to realize it looks terrible! HA! Thanks again!

      Reply
  37. 105

    I think panels in an accent color from the stencil, gray maybe, also the panels could be shear if you have shades or blinds that way you can still see the wood molding around the windows. I like the burlap idea also, my friend made a shower curtain and curtain panels from it and it’s stunning.

    Reply
    • 106

      Does your friend have a blog so I can see her burlap curtains and how she made them?? Are the curtains lined on the inside with another fabric (since burlap is kinda see-through)? Or is it just plain burlap? I’d love to see pics!! 🙂

      Reply
    • 108

      I agree with this: gunmetal or cement grey Roman shades installed on the inside of the frame. What you should do is just buy swatches the width of your window, in the colors you think you would like, and tape them to one of the windows or a few days. It’s worth a few bucks to figure out just what works in that room.

      Reply
  39. 109

    Hmmm I’m a sucker for color, and off the bat I thought of something in the navy blue dept. Really diggin that lately, but – if you want something light & safer, maybe a cream color with some sort of light pattern on it? I love that orange chair, or is it rust – I imagine the navy blue with the rust – drool 😀

    I also imagine them being wider than the windows so they won’t block light.

    You’re lucky your windows are spaced nicely! In our house I can’t put big curtains up because the 4 front windows are 24″ apart from each other, I’d end up with a a wall of curtain, which might look cool. I’m rambling – too much coffee…

    Reply
    • 110

      Jesse… that’s SO ironic that you said that, because navy blue was my choice too. THAT was my major design fail. It just doesn’t look right. I did wide navy and white stripes… and I hate it! I could just cry!

      Sorry about your window spacing dilemma. No bueno!

      Reply
    • 112

      My initial thought was navy blue as well, only solid navy – no stripes! But since you didn’t like how that worked, I’d go for long curtain panels in a shade of grey. Good luck, and I can’t wait to see what you come up with. This room has turned out gorgeous so far! I didn’t even think it looked bad when it was all yellow, but comparing the before and after is like “whoa!” 🙂

      Reply
    • 114

      Stephanie… I’ve been thinking about burlap too! (great minds think alike?)… or some kind of brown sugar color. Love those that you sent in the link! I wish I could digitally look at them in my room to know for sure before pulling the trigger. 🙂

      Reply
    • 115

      Bethany if you like the ones at Target you can pull them out of the bag at home, have your super tall hubby hold them up for you then put them back and return them if you don’t like them. We need to make a trek to DM together sometime anyway. There’s our reason 🙂

      Reply
  41. 116

    Hi Bethany – personally I would get a blue/grey to pick up the grey of the wall color and then hang them INSIDE of the window frame so as not to cover any of the beautiful molding.

    Reply
  42. 117

    I don’t have an answer to your curtain dilemma, in fact I was lusting after your beautifully trimmed windows. Did you do them yourselves? And do you have a tutorial? I keep telling my husband that if we frame/trim out our windows, we won’t need to find curtains! Maybe I’ll feel differently later…

    Reply
    • 118

      Lyndsey, our trim is actually original to the house (113 years old)! Unfortunately, they just don’t make things like they used to. 🙁 I know you can find old chunky trim like this at old architectural salvage yards from old houses that have been torn down… might be worth checking out! We absolutely LOVE our trim!

      Reply
  43. 119

    I wouldn’t do full panels I would put up a simple roman shade. As for color, gray or turquoise-y blue comes to my mind. Nothing with a pattern as it would compete with your gorgeous walls.

    Reply

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