Are my lounge curtains hideous? (photos included)

[BretonStripe]

Be honest, I can take it. They cost a fair whack due to the bay window, and I only bought them three years ago.

We're now shopping for new sofas, and are struggling to find anything to go with the curtains. It is then I realised I don't actually like them any more (not sure I ever did!) and would like to change them after getting new furniture.

Though God knows what I'd go for; I'm useless at these things

Please help...

[Merclady]

I would put shutters/wooden blinds up then make a window seat in bay

[nancy75]

be warned Flokati rugs are only for you if you hoover several times a day or don't mind fluff all over your house! I have them, I love how they look but getting a new one is a nightmare

[Jitterybug]

I would just have blinds and no curtains. Blinds look modern with cleaner lines. You can bring warmth to the room with cushions and a nice rug.

[Whyisitsodifficult]

It would look fab, you must get some great light in that room? Ditch the blinds, are you on the street? How about this?
rtorrentweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/grey-couch-living-room-decorating-ideas.jpg

[Ironmanrocks]

Hi....sorry haven't read all posts so may be repeating...definitely they should reach the floor. We got ours from ikea...they have very long ones and are reasonable. Ours was a wide bay window so bought two pairs...two each side. I always meant to sew them together but never got round to it. We also got a plain colour...then you can add pattern with paintings/cushions etc. I also like them trailing a bit on the floor ie they are too long...but it's a kind of romantic look esp mixed with the long muslin curtains instead of nets/blinds...they don't get dusty. We have a new house now with similar large window and got them from dunelm but they were more expensive. Good luck! 🙂

[Believeitornot]

Just get some plain floor length curtains from ikea and have them adjusted. Plain is so much easier!

[ASAS]

Is this a stealth boast? Absolutely gorgeous bay windows. Does your Christmas tree go there? if so can I come and look

[Believeitornot]

Also have a look at the M&S "loft" collection for sofas. That sofa under the window crowds the space.

[OrangeSquashTallGlass]

I second believeit -Is there another way you could place to sofa? It's something to keep in mind when buying a new one.

[BretonStripe]

Pah, absolutely not a stealth boast! (Have you seen the curtains?!). We live on a busy main road. Had considered a window seat, but there's no view out the front (unlike the back). Plus we're fickle creatures so didn't like the permanency of window seating.

Don't get me started on the layout! We're always moving the tv and that 2-seater sofa around. It used to be opposite, but then it's right in front of you as you walk in the door, iyswim? We're not sure what would go in the bay if it wasn't a sofa...will try and upload pic of how it was before (just noticed when I popped onto the iPad that the last photo I put on only shows on app, not mobile site).

[3point14159265359]

Wooden blinds are your friend. No decor in the world that can't go with a wooden Venetian.

[madwomanacrosstheroad]

I have to say the curtains don't look great as they are but I have a bit of a recycling obsession. So I am wondering if it might work adding on some nice neutral fabric to the bottom toake them long enough to be puddling on the floor. I would swap the plastic trachea with a bay window pole ( I have tried a few and think the dunelm mill one is okay for the price).
If the sofa (assuming the one not in the bay is a three seater) is still in okay condition keep that one and add two deliberately mismatched chairs (maybe one wicker and one wingback).
Last ditch the ikea rug and either go for the ikea natural sisal rug or in keeping with the spirit of the "nursing home chiq" find a genuine vintage oriental rug.

[LeaLeander]

Hem the curtains to the sill or get rid of them.
Cafe shutters - the type that fold up - would be cute but costly.

The sofas are pretty grim but could you get slipcovers instead of new ones, since your kids are young anyway? Slipcovers in an ecru or off-white could be washed as necessary. If investing in furniture I would consider armchairs and ottomans that could go on either side of that charming fireplace rather than a big clunky sofa or two.

It's really a lovely room and I would go with neutrals to the extent possible and maximize the effect of the bay window and fireplace. You could get chairs for either side of the fireplace with a coffee table in between and then two armchairs in the bay window with a small table in between. They could be moved around as necessary. Put the TV on the wall opposite the fireplace in some sort of armoire to hide it.

Just my two cents, LOL.

[AnnieOnnieMouse]

Another one saying curtains to windowsill or skimming the floor. Mine go to windowsill, as I don't want to isolate the radiator under them.
I went for slub effect plain cream that were something daft like £10 each from Wilkinsons (plus linings, which I already had) My go-to place for curtains is Dunelm or Ikea. You don't have to decorate according to the age of the house, my lounge and dining room are to an Edwardian theme - house was built in 1980s. Previous place, mid 30s built, was ultramodern furnishings!

[madwomanacrosstheroad]

I bought a pair of similar length curtains many years ago because they were wide enough an hugely reduced. Looked completely shite. They are a damask type fabric in cream - all the rage in 1999 but good quality. A couple of years later I bought cotton velvet in a similar shade and added to the bottom. Still have them. They look great to the extent that people still comment on them. And they are pencil pleat but on a pole.

[RaphaellaTheSpanishWaterDog]

I'm not keen on the curtains either, OP. Although I'm a huge fan of decorating in period style, they are just too boring/granny like (and a bad length) for me! I'd definitely replace them and the sofas, which are a bit fugly imho then you can start from scratch with a new colour scheme. Selling your unwanted items on eBay etc is definitely worthwhile as someone else will love them/pay good money for them.....

Getting good quality plain sofas and bringing in colour with soft furnishings and accessories that can be changed more easily/cheaply is the way to go. For me though, plain curtains (or blinds) would be a step too far, but then I like loads of pattern/colour

You need to add texture if sticking to plain(er) fabrics and if you do introduce patterns they should be of varying scales so not all small scale prints but mix larger with smaller patterns.

For me the rug is too small and currently 'floating' in the centre of the room, although I'm not anti the rug, per se. It should be anchored by the sofas sitting on it - the front legs at least - so a larger one might be more appropriate unless you want to move the sofas into the space more.

[Believeitornot]

Do you have two sofas in the room? What about one sofa and two arms chairs with one near the window and the other by the door? Hard to tell without a floor plan really

Ignore the decor but check these ideas out:

one armchair in bay
two small armchairs in the bat

You need to use sofas and armchairs which are less bulky and have slimmer legs so give more "space"

[OzzieFem]

The curtains grab the attention when you look at the picture. Personally I would go for a less cluttered curtain look. By that I mean a neutral colour with perhaps an embossed or same colour pattern in them. You want the room (furniture, coffee table etc.) to be the focal point not the curtains.

Agree the curtain should be to windowsill or just above the floor.

[BretonStripe]

Thanks for everyone's thoughts.

We are definitely getting rid of both ugly sofas (3 and 2 seaters). We like the idea of armchairs, but as we are in our 30's with a 2yo, 5yo and a teenage stepson, sofas are definitely going to be more suitable (we like cuddling up together to watch films). Definitely gonna get a couple of wingbacks when we're retired

I love the look of the modern retro sofas with the tall legs, but again thinking practically I'll be forever scooping lost toys from under them So prob going for traditional but with a small foot.

Looks like the curtains are going on eBay then. I'm liking the idea of cheap floor length white voil-type curtains from IKEA.

Oh, just found a pic online of how the lounge used to be years ago. They used the whole lounge/diner (26ft) as a lounge, and clearly had far more style, money and time than I think we'll ever have! (Retired couple).

[wowfudge]

I'm going to ago against the grain and say I quite like the curtains, but I agree with pp that should be shorter, to the sill. Floor length would look silly and totally overwhelm the room. I don't like them with the tie backs.

As for Venetian blinds - I hate them as they are just dust traps which block half the light coming into a room, even when they are open, unless you pull them up.

Have you looked at magic screen blinds? They are sheer blinds except you can see out, but no one can see in and the light can come through.

If you don't like the curtains then go for something neutral. Why don't you find the sofas first and work from there for the colour scheme?

[wowfudge]

X post with you OP. Vertical blinds have no style points at all in my book!

[Jw35]

I think the curtains are ok. I also think they should be floor length. I have the same rug and my 12 year old reckons its old fashioned!

[ofuckit]

I don't mind the print of the curtains, just don't like the length. Are you any good with a sewing machine OP? IMO they would look a lot better lengthened with a panel of some plain fabric in maybe a silky burgundy material.

[Rupster]

Personally I don't like the curtain pattern. If you go for a plain colour, it will be much easier to find a sofa that works with them.

I agree about curtain length needing to be either full length or down to the window sill, although you may need to adjust the track to be closer to the window if you go for the latter.

[Titsywoo]

I actually quite like the curtains (but not the length). I think your lounge looks lovely and cosy (although needs some pics on the walls). Everyone seems to have very bland taste nowadays and it makes rooms feel a bit personality-less in my opinion. Blinds would look ok but I think a big window like that looks good with curtains to frame it.