How to cover this loft window? Ideas please

[Pebbles574]

We'd like to start using our loft room as a spare room with sofa bed etc.
Problem is that although we have blackout velux blinds on the overhead windows, we've never found a way of covering the gable end.
There is a real problem with the design - the side windows go directly to the edge of the gable, so there is no room for rails/poles etc.

We could do Perfect Fit blinds for the double door windows, but then I don't know what to do with the shaped side windows.

We have had various blind companies come out. Most say we'd have to have build in shutters at the side, but these would look so clunky I think.

Another company was going to do shaped Perfect Fit for us at the sides, but then changed their mind claiming it was 'too difficult'

What about window film for the windows and then some blinds for the doors?

I think shutters would look nicest

I saw something like this in a hotel once. You could try googling 'curtains for v shaped windows'

Thanks for these suggestions. However here are some of my dilemmas:

Window film - I'd like to be able to block out the light when using it as an occasional bedroom. Also the view into the garden is nice, and we're not really overlooked, so seems a shame to put film up.

I agree shutters would look nice, but the problem is that I could only have them on the side windows, not the doors, so it might look a bit odd. Also the side windows are quite small and the frame for the shutters would apparently end up being almost half the width of the window - so quite clunky looking.

Curtains - yes, this was an early idea, but the problem is (and you can't see this in my photo unfortunately) that the ceiling doesn't come to a point (like in the picture you shared). It actually stops and there is a six inch strip of flat ceiling the length of the room - so curtain rails would stop before closing, if you see what I mean!

It's a real pain - I've had so many people come round from curtain/blinds/shutter shops and they all say it's too difficult!

I think the tiny windows are the bigger problem here. It would look strange to do curtains over the doors but then have something shorter with the windows.

Can you do some sort of ceiling mounted curtains? I’d suggest never totally pulling the curtains over the small windows, just off to the side a bit and tied.

Or you do some sort of blinds for the doors and cafe curtains for the little windows. Are they inset enough to get a rod in there?

Or some sort of large curtains further into the room. Or a screen to block the light, but can be folded back to enjoy the view.

Why can't you have shutters on the doors as well as the windows?

If I have shutters they will all have to be fixed onto the UPVC frames as there is no 'recess' to fit them within and apparently the door is too low to put a frame below it. I would not be able to open them away from the door (and see the view from the window) as there is no space to the right of the doors - the gable is already sloping down. As it is, when I open the doors I have to stop them at right angles to prevent the top corners bashing into the ceiling!

The shutter man said the only ones he could fit would reduce the light by between 25%-40%, which feels like a lot.

Get rid of the side windows totally. Plasterboard on the inside and skimmed and painted? Then you just have the door to worry about.

Lots of examples here OP. I think curtains are your only practical option. Unless you permanently cover the side windows - which might end up looking more stylish.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.pinterest.com/amp/pin/78813062207611885/

I had something similar in a previous property OP.

What I did was DIY blinds.

I cut fabric to the size and shape of the side windows creating a seam at the top I could thread a small thin curtain rod into - the type often used for net curtains.

When seaming the blinds I sewed in ribbons that could be used to lift and secure the blind - either so if was fully exposing the window or so the blind was horizontal.

Like the picture below but obviously I could tie one side higher to expose the whole window.

I then used standard blinds on the doors.

Sorry - just to add I didn't bother with rods in the blinds as the windows weren't big enough.

I just weighted the bottom seam with pennies to keep it straight.

Then just rolled the fabric up nicely and tied with the ribbon.

I'm not the worlds best seamstress but it was pretty easy to do them (lined as well - loads of vids on YouTube on how to do this).

Having said that if you don't want to make them someone could do this for you.

Another idea OP.

Panel the top triangle of the blind and created the rest on the straight horizontal.

You will lose some light/view this way but it would retain the window shape.

THanks for more ideas!
The shaped roman blind might be an option. I've made roman blinds before so could probably manage this.
I can't use a 'cafe rod' style set up as there is no recess as such - just wall on the shorter side of the little windows.

I think I am just going to have to accept that I will have different treatments for the windows and doors. I've sent away for samples of honeycomb Perfect Fit blinds for the doors, so perhaps I could find some matching coloured fabric for roman blinds for the side windows?

I would recommend HannaSolo idea of roman blinds with fixed triangular extension, then roman blinds in same fabric fixed to door frames. (of COURSE the doors open inwards just to make things more difficult!)
I swear that there is a secret competition for architects and builders to design and make windows that are a bugger to dress.

If it's just for occasional use how about blackout fabric that sticks directly onto the window frame for the side windows?

We have it in the kids bedroom, you stick Velcro round the window frame then just press the fabric onto them and pull it off when not needed.

It doesn't look amazing but it would do the job when you need it.

Then do something different for the doors.

OP when I did mine I used very thin net curtain rods that have a hole in the end.

I actually made the blind to fit exactly and the put a hole in the back of the blind using a brass ring thing (can't remember the name but hope you know what I mean) that aligned with the screws I used to attach the rod to the wall.

From the front all you could see was fabric - not the rod at all - sorry hope that makes sense.

Oh and it might look nice to have contrasting fabric tbh.

Especially if you use some of the window blind fabric on cushions etc in the room.

For example if the door blinds were ivory, use a fabric with ivory as the background colour but with a coloured pattern and use ivory ribbon on the blinds to tie it together. The ribbon "stripes" actually look very pretty - especially if you "end" them in something (I put some pretty beaded tassels on).

Then use the patterned fabric elsewhere in the room.

Thanks! This is all sounding much more positive, and I can see some of these ideas working!
I like the idea of velcro panels just for the side windows...
and matching cushions etc - yes!

I have been fretting over these windows for over 12 months now. We had a blind supplier all lined up to make blinds and then he cancelled at the last minute, saying he wasn't convinced it was going to work.

This is my office, but it's actually a long room with a sofa bed at the other end, and we're really keen to use it as an additional guest room.

Actually just had a thought...

The windows don't look too big so you might be able to combine ideas.

Make a blind using ribbon to tie as I suggested but instead of a rod use Velcro as a pp suggested to attach the triangular "top section" to the window.

Given the windows aren't huge, Velcro should give you enough "stick" for fabric blinds that size.

If you take the picture (first one) I posted it would look lovely to have dark purple blinds on the doors but a complimentary fabric with purple ribbons on the blinds- especially if you echo the fabric elsewhere. Obviously just using purple as an example.

I would Velcro the small windows. My son had this when he moved into his new house. I had never thought about velcroing blinds on. His are Roman but you could make whatever you wanted. I think it would work better than anything else even if you took them off in the day.

I have used velcro for blackout fabric directly into the frame and used ribbon at the top so it could be rolled up

You would have to roll up then to one side to follow the angle but think it would work