Curtain ideas

[CookieDoughKid]

Any ideas on how I can balance the curtain treatment of my window which is almost 2.9m wide and 2.5m long. Aside from making the curtains floor length? The current styling is so boxy .

With photos.

The shape at the top of each window frame is a lovely feature- its a shame the current curtains are concealing it, especially as they are the only curved feature a room that is feeling too boxy for you. Is the room a bedroom and does it need blacking out? If it was me I'd put a blackout roller blind that matches the wall colour as high up in the curtain cornice as possible (so that it 'disappears' when its in the up position) and then I'd hang a pair of sheer, floaty linen voiles ceiling to floor (also inside the curtain cornice) to soften everything but still allow you to see the architectural features of the windows. Linen voiles are great because they add natural texture, interest and movement but won't feel too heavy, blocky and oppressive. It's hard to find an exact picture, but I've attached some images to give you a feel for the mood it would create. Of course it wouldn't need to be as contemporary as these pictures if that's not your taste, but the effect would still look lovely.
Is there a reason you wouldn't like floor length curtains? I suspect that's a big part of why the window dressings feel boxy- curtains that end before they hit the floor visually cut the room up horizontally. If you're worried about the bottoms of the curtains getting dusty I find ending the curtains just a cm or two before they hit the floor gives the same effect but without the dust on the bottoms of your curtains!
If you were decorating as well I'd paint the walls one colour, the cornicing a slightly lighter version of the same shade, and then the ceiling an even lighter shade again- when I decorate I pick my wall colour, mix it with a dose of white to paint the cornicing, and then mix it with a double dose of white paint to paint the ceilings- it means everything is harmonious, but the colours gradually get lighter as you go higher up, making everything feel a bit airier. It might just be the camera flash in your photo but currently the ceiling feels a tad too dark and the corning feels a tad too bright white, which is probably slightly adding to the boxy feel that the room/window dressings gives you- it all comes back to that 'visually cutting the room up horizontally' again! Anyway, HTH!

I don't like the coving pelmet. Very dated or commercial. I would remove the pelmet and use it to patch the cornice ( if possible)
If not, the curtains should start at the edges of your pelmet and close in the middle. You could undo a pleat at both ends of each curtain to facilitate this.
The length is a big problem. Try a false hem. Any added length will look better.

Thank you wildwood6 and 17to35 for your replies. I agree pelmet coving is very dated and I think too wide but I think they've done that because the windows go right up to the ceiling. There isn't any wall space to fix a curtain track so they've fixed it the ceiling instead and hidden this behind the coving.

I think it probably ought to have shutters with the coving removed but having curtains does soften the room a bit. there is a risk I take the coving off and it looks worse!

I have found some beautiful curtain fabric. And these will be ordered. This is a livingroom going through a major refurb. Will post some before and after pics when done in a few weeks!!

Hi OP, if the coving is purely to hide a curtain track you can now get low profile, ceiling mount curtain tracks specifically for this situation that don't need hiding- SilentGliss are the market leaders in this, but even Ikea do a version now:
waverley.co.uk/product/silent-gliss-6840-curtain-track/
www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/vidga-single-track-rail-included-ceiling-fittings-white-20492916/.

The Ikea one you can even paint to make it blend in even more! These kind of tracks looks great with a wave heading curtain.
It won't look worse if you take the coving off- you'll get to see more of those lovely windows! But be aware it might be a fair amount of work to 'make good' the ceilings again. We've just replaced the coving in a couple of rooms in our house, and it was actually quite a big job to make the walls good again (and we were simply replacing the coving, not getting rid of it!). But it sounds an exciting project! Good luck with it!

I suspect the ceiling has been lowered to accommodate a sound system. Hence the problem with the windows.

Thanks for the replies, I think I will carry on with the renovation with the coving pelmet in place and take a step back then to see what it looks like overall. Agree with the ceiling comment 17to35, such a shame the previous owners did that. Will post again soon!

I'd go for blinds. Sitting inside each frame.

@CookieDoughKid - I actually don't mind the pelmet but what I might do is get floor length curtains which are wider so go to the and of the pelmet & it might soften it a bit. Just one suggestion - depending on how high your ceiling is you could paint cornices and pelmet same colour as walls which would make pelmet less obvious and make ceiling look higher

all best

Ok here is a little update with the decor. Flooring, Victorian radiators, Christmas tree and mantle wreath still to go in but what do you think? Here is a before and after picture. I have paintings to adorn the walls coming too! Should the curtains be plain or patterned, big pattern or small? I was thinking a plain taupe linen or this yellow one from Warner House www.warner-house.com/curtains-and-blinds/curtains/versailles-gold-curtain

The fireplace mirror is too small but it's only temporary until I find a bigger one.

Looks lovely. I'd still go for Roman blinds though.

Hello, thought I'd update you all with the newly installed curtains. They are a wool blend from Warner House, installed on a corded track. What do you think? I hope you like them!

Another photo.

This is a million times better!

Thank you gelatodipistacchio !

What an improvement!

Gorgeous. And I wish I had a ceiling high enough for that amazing light fitting!