Black curtains, would they look Ok?

[WonderingWhy]

Seen some very thick long curtains which we need for our extraordinary windows...they are velvet and lined and the right length.

However they are black.

I don't mind that in itself but when they are closed, it will be a huge expanse of blackness - about 10ft high and around 8ft wide, so essentially all of one wall.

It's a huge room and can take it but will it look horribly gloomy? Not sure what to do.

And what colour to paint the walls to lessen the impact?

COuld I do a sort of pelmet thingy with a long trim, to break up the darkness a bit? Would that work do you think?

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I wouldn't do a pelmet but agree that theyd' look very impressive/dramatic with plain light walls

I think it would look good in a big room, wuld probaly go with any colour tbh, just keep it in style with the period of the room and the furnishings.

potentially very dramatic. lovely.

gloomy = cosy

no to the pelmet

You could have those tassled curtain tie-backs in a different colour (gold or silver? or whatever other colour is in the room)

Hmm. I want it to be cosy definitely, most of our furniture is reds, yellows, old cupboards and dressers etc.

I was thinking of making some panels from the fabric on my profile and then hanging these alongside, maybe - to break it up a bit?

Glad nobody said 'eek, goth city'

Not keen on white walls though. I'm stuck for wall colour!

Or maybe to put those on the inside of the velvet ones, so they let through the light with the pattern, and then when it gets really cold I could close the velvet ones right in to the middle.

Layering I suppose.

Does anyone know where you can get multi curtain tracks that would carry the weight? They must weigh about 15 kilos or more.

Hmmm can't say I am keen on that fabric on your profile....too middle aged for me!

Grey is very fashionable for walls at the moment and you can get "warm" shades...

Quite like the fabric actually.

I know what you mean about white walls, I always shudder at the thought of using neutral colours (yaaaawn) but in a room with lots of other colour, wooden furniture and bold/patterned fabric, it can look good to keep the walls fairly unassuming. What about a neutral that isn't as stark as white? MAGNOLIA!!!!!!!

Line them with something gorge and try maybe a pale grey/lilac on the walls - we have Dulux Mellow Heathers in a pale pale shade and fabulously light reflective but calmin at the same time.

But I think black might, nonetheless, seem a bit like a cinema.

Some nice ideas, thanks

I've found out that the lady selling them can make any colour - which means more choosing!

there's a kind of oyster beigey grey/white colour, which I like but not sure if it would look right with black background fabric iyswim? Also she does aubergine, gold, or white.

I'm really stuck now!!