Are short (window sill) curtains definitely wrong?

[itmustbeglove]

We are finally sorting out curtains for a sitting room.
Background; period house, stone mullions, but two big apertures if that makes sense.
If we have full length I think it might look like a theatre but I don't want to get it wrong.
Any experts out there?

I don't think it's just MN. I think sill length look really old fashioned. I still have floor length for large bay with radiator underneath, doesn't make too much difference with heat but then we don't tend to draw the curtains till later in the evening when the heating is off.

I would have roman blinds and floor length curtains (just to dress the window - wouldn't draw them) if you're massively concerned about losing heat.

Period property with large windows need full length curtains in my opinion. I have had radiators moved to facilitate. Period property with cottagey feel probably short curtains. Just remembered I once had a window seat removed so the window could be dressed properly.

It looks a bit like this

www.google.co.uk/search?q=stone+mullion+windows+with+window+seat&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAWoVChMIvZSj0Y6kyAIVC-caCh1zgQZn&biw=1280&bih=652#tbm=isch&q=stone+mullion+windows+with+oak+window+seat&imgrc=33FJD9wDLCJnXM%3A but without the radiator.

Tall windows probably need long curtains. I have a 30s semi with a wide bay, radiator under window. Long curtains would look wrong.

If they are like that, I think long might be too much, as they are more horizontal than vertical. I'd go short and ignore the haters!!

Long curtains would cover our radiator and would look absolutely ridiculous imo (modern house).

Sorry, link fail
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-47680751.html
a bit like picture 2, but one of them is much wider.

You need short curtains at that window. The pole needs to go and you need a metal curtain rail bent to fit the curve of the window.

Very pretty period cottage.

They don't look old fashioned! Floor length curtains in most of our rooms would look daft - the curtain rails would also have to be weirdly fixed to the ceiling a foot in from the glass in order for the curtains to clear the window sills.

Whilst I appreciate the elegance of full-length curtains, I really don't get the trend of having a foot or more of fabric pooled at the bottom. It just looks like you couldn't be bothered to get them taken up.

It depends on the room. I've always gone for longer curtains, but they'd obscure the radiator in this room and disappear down behind the sofa, anyhow.

This isn't the best picture, but it shows what I mean.

Oh - and the window is wider than it is tall. Wider windows definitely look better than taller windows with sill length curtains.

Yep definitely old fashioned - sorry!! Can you do something like the photo - floor length (no gathering or pooling of fabric on the floor). Would look 100 times better than sill length curtains.

Only have short curtains if there is a radiator.

Those curtains in picture 2 of the cottage linked to are all wrong: if you draw them, the window seat is totally covered by them. Which is crackers.

Looking at the pics in that house I would actually think about blinds. Plain ones to pull out of the way during the day and down for privacy at night. You could keep the curtains and have them there permanently to frame the window. Or perhaps buy thinner ones.

Also just to say sill length in a cottage would also look fine imo.

I would actually think about blinds. Plain ones to pull out of the way during the day and down for privacy at night. You could keep the curtains and have them there permanently to frame the window. Or perhaps buy thinner ones.

That's what I'd do, too. A thermal blind inside the recess, and gorgeous long curtains either side, that you don't really use unless it's -40 degrees outside.