Transforming Your Space with the Perfect Winter Drapery

By Kristen Cuthbert

When warming up a room, well-chosen drapery can pack a punch! Whether you are looking to make your space feel finished, fresh, or both, the right window treatments can take your room from drab to fab in minutes. When making the decision to dress the windows in your space, there are three things to take into consideration to be sure to get the best bang for your buck.

1). What functional needs does your space have? 

Before you purchase your window treatments, you will want to ask yourself what your space needs from your treatments. If you are attempting to finish off a space that is a kitchen or a living space, opposed to a bedroom or bathroom, you may not need to strongly consider blackout lining or privacy. However, if you are hanging drapes in your bedroom, you may want both privacy and blackout. This can be especially true for those who are out of the house overnight and need to sleep during daytime hours. Or, for children’s rooms where little ones need to nap during the day or sleep in a little later in the morning than sunrise! 

2). How tall are your ceilings and how many windows do you have/where are they located? 

These questions can inform how much fabric you will need which will directly affect the investment necessary. If you have very tall ceilings, you could consider floor length drapes that will lend to a dramatic effect while bringing warmth through texture. If you cannot reach the tops of the windows but you need to draw the shades or drapery, you’ll want to consider motorization. Lastly, are your windows in line or is there some asymmetry that you’ll need to address? If they are nicely in line, you could flank them with drapes or roman shades. If there is a mixture of a few here and a few there, you could choose a combination of drapes and roman shades in the same fabric to bring cohesion and balance.

3). What aesthetic are you attempting to achieve? 

If you are looking to warm up a space, a little color and pattern go a long way. If you live in a climate with seasonal change, you could consider winter drapes to hang when the snow flies. Then, in the warmer months, swap them out for something a little lighter that blows freely in a summer’s breeze. Lighter fabric and colors, such as whites and light blues, are a great choice for a cooler vibe. Dark and moody melt into the colder climates, offering a deeper level of warmth and coziness on chilly nights. 

A great example of this would be a recent installation of the Sara Le, Triple French Pleat Drape in Bronze with a blackout liner. This bedroom, with its Shiitake and Peppercorn walls, went from cold to deeply warm with just an exchange of the drapery. The hues of the Bronze pull the warmth of the pepper corn out of the walls and perfectly complement the Shiitake. Lots of drama without overpowering the space; a perfect combination for the colder months in Upstate New York! The Triple French Pleat lends a tailored, elevated look, bringing both cohesiveness and comfort to this primary bedroom.

When in doubt, take a look around your space and ask yourself these three questions. Start with how in order to make sure they work for you. Move to how many in order to choose the right mix. And lastly, tackle how it looks to ensure you achieve the overall style you are going for. Looking for a little extra flare? Hang seasonal drapes to mix up your spaces and lean into the vibe of the time of year you are currently in. You won’t be sorry!

*All photographs credit: Kristen Cuthbert

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