37 Curtain Tricks Designers Use to Make Small Rooms Look Bigger
Curtains can change how tall, wide, and finished a room feels. These tricks use placement, fabric, fullness, and light control to make small rooms work harder.
37. A Pattern Competing With the Rug
What changes: With a pattern competing with the rug, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Practical test: Measure around a pattern competing with the rug: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Simple upgrade: Adjust a pattern competing with the rug so the window looks intentional open or closed.
36. Fabric That Looks Thin at Night
The payoff: With fabric that looks thin at night, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
How to judge it: Measure around fabric that looks thin at night: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Better move: Adjust fabric that looks thin at night so the window looks intentional open or closed.
35. No Lining on Sunny Windows
Where it helps: With no lining on sunny windows, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Before you decide: Measure around no lining on sunny windows: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Smarter fix: Adjust no lining on sunny windows so the window looks intentional open or closed.
34. Short Valances Making Ceilings Look Lower
Value signal: With short valances making ceilings look lower, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Quick check: Measure around short valances making ceilings look lower: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Best approach: Adjust short valances making ceilings look lower so the window looks intentional open or closed.
33. Roman Shades Mounted Too Low
Design read: With roman shades mounted too low, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Look for: Measure around roman shades mounted too low: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Good rule: Adjust roman shades mounted too low so the window looks intentional open or closed.
32. Bamboo Shades Without Side Panels
Why it matters: With bamboo shades without side panels, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Check first: Measure around bamboo shades without side panels: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Worth doing: Adjust bamboo shades without side panels so the window looks intentional open or closed.
31. Cafe Curtains in the Wrong Room
What changes: With cafe curtains in the wrong room, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Practical test: Measure around cafe curtains in the wrong room: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Simple upgrade: Adjust cafe curtains in the wrong room so the window looks intentional open or closed.
30. Sliding Panels That Look Too Office-Like
The payoff: With sliding panels that look too office-like, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
How to judge it: Measure around sliding panels that look too office-like: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Better move: Adjust sliding panels that look too office-like so the window looks intentional open or closed.
29. Shutters That Fight the Architecture
Where it helps: With shutters that fight the architecture, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Before you decide: Measure around shutters that fight the architecture: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Smarter fix: Adjust shutters that fight the architecture so the window looks intentional open or closed.
28. Blinds With Broken or Crooked Slats
Value signal: With blinds with broken or crooked slats, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Quick check: Measure around blinds with broken or crooked slats: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Best approach: Adjust blinds with broken or crooked slats so the window looks intentional open or closed.
27. Curtain Rings Too Small for the Rod
Design read: With curtain rings too small for the rod, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Look for: Measure around curtain rings too small for the rod: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Good rule: Adjust curtain rings too small for the rod so the window looks intentional open or closed.
26. Tiebacks Placed at the Wrong Height
Why it matters: With tiebacks placed at the wrong height, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Check first: Measure around tiebacks placed at the wrong height: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Worth doing: Adjust tiebacks placed at the wrong height so the window looks intentional open or closed.
25. Patio Curtains Without Wind Control
What changes: With patio curtains without wind control, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Practical test: Measure around patio curtains without wind control: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Simple upgrade: Adjust patio curtains without wind control so the window looks intentional open or closed.
24. Outdoor Panels That Trap Rainwater
The payoff: With outdoor panels that trap rainwater, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
How to judge it: Measure around outdoor panels that trap rainwater: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Better move: Adjust outdoor panels that trap rainwater so the window looks intentional open or closed.
Read More: 39 Small Patio Ideas That Make Tiny Outdoor Spaces Feel Useful and Finished
23. A Pergola Curtain Rod With No Support
Where it helps: With a pergola curtain rod with no support, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Before you decide: Measure around a pergola curtain rod with no support: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Smarter fix: Adjust a pergola curtain rod with no support so the window looks intentional open or closed.
22. Curtains Used Instead of Real Shade
Value signal: With curtains used instead of real shade, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Quick check: Measure around curtains used instead of real shade: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Best approach: Adjust curtains used instead of real shade so the window looks intentional open or closed.
21. A Dark Fabric Making the Room Feel Smaller
Design read: With a dark fabric making the room feel smaller, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Look for: Measure around a dark fabric making the room feel smaller: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Good rule: Adjust a dark fabric making the room feel smaller so the window looks intentional open or closed.
Read More: 37 Front Porch Details That Make a Home Look Expensive From the Street
20. No Layering for Light Control
Why it matters: With no layering for light control, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Check first: Measure around no layering for light control: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Worth doing: Adjust no layering for light control so the window looks intentional open or closed.
19. A Rod That Does Not Extend Past the Window
What changes: With a rod that does not extend past the window, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Practical test: Measure around a rod that does not extend past the window: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Simple upgrade: Adjust a rod that does not extend past the window so the window looks intentional open or closed.
18. Panels That Are Too Shiny
The payoff: With panels that are too shiny, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
How to judge it: Measure around panels that are too shiny: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Better move: Adjust panels that are too shiny so the window looks intentional open or closed.
17. Wrinkled Curtains Hung Straight From Packaging
Where it helps: With wrinkled curtains hung straight from packaging, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Before you decide: Measure around wrinkled curtains hung straight from packaging: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Smarter fix: Adjust wrinkled curtains hung straight from packaging so the window looks intentional open or closed.
Read More: 41 Small Bedroom Layout Ideas That Make a 10×10 Room Feel Bigger
16. A Window Treatment Ignoring the View
Value signal: With a window treatment ignoring the view, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Quick check: Measure around a window treatment ignoring the view: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Best approach: Adjust a window treatment ignoring the view so the window looks intentional open or closed.
15. A Bedroom Without Blackout Where Needed
Design read: With a bedroom without blackout where needed, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Look for: Measure around a bedroom without blackout where needed: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Good rule: Adjust a bedroom without blackout where needed so the window looks intentional open or closed.
14. A Living Room With No Soft Window Frame
Why it matters: With a living room with no soft window frame, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Check first: Measure around a living room with no soft window frame: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Worth doing: Adjust a living room with no soft window frame so the window looks intentional open or closed.
13. Fabric Too Delicate for a High-Traffic Room
What changes: With fabric too delicate for a high-traffic room, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Practical test: Measure around fabric too delicate for a high-traffic room: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Simple upgrade: Adjust fabric too delicate for a high-traffic room so the window looks intentional open or closed.
Read More: 33 Kitchen Red Flags Home Inspectors Notice Before Buyers Do
12. A Curtain Alternative That Cannot Be Cleaned
The payoff: With a curtain alternative that cannot be cleaned, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
How to judge it: Measure around a curtain alternative that cannot be cleaned: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Better move: Adjust a curtain alternative that cannot be cleaned so the window looks intentional open or closed.
11. Woven Shades Without Privacy Lining
Where it helps: With woven shades without privacy lining, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Before you decide: Measure around woven shades without privacy lining: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Smarter fix: Adjust woven shades without privacy lining so the window looks intentional open or closed.
10. Frosted Film Used Where Fabric Would Add Warmth
Value signal: With frosted film used where fabric would add warmth, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Quick check: Measure around frosted film used where fabric would add warmth: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Best approach: Adjust frosted film used where fabric would add warmth so the window looks intentional open or closed.
Read More: 37 Things in Your Attic That Could Be Worth Real Money Before You Toss Them
9. Interior Shutters That Crowd Furniture
Design read: With interior shutters that crowd furniture, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Look for: Measure around interior shutters that crowd furniture: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Good rule: Adjust interior shutters that crowd furniture so the window looks intentional open or closed.
8. A Tension Rod Used as a Permanent Fix
Why it matters: With a tension rod used as a permanent fix, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Check first: Measure around a tension rod used as a permanent fix: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Worth doing: Adjust a tension rod used as a permanent fix so the window looks intentional open or closed.
7. No Plan for Doors Beside Windows
What changes: With no plan for doors beside windows, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Practical test: Measure around no plan for doors beside windows: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Simple upgrade: Adjust no plan for doors beside windows so the window looks intentional open or closed.
6. Curtains That Hide Good Trim
The payoff: With curtains that hide good trim, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
How to judge it: Measure around curtains that hide good trim: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Better move: Adjust curtains that hide good trim so the window looks intentional open or closed.
Read More: 31 Antique Furniture Clues That Reveal a Piece Could Be Worth Serious Money
5. Hardware Finish Fighting the Room
Where it helps: With hardware finish fighting the room, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Before you decide: Measure around hardware finish fighting the room: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Smarter fix: Adjust hardware finish fighting the room so the window looks intentional open or closed.
4. Outdoor Curtains With No Tieback Plan
Value signal: With outdoor curtains with no tieback plan, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Quick check: Measure around outdoor curtains with no tieback plan: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Best approach: Adjust outdoor curtains with no tieback plan so the window looks intentional open or closed.
3. A Small Window Made Smaller by Fabric
Design read: With a small window made smaller by fabric, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Look for: Measure around a small window made smaller by fabric: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Good rule: Adjust a small window made smaller by fabric so the window looks intentional open or closed.
2. Tall Windows Treated Like Short Ones
Why it matters: With tall windows treated like short ones, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Check first: Measure around tall windows treated like short ones: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Worth doing: Adjust tall windows treated like short ones so the window looks intentional open or closed.
1. A Custom Look Missing Proper Fullness
What changes: With a custom look missing proper fullness, privacy, glare, and the room’s apparent height can all change.
Practical test: Measure around a custom look missing proper fullness: rod width, finished length, wall space, and furniture clearance.
Simple upgrade: Adjust a custom look missing proper fullness so the window looks intentional open or closed.
