Did you know that color is the number one reason that people return their curtains? Choosing the right curtains can completely transform any room in your home, but there are so many options to choose from. With everything from sheer neutrals to bold patterns, it can be challenging to know what window treatments will work best in your home. Read on to find tips that’ll help you tie your space together.

1. Determine Your Room’s Style

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When styled properly, curtains are a great accessory to use in your home to add texture and dimension to your walls. The color of your curtains plays an essential role in setting the ambience of the space, which is why it’s so important to make a thoughtful decision.

The color of your window treatments should be consistent with the style of your room. For instance, muted and neutral tones are well-suited to traditional or farmhouse homes, while bold, bright colors fit better in eclectic- or glam-style spaces.

You should also ask yourself what look you are trying to achieve with your curtains. Do you want to create high contrast against your wall color or are you going for a monochromatic look? Would you rather create a focal point with a bright color or go for something subtle with muted colors?

2. Think About Your Desired Ambience

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Incorporating various hues in your home can have different effects on the ambience of the space. Cool colors like green and blue tend to have a calming effect while warm colors like red and yellow have an energizing effect. Depending on the room, you might choose your curtain color based on the mood it evokes – like calming colors in a bedroom and energizing colors in a home office.

Think about the versatility of the color you choose, especially if you are someone who changes their style and decor frequently. Opting for neutral-colored curtains gives you a timeless accessory that suits a variety of home styles. Colors like white, ivory, and beige can complement nearly any existing color scheme for seamless addition of curtains to your home.

Tip!

Discover versatile color palettes to use in your home with our guides on What Are Neutral Colors and What Are Muted Colors.

3. Consider Practicality

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The color you choose for your window treatments can also have an impact on their functionality in your home. Depending on the color you choose, some curtains may be a more practical choice than others. Light-colored curtains are more likely to show stains and dust, so they may require more frequent cleaning and may not be a practical option if you have kids or pets. On the other hand, dark-colored curtains can fade faster in rooms with intense sun exposure.

Climate is another factor you should keep in mind. Depending on the climate you live in, you may want to adjust your curtain color accordingly. Dark fabric is more efficient at heat-absorption and can help keep your home warm during cold months, while light fabric may be preferred in warm climates to limit heat retention.

4. Choose the Right Light Filtration

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Different color curtains have different light filtration capabilities. Oftentimes, light color fabrics allow more natural light to pass through while dark fabrics are more effective at filtering light and providing increased privacy.

Light-filtration properties of curtains go hand-in-hand with room function. Hang dark-colored curtains in a bedroom or home theatre to improve your quality of sleep or movie-viewing experience, respectively. Light curtains may be better suited to spaces like a home office or kitchen where you want to maximize the natural light.

5. Measure Your Space

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Though room size can help you determine the correct length or width for curtains, it can also help you find the best color. Consider the size of the room you’re outfitting when determining the shade of curtain color. While light curtains can make a small room feel more spacious, dark curtains add a cozy, grounded feel to a larger room. If you need help sizing up your space, read our guides How to Measure for Curtains and How to Pick the Right Curtain Size for Your Window.

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