What color, design, style of curtains should I hang in my formal living room?

Question

I have a carmel wall living room with "paprika" colored couches. The trim in the room is white (we're not painting it, even though we should) and the blinds are a dark wood (almost purple). I'm having trouble with the curtain design. We bought the drapery hardware before the curtains were picked out - nice wooden rods. The rod is too big for typical "pocket" valences or sheers. And with pinch pleat drapes, I don't like how the hook shows when you clip on the ring. And colors ... I found some curtains that matched the color of the couches, but it was too much of that one color. I've tried paisley sheers that had both the carmel and the paprika and even the purple to blend with the blinds, but the pocket was too small. I'm getting frustrated!

Answer 1

Prime and paint your blinds white before doing anything else. That will set a neutral back drop and will free your choices of curtain style and color considerably.
One suggestion would be to go with simple panels on either side of the sheers. You seem to have a lot of color going on so you really don't need to "match" your drapes to your colors. When there are too many strong color focal points, the strong colored items will lose their impact and end up competing with each other creating a feeling of "uptight" or "chaotic" rather than chic or tranquil. Go with a neutral panel. If you like the look of pinch pleates, but not the visibility of the hooks, have the hooks put behind the curtain and no one will be able to see them.
This room will ultimately be a reflection of your preferences, but toning down the blinds as well as choosing neutral panels or curtains will add an element of calm and will make your present vibrant colors pop rather than compete.

Answer 2

You need another color in the room other than brown, and something with a bit of a pattern so everything isn't solid. Definitely the white lace curtains don't work. You could pick up on the burgundy or the blue, or go for curtains that would mean new throw pillows. You could make the two windows look like one by using a really long rod, putting a panel on the outside of each window but then put a number of panels between the windows. Use a rod that is darker and complements your lights; some sort of iridescent fabric with a pattern will reflect light. Also, can you put something on your walls - art? BTW, loved the bits of your pets that showed in the photos.

Answer 3

I'm not sure the dark, almost purple wooden blinds are going to work with the rest of those colors.

I noticed in the J. C. Penney's catalog that they have a window treatment called the "back tab." The Wendy Print Thermals come in panels and valances and are shown on decorative rods.

The back-tabs are nice-looking, and there's a pattern called Paisley that looks as if would go perfectly with your camel walls and paprika couches. However, the fabric is cotton sailcloth, so it may not be formal enough for your furnishings.


You could always go with sheer wheat-colored panels shirred onto metal rods and topped by a print valance on your decorative rods. If you found a remnant that you liked, you could even have a few throw pillows made to match the valance, or sew the ensemble yourself if you're handy with a sewing machine.

Answer 4

You need to find a Dupioni Silk stripe on stripe (lots of them are multicolored), or a jacquard damask. As far as not liking how the hooks show, they don't show at all (you must have purchased pinch pleat hooks that are too long). As far as a sheer, you have to mount another rod for the sheers behind the drapery rod, and if you can't find a match for your blinds, sheers may be the way to go (solid, not paisley to block the purple, although I think you can find a solution). Keep the pattern on the drape, not the sheer. I'll post a couple of links for you to browse through. Just browse through the stripe on stripe or jacquard damask. Once you see what your options are, you can search different manufacturers for price/style variances. Just remember, pinch pleat hooks do not show on the rings, they're hidden by the top pleat:) Hope you find something you like.

http://www.interiormall.com/cat/collections.asp?c1=Jacquard

http://www.silkcustomdrapes.com/DraperyCollection.htm?gclid=CJjJruSp-okCFQM6gQodEmblOQ