pattern or solid curtains?

Question

I have a brown carpet with an area rug that is beige and has subtle colors like rust,red,green, and a dusty greyish purple. They are very muted colors. I have a tan/beige brown couch that is huge! and the throw pillows are the burnt orange color and a large scale toile with colors from the rug on an ivory background. I have dark brown furniture. I live in an apartment and the walls are white. I need to buy curtaind for the large window that has no furniture on that wall to anchor it. So I am wondering if I buy a striped curtain or solid and what color? I need to keep the room from looking like a cave. I was thinking a brownish honey strip or an ivory and brown stripe. But will the ivory get lost against the white walls?

Answer 1

I think I would go with a solid in a neutral color, like a warm honey or wheat color that blends with your couch. I'd go for something soft and subtle in tone.

If the window is huge, with no furniture on that wall to anchor it, a "showy" patterned curtain might tend to make the window a focal point. A large window covered in a bright color is really going to call attention to itself and instantly draw the eye when you walk into the room. If you want the window to pop and become your focal point, then dress it up with something eye-catching. You have to be careful when making a window a focal point. There should be something about the window to make it interesting: very tall, type of glass, view outside the window, shape, etc. Handsome decorative rods and/or
dramatic tie backs would also draw attention to the window.

Sounds to me like the huge couch, with its burnt orange pillows and large scale toile pillows, is the focal point. You could probably even add more pillows in another color, or a chenille throw in a lovely color to the couch - maybe a deeper rust color or a pretty deep, forest green.
Without seeing the room or your furnishings, it's hard to give good advice, but I think I'd want the couch, rather than the window, to stand out.

If there is room on either side of the window for art work, you could add some pieces that would pick up your accent colors. This would add some weight and balance to that wall.

Answer 2

I would say match the curtains to a color in the area rug. It should have a medium size pattern with a little texture in it OR buy solid color with some texture.
You can buy giant art to cover that white wall too or put up some fabric like it is art to break up the white wall.

Answer 3

You could take some pictures of the room and then look at available curtains. There are many other window treatments available - roman shades, match stick blinds, box frames, shutters - you might consider. Curtains, could use a double rod and hang white sheers and then with the outer heavier curtains get some with strictly those earth tones you listed. A broad plaid would be another consideration. One color solids with a pattern interwoven / textural could also look good.

Answer 4

Why not ivory drapes with either a brown honey brown trim and a coordinating patterned valance.

Great color scheme by the way!!!

Answer 5

Brighten up the room with a bright solid curtain.