Layering up: 4 wonderful window dressings

When summer begins to draw to a close and the colder months approach, the world of fashion quickly turns its attention to the impending season. Autumn staples reappear on catwalks and in shop fronts, and along with tartans, thick knits and furs, the concept of layering is reintroduced. Layering up: the way to ensure you’re chic yet snug. But this doesn’t just apply to your own sense of style. Did you know that layering is a functional yet fashionable way to dress your windows, too?

As well as looking great, there are other benefits to layered window treatments. First and foremost, they’re a great way to control light and air, and can be rearranged easily to suit the weather. For instance, a sheer layer will maximise on the sunshine and allow a cool breeze into your home. At the same time, if you wish to cut out all sunlight but dislike heavy curtains and bulky blinds, layering up helps to dim the lights in a stylish way.

Layered window dressings are good for privacy, and are a fantastic solution for windows that are overlooked. What’s more, they even have security benefits, obscuring the view inside your home and deterring thieves from entering – after all, who’s going to want to struggle against layers of shutters, blinds and curtains?

We’ve pulled together a few of our favourite layered window treatments. From the streamlined and minimalist to luxurious prints and lace, here are 4 wonderful window dressings and how to achieve them.

1. Delicate draping

This light and airy bedroom is completed by a soft, layered window dressing. The sheer pale curtains drape beautifully over a subtle roller blind, providing depth without the bulk. By limiting the room to a palette of whites and creams with hints of lilac, the natural light that spills in is never compromised. We also love the cast iron accents, especially as curtain rings, which add another dimension and detail to the layered window dressing. This style is really easy to accomplish – simply team a neutral roller blind with one of our elegant voiles.

2. Plain and simple

This Roman blind and grey linen combination is ideal for a neutral, minimalist space. The translucent fabric encourages natural light into the room, but the layers ensure that the window-heavy section of the house has plenty of privacy. The sheerness also adds another element to the room; the sunlight and the different folds of fabric combine to create a variety of shades, shadows and panels of light. By hanging the curtain on a continual pole, this homeowner is also able to adjust its placing depending on the time of day. If you’re keen on this look, our voile collection is brimming with soft shades of luxurious linen. Team with a matching Roman blind, and you’re good to go!

3. A touch of luxury

While many can only dream of living in a home of Versailles gilt furniture and silk curtains, we can’t help but include this gorgeous window dressing in our list. Floor length curtains are a great frame for French doors, and by choosing a set that are slightly too long a ‘pudding’ effect is achieved, which works well with the luxurious fabric. The baroque floral design flows through the curtains and the blind, and along with the muted shades of blue, gold and cream, the dressings are tied together as the perfect match. If you want to replicate this lavish window treatment we have a fantastic collection of fabrics that exude elegance, which you can find in our floral range.

4. Country chic

There’s something understated about this combination, and we love it. The simple curtains are a soft shade of pastel pink, and when teamed with a chequered, ruched Roman blind, they’re the perfect window treatment for a country-style bedroom. The springtime colour scheme makes for a space that is light and airy during the day and cosy at night, which is exactly how a bedroom should be! You can achieve this look by matching simple curtains with a bold, checked fabric, and we have plenty to choose from…

Combining different layers for your window treatment has many benefits, including adding to the aesthetics of the room. And with the style comes function: light filtering, privacy, security, and even energy efficiency in the colder months.