To make a room look brighter, choose light colors like whites, creams, soft grays, and pale pastels (blues, greens) that reflect natural light, creating an airy, open feel, especially when paired with sheer fabrics; these colors make spaces seem larger and more open. Neutral tones also offer timeless appeal and work with various decor.
Light-colored curtains – If you want to enhance brightness in your spaces, you will want to go for light colors like white, creams and pastels, which will reflect the colors. This will make the room look and feel bigger and brighter.
Curtains can be lighter or darker than walls; lighter curtains make a room feel bigger and brighter, while darker ones add coziness and drama, with the best choice depending on your desired mood, room size, and wall color, though a good rule of thumb for a subtle, harmonious look is to pick curtains just a shade or two lighter or darker than your walls. For dark walls, lighter curtains soften the space, while for light walls, darker curtains create striking contrast.
Space-expanding whites like Loft White (LRV 92), pale blues like Gauze (LRV 77) and cool greys like Flint (LRV 66), do the job of reflecting light back into the room exceptionally well and create a sense of increased space.
Plain curtains offer a clean, minimalist look and can easily blend with various styles, making them a versatile choice. Patterned curtains can add visual interest and personality to a room, especially when the pattern complements the room's colour scheme and design elements.
Latest curtain trends focus on natural textures (linen, cotton), earthy & neutral tones (sage green, terracotta, beige, warm ivories), and subtle patterns (botanical, abstract) for calm, organic vibes, while also embracing bold accent colors (deep blues, rich reds) and textures (velvet) for statement pieces, prioritizing sustainable fabrics and custom designs, and moving away from grommets for a modern feel.
Curtain rules of thumb focus on width (double the window frame, extend rod 6-12 inches past), height (kiss the floor or pool slightly for luxury, mount rod high to elongate), and fullness (2-3x rod width for lushness). Always measure your window width plus extra on each side, and measure drop from where the rod will sit down to the floor, ensuring panels cover the entire frame when closed for proper light blockage and a polished, grand look.
In 2025, warm neutrals like beige, taupe, and creamy off-whites are replacing gray as the go-to base color in interior design, bringing warmth and coziness, while bolder colors like earthy browns, rich greens, and even purples are also trending for accents, moving away from cool grays for more inviting, character-filled spaces.
When you think of colors that make a living room look more expensive, your mind probably goes straight to neutrals — soft whites, classic grays, and calming beiges. These hues are timeless and versatile, but there's so much more to creating a high-end look.
The first color is your main color, the second color is still prominent, but not as much as the main color. The third color is your accent color that you use sparingly or sprinkled here and there. If you're into numbers you could break this down into 60%, 30%, and 10%.
Curtain trends for 2025 emphasize natural textures, earthy and rich jewel tones (greens, browns, deep blues), and sustainable fabrics like linen blends, moving towards personalized statements with optional retro patterns or subtle metallics, all while maintaining functionality with layering, smart features, and floor-to-ceiling drapes for elegance.
White and off-white: These colors are versatile and work well with almost any décor. They also help to brighten up a room by reflecting natural light. Gray: A modern and sophisticated choice, gray curtains can add a touch of elegance without overpowering the room's design.
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' White curtains also run the risk of leaving the room overlooked. 'These hues can create a clean and modern feel in any room, but they may not offer the privacy that is required,' cautions Blima Ehrehtreu, founder and CEO of The Designers Group.
That said, Stewart does embrace a curtain cousin. According to a House Beautiful article about Stewart's Antiques & Garden Show presentation, the media mogul admitted that she often deploys window valances when they suit the home's architectural and interior design styles.
This might seem obvious, but a light-coloured paint, rather than a darker one, will do the best job of brightening a dark room. And white paint is the best colour for the job.
The 3-5-7 rule in decorating is a guideline to group items in odd numbers (three, five, or seven) to create arrangements that feel more natural, balanced, and visually interesting than even-numbered groupings, making spaces look professionally styled without being too symmetrical or boring. This works because odd numbers create asymmetry, leading the eye through the arrangement, and you can vary height, scale, and texture within the group for depth, such as with vases on a shelf or pillows on a sofa.
White and beige are synonymous with cleanliness, calm, and wealth. It's the outfit you wear when you don't need to prove anything. The minimal contrast between the two tones offers a luxurious feel, often associated with Mediterranean summers or high-end resort wear.
If yellow, red, orange, dark brown or neon is too good to give up, use it on a wall that won't be in sight when trying to unwind (e.g., a wall behind the bed), or select a lighter or muted hue that may not evoke unwelcomed emotions.
Timeless wall colors focus on versatile neutrals and classic hues that offer longevity, including soft whites (White Dove, Alabaster), warm grays and greiges (Revere Pewter), soothing greens (sage, moss), calming blues (navy, pale blue), and warm beiges/taupes (Accessible Beige, Jitney). These colors serve as adaptable backdrops, easily coordinating with diverse decor styles and enduring beyond fleeting trends, creating a classic and sophisticated feel.
Joanna Gaines has a new favorite paint color: Cottage Grove. It's a moody navy-green blend from her Magnolia Home collection. Inspired by a historic castle renovation, the shade has been used throughout her kitchen and butler's pantry for a cozy, cocooning effect.
6 Outdated Paint Colors We're Saying Goodbye to in 2025, According to Designers
For Windows: If the height of the window is approximately 5 feet, use 5 feet curtains. For long windows: use a 7-foot curtain to provide a floor-length impression. For Doors: For ordinary doors, 7-foot curtains are used. High doors or ceilings require 9 feet curtains.
While floor-length curtains create a polished, finished look, café curtains can appear incomplete or even make a room look unfinished. Their short length provides less insulation and also allows more light to filter into the room.
It depends on your goals. Darker curtains add contrast and coziness. Lighter curtains blend in and make the space feel larger.