Adding Colorful Curtains To My Walk-In Closet Window
I already know that this is going to be a controversial decision, but it’s done. I made the decision to hang some curtains on the window in my walk-in closet. And while I already know that some people are going to hate it, I can tell you that I love it. Let me tell you what drove this decision.
I started considering this about four weeks ago. I was in the kitchen, and dreaming about what our breakfast room would look like once we’re finally able to move into our new bedroom, and I’m able to have an actual dining area again. And I started trying to envision what I wanted the dining are to look like.
I really don’t want to make a whole lot of changes to the overall look. I do want it to be an eating area instead of a sitting room, but I want to keep it colorful and fun. I plan to keep the buffet in there, and it will stay the same dark purple that it currently is. The picture ledge shelves will stay just as they are. So basically, I plan to swap out the recliners for a dining table and chairs. But I also want new draperies for the room. I’d love a fabric that isn’t quite so intense in color, and maybe something in a fun, colorful print.
Especially when I look at the rooms together from this view while standing in the kitchen, I think the curtains on the dining room windows really need to be a print instead of another solid color.
It’s not that I don’t like the curtains that have been in the breakfast room. I actually really love them. I love the color, the weight of the fabric, and the sparkly trim on the leading edge. I love everything about the, but I just think I can find something that works better in that room.
But because I really love these curtains, I started wondering where I could use them. I wanted to find a home for them, but I only have two panels, and I can’t get more of that fabric or trim.
In the meantime, while I love, love, LOVE my closet, there have been a couple of things that bother me about it. First, while the wallpaper I chose is definitely a favorite of mine, that back (main) wall seems really busy to me. Second, I don’t like that my chandelier gets kind of lost against a busy background. And third, I just want more pink. I’m really glad that I didn’t go with pink for the island. I think that would have been all wrong, and the dark blue turned out to be perfect for the island. But I’ve just wanted more pink in there.
And at some point over the last three weeks, it dawned on me that those curtains from the breakfast room might be perfect for my closet! The color seemed just right. The sparkly trim on the leading edge seemed perfect for my closet, especially with my sparkly artwork above the washer and dryer.
I brought the curtains into the closet and draped them over a ladder for a few days so I could see them an make a decision. After all, I needed to drill holes into the wallpaper if I wanted to hang curtains in here, so I didn’t want to make a rash decision. But the more I saw them in here, the more I loved them. So yesterday, I finally hung the curtains, and I love them so much!
I really like how they give a break in the busyness of the wallpaper, and they also give a solid backdrop for the chandelier.
And once I saw that shot of gorgeous raspberry color on that wall, I felt like it was “me”. The room finally had that injection of pink that I’ve been longing for.
I was a little nervous that they might get in the way of the washer and dryer opening properly, but they don’t at all.
The panel on the left needs to be hemmed just a bit more, but that will have to wait. It’s good enough for now.
So again, I already know that some people will hate this decision, but I absolutely love it. I’m just a curtain kind of gal. I need and want curtains on all of my windows because I love fabric, pattern, texture, and color, and I think a window without curtains in my house is a missed opportunity.
I wish that I could have hung them higher, all the way up so that the rod was just under the crown molding, but unfortunately, the panels weren’t long enough for that. So I had to work with what I had.
I’ve loved having this closet so much, and I really have enjoyed everything about it, but I’ve always felt like something was missing.
And now, it really is perfect for me.
More About My Walk-In Closet/Laundry Room
see all walk-in closet/laundry
room diy projects
read all walk-in closet/laundry
room blog posts
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I think the curtains are PERFECT!
Yes!
I’m on team love it! Now the closet looks finished. And the chandelier is not so lost! Great idea.
I agree with you. Looks fabulous!
Wow, they look like the were always meant to be in your closet. They really soften the wall, make the closet look more elegant and luxurious. The color in the curtsins really make the wall paper orange and pink pop. Great idea !
While I wouldn’t have chosen to hang the draperies on this window, it’s not my laundry/closet and you need to do what makes you happy. The colors of the fabric and trim go beautifully with the wallpaper. I love how you are able to repurpose so many items in your home.
I love the curtains!!! Your thought process was spot on.
Love it! I feel like all windows need some kind of dressing, and I agree that those drapes are the perfect touch.
The curtains are perfect in your closet! Serendipity!
I’m a first time commenter and I’ll tell you that it looks gorgeous in there! Enjoy that beautiful closet room, you worked so hard on it. Have a great day!
I am on the love it train.
YES!!!
Fantastic! The orange trim even ties the shades into the room!
definitly the right decision. It really calms that wall down. I love drapes with pinch pleats. I actually found your blog when redoing some workroom made drapes that were too long and needed the pleats to be reworked. Your tutorial is the best!
I agree. The curtains look GREAT!
Love it!
Love it!
I absolutely love it!!!
Good idea. Gorgeous. That choice finishes the room. I felt something more was needed but I didn’t know what.
Please don’t put off the very simple task of hemming that drape. “Okay, for now” will bug you now, as it has before when you have had the intention of tying up a loose end later. Easy peasy solution so to be ‘unbugged’ and be done with it. I know new tasks will always seem more exciting. You may say, “That’s the way I do things…” but a “perfectionist” finishes a job.
Enjoy that great dressing room and all that lives within it. A well-deserved daily treat. 🙂
Counterpoint, please don’t feel like you need to hurry to hem the curtains if they are not interfering with any actual functions of the room. Done is better than perfect any day of the week.
P.S. I forgot to mention the fact of how grubby drapes get if they drag on the floor.
Okay, I’m scooting on my way.
Perfect… I love it! For the color, they plain solidness of the curtains, and the soft hominess it gives to the room, not to mention how the chandelier now stands out
Kristie
I think they are beautiful in your closet. I am a curtain girlie too. They add so much to the room and you are right about your fabulous chandelier. Great job as always.
Mary Lee
Absolutely 100% perfect! Who knew this splash of color and texture would make such a big difference? You nailed this Kristie.
Love it!!
Well, I love them. I wouldn’t have thought that I would. I would have thought you were crazy for adding them. But they finish the space really, really well. It now looks complete and it’s gorgeous! Congrats!
I love the look of the curtains. They are perfect. And better yet, you shopped your house instead of having to make or buy them.
I love it! Really balances out the pink of your clothes! 😉
I was reading this and looking at the pictures thinking, why is this controversial?? They are perfect!! Especially with the flowers right next to them!! One little trick I use when installing a picture or screw in wallpaper is to cut an inverted V shape with a knife and fold down so you are drilling or hammering into the wall, not wallpaper. That way “if” picture or whatever needs to be moved, just glue little V back to the wall and barely visible. Again, curtains are absolutely perfect and look they they were planned for that space!
That’s brilliant! Too late for the closet, but I’ll keep that in mind for future wallpapered walls where I want to install draperies or hang pictures.
You’re right, they were the missing link to the closet. I love how the closet has more of a finished look now!
I have to say it again…you are a genius. What a difference that made!
Love it. The curtains look perfect for this room.
I. Love. It.
No controversy from me. I think the curtains look good. I would hem soon because they will collect dog/cat hair quickly. Another positive .repurpose
Yep, the curtains definitely make this room look finished and a little more elegant. I have been finding as I go along decorating my house that I must have found my style and colors finally. You know that when you can swap stuff from room to room and they still work well and yet every room still does not look the same. It took me way longer to get in that groove than you but its so fun when you sit and look around and decide hmm that thing would really look better in this other room and it turns out to be the perfect touch.
Loooooove! Totally finishes off the room.
The curtains are a great color and perfect for that area! One thought: if you’d like them higher, would a narrow wooden valance painted the same color as the curtains and placed right under the crown molding do the trick? Just a thought!
Oh my gosh—I love this addition so much!!! I agree that it is very “Kristi”😊 It’s amazing how much better you can see the chandelier now!
I absolutely LOVE the curtains in there! They’re the icing on the cake!
Fabulous. It looks so much more finished!
another great idea! wow!
I said “YES” out loud when I saw the addition of the pictures! It immediately heightens the whole design! And the chandelier in front of it is perfection. You were absolutely correct to move them.
There is a YT video, https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-uxvfla83JI that shows you how to hang anything on wall paper in a manner that the damage can be invisible when you remove the hanger. The wallpaper basically repairs itself with a bit of glue/adhesive.
I wonder how well your new print drapes in the DR are going to blend with the rug and the shelves’ contents. Seems like it might be somewhat busy with all the various places to look at.
I think they add so much, I love love love those curtains! And I like what you are going to do in the soon to be dining room, I love how that room looks too and a pattern will really pop!
Love it! It gives the needed grounding.
Looks great! Happy for you!!!
Perfect-a-mundo! Who cares what anyone else thinks? It’s YOUR closet. They are the absolutely perfect addition! They add color, warmth, and really make the room complete. Great idea!
Perfect! I love it. The solid colored curtains helped with the busyness of the wall paper.
How fun is that?! And the bit of raspberry color lining the inside of the tray on the island is the same color, leading your eye to the curtains! Nice!
Perfect finishing touch, Kristi. I don’t do much wallpaper, but if I have to drill holes, I first cut a little v-flap in the paper, flip it up and drill the hole. Then if I need to remove a screw/anchor, I can fill the hole and glue the paper back down.
The curtains look really good. The only thing you need to do in my opinion is to take the good “L” off the dresser. If you must have it, stick it on the other end of the dresser.
Agree. I think the “L” is a bit large, and a bit tacky looking. I know you like it though, so don’t take offense at my opinion.
I agree with the girls about removing the large L from that location, my eye goes right to that first thing. I like the L, just not there.
I love the gold L! Such a fun finishing touch!
Much better! Have you thought about having your window shade go from bottom up? That way you have more privacy without cutting out light. But perhaps you are far enough from the street that this is not an issue. Congratulations on a beautiful, functional space – it’s what you do best!
I open it top-down or bottom-up depending on what I’m doing in there. If I’m getting ready to go somewhere, I open it top-down. If I’m doing laundry, I open it bottom-up.
The curtains are beautiful there – just what your closet needed. The chandelier really shows up in its glory.
One suggestion about the height of the drapes. I really think you should rehang the rod up at the level of the crown moulding, instead of at the lower height where they are now.
I know you have said that you do not have enough fabric to lengthen them, but if you can’t steal a length of fabric from the rolled side hems, you could sew on some sort of other fabric on to the hem to lengthen them. At worst, they might be a little short (high water waders!), but you would never notice them, because the view you see 90% of the time is always of the top of the drapes. At least consider it.
I concur completely and was coming to the comments to say this. From the hall you can’t see the bottom of the drapes, but you can see the top, so raise them up. Btw, I love the drapes!!!
Kristi,
Every change you make in your home is so beautiful and the colors are right on. I love, love, love the pink curtains in your closet. The chandelier you work so hard on really stands out now. The chandelier had gotten lost in the wallpaper pattern and just adding the curtains was like turning on a bright light with details blossoming. Isn’t it amazing how something as simple as adding curtains to the closet can make such a difference?!
Your insight for designing your home space by space, every detail perfectly planned. All created by you either making it or getting someone else to create your vision exactly. Keep following your gut because you have a gift that so many have tried and not been successful. I know because years back I was the same way. I truly appreciate your skills, determination and the way you are ok to say you don’t love it, creating something better in the end.
Best Regards, Christine
The curtains really add so much to that space… they soften the walls, cut down on the busyness of the wallpaper, give the eyes a rest, make the chandelier stand out wonderfully, and the color of the curtains couldn’t have been any better as it not only goes with the wallpaper, but gives you your pink you love. Fantastic! I do wish you had moved them as far over on the sides as you could’ve so we could see more of the window and give the impression that the window is bigger than it is.
It’s too late now but the drapes look like they had a fairly deep hem.couldn’t you have faced the hem to get some additional length so you could have mounted them higher on tge wall.
I think you could have taken them up an inch or two higher and it wouldn’t have looked wrong. But they do look great with the wallpaper, and the chandelier is much more obvious now! I’m a fan!
Yup, it looks extremely great – can’t imagine anyone thinking differently!
Ok, I love it! You never know with the open closet and all the color of your wardrobe, etc…but it really works! For all the reasons you stated (chandelier, print breakup, etc…) I’ve also noticed, your wardrobe and accessories compliment the decor (well, duh!). It makes sense that the curtains would work, since the artwork did. Glad you could repurpose them.
I thought I wouldn’t like curtains, that they would make the closet more closed in. But you were right, the curtains give relief to the business of the wall paper. Thumbs up.
I LOVE THIS! It is the perfect pop of color and backdrop.