The Best Dining Room Window Furnishings

Nowadays, most of us tend to eat directly in the kitchen or living room while watching our favourite show. While dining rooms are meant to be for this purpose, over time they have reserved a sense of formality. As a result, we tend to use them when we have guests over or when celebrating special occasions. Rarely do we sit down to have a family meal at a table. If you do good on you, you are one of the few!

For this reason, dining rooms now are elaborately decked out and furnished. Every detail is carefully thought about, to ensure a comfortable and inviting ambience. Seeing as how many holiday memories and conversations are had over good food here, it is easy to see why. They leave a lasting impression, and you do not want yours to be left out.

As with any space, the right window furnishings have a direct impact on décor. The same goes for the dining room. Depending on its structure and layout, some window furnishings will suit better than others. Think of it like shopping for new clothes. You go for what is most flattering with a unique effect.

So here, we will be taking a look at exactly what it takes to amp up your dining room with window furnishings. If you have been thinking about refreshing it for some time or are decorating it anew, these tips will be mighty useful.

How to Adapt Your Window Furnishings to Suit Your Layout

Windows are a key design feature in your home. Not only do they serve a functional purpose, they also help it stand out. Today, windows are not just limited to the square shapes they have been known for. From arches to circles, French windows, bay and bow windows, the styles are wide and varied. This means that window furnishings in turn, can and should be customised to best fit the type of window in question.

For example, if a space has large ceiling-to-floor windows, roller blinds may not be the right fit. They will not help accentuate the grandeur, and would look too plain and simple. Additionally, they will not sit well, coming off rather lifeless and drab. In fact, roller blinds are hardly ever chosen in these cases. For such open-plan areas, curtains are a great option, though specificity is also important. Sheer curtains for instance, would be ideal. Their light and airy demeanour has a positive effect, and if you want some extra privacy, blockout curtains can be layered on top. Using tie-backs to ensure they are kept out of the way when needed will help you have better control over them too.

This is one way of adapting your window furnishings to the layout. In the same way, you can apply this theory to windows in your dining room and play with various options before deciding on one. The help of a consultant will also give you some ideas and perspective.

Which Window Furnishings Work Best With Dining Room Windows

Whether you want a touch of colour or an easy way to change the personality of your dining room, window furnishing can help. Here are some options that we think will do well to help get you started.

  • Curtains

Curtains add instant softness, and are a graceful addition to your dining room. Imagine enjoying a meal with family and friends on a bright sunny afternoon, enjoying the view framed by curtains. Traditional houses in particular will suit this well. Custom-made curtains can be matched to the colour of the cushions or tablecloth too. Or if you have a significant piece of artwork that draws attention, why not consider matching them to this? It is a unique design aesthetic that brings the room together by immediately drawing the eye. You can also adjust the height of the curtains to either skim the floor, puddle, or stay just above the ground.

  • Roman shades

If you want something unique with a little more structure, Roman shades are the way to go. They come in a wide range of fabric options, and are a great alternative to curtains. They come with pleated fabric panels that create a tailored look, and fold back up neatly when raised. You can further personalise them by adding lining or trimming in a different colour, to match with a specific colour scheme. In our opinion, they are the sweet spot between blinds and curtains. As they need less fabric than curtains, they can also be a budget-friendly option. They look simply beautiful in dining rooms, adding a homely feel overall.

  • Plantation shutters

We are big fans of plantation shutters, simply because they are quite unlike any other type of window furnishings. For starters, they are fixed directly to the inside or outside of the window frame all around. This makes them part of the window itself, as opposed to an addition. Secondly, they suit all styles of dining rooms. They also offer incredible control over light and privacy, thanks to their individually controllable slats. You can let in just the right amount of light, and ensure you stay out of view of nosy neighbours. With shutters, neutral shades such as whites and browns work best for a timeless design.

  • Honeycomb blinds

Imagine this. You have invited your boss and workmates over for dinner on a regular Winter’s day. Needless to say it is absolutely freezing outside, and everyone is glad when it is time to enjoy a hot meal. You sit down at the table, and just as you are about to eat, a cold draught blows through. You do not want your guests to shiver, so you head over to the thermostat and fix the temperature. Except not too long after, it feels cold again. Puzzled, you do this several times, interrupting conversations and feeling embarrassed as your guests insist they are fine. Now the food is cold too and you are frustrated and annoyed.

This is an all-too common scenario, one with an easy fix: Honeycomb blinds. They are unrivalled as the window furnishing with superior insulation properties, thanks to their unique features. Their cells trap air within them, regulating temperature for longer and ensuring a comfortable environment. They are also available in a range of colours and fabrics, and uniquely open from the bottom and the top for privacy needs.

  • Roller blinds

Last but not least, we have roller blinds, the window furnishings that paved the way for the rest of them. Simple and straightforward, their clean-cut lines make for a streamlined aesthetic and a great way to balance a room out. If for instance your dining room has a lot of other features that make it busy, keeping your blinds simple is a good idea. You can opt for a bold blockout colour to make a statement, or something in a neutral shade to tone it down. Or if the room is generally plain, you can go for a fabric with patterns. You can further customise with light filtering/ sunscreen options, depending on your needs. Have a look at our buyer’s guide to roller blinds to help you.

Is a Custom Window Furnishing Worth It?

In short, 100%. The way we see it, your home is as unique as you are, and tailored window furnishings can be highly beneficial. To begin with they can be customised just the way you want them, and you can be assured of quality too. You can also pick fabrics that are to your taste, for a result you are completely happy with. These are simply not possible with ready-made blinds from a retail store.

Conclusion

We hope this article has sparked some creative ideas when it comes to window furnishings for your dining room. Remember to have fun with it; this is your chance to exercise your design skills. There is no hard and fast rule, you just need to strike a balance between aesthetics and functionality. There are many ways to do this, and do not forget you can also always mix and match. Maintaining your window furnishings is also important and key to their longevity, so here are some simple ways on how to clean your blinds.

If at any point you would like to bounce off your ideas off someone, our experts are on-hand to assist. Be sure to reach out if you need support.

Virginia Reed

Virginia Reed, an architectural consultant with a Master’s in Architecture from Harvard University, has been contributing to our site since 2021. Specializing in windows and doors, her 17 years in architectural design provide valuable insights into functional and aesthetic choices for homes. Virginia’s writing focuses on energy efficiency and design trends and her articles offer practical advice on selection, installation, and maintenance. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys restoring historic homes and is a classical music aficionado.

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