A Guide To Pairing Drapes with Blinds or Shades

Drapes instantly elevate the appeal of any room. They offer elegance and style that just can’t be beat. They’re also great if you want to create a layered look around your windows. They pair well with everything, including valances, shutters, and shades. Ken, the owner of Budget Blinds of Tempe and Central Phoenix, can hook you up with the best drapes for your home. Just give him a call for a free design consultation! 

Finding the Perfect Drapes For Your Home

Finding the perfect drapes can seem a little daunting. There are so many different styles, materials, thickness, and colors to pick from. Thankfully, there are a few questions you can ask yourself to help narrow down your options. 

Firstly, think of how drapes make your room look. If you have a smaller room, larger or heavier drapes can overtake the room and make it feel a lot smaller than it really is. So if you have a smaller room, pick a lighter or airier material for drapes. 

Secondly, think about how much privacy and insulation you need. The heavier the drape and the less sheer it is, the more insulation and privacy you’ll get. 

Thirdly, do you want something that’s neutral or more bold? If you want your window to be a statement, go bold. If you want it to blend in and just be a natural feature of your home, then neutral is the way to go. 

Once you have those answers, we can help you pair your drapes with the perfect blinds or shade.

How to Choose the Right Shade

Choosing a shade is a bit easier than choosing the right drapes, but if you have your heart set on a certain style or drapes, don’t worry. It’s very possible to pair shades with anything you need. 

If your room is small, you might want a shade with a cleaner look, paired with light and neutral drapes. 

If your room is larger, you can choose a more dramatic shade or a more dramatic drape. Choose one of the other, because you don’t want to overwhelm one area with too much color or texture. 

If your walls have semi-bright colors, you could choose a neutral shade and drapes in a contrasting color to make it pop. If you have lots of patterns and prints in your room, think about a more simple style of shade and drapes.

When it comes to the type of shades, we’re also advocates for cellular shades. They offer a crisp and contemporary look, combined with the best insulation properties of any window covering. They’re versatile in style and don’t often draw attention to themselves. This makes them the perfect candidate for both small rooms and dramatic drapes. 

Roman Shades and Drapes

If cellular shades aren’t your thing, then try Roman shades. They’re available in numerous styles and pair stunningly well with drapes. Some even have folds that help mimic the folding material of drapes. Together, they create a sophisticated layered look that can’t be replicated by any other window treatment. 

Woven Wood Shades and Drapes Pair Quite Naturally

Made from natural woods, bamboo and grasses, woven wood shades feature an organic textured look while diffusing light into the room. Adding a drape with a bold color and design can really complement the natural elements of your shade as well as offer you full privacy when you want it. If you have wood blinds or shutters, a neutral drape can also soften the look of the wood while accenting the rich tones of the slats.

Whatever style of shades and drapes you choose, pairing them together can enhance any décor, from contemporary to country to traditional.

Choosing the Right Blinds

Blinds are a very common choice for window treatments and pair very easily with drapes, no matter the style. Because of their simple design, they are so versatile and work great in every room of the house. There are aluminum and composite blinds, which are the most common kind, wooden blinds, faux wood blinds, and vinyl. 

Think About Colors and Textures

Blinds don’t offer as many colors or textures as shades, so matching them is fairly simple. Think about the texture, color, and patterns of each. When pairing blinds and drapes, the two should never be identical as it can be overwhelming. Instead, they should always compliment each other. For instance, if you have a curtain with flowers, you’re best to go with a neutral or muted set of blinds. 

Wood blinds are a little more complicated as they are a work of art on their own. Many prefer to not cover them up at all and let them speak for themselves. If you do want drapes to match them, then take it on a window by window basis. Each wood is different and you’ll want to bring out its natural beauty. Budget Blinds of Tempe and Central Phoenix are happy to help. Give them a call for a free design consultation. We’ll come to you to make sure you’re happy with your choice from the very beginning. 

And that’s it! We hope this blog helped you find the perfect drapes for your windows.