Styling a window can transform a room from so-so into something really special. And there are so many different options to choose from. Whether you’re looking for luxurious bespoke curtains, ready-made blinds or smart wooden shutters, our handy guide will help you find the best window treatments to suit your style and budget. 

Get that laid-back beachy vibe in the bedroom with ombre patterned curtains that gently sweep the floor. While you can get beautiful off-the-peg styles, this is a look that's easy to DIY, starting with a plain pair of cotton curtains. Search online for great tutorials, like this one from Lovely Etc.

The great thing about curtains is they can be swapped and updated in no time to follow the trends and seasons to create a totally different mood or atmosphere. The combination of these botanical curtains loosely hung with sheer panels makes a beautiful focal point for spring. 

Tab header curtains are perfect for modern and relaxed homes. The tabs easily slide onto the curtain pole and may even be enhanced with button fastenings or ties. When the installation is this easy why not have a pair for each season? 

Wave header curtains give a sleek, minimal finish that pairs perfectly with modern schemes. The ‘wave’ design allows the curtains to stack back neatly when the curtains are open then glide closed to create unfussy, uniform folds. They work particularly well on electric curtain tracks, so you can open and close your curtains at the push of a button. 

Heavy drapes in thick fabrics like velvet not only look lavish and opulent but keep rooms cosy and warm. Look out for thermal versions if insulation against draughty windows is required. Curtains in plain jewel tones that fall to the floor will break up patterned wallpaper perfectly. 

Sheer curtains – also known as voiles – are by far the most elegant way to control sun glare in your home. They can be used alone in spaces that don’t demand total darkness or privacy, but also pair up nicely with opaque curtains to create a lavish, layered look. While white sheers make for a minimal choice, they come in all sorts of colours and patterns that can add extra personality to a scheme. 

Wide French doors can be tricky to dress as you need to cover a few yards of glass. Panel curtains on tracks make a practical solution as they stack neatly in front of each other when not in use. Why not use fabrics in different designs and complementing colours for fun? These cheerful prints have been created using paper-cut collages in a refreshing palette. 

For a full-on luxe finish, you can’t beat going bespoke. Custom curtains don’t come cheap, but they do give a room a unique, tailored look. Your curtain maker will offer you a choice of headers – from classic French pleats to ultra-modern waves – and you’ll also have to decide whether you want a pelmet, tie-backs and any other finishing touches. For a truly sumptuous feel, ask for a fullness of at least two, meaning that the width of the fabric is at least twice the width of the track or pole.

Installing blinds as well as curtains to large bay windows is a sure-fire way to add luxury and homely comfort to a room. Not only does it look deluxe, but it is also practical too; doubling up curtains and blinds will offer extra warmth, privacy and sunlight control. An easy and effective formula is to choose patterned blinds and then frame with plain curtains in the same tone for an elegant visual effect. 

Curtains that fall right to the floor add a bit of luxurious hotel chic to rooms. The extra fabric instantly makes a room feel more cosy and keeps out window draughts too as there are no gaps for air to escape through.  

Pinch pleat curtains are a style of heading that draws and bunches together fabric at the top of drapes with permanently sewn in stitches. The crisp uniform design creates elegant folds in the fabric fall and gives curtains a refined and professional finish. The smart pleats suit chic and well-polished living room, bedroom and dining room schemes. 

Eyelet headers are another popular choice for ready-made curtains and give a sleeker look. Make sure you check the diameter of the eyelets before ordering a curtain pole to make sure they will definitely fit and run smoothly. Most eyelets are about 40mm in diameter, so a 28mm pole will be ideal. 

A curtain valance can make a decorative and tidy addition to windows and hide away unsightly curtain tracks. This well-chosen fabric with ocean coral print is perfectly in keeping in with the coastal view through the window beyond. 

Ready-made curtains are one of the easiest routes to go down and are an affordable way to make your room look finished. There are plenty of ready-made curtain companies out there who sell a selection of set drops (length) and widths, so chances are you’ll find something to fit your windows without needing any alteration. John Lewis is a good place to start with nearly 200 designs to choose from, in traditional and contemporary patterns and colours. 

Curtains with beautiful and distinctive prints will envelop and define a scheme. These exquisitely finished linen blend curtains feature landscape scenes in impressionist brush marks and are the standout feature of the pretty plum coloured living room. 

In a large room with more than one window think about the practicality of each individual window rather than seeing them as just a series of the same. It might be more functional to dress a bay window with floor-length drapes to stop draughts and then fit a Roman blind to a flat window to suit its shape. Tie the scheme together by using the same fabric and accessories with cushions made from leftover material to dress the sofa. 

Blackout window dressings make a practical addition to children's rooms where darkened spaces are very much part of sleep routines, day and night. But they don't necessarily need to be blackout by nature. We love these zingy lemon yellow blocked shutters with decorative black stars that patter out onto the wall. 

Plantation shutters are an excellent choice for awkwardly shaped windows, be it porthole windows, arched windows or triangular windows in an eaves space. If shutters will stretch your budget too far, Venetian blinds can also be custom-made to fit tricky spaces and are a lot more affordable. 

Shutters are becoming more and more popular in our homes as they create a smart, crisp and practical window treatment that fits all shapes and sizes. Whether you choose classic wood or go for a more affordable wood effect the timeless finish can be personalised with colour and effect to suit your look. These white tier-on-tier panels open independently to balance privacy and light which makes perfect sense for a pretty home office. 

Shutters are not just for windows. Enjoy a seamless transition between your home and the outside world with shutters crafted for your doors. Perfect for creating a vintage-look in the bedroom, they can be opened wide to enjoy the view and combined with curtains for night time.

Plantation shutters are more relaxed – and more affordable – than solid wood shutters. They’re incredibly versatile too and will sit quite happily in a traditional scheme, a country scheme, a coastal scheme or, as their name suggests, a colonial-style scheme. Unlike panel shutters, they can let in light when closed thanks to their slatted design. Plus, you can choose between half shutters or full-height shutters depending on what you need them for. 

Coloured shutters are a design lover's dream come true, allowing you to add drama to a scheme without compromising on a sleek finish. Notoriously hard to paint, these louvred panels should be bought from a specialist. Hilarys sell a range of custom coloured shutters that you can match to any palette. Go for a high contrast colour combination or pick out a dominant shade from the room: these rich teal full-length shutters look magnificent with matching painted woodwork that works with the dark tropical wallpaper. 

Whether they are properly installed or simply decorative additions, reclaimed shutters are a budget-friendly method for including shutters in a decorating scheme. Painted in a chalky blue, the shabby chic finish of these narrow shutters adds visual elegance to the global décor in this living room. 

Café curtains and shutters make a room feel cosy and more private without obstructing light or views. They work a treat in rooms where windows look out onto the street or in an upstairs bathroom, allowing you to peek out while preventing prying eyes from peering in. 

Nothing adds gravitas to a traditional scheme like solid wood panel shutters. They work wonders in Victorian-style bay windows, fitting into awkward spaces beautifully. They are also perfect for bedrooms, blocking out the light completely when closed, but you can also use them to add character to more modern spaces. Hot countries use them to keep the sunlight out, and the house cool during summer too. 

For a contemporary update on classic solid wooden shutters, try painting them in a bold, bright colour that makes them pop out in sharp relief, creating an eye-catching focal point. Or for a more elegant and muted effect paint each fold in soft tonal shades, graduating from light to dark, in the same colour to suit your decorating scheme. 

Rooms with lots of windows or a large bay window fitted with blinds will benefit from a motorised roller. Rather than fiddle with lots of manual cords morning and night a motorised switch that smoothly lifts and lowers the blinds together is a game-changer.

Monochromatic design is a hot trend that lends itself well to window dressings. Here, a pair of rich teal roman blinds are matched perfectly to the wall colour and the subtle pattern adds a touch of interest to the block colour.

Made-to-measure, metallic Venetian blinds make an ultra-modern cool and chic luxury injection. The reflective surface will bounce extra light around the room and they are a great choice for kitchens as splashes and grease can be wiped clean easily.

In children's rooms you can afford to have some fun with pattern. Here the colours of the coordinating wallpaper have been picked out in the Roman blind fabric for a playful and jolly bedroom scheme.

Thermal blinds are functional in fully glazed conservatories as they help to keep the space warm in winter and cool during summer. We love these top and bottom opening, fawn toned blinds with a dual cord system. It looks as though they are floating against the windows to provide the optimum balance of privacy and light. 

Blackout blinds are a great choice for bedrooms as the thick double lining blocks out light entirely. Plus, being double lined, the front fabric can be any colour or pattern to match your bedroom scheme. 

Door windows sometimes need a little love as well, whether it’s a tiny window on a hallway door or wall-to-wall glass patio doors. The most practical option is to go for a blind or curtain that fits onto the door itself, so it won’t get in the way of opening and closing the door. This style makes a great option for popular bifold doors as the blinds move with the doors when open.

See-through solar blinds are just the thing if you’re looking to block out the heat or glare of the sun without obstructing light or views. Sunscreen solar blind fabric is made using an open weave with lots of tiny holes. The weave blocks UV rays and prevents that annoying glare on your TV screen without making your room dark. Better still, many solar blinds boast an ingenious one-way vision design, so you can see out but people outside can’t see in.  

Long associated with corporate offices, vertical blinds are increasingly making their way into our homes. Not only do they offer privacy and protection from sun glare, but they can also add the impression of extra height to a window. As their popularity grows, more and more colours and patterns are becoming available, making them an increasingly tempting option for our homes. 

Vertical striped privacy blinds or 'day and night' blinds are a contemporary choice that will give a room lots of light yet plenty of privacy when required. The way these blinds work is pretty clever. They’ve got two layers of fabric that you simply line up whichever way you want to create either a smart voile, a solid fabric or something in between.

Window dressings become visually stunning when colourful geometric prints are chosen as fabrics. These twin windows have been transformed into works of art using iconic Orla Kiely stem print fabrics. Pink and ochre furnishings pick out the colourful hues to create a bright, fun and contemporary living room. 

Installing blinds in a bathroom is more practical rather than curtains due to the amount of moisture that accumulates. Roller blinds made from wipeable, mould resistant material will stand the test of time and keep your bathroom scheme looking clutter-free and clean.

Block colour Roman blinds are an easy way to inject vibrancy to your room if you don't want to darken or wallpaper walls. This modern living room looks bright and refreshing with a white backdrop and apple green velvet sofa. But it's the fern green Roman blinds in laid-back linen that softens the window with concertina-style folds and pulls the look together for a striking and crisp finish. 

If you’re looking for something purely functional for your window dressing, then it’s hard to go wrong with roller blinds. They’re ideal for practical spaces such as kitchens, utility rooms and bathrooms and usually come in hard-working, man-made fabrics that can withstand humid conditions. If you have small children, make sure you choose a blind with a safety connector in the chain, which will break if anything becomes caught in it, or you could go for chainless electric blinds. 

Skylights and loft windows can transform a room with natural light but controlling the illumination is just as important as you might not want harsh beams streaming through first thing in the morning. Roller, pleated or even Venetian blinds make perfect additions to roof windows as they fit flush to the angled windows even when open. 

If you love the soft fabric of Roman blinds but favour a more laid-back look, roll-up blinds might just be for you. Depending on the material and pattern you choose, they can evoke a rustic, country-style feel or a coastal look that calls to mind the beach-side retreats of New England.

Looking for something a bit dressy that isn’t full-on froufrou? London blinds are the answer. This elegant design pulls up into inverted pleats that hint at traditional style when the blind is open but lie flat when the blind is closed. It’s a versatile blind that works equally well with traditional or modern fabrics.

There’s nothing wrong with folds and frills, of course, as the Austrian blind is ample proof. This heavily pleated design opens to create a meringue-like scalloped edge that really comes into its own in a luxurious silk, ideally with a slubbed texture to help show off all those lovely folds.

Need to work more texture into a neutral scheme? Just add bamboo blinds. Whether you go for a roll-up or Roman style, woven bamboo will add a rustic but sophisticated touch to a room and also looks quite lovely when sunlight filters between the weave. Plus, bamboo tends to be sustainable, so you can pat yourself on the back for giving the environment a helping hand, too.  

Bottom-up blinds are essentially the blind equivalent of café curtains, folding up from the bottom of your window to give you privacy while letting in views and light above. However, they create a much cleaner line than curtains, which will appeal to those with more minimalist leanings.

Venetian blinds offer a happy medium between the simple practicality of roller blinds and the more decorative elements of, say, a Roman blind.  They generally come in aluminium, which gives a more modern look, or wood, which makes an affordable alternative to slatted shutters. Coloured drawstrings can give them extra oomph and help tie them in with the rest of your scheme. 

Of course, curtains or blinds might not always be the best choice for your windows, especially if you're not overlooked. There may be occasions when a window treatment could drown a look, minimise much-needed light or obstruct a beautiful view. If that is the case why not keep your windows clear but frame them with a fun paint effect to add a touch of colour and interest?

A chic option for a more unusual window treatment is to use a transferable, dual-purpose screen that can be moved into place when privacy or darkness is needed. It's a practical idea for balcony windows and French doors that would be obstructed by hanging fabric when open.  

Not so keen on elaborate window treatments but want a bit of extra privacy? Window film can be a great way to go and is an enticingly affordable option too. There are lots of designs to choose from, whether you want a solid frosted glass look, a traditional or contemporary pattern or even your own bespoke design. Some window film companies will install the film as well, though you can save extra money by doing it yourself. 

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