You've definitely heard of layering window treatments together for a better effect. Take your ordinary window and transform it into an extraordinary one. Whether it is to create a more sophisticated look or to get the best of both worlds in terms of functionality, a great combination to consider is to hang blinds and curtains together.
Why Should You Hang Curtains Over Blinds?
Light control
Having curtains and blinds together can help you achieve different levels of light control. Blinds can both lift and tilt, allowing different degrees of light in. While curtains also include sheer, room darkening, and complete blackout types. Mixing and matching them together gives you every degree of light control you'll need.
Enhanced privacy controls
Similar characteristics go with privacy control too. Blinds offer great privacy yet can be light-filtering when tilted. Sheer curtains share the same traits. Mixing and matching other types of blinds or drapery, such as blackout curtains, can create different levels of privacy controls too.
Temperature controls
More layers of window treatment can trap more air within, offering better insulation protection in the colder winter months. It also allows for more flexible adjustments of airflow and temperature.
Aesthetics
Tailored Folds
Low maintenance
Motorized Option
Child-Safe CordlessAnother huge reason why you should consider hanging curtains over blinds is the added layer of complexity to the overall aesthetics. The guide to layering curtains explained the tips and tricks on layering curtains. One of the suggested combinations is to mix curtains with blinds. This is not only for functional purposes, but it creates a more sophisticated look. The clash in texture and material especially adds a lot of depth to the appearance of the window area.
How do you hang curtains over blinds?
1. Hang blinds or shades
The most important thing to decide when layering shades or blinds under curtains is inside vs outside mount. An inside mount is preferred in most cases since it doesn't interfere with the drapery and would create a sleeker and more finished look.
To install inside-mount blinds and shades, follow these straightforward steps: Measure the location where headrail brackets should go, given the length of your blinds, and mark with a pencil
- Use power drill to drill pilot holes where the marks are made
- Place screws through headrail brackets and screw them slightly into the pilot holes
- Make sure brackets are not tilted and use drill to screw it in completely
- Attach headrail onto the brackets, make sure they snap in place securely
- Test them out
2. Hang drapery
How to put curtain over blinds so that they won't get in each other's way
- Wall-mounted rod brackets: This is one of the easiest ways to hang a rod above the surface of the wall to make sure it's hung away from the top of the blinds.
- Attachment form blind headrail: you can hang drapes over blinds directly on top of the blinds. This alternative method is to attach curtain rods and achieve a smooth finished look. For both inside and outside mounted blinds, there are suitable attachments.
- No nails or drills: The headrail attachment is a no-drill option, but wondering about other ways of How to Hang Curtains Without Drilling. Read on!
How do you hang curtains over blinds without nails or drills?
One of the easiest ways is to use an adjustable no-drill tension curtain rod. This is super easy to set up on all surfaces and doesn't leave any traces behind. However, there needs to be a wall or window frame large enough for the rod to cling to. It might apply to every window situation. Tension rods are a great solution in many situations and have extended uses beyond just holding up your curtains. Check out this article for more hacks using your tension rod.
Different Ideas for Window Treatments With Curtains
To achieve a better overall look when layering blinds with curtains, choose an inside-mount blind. This optimizes the space around your window frame, allowing more freedom for the curtains.
Curtains over vertical blinds
Be a little more creative and layer curtains over vertical blinds. One thing to keep in mind is that blinds with certain slats tend to be a lot bigger in size and when the slats tilt, it might interfere with the layered curtains. However, this can be avoided if you secure the slats at the bottom loosely. Hopefully, this answers your questions about hanging curtains over vertical blinds.
Curtains with Roman shades
A great choice for a cozy yet romantic look is to pair Roman shades with drapes. Curtains with shades can work just as well as curtains with blinds. Depending on which look you prefer, these roman shades can be sheer or blackout.
Curtains with Roller shades
Another Curtains with shades look can be achieved with these zebra shades. These zebra shades offer very similar functionality benefits yet totally differ in the overall look it creates.Consier layering some sheer drapes on top for an added contrast.
More Tips
By now you have an idea of how to hang curtains over blinds and shades in an apartment or a house, before you go here are some extra tips for you:
- Pairing soft and hard window treatments together for a more sophisticated look. This could be shades, blinds, rollers, shades, and draperies.
- Curtain length might need to be longer: For the curtains and blinds to not interfere with each other. The curtain rods must be installed above the window frame. Make sure to consider this when measuring curtain length.
- Don't go crazy with the patterns: Layering window treatments with different textures and materials can be a lot already, make the overall look cleaner by selecting simple patterns.
