How to choose curtain colours for any room in your home

When choosing colours for curtains you have to remember that your curtaining forms but only a part of a much bigger picture – that of the rest of the furnishings and fittings for a specific room. So other factors such as the existing colours around you, for instance your wall, carpet and other decorations will play a definitive role.

The colour of your curtains will have to match or contrast the décor of the room. Either way you want your curtains to accentuate the overall atmosphere and work in harmony with the interior design of the room.

The colour of your curtain will also influence the lighting of the room you’re working on. Depending on both the texture and colour of the fabric you use, the sunlight filtering through will have an effect on the rest of the room. The question is whether you want your curtains to be at the centre of attention or just as a complimentary feature to your planned design.

Should I use dark or light curtains?

Usually if your room already has vibrant colours and patterns based on your walling and furniture, then you would opt for a lighter curtain. This will help to balance and tone down the ambience in that room.

In a similar manner if your room’s styling is simplistic then you could use a darker more pronounced curtain in order to pick up the atmosphere. This option means your curtains are more the focal point than other features in the room.

Perhaps you would like to enjoy a better view of the outside through your window, then your curtains will have to be of the lighter and thinner variety. In this case the impact of your curtaining is subtle rather than heavy and the main focus is the outside view you are looking to achieve.

For rooms which are prone to dust or where you have a lot of foot traffic, darker curtains will be the suitable option since they able disguise dirt very well.

What about using the same colour curtains in all my rooms?

Depends on your personal preference really. But most would advise going for something unique when setting up curtains in individual rooms. Again your needs per room are likely to differ. So always look at your lighting requirements, privacy needs, and mainly the style and decoration you wish to reflect with your curtain’s colour.

Curtain colour should be taken seriously as it forms an integral part of any space in your home. Curtains also take up a lot of surface area and break up your walling into sections.

So you should try to avoid making them too plain or forcing to match them perfectly with everything else. At the very minimum the colour you use for your curtain should have a subtle effect so you can distinguish between your windows and the rest of the room.   

Should I use patterned fabric or plain colours?

Curtain fabrics are certainly not short on variation, but you should treat it as an enjoyable exercise when selecting colours and patterns to your liking. If you want your curtains to stand out make sure to go for a colour which contrasts that of your wall.

Or if you prefer to create a well-blended effect then you may try to match the curtain and wall colours. This works better for rooms where you have light colours throughout and want to maintain the same scheme. For instance white curtains for a white wall will automatically increase the brightness of the room if that’s the effect you’re after.

When looking for patterned fabric remember that both colours and textures play a role. So with some printed curtain fabrics you will have a pattern but the fabric itself may remain flat and smooth to the touch.

On the other hand some patterns are made up of layered textures which are embossed or stitched onto the curtain material further complimenting whichever colour scheme you are using.

The colour of your carpets and the number of windows per room

Another key consideration when picking colours for curtaining is taking into account the appearance of your flooring. Whether you have tiling, or carpets and rugs covering your floor, it is a stylish approach to have your curtains matching accordingly.

This way you can create a sense of balance between your floors and walls. Interior designers recommend that you always start with your flooring before looking at other visual elements in a room. Bear in mind that your carpet which runs wall to wall actually makes up the largest surface area of colouring and patterns. Curtains should therefore be complimentary and used to enhance the overall design scheme and not work against it. 

Looking at the number of windows, you need to know that curtains will play a significant role in how you perceive the space around you in a specific room. This because some curtain colours have the effect of making a room appear larger than it really is. And this the preferred approach you should take. You don’t want to have a feeling that the room is smaller.

You’ll be surprised how colours affect the mind in determining space and perspective. Warmer colours tend to have the effect of appearing nearer and on the flipside cooler colours can feel distant. So if you have many windows to curtain, it makes sense to go with cooler colours in order to create the valuable illusion of the making the room expand as you enter it.

Curtain colours should improve the mood and atmosphere of your interior

How do you influence the mood of a room by the intelligent use of colour? It is known that different colours evoke certain emotions. So depending on the function of the room you may want to think deeper about how the colours are going to affect your guests for example.

Hence warmer colours like red, orange and yellow are suitable for making your guests feel inspired and motivated.

Your dining room for example should have a warm atmosphere as this will stimulate the appetite of your guests.

Cooler coloured curtains will generate a feeling of tranquillity and relaxation. So choose a bluish colour scheme for your living room at home and reception areas at your business.