I Sent a Designer a Photo of My Awkward Windows, and Here’s How They Told Me to Style Them

Early last year, my husband and I purchased our very first home high atop a hill on the eastside of Los Angeles. It’s a small two-bedroom, just shy of 900 square feet, but after 15 years of living exclusively in cramped New York City apartments, we felt right at home. Slowly but surely, we started to fill it with furniture, rugs, and other bits and bobs of home decor.

But, despite the fact that I’m constantly writing about all things home and interior design, I had been dreading having to deal with window treatments. The truth is, I had absolutely no idea where to start.

Because my home is tiny, all of my windows are, too. To make matters more awkward, the living room, kitchen, and dining area are all one big room with differently sized windows. The window in the bedroom is wide and short, and all of the windows already have blinds, but none of them have curtains. What’s a girl to do? Turn to a pro, of course.

I asked interior designer and founder of House of Huck, Meredith Huck, to weigh in on how to style my mismatched, awkwardly spaced, little windows. Spoiler alert: She is a window treatment wiz, and now I know exactly what to do.

The Main Living Area

Since my house has a very open floor plan, Huck assessed the entire space as a whole.

“For these windows, I recommend installing curtain rods that extend well beyond the window frames to make the space feel larger and more open,” she says. She recommends floor-to-ceiling drapes in a light, textured fabric, because it will add both softness and height to my cozy little room, all the while maintaining a clean vibe.

Custom Emery Linen Blackout Curtain - Ivory

Pottery Barn

$134

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I’ve also come to understand that where you mount the curtain rods is key. “Ensure the curtain rods are mounted closer to the ceiling to maximize the vertical space and draw the eye upward — we usually recommend halfway between the top of the window and the ceiling, but you can always inch closer to the ceiling for a more dramatic look,” Huck says. “This approach adds depth, style, and functionality without overwhelming the room.”

I was stunned to learn that even the tiny window in the dining room area should have the same floor-to-ceiling window treatments as the other, larger windows. This is why I had to call upon a professional, clearly.

The Bedroom

Our bedroom has a very peculiar wide, short window placed relatively high on the wall. However, Huck said, I should treat it the same as any other “normal” window.

“If there is an awkward amount of space above the window, I would still place the rod at minimum halfway between the top of the window and the ceiling and then install roman shades above the window so it looks taller than it actually is.” Pure genius.

Crossweave Cordless Roman Shade

West Elm

$159

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The Office

Fortunately, our office was the easiest room of the house because the only window is exactly the same size as the front window in the main living area. Based on Huck’s other recommendations, I know exactly what to do — add some length with curtain rods, and dramatic flair with floor-to-ceiling drapes. But I still had one lingering question.

Since my home is so small, do all of my window treatments need to match? Surprisingly, the answer is no. “Material, color, and pattern do not need to be the same,” Huck says. “Have some fun! But if that scares you you can certainly keep it simple and neutral with a light linen.”

For the first time ever, I don’t feel quite so intimidated by the windows in my house. As for fabric options for curtains? Well, that’s a whole other story entirely.

Further Reading

I Tried the 90/90 Rule and My Closet Is Now Fully Decluttered

Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Article’s DTC Furniture

We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Pottery Barn — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need