Different types of curtains for windows to accent your Melbourne home
When renovating or building a new home in Melbourne, choosing the right windows and doors for your property is essential. But before finalising your building plans, it’s just as important to consider the window furnishings you’ll need to complete your project. Plan to ensure structural requirements can be built in, which means fewer hassles after you move in and greater long-term satisfaction.
Selecting curtains and blinds for windows and doors goes beyond choosing the right colours and patterns. You also need to consider window and door design, functionality and space. Think blockout blinds for restful bedrooms, external Venetian blinds for bathroom privacy or light-filtering curtains for west-facing rooms.
Door and window furnishings add the finishing touch to your home, while controlling brightness, increasing energy efficiency and helping improve your quality of life. With thoughtful planning, you will find attractive, customised solutions that deliver these elements while working effortlessly with your home’s design.
How to choose stylish and practical blinds and curtains for windows and doors
To help you choose the right window furnishings for your home, we’ve partnered with our friends at SOM Blinds to prepare this handy guide. With over 20 years of experience in custom blind and curtain design consultation, design, manufacturing and installation, SOM Blinds provide expert, bespoke solutions for your window and door treatments. Their recommendations will help you choose curtains and blinds that best fit your home and lifestyle.
Curtain and blind installation and design considerations
Selecting blinds and different types of curtains for windows and doors during the design phase will ensure you’re satisfied with the result and help avoid costly adjustments later. Use the following tips as a guide.
Identify room orientation and use
Determine how your room will be used and whether it receives direct sunlight. For example, sheer material selected for sliding doors leading to external entertaining zones creates a brightly-lit connection to interior spaces, while blockout or sunscreen fabric eliminates glare in rooms with digital screens.
Consider bedroom window design
A broader selection of blinds and curtains is available for square and rectangular windows to maximise darkness and privacy. If your bedroom has triangular or gable end windows, consider plantation shutters or motorised honeycomb blinds, which can be customised to fit most angled windows.
Plan location of mounts in advance
Consider where your blinds or curtains will be installed early in the design process, especially for options like concealing roller shades for sliding glass doors into a custom-built recessed pelmet. Consider window and door latches, handles, architraves and joinery surrounding doors and windows, so fittings don’t interfere with the design. Confirm with your electrician whether automating motorised options is possible.
Select secure anchoring
Hardwood timber or steel lintels above windows can provide strong support for brackets for blockout drapes and other heavy materials. Take photos of the window framing to assist your blind manufacturer and installer in recommending the best solution. That way, your blinds can be designed and professionally fitted the first time around. We recommend installing timber above the plaster in recessed pelmets so that heavy blinds and curtain tracks can be securely fastened.
Improve your home’s insulation and hide unsightly hardware
Pelmets conceal operational systems for curtains and blinds for windows and doors. They create a cleaner appearance and improve energy efficiency by acting as an additional barrier around window and door frames. For the best solution for your Melbourne property, work with your custom blind manufacturer and window design specialist team to determine automation and wiring needs during the design phase of your new build or renovation.
Tailored blind solutions for your windows
Ideally, blinds will enhance your window design without affecting functionality. We’ve paired our most popular window styles with the blinds best suited to their placement and operation.
Casement window blinds
Internal blinds are a practical choice for outward-opening casement windows, reducing glare and minimising sun damage to furniture and flooring. Plantation shutters work well, blocking direct sun while maintaining an open, airy feel. Other suitable styles for casement windows include Roman and honeycomb blinds.
Blinds for fixed windows
Furnish non-operable windows, also known as fixed or picture windows, with blinds that balance light and privacy without obstructing views. For larger windows, fit custom-designed external motorised roller blinds with internal curtains or Venetian blinds. The external blinds can be installed so that they are invisible from the inside when retracted.
Double hung window blind options
Roller blinds, Roman blinds or plantation shutters with adjustable slats are our top choice for traditional timber double hung windows in period homes. The hinge mechanism makes opening shutters and accessing window sashes easy. Honeycomb blinds, also suitable for double hung windows, allow airflow from the top and bottom.
Blinds for minimalist-style windows
Modernise frameless and square set windows with fabric-based blinds. Soft, layered Roman blinds or contemporary honeycomb blinds complement simple window designs, enhancing minimalist appeal, blocking light and improving insulation.
Awning window blinds
Exterior-opening awning windows have a range of configuration and design options. Motorised roller blinds are an effective, simple window furnishing solution for living rooms and kitchens, while Venetian blinds add timeless appeal. Ensure blinds and shutters on awning windows are clear of window locks and frames.
Automated blinds for highlight windows
Different styles of motorised blinds, including honeycomb blinds, provide light-filtering coverage to skylights and ceiling or out-of-reach windows. They are easy to operate, add insulation and are decorative.
Curtain selections for windows
Understanding different types of curtains for windows will help you select the best products for your living spaces and rooms, including automated solutions for operational ease. In bedrooms or media rooms, add blockout curtains for a darker, quieter atmosphere. The following combinations are well-suited to popular window designs.
Casement window curtains
As these windows often open outwards, install side-hung curtains for a soft look that doesn’t obstruct window movement.
Custom curtains for bay windows
The bay window’s shape and size determine which curtain style and tracking system works best. Individual roller blinds and Roman shades can be customised to fit the alcove. Their clean look pairs well with lightweight curtains that let natural light in.
Curtains for feature windows
Choose customised curtains to follow the shape of curved windows, or sheer curtains that reduce light without completely hiding the contour of the frames.
Double hung and single hung window curtains
Curtains for single and double hung windows can create a cohesive appearance throughout your home. Curtain heading designs—from classic pencil pleats to the modern S-fold—add style and improve insulation. Choose from various fabrics for light-filtering and privacy needs.
Blinds for popular door designs
Whether separating internal living spaces from the outdoors or internally, blinds for doors help regulate temperature, increase privacy and add style to your home. Talk to your builder about how best to plan ahead, so they don’t affect door operation or traffic movement between zones when fitted.
Versatile blinds for sliding doors
Roller shades for sliding glass doors prevent light from entering and insulate against outside temperatures. Horizontal honeycomb blinds that can be moved from side to side can reduce brightness and noise transference. Include a double-track system with light-filtering fabric for daytime glare and a darker layer for evening privacy.
Bifold door blinds
Motorised roller blinds work well with outside-stacking bifold doors. Choose single or double roller blinds with sheer curtains for maximum light without harsh glare. Consider adding blockout material to this combination for a darker environment. For doors that stack to the inside, adjustable external Venetian blinds block direct sunlight while allowing ventilation.
Elegant blinds for French doors
Combine curtains and Roman blinds for a layered look or honeycomb blinds for a modern flair. Plantation shutters add rustic charm with adjustable louvres for light control. Confirm which direction your doors open when planning automation and mounting placement to avoid obstructing door functionality.
Curtain pairings for common door types
Curtains for our timber door designs need to allow ease of movement between living spaces. The right curtain design, functionality and operational style will accentuate your home and help you meet your lifestyle goals. The following options balance both practicality and style.
Curtain solutions for sliding doors
Choose sheer sliding door or patio door curtains for an open, spacious feel. They diffuse natural light without compromising ventilation. For bedrooms connected to balconies, add double tracks and pair sheers with blockout curtains for versatile light control and privacy.
French door curtains
When paired with French doors, pleated curtains made from sheer or blockout fabric create a classic, welcoming appearance. Position the control system and curtain stacking in a location that doesn’t interfere with door operation.
Bifold door curtains
Hardware for bifold doors that stack outside is usually mounted inside, allowing doors to open outward without obstruction. To open your bifold doors easily, combine elegance with functionality by installing sheer curtains on an extended track.
Team up with the experts in premium window and door solutions in Melbourne
Aspect Windows provides high-quality timber windows and doors to enhance the appearance and functionality of your home. Combine these with the custom window furnishing design consultations offered by our partners at SOM Blinds, who will help you select the best blinds and curtains to pair with your timber doors and windows. The SOM Blinds team can help you integrate your window furnishings with your home design by working directly with your builder or architect. Browse our range of timber door and window products or call us on 03 9768 3944 today.
