Finally! Our living room window limbo is no more. This weekend we actually got around to picking up some bamboo blinds to bridge the gap between the top of the window and the curtain rod. Gotta love making windows look bigger and taller while introducing some texture in the process.
Here’s the w.b.b. (window before blinds) totally begging for something under that rod:
And the finished product thanks to two wood blinds from Wal-mart (for 25 bucks a pop) and John’s manly muscles (free of course):
We actually have the same exact blinds in the den and above the laundry nook in lieu of pricey cabinet doors. We love that we could tie them into yet another space to keep things consistent and create the illusion height. White Ikea floor length curtains flanking these simple wood blinds is absolutely our favorite combination for big picture windows (and one that we often suggest to everyone who will listen) but what say you lovely readers? Think we did our home’s biggest window proud?
Psst- Wanna know more about finding the right window treatments for your home? Check out this exhaustive answer.
Alicia R. says
I LOVE this so much, I keep looking at this post to get inspiration on my dining room space…my only question is, privacy? Do you guys extend the blinds down at night? Or do you guys leave the blinds up all the time? I really love this idea, but my husband I are debating on the idea of having an open window. IF you do leave the blinds up, do you have any tips suggestions on this concept with privacy….thanks bunches!!!
YoungHouseLove says
We leave them up in most rooms because we have a big lot and are a nice distance from our neighbors & the street, but we do close the bedroom ones to block light. You can also install cheap roller shades behind the blinds to pull down for privacy at night, but pulling the blinds down works too.
xo,
s
Kelly says
I’m on to the window treatment phase in my new house, so all your tutorials are great! How do you arrange the two rods (blinds; panels) so they fit but aren’t busy? I’ve got interesting windows (4 24″ windows with a ~2″ of trim between each, with 2″ of wall on each side of the whole window conglomeration) and want to do panels to add softness to a contemporary space, but need something for street privacy. I just don’t know that I have enough space to make it all fit!
Looking forward to getting your book in the mail ( and irked that I’ll be out of town for work on the day of your Mongrel signing)!
YoungHouseLove says
I’d do woven/bamboo blinds for privacy and texture hung at the same height as the curtain rod. That way since they’re all in the same line they don’t look busy. Hope it helps!
xo
s
Kady says
How would you make the 2″ faux wood blinds work? Our living room is in the front of the house so I would really like to have the blinds but like the idea of the high and wide?!
YoungHouseLove says
Just hang the blinds at the same height as the curtain rod (high and wide) and they hopefully should work!
xo
s
Elizabeth says
I probably have a stupid question but when hanging the bamboo blinds underneath the rod, do you hang them on the interior of the wooden molding and not worry about the top foot missing because it’s covered with your curtain, or do you hang them on the outside of your wooden molding to make the window look bigger all around?
Thanks in advance,
-E
YoungHouseLove says
I’d hang them outside the molding to make it look bigger all around!
xo
s
Elizabeth says
I have two more questions for you actually, first one being do you hang the bamboo shade directly to the wall, and if so does that cause it to bump out at all when it goes over the top of the wooden molding? Or should I attach it to a small strip of wood to bump it out or something? And second do you know the exact brand and color of the blinds/shades you purchased from Walmart? I really like the coloring of yours and would rather just purchase the ones I like the first time.
Thanks again
-E
YoungHouseLove says
So sorry we don’t know the brand name or even if they still sell the same type. And as for hanging them, we just went directly into the wall (no bumping out with wood) and it worked really well and hung naturally. Hope it helps!
xo
s
Blair says
We tried it with the dark bamboo shades, but the two blinds do not line up exactly and look like two blinds hung side by side v. seamless like your’s….any suggestions? I tried brown duct tape on the back side, but it didn’t really work. Open to ideas…you guys are super creative!
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, would some sort of thick fabric band or trim piece from a store like JoAnn work? Or a leather belt to make a brown accent strap? Hope it helps!
xo
s
Colin says
This idea is great. Does it cost much to do that?
YoungHouseLove says
Ikea curtains are cheap and the blinds were inexpensive too!
xo
s