The living room is one of the most versatile spaces in your home. It’s where you relax, entertain guests, enjoy the view, watch TV and spend time with family. The right living room window treatments should be just as versatile, helping you manage natural light, privacy, glare and comfort while complementing the style of the room.
Because every living room is different, the best solution depends on your windows and how you use the space. Large expanses of glass may call for better glare and heat control, while street-facing windows may need more privacy. Open-concept rooms can introduce another challenge: coordinating shades, shutters, drapery and door coverings throughout a shared space. Let’s explore some of the possibilities.
What to Consider for Living Room Windows
Before choosing a particular style, think about what you need your living room window treatments to accomplish. Do you want to preserve an outdoor view while softening bright sunlight? Does afternoon glare make it difficult to watch TV? Are large windows causing the room to heat up? Do you need privacy without sacrificing natural light?
Window size, sun exposure and the way you use the room can all influence the right choice. If sunlight changes dramatically throughout the day, our guide to balancing natural light based on window direction explains how east-, west-, north- and south-facing windows can require different approaches.
Enjoy Natural Light & Preserve Your View
Large living room windows often provide some of the best views in the home. Covering them doesn’t mean you have to give up the scenery or all that beautiful natural light. Sheer shades can soften intense sunlight and reduce glare while maintaining a connection with the outdoors.
Adjustable fabric vanes make it possible to change the atmosphere as sunlight shifts throughout the day. You can enjoy softly filtered daylight and outdoor views, then adjust the shades when you need greater privacy or relief from bright sun. Pirouette® Window Shades are one option for creating this flexible balance of light, view and privacy.
Add Style with Fabric & Texture
Living rooms are an ideal place to introduce fabric, color and texture. Window treatments can complement upholstery, rugs and other finishes while adding another layer of visual interest to the room.
Woven shades introduce organic texture, while fabric shades offer an extensive range of colors, patterns and materials. Custom Roman shades are another beautiful choice for living rooms, creating soft, tailored folds that can coordinate with furnishings and other textiles throughout the space.
Layer Shades & Custom Drapery
Layering window treatments is especially effective in a living room, where both design and function matter. Custom drapery can frame the windows, bring height to the room and introduce color, pattern and softness. Pairing drapery with a shade also gives you additional flexibility for privacy and light control.
The treatments don’t have to compete with each other. Coordinating fabrics, colors and finishes allows the layers to work together as part of the overall living room design. Explore more ideas for layering drapery with window shades to see how the combination can add both style and function.
Plantation Shutters for Living Rooms
Plantation shutters are a popular choice for Austin living rooms because they add architectural character while providing adjustable light control and privacy. Tilting the louvers lets you redirect incoming sunlight or close them when you want greater privacy.
Shutters also work beautifully in open floor plans. They can be customized for different window sizes and specialty shapes while maintaining a consistent architectural look across adjoining living, dining and kitchen spaces. Split tilt can provide even more flexibility, allowing different sections of the louvers to be adjusted independently for light and privacy.
Window Treatments for Large Living Room Windows
Living rooms often feature some of the largest windows in the home. Floor-to-ceiling windows and wide expanses of glass can create spectacular views and abundant natural light, but they can also introduce glare and unwanted heat. The size and orientation of the glass, along with how frequently you want to access the view, should all influence your choice of treatment.
Depending on the windows, options can include cellular shades, roller shades, sheer shades and other treatments designed to cover larger expanses of glass without overwhelming the room. Explore our guide to window treatments for large windows for more ideas.
Living Rooms That Double as Media Rooms
If your living room is also where everyone gathers to watch movies, sports or television, you’ll probably want more control over incoming light. A bright, open space might be perfect during the day but frustrating when sunlight creates glare across the screen.
Dual shades provide a wide range of light control by combining two fabrics at the window. You can enjoy filtered natural light during the day and lower the secondary room-darkening shade when it’s time for a movie. For spaces where darkness is a priority, explore our room darkening and blackout shade solutions.
Coordinate Windows & Doors in Open-Concept Spaces
Living rooms often connect to kitchens, dining areas and outdoor spaces, which means you may have traditional windows and glass doors within the same sightline. Your window treatments don’t necessarily have to match. Instead, they can coordinate while giving each opening the functionality it needs.
For example, horizontal sheer shades can cover living room windows while coordinating vertical sheers operate smoothly across a nearby sliding glass door. Fabrics, colors and finishes can tie the treatments together for a cohesive look. If your living space opens to a patio or backyard, explore our window treatments for sliding glass doors for solutions designed specifically for doors and wide openings.
Make Living Room Shades Easier with Automation
Living rooms with multiple or hard-to-reach windows can require frequent adjustments as sunlight changes throughout the day. Motorized shades make those adjustments easier, allowing you to control individual shades or groups of shades with a remote, smartphone or compatible smart home system.
Automation can be especially helpful when intense afternoon sunlight reaches the living room. Shades can be scheduled to adjust as the sun moves across your home, or you can create favorite settings for relaxing, entertaining or watching TV.
Find the Right Window Treatments for Your Living Room
There isn’t one living room window treatment that’s right for every Austin home. The best choice depends on your windows, sunlight, privacy needs, view, decorating style and how your family uses the room.
Our Austin Window Fashions team can help you compare fabrics, finishes, opacity levels, operating systems and window treatment features to find the right combination for your space. Visit our showroom to explore the options in person, or let our designers bring samples and ideas to your home during a FREE in-home consultation. Contact Austin Window Fashions to get started.
