Living room curtains are an important supporting feature that tie together a room’s whole look. The right window treatment softens natural light, adds contrast and texture, and visually lengthens the room. Get the curtains right and they’ll subtly complement the rest of your interior design dreams.

In this guide, check out how to choose curtains for your living room, from hem styles and opacity to length and curtain rods. These modern curtain ideas will help you set the stage for an applaud-worthy interior design aesthetic.

What to consider before choosing living room window curtains 

Curtains might not be the first decor choice you make in a living room, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a space-defining detail. The right set of drapes should be a team player, reinforcing color palettes, mirroring or contrasting other textiles, and putting a finishing touch on the room’s architecture.

Here are four guiding factors to consider when picking the best living room curtains for your space. 

1. Curtain style, color, and pattern

Window treatments upgrade the space they’re in. Solid neutral shades tend to fade into the background of modern spaces, while bold patterned curtains and deep color palettes make a statement in eclectic interior design styles. You’ll also want to match the curtain finish to the overall tone of the room. For example, an imperceptible box pleat fits into a minimalist style, while an ornate pinch pleat elevates a traditional sofa with hand-carved detailing.

2. Light and privacy requirements

How much light filters into the room? How much privacy do you want? The type of fabric you choose for your curtains will determine the amount of natural light and privacy in the room. Sheer curtains flood the space with natural light but only a little bit of privacy, making them well-suited for urban homes facing away from busy streets. Heavy drapes and blackout curtains keep rooms dark and cool, ideal for a TV room or living room that gets too much direct sunlight.

3. Existing room style and color

Great styling is like great music. In interior design, decor should vary the tempo. Curtains can either copy or allude to dominant motifs, depending on how busy you’d like the room to be. 

For example, imagine a living room with a beautiful floral area rug. If you’re trying to create a maximalist space, fabric curtains with botanical patterns might make the whole room feel like you’re walking through an English garden. On the other hand, blush-colored curtains can subtly reference the floral details in a transitional or more traditional design.

4. Ceiling height and window dimensions

Curtains that hang high and wide make windows appear larger and ceilings taller. Floor-length panels are the standard for living rooms, but for a more dramatic look, go for long drapery in lush curtain fabrics that pool on the floor. Hang curtains slightly above the top of your windowsill to elongate the room.

How to choose curtain colors

Curtains can blend into the background, steal the show, or tie disjointed decor details together in one swoop. While you think about what colors work best in your space, consider how your curtain color will interact with the rest of the interior design.

Blend with the wall color

If your design vibe is minimalistic, Scandinavian, or traditional, matching curtains can help you create a seamless look that promotes a calm, sophisticated vibe. Choose a tone a shade or two darker than your wall color to make your living room window treatment pop without drawing too much attention away from the rest of the room.

Choose a darker or richer tone for contrast

Deeper hues like charcoal, forest green, and sapphire frame windows like a painting. They can reinforce a luxurious or glamorous aesthetic, especially if you pick out opulent fabrics like velvet. Dark curtains add weight and sharpen the living room’s design structure, whether that’s spotlighting a gorgeous view or directing focus toward a unique couch and coffee table centered in front of the sill.

Find dark green curtains with Onton

Echo accent colors from decor for cohesion

Look for curtain colors that match the shades of existing accents — eggplant paired with plum-toned linen throw pillows, canary shades next to a glossy yellow modern floor lamp, or red polka dots near a burst of vermillion in wall art. Echoing color and pattern accents helps everything click into place, making every design choice feel purposeful without being overly matchy. 

Living room curtain lengths and hanging tips

Before purchasing window curtains, measure the length and width of your windows, as well as the space between the sill and the ceiling and floor. Hanging curtains close to the ceiling and touching the floor will elongate the space.

As a general rule of thumb, a curtain panel’s bottom hem should either pool on the floor, graze the floor or windowsill, or barely float above either. Otherwise, the curtains will have an awkward gap that might feel like they weren’t tailored for the space. Many living room curtains will reach the floor, but length is one of many design decisions you can personalize.

There’s a little bit more leeway for the top hem length. Curtains can either drop down from the ceiling via curtain tracks or sit between the top window sill and the ceiling to show off a stylish hanging rod. Tension rods can sit inside deeper windowsills for a renter-friendly option, but you should allow some extra room in the top hem to avoid an awkward gap between the curtain and the upper sill.

How to choose window curtains for a living room: 3 tips

With so many different types of curtains for living rooms to choose from, it can be hard to land on the right drapery. Here are three tips you can use alongside Onton’s AI to imagine all the possibilities curtains can add to your interior design.

1. Select the right fabric

Choosing the right fabric is about more than appearances. Fabric type determines how much light filters in and whether the room feels laid-back or formal. Sheer, linen, and cotton blends lean casual and cozy, while heavy textiles like velvet and brocade curtains are elegant and insulating. If you want more privacy without sacrificing natural light, opt for layered curtains like sheer panels with jacquard drapes.

Browse velvet curtains on Onton

2. Pick a rod style that matches your decor

The curtain rod is still part of the overall design. Shiny metal rods with chrome or brass finishes will give the room a modern edge, while detailed carved wood or ornate finials are thoughtful additions to traditional or French country designs. To make everything feel carefully curated, look for rods that match other hardware in the room, like cabinet pulls or table lamps.

3. Pay attention to hems

There are lots of ways to sew the top hem of a curtain, including tabs, pleats, or grommets. Each one creates unique shadows and folds that blend in or stick out in your interior design. Grommet-top curtains are fitted with metal-rimmed holes that allow you to slide curtains easily and lay out uniformly. Pleats, on the other hand, have structured folds that read formal and sophisticated.

Find the best curtains for your living room with Onton 

Not sure which curtains fit into your dream living room? Let Onton’s AI-powered search engine help you find the right curtains before you transform your space. Get inspired with prompts like “velvet blackout curtains,” “patterned linen curtains,” or “sheer pleated curtains.” 

Then, bring it all to life with Onton’s Imagine tool, which lets you design your dream space and preview how different curtains will fit in. Try a prompt like “floral curtains and area rug in a maximalist living room” to see how it all looks.

Dream up your ideal living room curtains with Onton.