Open Floor Plan Curtain Ideas

If you have an open floor plan room, particularly if it is large with multiple windows or with patio doors, then you might be stumped for the best choice of window coverings.

There are several factors you’ll need to think about in picking curtains which will influence the kind of fabric and design you pick. 

Whether your curtains match in different zones of your open floor plan will be down to your taste and preference. But if you have multiple windows in different areas of the room then you might want to try mixing up fabrics and styles.

Classic Matching Curtains

This curtain design is neutral but soft and stands as a background to the rest of the room. The curtains are matching which world for this traditional scheme.

In any home, your eye will naturally be drawn to the window. If it’s a great view you may not want to detract from that by having plain curtains or even no window covering at all. 

If the view is a little less desirable then choose sheer voile panels to obscure the view and have fun with busy patterns.

These floor to ceiling curtains tone in with the other colors in the room and will provide warmth and a feeling of security at night.

Warm and Opulent 

Your climate and the amount of light which shines into the room will dictate the curtains you choose, as will the amount of privacy you desire. If you live in colder climes or where you have very cold winters, then velvet is a fabulous choice.

The texture is warm and glamorous, and a rich tone will create coziness. You will also have complete privacy at night when you can draw the curtains and shut out the world. 

Think also about whether or not to choose pattern. Plain curtains have a more classic, timeless or simple appeal. Pattern can make a statement, add color and interest, and also define the purpose of an area.

Cool and Sheer

If you want maximum light but also privacy, then sheer options available would be good for you. If you have a north facing window or little light then sheers will maximize the natural light coming in.

This delightful boho pattern says that you know your interior trends. Have a look around for translucent curtains with tassels and cool designs.

These curtains look best draped from the top of the window to the floor. This is such an elegant look. You can close them in the day for seclusion and the light will still shine through. 

For an even softer look then try a voile or muslin fabric. Imagine the curtains gently fluttering in the breeze while you sit quietly and read. A most romantic scene.

Matching Designs, Different Styles

This open floor plan kitchen and living area use the same fabric for these eye catching curtains in the living and dining areas. This keeps the coherence of the rooms but adds detail to otherwise plain furnishings.

The smaller kitchen window follows the theme with a roman blind in the same fabric. Easy to install and raised up away from splashes, this could be worth considering if you have a small window near a sink. 

Making Your Own Curtains

Sometimes windows or French doors are very large and the curtains to fit them can be costly. But if you can find some gorgeous but reasonably priced fabric which you love then it’s pretty easy to make your own.

If you don’t have a sewing machine or are not especially good at sewing, then fear not, as this guide will teach you how to make a pair of smart no-sew curtains. Simple!

Little and Large 

These curtains match without being identical. The patio doors in the living area have soft natural colored curtains which work perfectly at floor to ceiling height.

The smaller kitchen window makes the most of its feature arch by using a half window cafe style curtain in a similar shade of voile material. 

This keeps the two rooms separate but in tune in the same color scheme all held together in one room. 

Color Clash

This curtain and blind combo demonstrates how very different pattern and color fabrics can work together. Here the combination is put together in each window dressing. 

But you can visualize how you could use the pink floral fabric in one part of the room and the blue and white geometric design in another to denote zones. It’s about the overall cohesion. 

The pink walls and ceiling, and the dark blue walls are brought together by use of the accessories and soft furnishings. While the window coverings are busy, they are a muted backdrop to the bright sofa and the colorful pillows and flowers. 

In your open floor plan consider the areas, particularly if you have an irregular shaped room. If your windows sit in a nook, then think about choosing a different fabric to your other window coverings. 

And think about the length of curtains. Longer curtains speak of elegance, opulence and romance. Shorter lengths are more practical and daytime, so might be best in a breakfast room or kitchen.

Mismatch for Dash

You can absolutely have plain curtains at one window and patterned curtains in another area. This large open floor plan room hits the right note with mismatched curtains that tone in together harmoniously. 

The pattern and colors of these curtains tones in with the pillows and the art work next to the kitchen.

These zones are part of the same room but the room shape is irregular, defining each area. At the patio doors, the sheer curtain offers a soft frame to the seating area.

In the dining room the curtains are heavier. You can imagine them being pulled shut so that guests can enjoy an intimate, chatty dinner. 

Vary Pattern and Design

This smart kitchen living dining room takes a cool crisp gray as the window accent color. Interest is added in the dining area by using a modern pattern. The gray and white roman blind blends with the softer gray drape in the living area.

If you have a similar layout pick two complementary but different fabrics. Think also about whether you would choose curtains or blinds for smaller windows. 

Mix and Match

This example of non-matching curtains shows how outside the box thinking will get you a cool, unique look with minimal effort. The living area here has light, almost sheer, white curtains where the home office has a bright orange.

This look is very European. Think Amsterdam or Copenhagen where your apartment is a pad to rest between trendy job assignments and meeting up with friends in cool city bars.

Design Mash

This designer knows exactly how to choose complementary fabrics to add character to these plain sofas and walls. The busy pattern in the living area creates interest and brings in fun color and design. 

The fabric of the back door curtain is of a similar design and palette but a little more subdued. See how the contrasting designs section off each area. Consider how you may achieve the same in your open floor plan room.

Not for everyone, this look throws out the rule book for a little experimentation in color and design, but it seems to pull it off.

We might ask the question, should our curtains match in an open floor plan? Where we are talking about pairs of curtains matching or not in each zone. 

Here the designer mismatches the pairs using contrasting fabrics at each window. The bed linen which brings the look together.

What do you think? Would you mismatch within a pair of curtains? You don’t have to go as bold as this but you could try mixing two plain curtains in subtly different tones. 

Bare and There Curtains

Finally, you don’t have to have curtains in every window. It might be that if you have some large patio doors with an amazing garden to look at. Or perhaps you have a fantastic rural landscape or a panoramic city view. Then you may prefer not to have curtains or a window covering at all.

But in another part of the room for privacy or for a feeling of coziness you can draw in some warmth with some heavy curtains, like in this large open floor plan.

In Conclusion

If you like conventional styles and want to keep your open floor plan uniform, or if you prefer minimalism in design, then you can match your curtains throughout. This can also work for a feeling of flow.

For those who want to define zones, then opting for a mismatched look can work best. Use plain patterns in busy areas but detailed patterns where you want to add some drama. 

You’ll always need to consider the way each fabric choice reads, for example velvet for warmth and luxury, sheer for cool and romantic. Also think about how much natural light you have and want, as well as the level of privacy you need.

You can go all out in experimenting by going for different colors and patterns in different areas or even at the same window!