Asian Style Window Treatments with Pros & Cons

Fed up of western window treatment designs and looking for oriental or Asian style window treatments to break the monotony and bring in something different and unique? Explore our hand-picked selection of exotic oriental window blinds, shades, curtains, and window coverings.

Typical examples of Asian style blinds include traditional Sudare Japanese blinds, Chinese style Roman design living room curtains, asian window panels, & handcrafted Asian styles matchstick roll up blinds, and Indonesian Batik curtains and tribal mudcloth curtains.

The creative Asian style window treatment designs will add a typical Asian element to your interior decor. They embody themes deeply rooted in Asian cultural values, philosophies, and social norms that have been passed down for generations.

What Are Asian Window Treatments?

Asian window treatments are the window coverings styles prevalent in dominant Asian cultural hubs, such as Japan, China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Pakistan. They are categorized as soft window treatments (like sheer fabric curtains and draperies), hard window treatments (made from hard material like natural wood), and layered window treatments (such as bamboo blinds printed paired with printed fabric panels).

Besides providing a heightened natural aesthetic, Asian style window shades provide good privacy, light control, UV protection (blocking 70% to 80% of the UV rays), insulation, energy efficiency, and external noise reduction by absorbing some sound.

Unique Features of Asian Window Treatments

• Abundant in natural elements, like natural woods, rustic patterns, and floral prints
• Usually made from natural materials like bamboo, grasses, reeds, and even ropes for a textured, earthy look
• Available in muted earthy colors associated with nature, such as cream, beige, and shades of brown
• Add a fantastic Asian finishing touch to any American environment

Materials Choices for Asian Style Window Coverings

• Bamboo – Natural woven bamboo wood is the most common material used in Asian window blinds and curtains, often featuring printed artwork, such as a Chinese philosopher meditating on a mountain top or lotus blossoms emerging from the water.
• Grasses – Elegant sheer fabrics (like Satsu) are an Asian inspiration. Constructed from strong sustainable fibers of abaca interwoven with sedge, they are used to build blackout curtains for bedrooms, white curtains for living rooms, and outdoor curtains.
• Reeds – Tall, grass-like plants with hollow stems, reeds can be used to create traditional Japanese window screens and blinds. When interwoven with simple string, colored yarn, reeds can help create solid blinds, like Sudare, that can be installed as room dividers and window coverings.
• Matchsticks – Japanese-inspired matchstick blinds are usually created from thin, cylindrical pieces of natural materials, like bamboo, are highly valued for their natural beauty, minimalist look, light filtering ability and typical Asian earthy aesthetic.
• Jute – Hailed as the golden fiber in Bangladesh for its color and monetary value, jute is used to build elegant, practical blinds for bohemian spaces needing extra privacy and light control.
• Chinese brocade fabric – A patterned woven fabric, Chinese brocade is crafted from dyed silk threads. This type of Asian window covering is used to add cultural richness and a luxurious look to American homes.

6 Most Popular Asian Style Window Treatment Ideas

1. Floral Printed Bamboo Blinds – Durable, Renewable & Distinct Asian Decorative Style

Pros

• Add a fantastic Asian feature and finishing touch to any western environment
• A great oriental window treatment idea to elevate your home decor and create a harmonious ambiance
• Surprisingly inexpensive and lighter than other options like a Roman shade
• Easier to clean and maintain than plank wood blinds
• Perfect for windows in kids room, living room, kitchen

Cons

• May not blend well with neutral interior styles
• Printed design can fade when exposed to direct sun for longer durations
• Not true blackout
• Prone to moisture damages

Installation Advice

For a clean look and smooth operation, make sure the windows where you are going to mount these Asian style blinds have either no trim molding or a fairly flat molding.

2. Horizontal, Retractable Asian style Roller Blinds – Beauty, Functionality, & Convenience

Pros

• The same sleek western roller blinds with an Asian touch – fabrics printed with high-resolution botanical artwork
• When not in use, fabric can be retracted into a smart, spring-loaded roller tube, clearing the entire window opening for an unobstructed outside view
• Smooth roll-up operation, as the fabric evenly winds around the tube
• Well-priced Asian style window treatments – prices of basic light filtering roller shades starting from just $45 for 24×36 windows

Cons

• Vertical-only opening/closing and adjustment
• Unsuitable for patios, sliding doors, and large windows, as they cannot be opened side to side
• Provide less insulation compared to honeycomb blinds
• Not a great choice for very narrow and shaped windows

Expert Tip

If you are looking for energy efficient Asian window coverings, select 38mm Asian-themed honeycomb blinds. However, they have a drawback – their empty air-trapping cellular compartments will attract dust particles & pollutants, leading to maintenance and safety concerns. The solution is: layer them with a dust-repellent liner, which will also further enhance insulation.

3. Elegant Chinese Style Curtains – Nature-themed Blinds with Simple Artistic Prints

Pros

• Modern Chinese lightweight luxury window curtains
• Create a soft, ambient light in your room, forming a beautiful, exotic lacework of light and shade
• Typically crafted from 100% polyester or blends of cotton and linen – durable and sturdy construction
• Geometric prints and floral designs in classic, low-resolution colors
• Ideal for hotels, restaurants, eateries, and halls for public gathering

Cons

• Fabric is easy to wrinkle after washing – poor shape retention.
• With a looser weave, they will not provide the same level of privacy as opaque or lined fabric curtains.
• Susceptible to sun damage – less suitable for windows that remain directly exposed to the sun for the most part of the day.
• Chinese curtains from only polyester are heat-sensitive and they lack breathability, causing suffocation problems in your room.

4. Japanese Cherry Blossom Curtains – A Symbol of Historical Richness, Renewal, & Fleeting Beauty

Pros

• Add vibrant colors and a clear image to your room’s interior
• Symbolic of Japanese culture in paintings, poetry, film, and literature
• Feature blackout and sheer options
• Made from elegant, soft sheer fabric panels, with stylish designs and rod pockets choices
• Cherry blossom prints represent the historical richness and colorful life of samurai warriors
• Thick material – act as an excellent insulator against summer heat and winter cold
• Ideal for indoor use for privacy and noise reduction
• Room darkening option to ensure deeper, higher quality sleep in your bedroom and nursery

Cons

• May clash with neutral decor styles
• Dominant cherry blossom patterns can be overwhelming in small spaces
• Prone to stains, adding to maintenance costs
• May not fit minimalist aesthetic due to their heavier, substantial appearance

5. Indian Window Blinds – a Fusion of Sub-continental Art & Functionality

Pros

• Choose from curry color, saffron color, and bollywood gold fabrics with diwali motifs.
• Neat, space-optimized, and functional – an inexpensive, space-saving alternative to Roman shades.
• A lightweight alternative to heavy curtains and drapes
• Dimout options – control light by adjusting sheer and opaque layers of fabric.
• Perfect for cafes, living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, and other spaces where you need rustic elegance with an artistic touch and functionality

Cons

• When lowered, they may bring in light from the sides
• Much more expensive than roller blinds, faux wood blinds and aluminum blinds
• Indian style window shades made from bamboo will grow mildew in humid environments
• Diwali emojis may fade due to excessive, prolonged exposure to direct sun

6. Pakistani Verman Shangri-La Blinds – Mythical Beauty & Layered Light Diffusion

Pros

• Shangri-La themed blinds to add a mythical earthly paradise touch to your home’s interior
• A modern, luxurious option to take the look and feel of your windows to new heights
• Soft appearance and geometrical design
• A 4-in-one design construction – combine motorized, sheer, venetian, and roller blind designs
• Translucent design – best suited for drawing room, children’s play hall, and study rooms
• Combine the light filtering capabilities of sheer fabric and the light blocking potentials of solid horizontal vanes
• Create a hazy look and absolute privacy in your lounges, decks, and sun rooms
• Can be positioned fully open to allow air circulation, helping to keep insects out of your home

Cons

• Susceptible to discoloration over prolonged periods of time
• With a corded lift, they can be a hazard around your children
• Intricate construction may collect dust, dirt, and pollens, making them more challenging to clean
• May not block all light – unsuitable for bedrooms and home theaters

Safety Advice

If you have young children and pets in your home, we highly recommend cordless window treatments that eliminate strangulation hazards. Moreover, US Federal Regulations for Custom Window Coverings no more allow corded window coverings in residential and commercial spaces.

FAQs about Asian Style Window Coverings

What is the newest trend in window treatments?

Motorized natural woven shades layered with bold patterned sheer blinds are the newest trend in 2025. This unique combination offers multiple benefits, from adding a touch of organic elegance to creating a soft layering effect to giving you the freedom to raise or lower the blinds with an app while you are away from your home.

How can I make my windows look luxurious?

• Install velvety sheer curtains and hang them high and wide to create a perfectly luxurious look.
• Layer Roman shades with sheer curtains to add a deeper aesthetic to your windows.
• Add gilded molding or trim around the frame to make your window the focal point of your interior decoration.
• Create sharp color contrasts by installing sky blue, light green or shallow red window coverings against neutral (white, silver, ivory) colored walls, carpeting, and furniture.
• Mount wide 2.5” slatted vertical blinds on a sleeker headrail, to add to the prominence of your windows.
• Motorized blinds made from high quality materials are the most luxurious option for windows.

What is the most popular type of window treatment?

Soft roller shades, also known as sheer window curtains have long been favorite of homeowners and businesses for their clean lines, extraordinary light filtering ability and simple, straightforward roll-up operation. In 2025, they remain the most popular choice for both homes and offices, thanks to their availability in light filtering, room darkening, and blackout opacities without a liner.

What window treatments never go out of style?

• Roman shades – a versatile, evergreen window treatment option both in the European and the eastern or Asian world, with 100’s of colors, fabric designs, fold styles, and size to fit any window, any decor, any space!
• Simple draperies – considered a symbol of culture, wealth and tradition, simple draperies have been used in Asian cultures for centuries, providing excellent insulation, heat retention, privacy and other benefits.
• Roller Blinds – Simple, sleek, space-optimized option with futuristic design variations for changing times.
• Shutters – sturdy, functional window treatments to enhance the equatorial, tropical, and subtropical Asian sun protection and security of homes in India, China, Myanmar, and Taiwan.
• Wood Blinds – balance natural organic beauty with functionality, offering lasting appeal and blending with evolving Asian home styles.

Need More Help?

Need design consultation, quality, mounting guide, or other help/information about Asian style window treatments? We’re ready to assist and invite you to 24/7 live chat. Or contact us at (800) 863-6109, or customerservice@affordableblinds.com for further assistance.