4 Living Room Window Treatment Ideas with Pros & Cons

Looking for the right blinds, shades, curtains, draper or window coverings for your living room to enhance style and functionality of the room and improve the quality of time you spend with your family? Explore our list of modern, practical living room window treatment ideas, so you’ll have lots of options to get the perfect match for your style and needs.

Does your living room’s window face south, capturing the most direct sun throughout the day? Better cover it with 5% open solar shades, which will soften harsh light and provide enough daytime privacy. If your home is closer to the north pole, cover windows of your lounge and other rooms with insulating honeycomb blinds to resist the chilling winter cold.

If you have a spacious, tastefully decorated sitting room, curtains or patterned Roman shades will better complement the overall decor, while also providing brightness control. To bring warmth of real wood into your living room, consider wood blinds and shutters. These window treatments will also resist the impact of gales, gusts, and storms.

Scroll on to learn about modern window treatments for living rooms, with pros and cons of each type.

6 Key Benefits of Living Room Window Treatments Most Homeowners Look for

1. Kerb or decorative appeal
2. Maintain the right amount of visibility in your living space
3. Add privacy (both day- & nighttime)
4. Protect furniture and furnishings from harsh sun
5. Improve the feeling of security in your sitting room
6. Cut down on energy use, helping you save big on power bills
7. Affordability without compromising on fit and quality

8 Dos of Living Room Window Treatments

1. Hang curtains higher, wider to make your shorter, narrower windows look bigger.
2. Mount roll-up panels inside the recess to save space and get a sleek look.
3. Choose double cell fabrics, if insulation and energy efficiency is your top priority.
4. Add 3 to 3.5” to pre-stitched fabrics to make them look fluffier, more complete, and better light blocking.
5. Get floor length curtains to make them the focal point of your room.
6. Pair heavy curtains with faux wood blinds to create a soundproofing effect and establish a serene indoor environment.
7. Do measure the length and width of the window/s before ordering blinds or shades.
8. Do consider deductions to ensure smooth up and down operation of the window coverings.

5 Don’ts of Living Room Window Treatments

1. Don’t always go for cheaper options, as some cost-effective options are less durable and create a downgraded look
2. Avoid excessive layering, as multiple layers will make your living room window look bulkier and difficult to operate.
3. Don’t install drapes right above the frame, as they may obstruct the opening and closing of the window and can give your entire space a crowded look.
4. Never go for corded blinds and shades if you have kids or pets in your home, as they may pose a safety risk.
5. Your curtains shouldn’t fall more than 2” inside the frame when fully lowered.
6. Don’t ignore well-paired drapery hardware – always go for a color-coordinated hardware for a complete, cohesive look.

4 Best Window Treatments for Living Rooms with Pros & Cons

1. Roller Blinds – Sleek Fit on Single-Hung, Double-Hung & Bow Windows in Lounges

Pros

• A sleek, slim-fit design – roller shades least space for installation and operation
• A budget-friendly choice, prices of basic light filtering models typically start from as low as $42 for a 24×36” window
• Come with sheer, light filtering, & blackout opacities to provide you with various levels of light control
• Can be cut to size for individual frames in a bay or bow window in living rooms
• Won’t interfere with the un/down sliding of the single-hung, double-hung windows.

Cons

• Limited insulation compared to cellular shades
• Vertical-only adjustment and opening/closing
• Potential light gaps
• Being lightweight, roller shades may flap in the wind
• An expensive option for irregular shaped windows

Expert Functional Tip

Edwin B. Jacobs, a window treatment professional with over a decade long experience in the industry, recommends a thicker 0% open fabric or a heat blocking liner to enhance the insulation power of your windows.

2. Luxury Living Room Curtains – Add Grace & Light Blocking Capability to Windows

Pros

• Typically made from velvet, luxury curtains can add sheen, an immediate sense of opulence, and unparalleled beauty to your living room’s interior.
• Rich texture and luxe appearance.
• Inherent elegance and enhanced architecture.
• Can act as a barrier against drafts, light breeze, gentle breeze, and moderate breeze.
• Enhance privacy and comfort of family gatherings.
• Regular temperature, adding to the energy efficiency and luxury of your living room environment.

Cons

• Curtains made from heavy, voluminous fabrics can make your living room feel smaller.
• High quality, custom-made curtains can be as expensive as Roman shades, with prices typically starting from $200 (an amount sufficient to buy 4 faux wood blinds of the same size!)
• Can attract dust, debris, and, if you have kids, fingerprints, adding to their difficulty of cleaning
• Installation of curtains requires more time and can be pricier.

3. Cellular Shades – Best Option for Insulation & Energy Efficiency

Pros

• A holistic solution for year round comfort in your living room
• Air-filled pocketed design, creating an excellent barrier for the flow of heat across the windows
• Prevent Heatwaves & cold drafts from entering your living room
• Available in double-cell and triple cell designs for the best possible insulation
• Can reduce solar heat gain by up to 60% in cooling season and reduce heat loss by more than 40% in winter, according to US Department of Energy
• Dampen outside sound better than rollers and Roman shades
• Excellent sound absorption potential for living room windows facing a noisy street

Cons

• Empty cellular compartments collect dust and dirt, making them harder to clean correctly than roller shades and faux wood blinds.
• They don’t stack as compactly as roller shades or mini blinds.
• Not as affordable as roll-up fabric window coverings

4. Roman Shades – the right window coverings for increased decorative appeal plus functionality

Pros

• Lots of fold styles to choose from – flat fold, soft fold, plain classic fold, European relaxed fold, front slat fold, etc.
• Create a cozy feel and comfortable, relaxing vibe in your living room
• Add a thicker, luxurious finish to your family room with interlining
• Can be paired with blackout lining for reduced light levels
• Sufficient natural thermal protection – available in thicker fabrics to create an insulation barrier between your living room and the window

Cons

• A more expensive option than rollers and cellulars – while roller shades cost $42 to $320 and cellular shades $45 to $400, even the basic models of Roman shades are typically priced between $180 and $550.
• Bulkier stacking at the top when fully raised
• Low water resistance
• Susceptible to staining and mold in moist environments
• Their beautiful folds make them a bit more difficult to clean!

Other Alternatives That Homeowners Frequently Go for

• Wooden Blinds & shutters – sturdiness, sense of security, privacy, and light customization (with adjustable slats), all combined in one window treatment!
• Vertical Blinds – a practical, elegant, and easy to operate option for floor-to-ceilign living room windows, thanks to the stackability of the vertical slats to either side of the window.
• Drapery Panels – Pair soft lined drapery panels with woven shades to add depth, texture, and a gorgeously unique look to your living room window.
• Mini blinds – Have a small 2 by 3 feet window parallel to the door or opening to the backyard? With their 1” tiltable slats, mini blinds will provide easy light control, view-through and operation.
• Modern valances for living room – While ornate valance with over-the-top ruffles are no more in style in 2025, modern valance with flat, tailored look are still current with today’s trends.

FAQs about Living Room Window Coverings

What are the trendy window treatments 2025?

• Woven wood bamboo blinds – preferred for their organic look and capability to filter light while also blocking the view.
• Curtains – timeless, stylish, updated, and continuously evolving to meet the needs of contemporary decor styles.
• Room Darkening, Not Total Light Blocking Sheer Shades – People prefer to cover their bedrooms and media rooms with semi-opaque fabric that let in at least 3 to 5% of light, so they can walk without stumbling or hitting objects when lights are off in the rooms.
• Remove/App Controlled Motorization – Very widespread and very much liked by luxury-lovers, motorized window coverings can be controlled by mere touch of a button or a tap on smartphone screen!

What does Joanna Gaines use for window treatments?

On her TV shows, Joanna Gaines – a celebrated American interior designer with impressive 14M Instagram followers – has been spotted using neutral-colored soft-linen Roman curtain panels on hardwood floors and natural woven wood shades on farmhouse-themed decors. She makes such inclusive choices that they get perfectly blended into the surroundings.

Why do people prefer blinds over curtains?

While curtains block either all light or no light, blinds give you the freedom to decide how much and which way light enters your apartment. WIth 90-degree tiltable slats, blinds are the perfect option for controlling brightness and privacy for the whole day, irrespective of which direction the sun is facing the window.

Is it better to have curtains or blinds in the living room?

While neither option is inherently better, the choice solely depends on your priorities for style, functional customizability, size of the window & room, and maintenance. If you have a sizable, tastefully decorated room which has an appetite for warmth and texture, go for full-length, multi-panel curtains.

On the other hand, blinds will work best if your sitting room space is tight. Blinds are also a practical option for precise light control and easy maintenance. To harvest the benefits of both, you can layer faux wood blinds with sheer curtains.

What window treatments never go out of style?

• Roman shades – a versatile, evergreen window treatment option, with 100’s of colors, fabric designs, fold styles, and size to fit any window, any decor, any space!
• Roller Blinds – Simple, sleek, space-optimized option with futuristic design variations for changing times.
• Shutters – sturdy, functional window treatments to enhance the sun protection and security of your home.
• Wood Blinds – balance natural organic beauty with functionality, offering lasting appeal and blending with evolving home styles.

Need More Help?

Need design consultation, opacity, quality, or other help for your living 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.