Placing a bed beneath a window is often considered a decorating no-no. The arrangement presents decorating challenges — especially if the window is thin — but it’s sometimes necessary due to the room. If you have to place your bed beneath a narrow window, leaving the window undressed or under aroused only emphasizes its clumsy dimensions. Rather, hang curtains in order that they stretch past the window’s frame and create the illusion that a larger window lies behind them.
Position the Bed
When you have to place your bed below a tall, narrow window, then use the arrangement to your advantage. Your bed will help camouflage the awkward window, and also the window covering you pick might accent your bed’s headboard — or even substitute for one. Center your bed beneath the window, enabling adequate floor space around its foot and sides. Measure the width of your bed and the height of the wall behind it. Once installed, the curtains should equal the width of your bed. Hang them near the ceiling and nearly to the floor. But confirm they don’t interfere with floor or wall vents.
Choose the ideal Curtains
Whether you get your curtains or make them yourself, then you’ll need two panels whose combined width is double the width of your bed. As you’re making the illusion of a larger window, then start looking for closely woven opaque fabrics instead of lace or sheers. When an expanse of bare wall is visible through the curtains, the illusion will not be prosperous. Select light-blocking or sealed drapes — if lighting and temperature management are worries — since the window is directly above the bed. Some curtain fashions move better on a pole than others. Grommet- and tab-topped curtains easily slide to every side of the window. Should you use rod-pocket curtains, tiebacks can pull the curtains from the window.
Install Hardware and Rods
When you shop for curtain rods and brackets, don’t procrastinate. Verify the rod is strong enough to hold the curtains you opt for, and the mounts must hold the pole securely and safely. Choose a rod style that complements the curtain material along with the room’s decor along with other hardware. To install the curtain pole, follow the manufacturer’s directions and use the right fasteners. Since the mounts are being mounted onto drywall or plaster instead of wood trim, they must be secured to a wall stud inside the wall or secured with anchor or toggle bolts. Use a measuring tape to mark the position of the mounts onto the wall a few inches from the ceiling and equal to the width of the bed. Test the pole to confirm it’s straight and protected in the mounts before you hang the curtains.
Add Finishing Touches
Your new curtains create an appealing backdrop for your own bed while hiding a tall, narrow window. When you want to let the sunshine in, open the curtains just to the width of the window to keep up the illusion you have created. To store the panels in place when they’re open, install a decorative bracket to either side of the window framework mid-way. Made from wood or metal in a number of fashions, the brackets give your window treatment a completed look. You may also use fabric or tasseled tiebacks and secure them into the window with little hooks. If your curtain rod contains plain finials, swap them out for finials produced from glass or cast metal in a style that suits your bedroom’s decor.