Wherever you choose to buy your new home, one essential step in creating a beautiful interior is deciding how to treat your windows. If you’ve purchased from Kylemore, you’ll enjoy an abundance of large, light-filled windows designed to make every room feel brighter and more open.

I’m often asked for advice on adding blinds and drapes, and it’s an important finishing detail I prioritize when designing our model homes. Window treatments aren’t just functional; they’re a powerful design element that shapes how a space feels.

Dress your windows, define your style

The right window coverings bring warmth, personality and a sense of completion to a room, just like the perfect piece of furniture or a stunning piece of artwork. Drapes, sheers and shades do more than cover glass; they help express your style.

So many choices, so much potential

Today’s options for window treatments are nearly endless, with lots of innovative and exciting choices. From side panels and flowing drapery to sleek shutters, classic blinds and shades, you can create any mood you desire. There are equally as many varieties of materials from rich fabrics to natural textures, such as wood, bamboo and rattan, as well as metal and high-tech plastics. Your budget and personal style will help determine the direction you take.

Tip: In an open-concept floorplan, for example, where the kitchen, breakfast and family or great room are adjoining, choose a palette that is consistent through this space but need not be all the same type of window covering.

Working with colour: Keep it soothing or let it pop

When styling our model homes, I often select neutral shades for window treatments. This creates a versatile foundation, letting bold furniture or vibrant accessories take centre stage.

If you love bold patterns or rich colour, try layering. For example, a subtle blind inside the window frame paired with patterned fixed drapery panels on either side. This will give you the impact you’re looking for without locking you into one look for the long-term.

Tip: If your room already has strong patterns – think wallpaper or statement tile – a solid curtain or blind in a coordinating neutral tone helps calm the visual noise.

Privacy with personality

Privacy is key, especially in bedrooms, bathrooms and perhaps also in rooms facing streets or close neighbouring homes. Silhouette shades are a stylish solution, offering both soft light and obscuring views into the room when you want it.

Tip: For bedrooms, consider blackout fabrics or room-darkening blinds; these can make a real difference in sleep quality and overall comfort.

Understated elegance, layered luxury

Modern window treatments are all about blending form and function. I’ve been using many distinctive styles to suit the interior design in model homes, from soft fabric Roman shades and textured sheers to tailored tab-top curtains.

Pinch-pleated or ripple-fold drapery works beautifully in transitional homes, while wooden blinds, used alone or with fabric panels, bring warmth and character to a more contemporary themed home.

Want a more luxurious touch? Try layering curtains: Pair a sheer or linen for softness and privacy, topped with velvet or silk drapes in a bold pattern for extra richness.

Tip: Hang curtain rods at ceiling height and let drapes fall to the floor; this draws the eye upward and makes the room feel taller. For everyday functionality, motorized tracks are worth the upgrade.

Bathroom windows

Bathrooms deserve beautiful window treatments too. Light-diffusing shades, bold drapes or simple linen panels can balance privacy with style.

Bring each bathroom to life with a brightly painted chair, decorative side table or lush green plant, simple additions that turn a bathroom into a personal retreat.

Whatever mood you want to create – serene, sophisticated or vibrant – your window treatments help bring that vision to life, completing the appearance with a practical and functional element.

Coming up next… Let’s talk flooring

In my next column, we’ll explore another critical design element: Flooring. From timeless hardwood to stylish vinyl and my new favourite – porcelain tile – you’ll discover how to ground your home’s interior design with beauty and durability.