First....take a deep breath.

They really don't look awful.

You said you can't paint the walls - but can you hang something on them?

What about some coordinating artwork to the left of the window - or a set of cool mirrors?

I agree w/ Janice .... deep breath.

Now that you've hopefully regained perspective, i like them best while open so I'd add a calm neutral shade for nighttime privacy. The drapes color may work in other locations with a less contrasty accent wall so your investment is not lost. If the shade idea doesn't appeal, I suppose you could add an interesting sheer overlay to tone down the deep color but I don't know that I'd bother.

I also agree that some dramatic art will help balance the room.

I don't think they look that bad either.

But if you don't like them, you don't. I think it's more the texture of the fabric than the color that is bothering you.

You could shorten them to sill length and at least that way get rid of some of the fabric and they'd look less like "theatre" curtains.

If you really hate them and would just as soon get rid of them, then there's nothing lost by playing with the fabric.

You can try dying the fabric to a different color.

You can buy another fabric and put appliques on this using this as a background. They make iron on adhesives that will stick to both sides...so you iron it onto the new fabric, cut out the shape you want then peel the paper backing and iron onto the drape. You could do leaves, stripes, diamonds, flowers, circles or whatever....your imagination is your only limit. You could also play with fabric paint to create a new image. Or they make paint-on dyes to play with too.

As blessings suggested, you could buy a sheer fabric and if you're not into sewing, you could have someone who is sew an overlay on it.

You could also just leave them open and buy a wooden pull up blind...roll up or roman... to mount under the drape. Hang them at the ceiling and then you can raise the blind part way to cover the a/c unit and still enjoy the view.

They are not bad at all, I was expecting much worse.

I wouldn't tamper with them, they are what they are, and they'll be open most of the time. They add a nice pop of colour actually.

People forget how much visual impact long drapes have, off white or white are always my go to colour, or non colour.

I agree they are a disaster and would return them or sell on ebay and start over. The color itself isn't bad, but they are shiny----that's what makes them look out of place in your room. i would try to find curtains in a different material in the same color.

Good luck--- there's not a person here who hasn't made a mistake of this magnitude or much worse. I still have nightmares about my epic wallpaper mistake.

They are not that bad and I think you need to bring more of that color into the room, the pillow on the couch looks good and stands out, you've been given some great tips, I'm looking forward to see what you decide to do.

I think they are too much curtain for the size of the room and the wrong feel for the room. Something less dramatic for the curtains with a top-down bottom-up shade would work.

First off, I want to understand why you were drawn to them in the first place. What did you like about them?
Everyone out there, raise your hand if you too have made a mistake like this? I have plaid chairs that were custom ordered in my living room. When they arrived, I was devastated. Lesson learned, always order a large sample of a fabric to see how the pattern really will look, not assume from a swatch.
I agree that it is just too much fabric, even open. I think one panel will do for both sides. Have them cut and I think they will look much better. Always leave them open and get a bottom to top shade when you need light control or privacy since you have the air conditioner on the upper part of the window.
I agree about ebay, not sure how much you will actually get though.

I agree to alter to sill length and then bring in the drape color in artwork, more pillows, and some colorful accessories. Right now it's too much drape and too much neutral in the rest of the room.

Is there a light shining on them that can be toned down or moved? I can see where they may appear a bit bright or glowing. Is that your problem with them? I agree that the right art piece next to them could make them appear to have been a deliberate choice rather than a mistake (your word, not mine). They're really not that bad.
If it's any comfort, I have made the same mistake of using a small swatch and ending up with something that seems totally different; and in my case it means reupholstering. So I've lived with it for a while. It happens.

I know this will sound crazy, but I think it would look nice to cover that entire wall with the curtains. It would look like an accent wall. I think part of the reason the curtains look odd is that they appear to be a big square of bright fabric and too formal for the room. I also think part of the problem is that they are too gathered. A less lush pleat might help, but I don't know what you can do about that now.

I actually like the color a lot. Good luck.

I wouldn't shorten them. They don't look that bad, but if you shorten them, then they'll look awful.
Is there room to mount some blinds or a roller shade on the window? Then you can just keep them open.
And add a couple more pillows around the room in that color tone, too.

I would try selling them on Craigs List (the next person needs to see them in person).

If you were already planning (not suggesting to invest more in something you don't like), I notice there is no art on the wall. You need to bring more of the red and gold around the room. At least get some bright art on the wall next to them.

Some sheers (can you do that with an a/c?) would reduce the amount of red, keeping the drapes open as only an accent color.

My first thought was the same as dedtired's. To use one of the panels from the other room (assuming they are the same color) to make them cover that whole wall. Then get some less expensive ones for your other room. You also could look at some removable/temporary wall paper to beef up the color in the room so they are not so dominant. I actually love the color, but agree the shininess would be a problem for me.

If that wouldn't work for you, then maybe the idea of cutting them down, so they are a smaller panel on each side of the window, and getting a blind or shade for light control will lessen their presence.

Here is a link that might be useful: temporary wallpaper

As for renting and painting, every lease I've ever had simply says we must return the wall color to the same when we leave, or leave it neutral etc. So I would not rule out painting over the brown wall if you find it dark. Ask your landlord if you can paint it a lighter neutral.

The curtains are a bit shiny, if you can sell them do - you can find nice curtains at Ikea for $25, I like their linen ones. Even if you sell the current curtains at half of what you paid and then buy cheaper ones at Ikea, you will still be out less $$ and have curtains you like better. Maybe a children's theatre needs new curtains :)

I would not shorten them or alter them, chances are anything you do will make them worse not better. And you stand a chance of selling them as is.

I agree with snookums2. Another idea, though you didn't ask about this is to change your room layout. Can the TV go in front of the drapes/window wall and sofa opposite? I know you said you cannot paint the walls but can the brown accent wall be removed and painted the same as the other walls? It seems to close in your space and having all walls the same color will make it feel spacious. Offer to do the painting yourself and/or purchase the paint. Part of the issue is the window is off center and the drapes have become a focal point with nothing there. If you can leave them open as others suggested with a table below and a pretty plant it will help. You have a lovely view outside so capitalize on that. Right now there is not much else to look at except the drapes. And, if you still don't like them, I'd remove them. One of my favorite drapery treatments which is quite inexpensive as well is using painters dropcloths for curtains and I think would look good in your room with the existing wall colors. They are $10 each for a 6x9 dropcloth at Home Depot. There are many blogs with instructions and pictures; and if you are interested, I can post photos of mine. While you will not recoup the expense of the drapes you have, at least you could put something else that you would like better for not too much additional expense.

And as others have said, I have also made costly decorating mistakes. Some I have learned to live with, some I have repurposed to a different room, some I phase out over time and try to recoup my expenses through reselling on Craigslist. No point leaving an eyesore up there to remind yourself everyday if you do not like it.

Thanks for all the feedback.

I chose the curtains because of the small swatch we reviewed. It had a lovely warm dark orange tone, and what I thought at time was a slight sheen to it. Obviously my initial perception was a bit off.

I can't do the paint, because landlord just renovated before we moved in and he doesn't want any changes, even if we change back afterwards. Especially since the brown wall is a textured paint.

You have all given some great ideas. We do plan to hang some artwork behind the couch, and I am considering either a thinner neutral curtain to hang on inside, or possibly the bamboo pull-ups.

I'll let you know how it goes.

I honestly don't think they look bad either.

This is what I would do:
-Swap the TV and sofa locations.
-Extend the curtains the whole width of the wall and when they are open, pull them all the way to the left. Reveal the window and make it look like there is more window hidden behind the curtain.
-Hang a large piece of artwork above the sofa. I think accents of orange and blue would be very nice in your space. See this photo.

I don't know your style, but these are all from World Market and they bring in the blue and the orange.

I would not shorten them to the sill, but they appear on my monitor to be "puddling" - hard to tell. It could be where they are so full. If puddling, definitely shorten to where they almost, but do not, touch the floor. Space is too small for the extra bulk created by puddling.

Hang two or three stacked pieces of art on the blank space to the left of the window. This will create the focus on the entire wall - not just the drapes.

I like geokid's example of spreading the orange and blue combo around the room. That will take your eye off the drapes.

Assuming you can't return them, for 400.00 I would not shorten them. In addition to the other suggestions, especially extending them along the whole wall:
Could you put them in your bedroom and embrace the theatrical feeling?

{{!gwi}}

I did a rough mock-up in paint and, on second thought, I wouldn't switch the TV and couch. I like how the couch breaks up the orange when the curtains are open.

Another idea would be to move the drapes over to the left permanently and get a shade to hang over the window. An inexpensive top-down-bottom-up so you can use it for light control for daytime TV watching while still having the AC unit uncovered. I know it doesn't make a lot of sense to spend $400 on curtains that aren't even covering a window, but I think it is a good solution for an offset window like you have.

The vase is simply to bring in the colors some more. I also think it would look nice on a table between the couch and wall. Or a tall plant or a floor lamp would be good there too.

This post was edited by geokid on Mon, Mar 4, 13 at 20:57