My couch is burgundy/red with a paisley design. My curtains are chocolate brown. I did try white/ivory and it just stuck out in a bad way in my LR.

I don't think the drapes have to match but they should coordinate/compliment what else is in the room. There's probably good examples out there of dark with white drapes but I can't find one.

What's the fabric of the drapes you like? I think texture and style are also important.

Now I'm sitting here thinking about people that have white shutters and no drapes. I don't think it looks weird to see that and dark furniture.

Do you have any photos you could share? That would make it easier for us to give a yay or nay.

Nope, my drapes don't match the sofa, but they do compliment it.

I have chocolate brown sofas in family room and gold silk drapes, in the living room I have white sofas with chocolate silk drapes.

Before the remodel the drapes matched the wall color not the sofa (dark green sofa, pale gold walls, gold buffalo check drapes). I always liked treatments that blended into the walls but still dressed the windows. I'm trying something new, for me, this time though (hope I like it). The new sofa is gold, the walls soft brown and the drapes will be a muted orange damask. So, I guess the answer is no, they didn't and won't match the sofa.

I have ivory (almost white) sofas and my drapes are a darker cream with chocolate trim.

My sofa and loveseat are black leather, so no- the draperies do not match. They do, however, match the wall color, pillows, throws, rugs, and a few other accessories.
The draperies are where I started- they are the only pattern in there and working forward from them just seems easier to me. It's how I do most of my rooms.

Nope. My drapes are ivory silk and my current sofa is a deep purple. (Some day I hope to replace it with an espresso leather sofa.)

I think one thing to consider would be how the colors balance in the room. I have ivory curtains on the wall with the dark sofa in front of them. But across the room are two ivory and black chairs with a dark wall behind. So if you would like to have light colored curtains with your dark couch, I would recommend having some other similar tones elsewhere in your decor: maybe a chair, a tone in a rug, a throw, a pillow, or accessories. Also consider the "weight" of the item. Curtains are fairly large in scale, as is the couch. Maintaining the balance in the rest of the decor colors should help balance the room.

Nope. I, too, have chocolate brown sofas and I don't have drapes yet, but when I do get them, I will be trying to pick up one of the colors in my rug. My walls are tan, all the furniture in the room is dark, so one of the main jobs I want my curtains to do is put a little color into the room.

Thanks so much for your replies! It sounds as though you all have different schemes. Maybe I should post a photo?
I don't believe I need to add color as there is enough already. It's the formal LR, not den, and my desk is at the other end.
So basically used by me as a quiet place.

Here's a photo: walls are a pinky biege. SW Whole Wheat is deeper (a more substantial tan) than the pinky-beige.
The border is going to be replaced with crown molding. And the lace drapes are going.
And the window trim will be painted white.
The link is the drapes I am looking at.

Do you think white damask drapes will work with the tan?

Here is a link that might be useful: Sonnenburg Damask by Country Curtains

Lovely room. Since your room is so wide open, have you ever thought about putting your furniture onto your carpet and away from the walls to create a sitting area? I use to have my furniture hugging all the walls, now I have my couch, coffee table and end chairs in the middle of my carpet and I love it. It has such a warm look.
For my curtains, I have sheers in the middle and drapery panels on the side in a cranberry color. My couch is Gold, I have one cream chair and one salmon end chair, but the cranberry panels seems to pull the colors out from my cream color carpet and it looks beautiful. I also have colored throw pillow on the couch to pull all the colors together. I have pictures that I took, but do not know how to post them on this link. I will try to learn.

Thank you nettie! No, I don't care for the furniture-all-in-the-middle of the room look.

I'd trip over it. It appears wider than it is somehow.
Besides, this rug is my gym to exercise. :)

But should it have dark drapes?

The room feels a bit dark to me, so light curtains might work. Perhaps it is the photos...I'm not seeing much color here (beige, brown, and some dark green on a sofa, I think).

FWIW, my sofa is white and my drapes are black and white damask with yellow trim.

Nope, my drapes match the wall. They are a gray/silver silky material, the walls are a light gray. I've always loved that look--Candice Olson does it a lot on her designs. My sofa will be an ivory, when it finally comes.

Since your room is so colorful, I think the white curtains alone are too stark. Perhaps, light sheers with either a colorful valance or side panels that match a color in your furniture will bring it all together.

It's hard for me to say now, I think once you paint the room I'd have a better suggestion for you...I'm thinking something more yellow or gold to pick up the colors in your rug and couch and to compliment the new wall color...

My curtains do not match my sofa. My curtains are lighter.

Beekeeperswife, I've seen that "match the wall" look. Hmmm. I'll think about that. See if I can get some tan swatches.

jeannine, There is no brown. The chairs are dark red and dark green, and the sofa is green/red/navy. The carpet is gold with red flowers. The photo IS dark. There are windows on 3 sides though, 6 of them, so it's light all day. Checked out gold drapes originally, but the swatches that came were all so shiny. Too Dorothy Lamour!

nettie, the colored valance is certainly a look that appeals to me, are they still popular? I know....the room's full of Victorian antiques....but it's not as though one gets rid of them after 30 years. Back in one of my previous homes I would have done the Morris wallpaper and burgandy velvet drapes. That's too much for this house. :)

Is the link below what you mean?
With maybe tan silk panels?

Here is a link that might be useful: Vintage Valance