I would not cut them and would instead get curtains in a subtle pattern or solid instead of stripes. You could also consider Roman shades.

Thank you, Elle. Even if the drapes were solid or more subtle, do you think that much fabric looks overwhelming?

That much fabrics isn't overwhelming, that much large stripe is. Those drapes were intended o be used in a large, contemporary room that is monochromatic. The scale of the stripe is just too large with your traditional, smaller scaled accessories and furniture. A simple oatmeal solid linen drape would be really nice in your room. Remember, when you have had small valances on your windows for a long time and you suddenly switch to a full drape, it takes getting use to.

I notice a lot more mirror than drape; is that something you would be willing to rethink? As it stands, a single panel on the outer edge of each window would still soften the window lines, but reduce the unwanted bulk.

Great points above, thank you. I could try the drapes as in the pic above. I will do so tomorrow after Father's Day festivities are over. I'm beginning to think that sheers may be an option, or would that be a style cop-out lol?

Don't cut them - you don't want them looking skimpy. Single panel on either side might work as suggested above.

There is nothing wrong with doing a comparison. I'd look for antiqued or oil rubbed brass rods to lend weight to such a look.

It may be an optical illusion, but your casement trims appear to be uneven? Addressing that detail will matter to your final decision, as well.

I agree that the drapes aren't quite right for your space. The stripe is too modern. I'd stick with a solid as suggested and only add one panel to the outside of each window.

Think about what mirrors reflect. Drapes will be better if solid & with darker rods. Also try taking photos of them when closed so the blinds on the bright windows don't overshadow the actual drapes.

Here are your photos lightened so people can see your room. What furniture do you have opposite your sofa? We don't get to see that portion of the room.

The large window pane mirror behind the sofa is the feature of your space. Don't remove it but give it consideration. The panes of your window and squares of the drapery in addition to the mirror look busy.
As suggested, try one drape on a dark rod that goes well with mirror. If you aren't pleased, then I'd return the draperies for a solid color.
Post again for us, please.

If you are not a professional seamstress, like I am, I would advise not cutting the drapes! There is a lot more to cutting something like that down than most people realize. You will ruin the drapes.

Hi everyone, thank you SO MUCH for your ideas and advice. I used to have buffalo plaid black drapes and valances in this room and was ready for a change. I love my windows and wanted them less covered up and a little lighter look. I like traditional but a little eclectic, too. Attached are some additional pics of the living room. I want to keep the mirror where it is because it visually doubles the size of the room. I know I have two big mirrors, but I like the effect. Besides, I've always been a rule follower and I'm trying to break myself of that. :-) The pics follow my room in a clockwise manner from the pics previously posted above. Keep the great ideas coming and again, thank you!

part of the issue is the skimpy rod you used. I agree , if you can not return them, then just hang one panel on the outside of each window, but on a darker, heavier looking rod.

Maybe a different layout for the room, acknowledging that I don't have any actual dimensions. Just thought you might want to locate the TV in the oak armoire positioned between the two windows.

Hi Beverly and everyone else, thanks again for your input! The TV is actually housed in the shorter, darker cabinet shown in the last of my most recently posted pics. I'm watching the NBA finals, but closed the doors when I took the pics. :-) I'm working on the drapes while the game is on and I will take new pics tomorrow before I head to work!

The reason I suggested the layout was because the TV looked very small for the room, and the cabinet was placed in front of a window.

I think one of the reasons those drapes don't look good is they don't match. They don't appear to coordinate with anything in that room either style or color wise. The other main reason is because there is not enough wall space next to either set of windows (one set due to that too big of a mirror, and the other due to the fireplace) to let the panels hang on the outside of the window (so that you get to see the entire window to make it look as big as possible).

I would remove both mirrors (the one on the wall and the one over the fireplace), those do not look good. That would give you enough space on the non-fireplace wall to hang a curtain rod over each window that is longer than the actual windows themselves. And then on the fireplace wall, you don't want to hand a drapery panel that close to a fireplace for safety reasons, so I would again put a curtain rod over each window, but only hang one panel on each rod along the side furthest away from the fireplace.

The other option is not to do drapery panels at all and instead do some kind of shade, or layered shades, look with some type of valance.

Thanks again for the great ideas! I tried the curtain approach shown in studio's pic above, and it looks better, but I've concluded that the drapes are not the right style for the rest of the room and the fabric is beautiful but too bulky for my space. Thank you for helping me to see that. I meant to take pics this morning, but forgot since I was up late rearranging the drapes! I used to have pictures where both mirrors are now and everyone who's seen the room in person comments on what a great change the mirrors have made and I personally love them, so I'm keeping them. I am going to experiment with sheers, oatmeal-colored drapes as suggested by a poster, or roman shades (can faux roman shades be hung above the window like curtains can?) BeverlyFLADesigner, you were so kind to do a previous Photoshop of my room, would it be a lot of work to do these ideas as well? Window treatments are so hard for me to visualize, so I do the trial and error approach, which leads to a lot of returns. :-( It's important to get them right, though, because they make such a difference in the overall look. THANKS a million, Houzzers!

Elizabeth, I think you are making the right decision and hopefully you can return the draperies and begin again. Roman shades would cover the top half or less of your window. Check out countrycurtains.com for their Roman shades and notice how they are hung. These shades can be made up in beautiful fabric choices that may add a punch but just not sure about the light factor. You can't hang sheers out on the wall but on the window may allow enough light.
I like the touches of black (lamp shades) and red in your space that gives an update to traditional. Would you consider a red and white medium scale print drapery? Just random thoughts!

Hi Connie, thank you for your suggestions! I would consider a red and white medium scale print; that might look very pretty. Red is my favorite color! I will look again at Country Curtains. There is one right near me. I will also look at their roman shades as they have both real and faux ones. Thank you for offering more great ideas! I really appreciate it.

Hi Houzz helpers! I promised to post a pic of one panel per window. Here it is!

It's certainly not a bad look if....you had a heavier dark rod but only you know whether or not you could be happy with it.

I like it better, a rod change is in order but as I am searching for new rods (I.e. West Elm without the price tag) I may be too focused. Would you be able to add a little more gray to the room to carry it through like an extra pillow on the sofa and maybe a touch somewhere else? BTW I love those red sofa pillows.

The big mirror is amazing. The Roman shades might enhance it nicely. One thought about the mirror over the fireplace is that it is "featuring" the ceiling fan. I handled the same problem by setting the mirror onto the mantle with a slight tilt. That changed what it was reflecting. Or you could keep it hung in the same place but stick something behind the frame which would create a tilt that wouldn't be noticeable but would change the reflection. Just an idea.

Great idea about tilting the mirror! Everyone is so helpful here. Thank you all for the kind compliments. I am searching online now for new treatments. JCPenney is having a 50% off sale. I'll keep you posted and please keep the comments coming. Thanks!

I like the drapes. I don't like the scrunched up look on the rods. As suggested earlier, get better curtain rods. Also try rings with clips or rings with drapery hooks instead of the pole pocket to hang them.

Thank you, I do plan to get oil rubbed bronze rods that are thicker. This was my original plan, I should have stuck with it! I can get rings and there are drapery pins on the back. I'll keep experimenting and will post pics, but in the meantime, I welcome any and all additional ideas! THANKS!

Much better Elizabeth. Places like Home Goods carry some nice rods at reasonable price points.

Hi everyone. Can anyone help to identify what fabric these drapes may be made from? They are custom and another Houzzer asked the designer about fabric, but no response has been given yet. I like how they hang narrow. Maybe your expert eyes can guess? Thank you!

I have used linen sheers from Pottery Barn and love them. They hang really well. Not sure if your pic is linen but could be.

Thanks b1016! So, I'm trying to decide between curtains like those or roman shades in a caramel print (with a little white in the print.) Please share your thoughts! Thanks again for everyone's time and advice!

We're partial to roman shades. They would bring such a clean, modern look to the room.

Thank you, creative. Yes, I do want a clean look, and while I have many traditional items, I want a "new traditional" look (as coined by someone else on Houzz.) Thank you for your recommendation!

I think that one of the problems with the drapes is that they don't have the folds in them that custom-made draperies do. If you are keeping them, then make finger pleats like this--just follow each pleat from the top to the bottom, pressing the fabric into a pleat with your fingers. When you are finished with a panel you can also wrap it at mid-height loosely with plastic wrap to hold the pleats in place for a few days.

Here is a perhaps more coherent explanation of a probably better way to do this.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/wrap-pleated-drapes-hold-shape-51436.html

You can also take the panels to the dry-cleaner for pressing the pleats.

The scale of your furniture and furnishings can handle something heavier like Roman shades or a heavier fabric in your drapery. (or so it seems from the pics!) I personally LOVE the look of open windows like the pic you posted asking about the fabric. Pottery Barn had some panels in a great oatmeal color FYI. I used them a couple of houses ago so not sure if they are still around, but they were pretty timeless and I loved them!

Thank you! On another note, does my room look too busy - too many decor accents? Not sure.

It should just make you happy! (In my opinion!!) I tend to be a bit of a minimalist and feel a bit like less is more. I will sometimes swap out accessories to keep things interesting...

If one panel of the draperies fits across the window, you can use the second panel for another window...assuming that you are using two panels per window now. Using one panel would allow you to choose either side to stack them on when they are open, and they will have a less bulky appearance. The pictures are quite dark so it is hard to see how they really look.

You're not going to like this, but dump that mirror. The windows and drapes will look great.

Lol, I like that people have their own opinions!

I like your curtains, but do think you need black wrought iron heavier curtain rods. Love your mirrors. I would take away that little round table with light on and replace with a nice big floor lamp. I keep looking at that dresser behind your couch, just not sure of its placement there

Since you ask about something besides window treatments I will say. You are not using your mantel to its best potential. The mirror and candle holders are a little too high. One day when you have time, you may consider lowering it to no more than six inches. Avoid lining up small accessories across you mantle.
One or two taller vases paired together on one end would look nice if you don't rehang the candle holders but not all. Larger accessories for your mantle may be a place you could add some red and it would reflect prettily in your mirror.
A trailing type plant would be nice on the other side and there again reflect in your mirror. Random thoughts!

I agree with removing the mirror. I think it's kind of weighing the room down. The drapes on both sides of windows should look very nice and fresh then.

Thanks so much for all of the great advice everyone! I will be sure to post pics with my updates in the next week or so!

If you love the drapes, prioritize using them. I personally don't like the arch mirror between the windows. It adds a competing window look (because it replicates panes) so the eye bounces across the 3 things (window, mirror, window). If you used that mirror in another room, a large piece of art with some grays and just a touch of red would tie everything together. A large art poster would be a reasonable cost.

You asked about the number of your accessories. I don't think it's so much the number as the placement. Things are lined up like soldiers rather than grouped. It's the same issue as window with statement drapery, large busy mirror, another window with statement drapery.

Look for places of emphasis and a place for the eye to rest.

I like my 'things' and assume you have things on display that you love. And I do like your new draperies a lot. Have what you love in your home and you'll love being there.

Your living room, and PARTICULARLY that mirror are beautiful. I think the valance idea is best. You have a good eye as the drapes are a bit heavy with everything going on.

Klrw2, this post is almost a year old.

Thank you, klrw2 and katinparadise, too! I stuck with valances. I tried so many other curtain options, many of which were recommended here. Finally, I realized that they close the room in more than I like. A lot of work trying new curtains...but it was helpful to narrow down my ultimate selection of valances. I love this site! Thanks again for everyone's input.