Especially with toddlers you'd be better off with a fabric cornice running across the top of the windows - even the small one. Pick up color from the rug for the cornice.

Thanks! And you recommend mounting the right cornice on the perpendicular wall?

Yes, and if the room isn't too much wider than what we see you could take it all the way to the left. Its a play room after all - have fun with it!

I totally agree with the cornice! I would use fun fabric for the kids!

There's only 37 inches beyond the little window. Would a wall to wall cornice look weird?

Yes, you certainly can add curtains but don't be surprised if small children pull on them.

You can get a fabric valance with elongated sides rather than just a straight cornice -- different lengths are available.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/49/5c/d3/495cd3c17c3934ff7160e021f939e888.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/46/70/9b/46709b5f439e85416401cf52b0da97b2.jpg

Alternately, you could use a pair of shelving boards to create a wood painted cornice.

You could use tie back fixtures above the frames of each window to which you want to add a fabric window treatment -- plain or fancy --

http://images.dunelm.com/i/dm/1000001810_main?&$standardplayerzoom$

https://img0.etsystatic.com/059/1/10120886/il_fullxfull.728907900_higf.jpg

https://img1.etsystatic.com/020/0/8093763/il_170x135.491064631_ltom.jpg

and hem some lengths of fabric on both ends (available from the bolts from Wall Mart's sewing department) in order to create your own window treatment -- as long or as short as you want.

http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/US6363994B1/US06363994-20020402-D00000.png

That way you'd have more options of colorful patterns from which you and your children can choose and not have such a huge investment in window covering that you could not change it out easily as your children age and their interests change.

If you choose curtains to cover the window, consider cafe curtains with a rod in the middle of the window. That way if you discover that your children are pulling on the curtains, you can just remove the bottom half till they're older and you can get decoration and privacy without sacrificing light.

http://www.touchofclass.com/harmony-semi-sheer-tier-pair/p/Z267-002/?code=KMF08&gclid=CjwKEAjw7qi7BRCvsr3N58GvsTkSJAA3UzLvO4tzz06YGBwKsobaFGIoAm1PzdfeYthCqUAUGwxymhoCuADw_wcB

May I suggest for hanging within the fame of the small square window a stained glass window panel rather than any fabric. It could let in light but provide a bit of privacy and add wonderful color.

https://www.google.com/search?q=stained+glass+panel+for+hanging+in+front+of++windows+images&biw=1366&bih=622&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiYgbSO6bzNAhVFySYKHbN_CYQQ_AUIBigB#tbm=isch&q=square+stained+glass+panel+for+hanging+in+front+of++windows+images

Thanks so much, those are also great ideas!

Would it be weird to just put one panel in between the two windows?

DIY cornice from foam board.
http://vanhilldesigns.blogspot.com/2012/05/cornice-boards-out-of-foam-core.html

Hi there!!

I would say with toddlers you have 3 choices...cornices, remove the plantation shutters putting Roman shades in place or just leave the shutters. If you look at a playroom I designed on my list of projects you will see how cornices look in a playroom. Toddlers will stain and pull on drapery so I would not recommend it for a playroom. Good luck!!!

Yes one panel would be weird. It kind of drives me nuts that window is abutted against the wall. Your best bet here is roman shades in a fun fabric. If you dont need the privacy just remove the blinds and do the roman shade. Either fixed or functional.

you could

treat the 2 as one window ,use a long rod and cover the entire wall , a bit difficult to explain but sort of this idea ,

I would take rod across the three Windows and hang sheers, maybe not quite as many colours as in pic, more an ombré look. You could even hang a few fairy lights underneath across the top. I don't think the kids will play with them, too many other distractions lol

I would raise the blinds so that the kids can see outside and so that they don't break the blinds. I would use pretty swags at the top .....not a fan of cornices.

This came to mind when you said it was a play room! Might not be your style but a possibility.

Skip the valance and just do cafe curtains on fun rod.

Thanks for all the tips! We've got these blinds everywhere and I hate to be wasteful, but I'm thinking I'll remove them from these windows (and about 6 others!) and just do cordless roman shades.

Here's the outside of the house. The playroom windows are the two big ones upstairs on the right. My son's windows are the two big ones upstairs on the left. He's also got the blinds too. Is it ok to have two different window treatments or would I need to put Roman shades in his bedroom as well for symmetry?

Unifying what people see from the outside is important. I love cordless window coverings.

Don't remove the plantation shutters.

Instead of window coverings why not go big on decor and colorful walls?

Even if you decide to stay with wood blinds, I highly recommend changing your blinds to cordless options. You never want to have corded shades or blinds with young children in the home. You can get wood blinds that have a cordless operation with a tilt wand to open and close the louvers. For more safety information, check out: http://windowcoverings.org/

I would also discourage using drapery panels. There is no space to the left of the windows, so any panel is going to cover a large portion of the glass. I would recommend either a cornice or valance. There was also a suggestion for completely removing the blinds and going with a fabric shade. In that case, Roman shades or honeycomb shades would work very well and add color and softness to the window. Both of these shades are available with cordless operation.

Very true, you don't want cords.