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Window/Door covering suggestions

6 months ago


I want to take out all the 2" blinds that are on all these windows/door. I priced out motorized shades but they are too expensive. I am hesitant to do manual shades as it is hard for me to reach over the couch to put up and down. I am thinking a curtain to frame the large window in the den area but unsure how to tie that idea in with the door and the kitchen windows. Ideas? Greatly appreciate the help.

Comments (11)

  • 6 months ago
    last modified: 6 months ago

    A pair of curtains on a traditional traverse rod (the kind you pull a cord to open and close) could work if you have enough stackback space on both sides of the den windows. You need about 1/3 the width of the windows on each side. Lined custom pleated curtains can be coordinated with lined Roman shades for dining area windows and perhaps the door, too.

  • PRO
    6 months ago
    last modified: 6 months ago


    I wouldn't put anything at all on the windows. Just try living with pulling the blinds up and leaving them up, until you need some shade or privacy (which neither looks like a problem).



    From just one photo, it looks like the rug isn't positioned correctly and the sectional is too close to the window wall and the rug to far under it. Looks awkard...could you take another photo?

  • 6 months ago
    last modified: 6 months ago

    oncape has a good point. Have you tried moving the sectional out far enough to walk behind the sofa to open the blinds?

  • 6 months ago

    Yes, it was that way for years, but it takes away area space.

  • 6 months ago

    No matter what you get there, if the sectional is too close to the window wall, it will be awkward to open and close the window covering.

  • 6 months ago

    You would only have to order those 4 in motorized/battery versions. The rest could just be manual.

    I dislike having "bars" across" the windows, so I have also gotten rid of mini-blinds in previous houses.

  • 6 months ago

    My mom had corded roller shades, similar to this


    You could use two shades, each covering two windows, with the chains on the outside, where you could reach them from beside the couch.

  • 6 months ago

    What is the purpose of the blinds now-privacy? Light control? Putting up enough curtains to cover across your large windows behind the couch means you would still need to be able to pull out the couch far enough so the curtain panels aren't squished behind the sofa.


    I do agree that the blinds look busy with your 9 over 9 window mullions. If you don't need light control or privacy, consider doing fixed roman shades to soften the windows-that way you won't have to worry about not being able to close them behind the couch. I would just put them on the windows and leave the door open.

  • PRO
    6 months ago

    First what do you need the window coverings for ? Solar shades control heat and UV give you day time privacy if that is all you need then they can just stay down all the time .

  • 6 months ago

    @BeverlyFLADeziner has a good point - there can be quite a cost difference between vendors.


    A different approach: my sister's 2" wood blinds were so heavy to operate twice a day that they were left down but keeping them raised created a big, solid stack at the top which made the windows look disproportionately short.


    Her solution was to pull the seating off the wall a bit and install bottom up shades from a big box store for one layer of privacy. Much like your transom window above the door, she doesn't raise them to the top of the window at night. She already had drapes but added pull rods like you see in hotel rooms to make them easier to operate for the times she wants full coverage.


    If you go with drapes, matching sets for both the living and dining areas could look nice, and for the door, an ODL insert placed over the glass with a built in blind might be a solution.