Do you need complete darkness to sleep?

http://www.houzz.com/photos/bedroom/%22arched-window%22-

Shutters would look beautiful with the wainscoting. If you like a more delicate look, maybe go for sheer shades.

For the arched window, are you looking to cover that too?

While I am partial to shutters it really does depend on how you plan to make use of the window.

Are you looking for a blackout application for sleeping like rinqreation asked above? What about during the day? If you just want to block the view of the neighbors while still seeing the sky try shutters on the lower half only. If you want to see as much of outside as possible consider going with some sort of tinted film to block glare/UV and such. decorativefilm.com/ make a lot of cool patterns. If you want to have a complete open view at some times and everything shut out at others maybe consider full length drapes the slide all the way off to the sides.

Stand in the room and think about what you want / do not want to see outside the window at different times of the day. Then you can start going through the list of all the options to see what matches what you want the most.

I hope this helps!

Jim

Pretty window. What are your plans/style for this room? As others have asked, do you need privacy--including the arch being covered? Shutters would look very nice. You could also do working roman shades.

I noticed in several photos in the ideabook section of houzz, folks didn't cover up the arch. But, my fear is the brightness of the sun glaring in when we want to sleep, esp in the summer months. The window faces our backyard, and is on the second floor. So we aren't necessarily hiding from anyone. The back neighbor's house is lower so, no one can really peer in.

Jim from Kestrel: If I did drapes, would you put the rod above the arch?

I did a window just like this years ago, Did panles that hang from rings on an iron rod that pulled shut with a baton. Client has always been very happy. They are pulled every day. You could also put window film on the arched window to cut down on sun a bit.

Here are a couple of shutter examples, one with finished top and the other open and with drapes. However, we did go back later and add the upper panels due to sun issues.

Combine shades and blackout curtains like this:

It's dramatic enough as it is - how much light control do you need?

If you don't need "blackout" conditions, simple shutter panels across the bottom panes, or the pull-up blinds would be enough for modesty control.

If you need really dark room to sleep, hanging cream blackout panels outside the window casing so it's completely uncovered when they are open and completely covered when you pull them.

Is there a window seat? .

I would wait until the summer to see if it actually bothers you.