Bohemian Curtain Ideas

for the front living room

Curtains is actually where it all began for me. The first time that I bought fabric, it was a home decorator’s weight Ikea fabric, which I turned into kitchen curtains without even using a sewing machine. The impact of that simple project in the space was remarkable. Fabric can do sooo much.

Since then I’ve sewn lots of curtains. While the long seams and large pieces of fabric can be intimidating, I definitely look forward to these opportunities to breath style, color and softness into a space. So, naturally, I am excited bout sewing curtains for my new home!

My first assignment is curtains for this tall pair of windows in the front living room. The above photo shows how the room looked when we purchased it. We will be using this room quite differently. Instead of a sofa or television, the room will have Aart’s pool table standing in the center and a few small chairs in the corners. We want the vibe to become bohemian and lively by adding colorful furnishings and artwork to the space.

Ok, so what about the curtains? The current rod will remain, but the curtains and blinds will be removed. I’d like to hang curtains for style and layer them over sheers for privacy. The sheers will usually hang closed since these windows face the street.

For inspiration, I’ve gathered images on Pinterest. Unfortunately the original sources are mostly unknown.

This was my first “aha” moment. I like the look of the patterned curtains layered over simple sheers. I also like the shape created in the long curtain from the loose tieback cording. The swoopy curtain arch above the window is pretty, but I don’t know how it works and can’t find any other examples of that bit.

This photo is also inspiring! Aart is drawn to heavy velvet curtains. I like how these look with the decorative banding and tassels at the inner edge. I’ve always loved tassels on curtains! These curtains are hanging in a curved shape, which I once again appreciate. I think a corded tieback or a decorative metal tieback is a good idea.

I prefer a printed curtain, but Aart is drawn to solid velvets. This combination style makes us both happy. I could purchase an affordable ready-made velvet curtain and sew an additional decorative printed panel to make them wider. That sounds like a plan!

The trick will be in finding a combination of fabrics that feels interesting, but not garish. I think that the velvet and the print should be in a similar color family, to reduce contrast and create a more subtle effect.

One last thing - length is a challenge. The measurement from the curtain rod to the floor is 122”. That’s LONG folks. Even Ikea ready-made curtains would be a tad too short. Shocking!

Perhaps I will place tassels on the hem of the curtains to bridge the gap between Ikea-length and the floor, like these curtains being sold by Urban Outfitters. Or maybe I will add a fabric band at the bottom to extend the length of the curtains. I’m not sure… I am afraid that if there are too many elements (velvet + print + tassels + fabric band) that it’ll get too busy. I bet that you agree.

Fingers crossed for me, okay? I’ve been searching for the right printed fabric for months and it’s no easy task. I am used to choosing lots of fabrics for a quilt, not one single fabric to do all the talking!