Spring Colours For Curtains: 5 Top Styling Tips

With spring entering full bloom, it is a particularly busy and exciting time for interior designers and people looking to refresh their homes, as the thick, wintry furnishings are put away in favour of light, breezy spring colours.

It is also the perfect time to swap out your winter blackout curtains for some made-to-measure drapes that fit your room and the mood of the season. But which shades and colours are right for you?

If you are wondering where to start with spring curtains, you have come to the right place. With a personal service, traditional fabrics and experience in designing the perfect curtains for every type of home, here are five top tips to style your curtains for spring.

Does The Type Of Room Affect Your Curtain Choice?

In interior design, form follows function, and this is even more true when it comes to choosing the right curtains for each room. Whilst some people prefer to have consistent colour schemes throughout their house, it is usually best to style on a room-by-room basis.

For example, bedrooms tend to require thicker blackout curtains to allow for a better night’s sleep, but beyond the weight of the curtains themselves, they are spaces which need a degree of calmness and muted colours.

Meanwhile, living rooms tend to suit warm, inviting shades and even some richer shades to welcome guests into a space and allow them to feel more comfortable.

Curtains dominate at least one wall of each room, so they will inevitably shape the colour scheme and ambience. Take advantage of this to make your space more welcoming.

How Does The Window Itself Affect Your Curtain Choice?

The most important determinant for the shade of your curtains will be the window itself. This is especially true in spring and summer, as you will typically use lighter textiles and colours that will be painted by the sunlight.

Much like your garden, the direction that your room faces will affect the amount of sunlight it receives over the spring and summer, and this will, in turn, change the types of colours that will work best in the room.

Whilst any colour can work anywhere with the right design, in general, these shades work best:

• If your room faces north (the window or biggest window looks out to the north), it will typically look best with warmer shades such as pastel shades, terracotta, or warm off-white tones.
• If your room faces south, cooler natural shades such as powder blue and celadon work perfectly, as the sun will cascade over them and brighten the overall shade.

Similarly, the size of the window itself matters considerably in how it affects the overall colour of your window:

• If your room has a larger window, deeper shades will often work best, as the sunlight will hit and enhance the overall look.
• If your room has smaller windows, especially if they do not catch much light, lighter tones will help make the most of the light available.

Should Your Curtains Blend In Or Contrast?

The age-old question for any major piece of furniture, accent wall or set of curtains is where you should use them to complement your existing colour scheme or make them stand out as a bold additional feature.

Ultimately, there is no universal answer to this, as it will depend on the overall look of the room. In general, however:

• If your walls are neutral shaded, brighter colours will add a vibrance and warmth to the space without looking too overwhelming.
• If you already have several bold pieces of furniture or upholstery, warm neutral shades can add balance to the room.

Which Curtain Colours Are In Style This Year?

• Warm Neutrals – Instead of white and grey, opt instead for warmer cream shades, mushroom and taupe.
• Soft Muted Pastels – They add much-needed colour to a space whilst still looking sophisticated and beautiful.
• Terracotta – This ever-popular summer look combines warmth, natural colour, and earthy grounding.

Which Colours Are Out Of Fashion This Spring?

• Cool Greys – Whilst they are safe, reliable and suitable all year round, the shift away from minimalism means that they are being replaced with warmer hues.
• Stark Whites – However, they are simply being replaced with off-whites, eggshell and beige, so it is not as dramatic a shift as it may seem.
• Metallic Blues – Powder and pastel blue are very much the spring colours of choice, but it comes at the expense of the more austere steel blue and cobalt.