Is the living room in your home the center of family gatherings, a space that hosts family game nights, movies on the weekend, or a quiet zone for reading a book? Chances are, it might be all of those things—and then some. The living room is a versatile space that must meet everyone’s needs, changing on the regular. What’s the secret to always setting the right scene? We think it’s the living room window treatments.
The best window treatments for living rooms balance natural light, privacy, glare control and style. Your windows may also need to protect furnishings from UV rays, help improve energy efficiency or coordinate with large glass doors. Let’s look at what you should consider and some of our favorite living room window covering ideas.
What Should You Consider for Living Room Windows?
Does your living room feature large windows, or a large number of windows? There’s a reason for that. This gathering space is one where taking in the view and receiving natural light are both important. Homes are often designed with some of their biggest windows in the living room for exactly those reasons.
But without the right living room window treatments, too much sunlight can result in glare, uncomfortable heat and faded furnishings. Before choosing your window coverings, ask yourself:
- Does the room get direct sunlight?
- Would I like more privacy?
- Is the view worth preserving?
- Do I want to block light or simply diffuse it?
- Is glare on the television or other screens a problem?
- Are there windows and glass doors in the same space?
Thinking about how sunlight moves through the room during the day will help determine whether you need sheer fabrics, solar protection, room darkening, insulation or a combination of features.
Best Living Room Window Treatments
There’s no single window covering that’s right for every living room. The best choice depends on the windows themselves and how your family uses the space. Here are some of our favorite options.
Sheer Shades for Natural Light & Views
If natural light and outdoor views are at the top of your wish list, sheer shades are a beautiful choice. Pirouette® Window Shadings combine sheer fabric with sculptural fabric vanes that can be adjusted as the light changes. Enjoy soft, filtered daylight and your view, then close the vanes when you want additional privacy and light control.
Roller & Solar Shades for Glare Control
Living rooms with strong direct sunlight may need more protection from glare and UV rays. Roller and solar shades offer a clean, minimal profile and a wide range of fabrics and opacities. Solar fabrics are especially helpful when you want to reduce glare and protect interiors while maintaining a connection with the view outside.
Roman Shades for Soft, Classic Style
Beautifully classic, today’s Roman shades bring softness and dimension to the living room while also providing privacy and light control. With an extensive selection of fabrics, colors and textures, Roman shades can become a design feature of the room rather than simply covering the windows.
Drapery for a Layered Look
Elegant. Sophisticated. Soft. So many adjectives describe custom drapery—and they’re often exactly what you’d love your living room to be. Drapery can frame a beautiful view, add height and texture to the room, or close across the windows for privacy and additional light control.
You can also create a layered design by pairing drapery with shades. This gives you another opportunity to combine fabrics, colors and textures while expanding the range of light control at the window.
Living Room Window Treatments for Large Windows & Glass Doors
Large windows are common in living rooms because they bring in natural light and showcase the landscape. But more glass can also mean more glare, UV exposure and heat transfer. If oversized glass is one of your biggest challenges, explore our solutions for large and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Another challenge is deciding what to do when living room windows share the space with sliding glass doors or an open floor plan. Your window coverings don’t have to match exactly. Horizontal shades on the windows can coordinate with a vertical treatment on a sliding door through similar fabrics, colors or textures, while each product provides the function that particular opening needs.
This approach works well in open-concept homes, too. The kitchen, dining area and living room may require different levels of privacy and light control, but coordinating colors and materials can create a polished look throughout the shared space. If your living room includes patio or sliding doors, explore window treatments for glass doors designed for convenient access and large expanses of glass.
Flexible Light Control for a Multipurpose Living Room
Because your living room is such a versatile space, the window coverings should be versatile, too. You might want soft natural light while you’re reading in the morning, glare reduction when the afternoon sun arrives and greater privacy when your family settles in for a movie at night.
Dual shades are one way to expand your options. A light-filtering shade can bring in soft natural light, while a secondary room-darkening shade provides stronger privacy and light control when you need it. If you’re not sure which opacity is right for your space, our guide to light filtering and room darkening shades explains how different levels of light control affect privacy and atmosphere.
Motorized Living Room Shades
Motorization is another smart choice for a room that needs to change throughout the day. With motorized shades, you’re only a tap, voice command or scheduled adjustment away from transforming the atmosphere. Automation can be especially useful for tall or large living room windows. Schedule shades to adjust when direct sunlight typically enters the room, close them for privacy in the evening, or adjust several windows together without moving around the room.
Energy Efficiency & UV Protection
Living room windows can account for a large amount of glass, which means comfort matters just as much as style. Direct sunlight can create glare and heat while UV exposure can contribute to fading of flooring, furniture and artwork.
The right window coverings can help manage solar heat and protect your interiors. If insulation is a priority—particularly during Nova Scotia’s changing seasons—consider energy-efficient window treatments such as honeycomb shades, or layer shades with drapery for additional coverage.
Find the Best Living Room Window Treatments for Your Home
So many window coverings can work beautifully in a living room. The best choice comes down to your windows, natural light, privacy needs, interior style and how your family uses the space throughout the day. Our team at Gotcha Covered Seeview Blinds & Shutters can help you compare fabrics, features and operating systems to create living room window treatments customized for your Nova Scotia home. Are you ready to get started? Reach out to our team for your FREE in-home design consultation.