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Colorful curtains made of Family of Cranes in Waverly Blue adds movement and color to a rustic, eclectic dining room
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December 26, 2023

Enhance Your Interior with Colorful Curtains

Curtains play an essential role in your home. They are not only functional in their ability to provide privacy and light control, but they also contribute to the overall aesthetic appeal of your space. While there are many options available, colorful curtains provide varying degrees of visual drama that bring your space to life.

Colorful drapes come in a wide range of colors and patterns from beautiful solid jewel tones to bright intricate designs to subtle pastel patterns. Finding the right match for your space will depend on your existing color scheme and personal preferences.

Cover photo: Tailored Pleat Drapery, The Novogratz, Family of Cranes in Waverly Blue

Tips for Choosing Colorful Curtains

Your colorful curtains should suit your existing color scheme while achieving the look you want. First, review a few helpful tips in thinking through the right colors for your drapery. Then, answer some frequently asked questions to help you further narrow down your choices for the right colorful drapes.

  • Think about what visual effect you want your colorful curtains to have in the room. Do you want a bold, striking design element or a subtle complement to your existing interior?
  • Consider your existing color scheme and how your colorful curtains will fit into it. In terms of color combinations, it’s important to understand a bit about color theory and the color wheel. Generally, common color combinations fall into one of these categories:
    • Monotone, different shade of the same base color in the room.
    • Analogous, an adjacent color on the color wheel to your existing colors.
    • Complementary, the exact opposite color on the color wheel to an existing color.
    • An accent color, a triadic or tetradic new color to add another element to your space.
  • Think about color psychology, which refers to the physiological effect the color has on the room. For instance, cool tones like blues, purples and greens tend to have a tranquil, calming effect while warm tones like reds, yellows and oranges have a more energizing, inviting effect on a room.

Along with above tips, these FAQs can help you narrow down your selection for colorful drapes further:

Colorful curtains made of Holland & Sherry Andes in Blush match walls painted with a sunset scene with sandhill cranes

which color is best for curtains?

The “best” color for your space will depend on your preferences. Are you trying to create a cozy ambiance? Try warm neutrals like creamy beige or opt for a dark jewel tone like burgundy or amethyst. Or are you looking for a vibrant, bold statement? Try bright, saturated hues like sky blue, peony pink or sunflower yellow. 

Pictured: Tailored Pleat Drapery, Holland & Sherry, Andes in Blush, design by Julie Dodson, photography by Emily Followill for the 2022 Flower Showhouse

What Color Curtains Are in Style?

Recent window treatment color trends show warm neutral tones like warm greys, tans and beiges as popular choices. These colors are versatile and complement any décor style, making them a safe choice that’s bound to look good in your space.

Should Your Curtains Match Your Wall Color?

A good rule of thumb for a simple, subtle look is to choose curtains that are just a shade or two lighter or darker than your wall color. However, if you want to make a bold statement, you can choose colorful drapes that contrast with your walls.

Pictured: Pinch Pleat Drapery, Nate Berkus, Surrey Stripe in Morel and Natural

Neutral colorful curtains made of Surrey Stripe in Morel and Natural add a warm hue and lush texture to an earthy living room

What Color Curtains Make a Room Look Bigger?

In general, lighter tones make a room appear more spacious and airier while darker tones make a room feel cozier. But to make your room look bigger, it’s about more than just color: How you hang your curtains is also a huge factor in creating the illusion of height and space.

Options & Inspiration for Colorful Drapes

Now that you know some of the important factors to consider when choosing colorful curtains, it’s time to explore a selection of colors as well as inspirational imagery. These colors and inspirational spaces are categorized by color temperature so you can explore the category that best suits your existing interior color scheme.

Warm Colors: Red, Orange & Yellow

Warm colors are those that typically have undertones of red, orange and yellow. These tones typically evoke a sense of coziness and energy. This invigorating effect is ideal for rooms like living rooms, dining rooms and other spaces where you host guests, as the color can create a vibrant atmosphere that encourages conversation.

Fabric Options

Explore a few examples of warm tones for colorful curtains, ranging from soft pastels to bold jewel tones.

A swatch of Holland & Sherry Wool Flannel in Floral Pink features a lovely pastel pink color with a brushed finish

Holland & Sherry, Wool Flannel, Floral Pink

A luxurious, soft wool with a brushed finish in a lovely pastel pink.

A swatch of Silk Dupioni in Marigold is a rich floral yellow color with a lustrous sheen and soft texture

Silk Dupioni,
Marigold

A fine silk with a lustrous sheen and soft texture in a bright floral yellow.

A swatch of Posh Velvet in Crimson features a rich red window color in a lustrous, lightweight velvet

Posh Velvet,
Crimson

A lustrous, lightweight velvet with a soft touch and a rich red wine color.

A swatch of Linen in Mink features a deep bark brown color with warm undertones and a soft, inviting texture

Linen,
Mink

A durable, soft linen fabric in a deep, bark-like brown with warm undertones.

Warm Color Inspiration

Discover inspiring spaces curated with warm-toned colorful drapes to gather ideas for your own room.

Cool Colors: Blue, Green & Purple

Cool colors have undertones of blue, green and purple and typically evoke a sense of serenity and relaxation. These colors are calming and peaceful, making them ideal for bedrooms, bathrooms and other rooms of tranquil solitude.

Fabric Options

Explore a few examples of cool tones for colorful curtains to get a sense of your options for these calming colors.

A swatch of Silk Dupioni in Lavender features a cool purple hue with a lustrous sheen and soft texture

Silk Dupioni,
Lavender

A fine silk fabric with a lustrous sheen and soft texture in a cool purple hue.

A swatch of Raw Silk in Sage features a soft, cool, grey green color with a natural, inviting, uneven texture

Raw Silk,
Sage

An untreated silk in a soft, cool grey green that features natural texture.

A swatch of Holland & Sherry Wool Flannel in Rain features a beautiful sky blue color with a brushed finish

Holland & Sherry, Wool Flannel, Rain

A soft wool with a slightly brushed finish in a beautiful sky blue.

A swatch Holland & Sherry Andes in Algae features a deep blue green color with a sumptuous texture and subtle luster

Holland & Sherry Andes, Algae

A soft, sumptuous wool with a subtle luster in a deep blue green.

Cool Color Inspiration

Discover inspiring spaces curated with cool-toned colorful drapes to gather ideas for your own room.

Neutral Colors: Black, White, Grey & Beige

Neutral colors like black, white, grey, and beige are highly versatile and work well with any décor style. These tones range significantly in terms of color temperature (cool and warm undertones), luminance (how bright they are) and saturation (how rich the color is), so you can find the perfect combination.

Fabric Options

Explore a few examples of neutral colors to get familiar with some of your options and see the variation in terms of color temperature, luminance and saturation.

A swatch of Linen in Ecru features a light sandy color with a cool undertone and a softly textured fabric

Linen,
Ecru

A softly textured fabric in a sandy color with a cool undertone.

A swatch of Herringbone in Toast features a warm muted brown with a subtle herringbone pattern for visual and tactile texture

Herringbone,
Toast

A subtle herringbone pattern with visual and tactile texture in a warm, muted brown.

A swatch of Heathered Linen in Grey features a cool light grey color with a heathered texture for a soft touch

Heathered Linen,
Grey

A linen blend with soft heathered texture in a cool light grey.

A swatch of Claude Stripe in Mineral features a warm beige tone with a luxe boucle stripe for visual interest

Nate Berkus, Claude Stripe, Mineral

A linen blend features a luxe boucle stripe in a warm, beige tone.

Neutral Color Inspiration

Discover inspiring spaces curated with neutral-colored drapes to gather ideas for your own room and see how these subtle tones can truly transform a space.

Customize Your Colorful Curtains

Once you decide on a color, there’s even more to customize for your colorful curtains design. Choose pleat style, hardware, lining and more to create the perfect drapery to meet your preferences and needs.

Explore Fabrics for Colorful Curtains at Home

Colorful curtains are a great way to add personality and charm to your home. With so many color and fabric options available, it’s easy to find the perfect curtains to enhance your décor. Order free swatches of all your favorite colors to compare in your own home’s lighting. Whether you go for warm or cool tones or neutrals, colorful drapes are a sure way to make a statement in any room.

ORDER YOUR FAVORITE SWATCHES FOR FREE

Compare as many of your favorites from our collection of 1,200+ premium materials at home when you order free swatches online.

A close-up image of white swatches featuing different textures and materials shows the declicate details of these designs