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Kids Curtains & Window Treatments for Children’s Rooms
Choosing kids curtains and window treatments starts with what matters most for children’s rooms: safety, durability, light control, privacy and easy everyday care. Whether you are designing a nursery, toddler room, kids bedroom, playroom or teen space, the right window treatments should support how the room is used, from better sleep and added privacy to washable fabrics and child-friendly functionality.
Kids Curtains, Drapery, Shades and other window treatment options can also help bring the room together with cute, playful designs or more sophisticated styles that grow with your child. This kids room curtains guide can help you compare different window treatment options, pleat styles, fabric choices and hardware so you can choose the best option for a bedroom, playroom or shared family space.
Cover photo: Ripple Fold Drapery with Blackout Lining and a Cornice, and Inner Layer: Roller Shades, Ava in Birchwood
In this article
How to choose Kids Curtains and Window Treatments
The best kids curtains and window treatments balance safety, durability, light control, privacy, easy care and style. Before choosing a fabric or design, think about how the room is used every day, who uses it and what level of function the space needs.
Start with Safety, Durability & Ease-of-Use
For children’s rooms, start with window treatments designed for safety and everyday use. All of The Shade Store products follow child safety standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Window Covering Manufacturers Association, with products voluntarily tested by an independent, third-party laboratory. Cordless and motorized window treatment options can be especially helpful in kids bedrooms, nurseries, playrooms and teen spaces because they reduce access to cords while offering easy operation. Secure hardware, durable fabrics and simple functionality also help window treatments stand up to daily family use.
Consider Light Control, Privacy and Sleep
For kids bedrooms and nurseries, light control can help support better rest, nap schedules and bedtime routines. Blackout and room-darkening window treatments are ideal for blocking light and creating a dark tranquil environment for sleep, while layered Curtains and Shades can create a similar effect with more flexibility thanks to the layers that can be adjusted throughout the day. Privacy is another concern children’s rooms, making bedroom window treatments espeically useful on street-facing windows. Light-filtering options work well for playrooms and family spaces where you want softness, privacy and natural light without making the room feel too dark.
Pick Kid-Friendly Styles That Last
Kids curtains and window treatments should feel fun, personal and age-appropriate, but versatile colors and patterns can help the room grow with your child. Instead of highly specific character themes, consider stripes, checks, stars, florals, animals, geometric patterns, soft blues, greens, blush tones, warm neutrals or bold accent colors. Curtains are a great starting point for adding softness, color and pattern, while Shades and Blinds can also work well for children’s room window treatments when you want a cleaner look or layered functionality.
Best Pleat Styles for Kids Room Curtains
Pleat style is one of the biggest decisions when selecting curtains for kids rooms, because it affects both the look of the panels and how easily they move.
You’ll likely want to adjust the drapery frequently — maybe even multiple times a day — to get the right level of light control and privacy levels. Some pleat styles are functional while others are better used decoratively. For busy bedrooms and playrooms, functional styles can make children’s curtains easier to open, close and adjust throughout the day.
Explore the functional pleat styles first and then get a quick look at decorative styles to find the right kids drapery style for your child’s room.
Functional Pleat Styles
Drapery comes in eight main pleat styles, but only four of them are considered to have easy functionality. This is thanks to their compatibility with track system hardware which allows easy gliding of your curtains back and forth.
Ripple Fold Drapery: Modern, Linear Look
Featuring soft S-curves and gentle waves of fabric that create linear highlights and lowlights, Ripple Fold Drapery delivers a more modern or contemporary aesthetic for your kids curtains. The linear design also helps add a sense of height to your room, which can help rooms with lower ceilings feel more spacious.
Ripple Fold Drapery is only compatible with track system hardware — both manual and motorized tracks — giving you effortless ease in adjusting your drapery whenever you need.
Tailored Pleat Drapery: Streamlined & Contemporary
With three-finger pleats pinched at the very top of the panel, Tailored Pleat Drapery offers a streamlined, contemporary aesthetic for your kids curtains. The continuous design with the pleats pinched at the top draws the eye upward, which helps create a sense of height and spaciousness in your room.
Tailored Pleat Drapery is compatible with both rod and ring hardware and track system hardware. Both types of hardware are easy to operate, but the rings may be a little more challenging, especially with wider and taller panels. For the easiest functionality, choose a manual or motorized track system.
Pinch Pleat Drapery: Traditional Elegance
A traditional pleat style, Pinch Pleat Drapery features three-finger pleats pinched four inches from the top of the drape panels. The pleats create a natural visual break between the drapery and your wall or ceiling, which creates a more grounded design.
Like Tailored Pleat, Pinch Pleat is compatible with both rod and ring hardware and track system hardware. For the easiest functionality, choose a manual or motorized track system.
Cubicle Drapery: Casual Simplicity
Featuring small grommets a few inches from the top, Cubicle Drapery attaches to hook carriers in a track system. The result is wide, gentle waves that deliver a more casual, carefree aesthetic. Thanks to its design, Cubicle Drapery uses less fabric than other styles of drapery, and so has a very tight stack (the amount of space the panels take up when pulled fully off your window). A tight stack is especially useful for smaller spaces.
Like Ripple Fold, Cubicle Drapery is only compatible with track systems, so it’s very functional and easy to use.
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Decorative Kids Curtains
Decorative pleat styles offer charming aesthetics, however, keep in mind they’re not the easiest to use regularly due to their hardware compatibility, design restrictions or both. That’s why, if you opt for decorative pleat styles, it’s best to pair decorative pleat styles with a more functional window treatment like Roller Shades or Roman Shades.
goblet
drapery
With goblet-shaped pleats at the top of the panel, this pleat style offers a luxe, feminine look. The goblets don’t stack nicely which is why this style is best used decoratively.
grommet
drapery
Metal rings pressed in the panel fabric one inch from the top give Grommet Drapery deep, dramatic folds. Only compatible with rods, this style is best used decoratively.
inverted pleat
drapery
Featuring flat, crisp pleats across the top panel, Inverted Pleat creates clean angles and lines for a stately look. These pleats don’t stack nicely so it’s best used decoratively.
rod pocket
drapery
With a sewn pocket of fabric at the top to thread a curtain rod through, Rod Pocket Drapery features a charming, casual look. It’s difficult to adjust so is best used decoratively.
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Best Fabric Choices for Kids Room Curtains
Choosing the best fabric for your kids curtains is about finding the right balance between aesthetics and durability. Since children’s spaces tend to see more everyday activity, children’s room curtains often benefit from fabrics that are both durable and visually appealing.
For the best durability — as well as kid-friendly designs and sophisticated aesthetics — choose from performance synthetic fabrics and hardy natural fibers.
Performance Synthetic Fabrics
Made from engineered fibers like polyester, acrylic and more, these fabrics offer excellent performance in terms of moisture, stain and fade resistance. Plus, they’re less prone to tearing.
Explore examples of synthetic fabrics in attractive solid colors and charming patterned designs.
korinthos in aloe
Made of 100% Polyester
Features the look and feel of a cotton-linen blend in a subtle, inviting sea glass green.
highland in batik blue
Made of 50% Acrylic, 25% Wool & 25% Polyester
A simple plaid pattern with cool blue and grey stripes on an off-white background.
celeste in light pink
Made of 69% Cotton & 31% Polyester
Features tiny, embroidered starbursts in a soft pink for a charming, whimsical look.
Hardy Natural Fibers
Natural fibers vary in terms of performance as some are more durable than others. For the best performance, choose fabrics made of linen, wool or cotton. Silk is much more delicate and not the best choice for kids curtains.
Explore examples of natural fabrics in attractive solid colors and charming patterned designs.
luxe linen in
oyster
Made of 100% Linen
A beautiful heavyweight linen with a textured look and soft feel in an inviting, warm off-white color.
nate berkus gemma in
seastone gray
Made of 100% Cotton
Hand-painted white starbursts create a charming, yet chic microprint on a cool blue-grey background.
Explore All Fabrics
Discover all the possibilities for your kids curtains. Order swatches of all your favorite colors and patterns to compare at home.
Kids Room Curtain Ideas by Room Type
With knowledge of your pleat style and fabric options for kids room curtains, get inspiration from curated spaces featuring a variety of pleat style, hardware and fabric options.
Many of these ideas can also be adapted for playroom curtains, especially when durability and ease of use are priorities. For bedrooms, the right kids bedroom curtains can help create a comfortable space while complementing the room’s overall design.
Leafy Patterned Drapery for a Playroom
Create a fun forest or jungle-inspired playroom with kids curtains in a lush, leafy green pattern. Pair the foliage-inspired drapery with a Woven Wood Shade made of Grassweave in Khaki for an organic, natural element. The Madison track system hardware in Gold adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to the space—while giving you excellent functionality.
Pictured: Outer Layer: Tailored Pleat Drapery, Kravet C.O.M., with Madison Track Hardware in Goldand Inner Layer: Waterfall Woven Wood Shade, Grassweave in Khaki, design by Benni Amadi Interiors for the 2020 San Francisco Decorator Showhouse, photography by Douglas Friedman
Warm White Drapery for a Neutral Bedroom
Create a sophisticated, neutral design for your kids room with warm white Ripple Fold Drapery, like Claude Stripe in Alabaster, which features a luxe boucle stripe for a sense of casual elegance. Choose a simple white track system for your hardware that blends into the ceiling for a subtle, barely-there look. This type of drapery is ideal for a long-term window treatment solution as the simple, neutral curtains will grow with your child’s changing style as they age.
Pictured: Ripple Fold Drapery, Nate Berkus Claude Stripe in Alabaster, design by Nate Berkus
Roller Shades for a Boys Bedroom or playroom
For a boys bedroom or playroom, Roller Shades can add pattern, color and everyday function without making the space feel too formal. In this room, the blue and gray patterned Roller Shades coordinate with playful accents like the teepee, shelves and toys while still feeling clean and modern. The streamlined shade design also keeps the windows easy to use, making it a smart option for spaces where kids play, read, relax and spend time throughout the day.
Pictured: Roller Shades, Flight in Denim
Drapery and Solar Shades for a Girls Bedroom
If your child’s room already has bold, colorful elements like a bright pink bed frame, neutral Drapery can help soften the overall look. Linen in White brings a clean, airy feel to the space, while a Flat Roman Shade adds another layer of light control and privacy with a touch of texture for visual interest. The Acero rod and ring hardware adds a modern silver accent and simple functionality for everyday use.
Pictured: Outer Layer: Tailored Pleat Drapery, Linen in Whitewith Privacy Lining and Acero Rod & Ring Hardware in Chromeand Inner Layer: Flat Roman Shade, Grassweave in Snow design by Marie Flanigan for the Chef Ludo home, photography by Julie Soefer
Floral Curtains and Pink Roman Shades for a Nursery
For a nursery, floral Curtains can bring softness, color and playful pattern to the room while helping the space feel warm and thoughtfully designed. In this room, the floral kids curtains add charm against the pink walls, while the pink Roman Shade provides another layer of light control and privacy. The darker curtain rod and ring hardware adds contrast, giving the nursery a polished look that can still feel sweet and age-appropriate.
Pictured: Pinch Pleat Drapery with Rod & Ring Hardware and Flat Roman Shade.
Alternatives to Kids Room Curtains
Not sure if kids curtains are the right choice for your child’s room? You have additional options for kids window treatments, including Roller and Roman Shades. Check out these additional kids room window treatment beyond curtains.
Playful Pop-Art Punctuations
Go bold in your design and simple in functionality with Blackout Roller Shades with a bold design. This pop-art-inspired design brings color and character to your child’s room while also providing a room darkening effect and being very easy to use.
Product: Blackout Roller Shades
Warm, Southwest-Inspired Tones
Capture a warm, inviting look with a modern southwestern-inspired design. Choose Flat Roman Shades in a desert-inspired color like Lisbon Woven in Bronze. Complement the orange-brown color with ward wood tones like a woven planter and décor. Use soft, warm whites throughout the same in different textures to add subtle dimension while also making the warm Bronze shades pop.
Product: FlatRoman Shade
Material: Nate Berkus, Lisbon Woven in Bronze
soft colors & folds
For a casual, inviting look, choose Relaxed Roman Shades that feature a gentle swoop of fabric at the bottom. While not super functional, Relaxed Roman Shades are character-rich and easily layered with functional options like Roller Shades. A subtle swirling pattern adds a touch more character to your shades to bring the design to life.
Product: Relaxed Roman Shades
When to Add Blackout Lining to Kids Curtains
Not every child’s room needs blackout curtains. In some spaces, natural light can make the room feel brighter, more open and more inviting throughout the day. The decision often comes down to how the room is used and how sensitive your child is to light.
Blackout lining may be worth considering if:
- Early morning sunlight regularly wakes your child up
- Daytime naps are part of the routine
- Streetlights or exterior lighting shine into the room at night
- The room faces east or west and receives intense direct sunlight
- The space doubles as a media room, reading nook or study area where glare can be distracting
For curtains for a playroom, on the other hand, full blackout may not be necessary. Many families prefer light-filtering fabrics that maintain brightness during the day while still providing privacy and softness. If you’re unsure, ordering fabric swatches and viewing them in your room at different times of day can help you determine how much light control you actually need.
Explore Selections for Your Kids Curtains
To continue your search for the right kids room curtains, order swatches of all your favorite fabrics to compare them in your own home. Be sure to observe them all in different light throughout the day to get a true sense of the color. Make sure to order swatches for any layered window treatments as well, such as Roller or Roman Shade materials to see how they complement your favorite Drapery designs.
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