How To Make Full-Length Curtains Work In Your Kitchen For Some Dramatic Flair

A lot of attention is paid to kitchen design. Countertop material, tile choices, appliance finishes, and floor coverings present seemingly infinite options, but you'd be hard pressed to find a homeowner or decorator who designed the kitchen exclusively around the window coverings. Cafe curtains, valances, and blinds are standard kitchen window treatments — full-length curtains or drapes rarely make the cut for kitchens. But they can add dramatic flair, especially when you use them as the covering for French doors or a slider that opens to the outdoors. Long drapes can also work on any window where they can fall unobstructed all the way to the floor and are an option for interior doorways leading to the dining room or laundry when you don't want to install a door.

Bold, full-length curtains make a design statement that enhances the kitchen design by adding energy and interest. They can be a playful focal point, or they can define the breakfast nook or informal dining area. If bold isn't your style, solid drapes that match or complement the cabinets or flooring seem elegant and upscale. Fabric choices and drapery hardware are as important as the color, and form and function should be treated as equals when you're making your curtain decisions. A sheer drapery may look lovely but fail to provide the privacy you need, while a blackout curtain might give you the privacy you crave but also make the kitchen look cramped and dark. Use simple curtain tricks like contrasting colors to add drama. 

Think about how you want your kitchen to feel when you're considering your drapery options. A sheer, lacy fabric evokes spring breezes and lets light in, while natural fabrics, like linen and cotton, provide a connection to the outdoors, the driving principle behind biophilic design. Solid burlap gives the kitchen an Old World feel, but don't neglect color if it works with your kitchen design. Retro patterns from the 70s and 80s and vintage curtain fabrics are back in style; contrasting borders and trims turn a plain panel into a statement. Keep in mind that whatever fabric you choose, it should be washable, especially if the full-length curtains cover a door. 

If you need privacy but prefer a light and airy design, layer the drapes by putting the sheerer fabric closest to the window and adding heavier drapes that can be closed at night in front. Using natural bamboo or reed blinds behind the drapes is another nod to the trend toward inviting nature indoors, but you can pair any type of blinds with long drapes for the layered effect.

To make the kitchen seem larger and the ceilings look higher, hang the drapery rod just a few inches below the ceiling, and choose drapes that fall all the way to the floor. Using hardware that complements the kitchen, for instance, stainless steel rods and tiebacks that match the appliances, helps create a cohesive design. An easy swap of cheap curtain clip rings for eyelet curtain rings makes full-length curtains appear more upscale. Smart drapes — motorized curtains that you can open and close with the touch of an app — allow you to control the window coverings without leaving your seat at the breakfast bar for a very dramatic touch.