Make Your Kitchen Windows Look Bigger With A Clever Curtain Alternative

Natural daylight is so helpful in the space where we chop produce and pour out ingredients like herbs, oils, and flours into measuring spoons and cups. And, of course, gazing out through windowpanes as we wash dirty dishes can also be revitalizing. Nonetheless, privacy concerns may have you wondering if you should get curtains or blinds for your kitchen, but losing light or views may have you hesitant. Luckily, there's a hack that can make the windows in your kitchen look bigger — using outside-mounted blinds or shades as an alternative to curtains.

This term doesn't mean you're hanging window coverings on the outer facade of your home. Rather, the blind is affixed on the exterior of the frame rather than inside it. Inside-mounted treatments, on the other hand, are secured within the frame, so that the blinds are flush with the casing. There pros and cons to outside mounts, so you may need some further information before you decide if it is better to mount your window shades inside or outside.

Since outside-mounted blinds or shades are hung higher than the trim, they can make small kitchens feel bigger. They can also be rolled up above the top of the frame, showing the whole window. And when the entirety of the panes are visible, you get more daylight. While you can hang curtains to create the illusion of wider windows when the drapes are pushed aside, this strategy takes up more of the wall that might be better used for other purposes. On the other hand, blinds mounted above the trim are only taking up kitchen wall real estate that rarely gets used anyway.

While the outside-mounted choice maximizes daylight for your kitchen, some may not like this approach. Some people prefer the tidy look of an inside-mounted treatment that's framed by the trim. Also, an inside mount may better prevent sun from glaring out through the sides of the window coverings when they are closed. If that's a concern for you, you can still make sure to keep light from seeping out of the edges with an outside mount if you choose blinds or shades that are wide enough to cover the trim.