Decorative screens

A patterned screen adds a special mood to the atmosphere and becomes the main decoration of the room. Window screens are made of wood, metal or plastic, they can be folding or sliding. This design successfully protects from prying eyes and muffles sunlight no worse than curtains.

Maintaining decorative screens does not require much effort: it is enough to periodically clean them from dust.

The photo shows a bedroom in which the designer installed sliding grilles on the floor, providing sufficient privacy and not significantly interfering with the penetration of daylight.

screen on the window decorative screen on the window in the bedroom

Japanese panels

A functional and stylish option to replace classic curtains. Such panels are made from various materials – from bamboo to rice paper. A huge advantage of this method is the presence of very dense materials that can completely block the sun’s flow. The principle of operation resembles sliding doors. Japanese panels look great with panoramic windows.

panel curtains black and white panels on windows Japanese panels

Beads

Thread curtains in the interior

Before, bead curtains were used to decorate interior passages, but they look even more original as an opening decoration.

When choosing bead threads, you need to rely on the style of the room:

  • wood products are suitable for eclecticism and boho,
  • glass and crystal for a modern style,
  • shells for a marine style.

Beads on the windows make the atmosphere dynamic, weightless and cheerful.

Beads on the windows Curtains made of beads

Shutters

Wooden shutters have long been famous for their practicality and beauty: they can be used to completely darken a room or decorate the interior. In most countries, they are still used instead of curtains. Painted to match the walls, they look light and unobtrusive, and covered with bright paint they become an accent point.

With the help of shutters, you can create the atmosphere of a country house, as well as get a spectacular design detail.

Loft-style shutters Shutters in the living room Louvered shutters in the kitchen

Live plants

15 of the easiest to care for indoor plants

A window sill filled with flowers deprives the room of natural light, so it looks depressing. But greenery can be not only an excellent window decoration, but also an original alternative to curtains, the main thing is to correctly arrange them along the opening.

Tropical and exotic plants, as well as climbing plants, are suitable, they will look non-trivial and over time will beautifully enliven the interior.

Flowers can also be placed on shelves distributed along the entire height of the window, hung on a railing or in special flowerpots. In the kitchen, instead of decorative plants, you can plant useful greenery.

Plants instead of curtains Shelves with greenery on the window

Storage system

Organize shelves for storage in the window opening. This method of replacing curtains will be especially relevant for residents of apartments who do not have anything beautiful outside the window, and there is not enough storage space at home. Place the shelves along the frames and decorate them with souvenirs, paintings or favorite books.

For an apartment with high ceilings and large windows, it is possible to partially use the free space, so you will get additional space and ensure free access of sunlight to the apartment.

shelves on the window shelves with dishes on the window

shelves on the window

shelves on the window

Handmade

To add individuality to the room, you can turn to the creative side of your personality and decorate the window with homemade decor. Homemade decor is a great way to replace the notorious curtains on the windows in the kitchen or living room. These can be garlands, macrame, pom-poms on threads and entire plot compositions. Such decor will definitely not leave anyone indifferent.

The third picture shows a screen made with your own hands. To make it, you need a wooden stretcher (you can take a ready-made frame or knock it together yourself from slats), as well as light lace or tulle. The screen does not take up much space and can be easily moved to another room.

Macrame on the window Garland for the nursery on the window Frame with lace

Stained glass

In a modern design interiors stained glass art has long gained popularity and is not going to give up its positions. A real stained glass window costs a lot and is made to order.

To make a window more sophisticated, you can use stained glass painting, adding colored ornaments or plant themes. Self-adhesive film with a stained glass effect is also suitable. Such a window will look elegant and will not require curtains.

Stained glass painting in the kitchen Stained glass film on windows Stained glass windows

Film

One of the most practical ways to protect window from prying eyes – install frosted glass. But it is much cheaper and more functional to stick on a matte film, which is sold in different sizes and can have additions in the form of drawings, ornaments or transparent inserts.

Instead of a solid film, you can buy stickers that will partially cover the window, no worse than curtains.

Matte film in the kitchen Matte film in the children's room Film with decorative details

Roller shutters with perforation

Such designs are good not only for balconies: an unusual atmosphere can be created in the bedroom and living room. Spectacular canvases with holes were created by designer Ida Thonsgaard in Scandinavia: when closed, dense curtain fabric (like blackout curtains) protects from sunlight, creating a magical pattern on the walls and floor.

Roller shutters with detailing of each building look very impressive: at night they imitate the panorama of the night city and the starry sky.

Roller shutters

How to decorate a window opening without curtains?

If you decide not to close the window with curtains or alternative options, but want the opening to look stylish, then below I will show a selection of interesting ideas.

A place to relax

This window decoration method is perfect for owners of apartments with beautiful views who don’t need curtains. Create a cozy place to relax in any room – from a nursery to a living room or kitchen. The sofa-window sill looks especially interesting with bay windows due to its rounded shape.

You can implement such a design yourself by installing a wide, solid base and soft pillows. Read more in our other article.

rest area on the windowsill sofa on the windowsill sofa along the window rest area on the windowsill sofa in the dining room on the windowsill

Dining area

Another functional way to decorate a window. True, it can only be used in the kitchen, but how nice it will be to have breakfast and watch the bustling life of the city. By moving the dining table to the windowsill, you can significantly save space in a small studio and simply not use curtains on the windows.

windowsill table in a Khrushchev building cozy table with flowers on the windowsill windowsill table table on the windowsill

Decorative painting of walls

This technique is suitable for owners of small windows, because the presence of curtains can only aggravate the situation and make them visually smaller. The easiest way to slightly adjust the proportions is to extend the window in white, complementing the composition with moldings.

Thanks to this budget technique, the window looks slightly elongated, and its tiny size is not striking.

Painting and moldings instead of curtains

Unusual slopes

If the room is on a high floor or there are no other houses opposite, you can leave the windows without decorations that provide privacy. But to prevent the window opening from looking boring, it is enough to decorate the slopes using wood, paint or wallpaper.

Contrasting elements will draw attention to the view outside the window, and will also become one of the most original details of the interior.

Wooden slopes on the windows Painted slopes Blue window

Curtains are a stylish and very cozy element of the interior, but if you dream of an interior “with character”, traditional curtains or drapes can be replaced with any you like. way.