9 Good-Looking and Practical Window Treatments for the Kitchen
Check out the options for kitchen window coverings that can stand up the rigours of kitchen life
Sarah Warwick
8 March 2018
Houzz Contributor. I'm a freelance journalist and editor writing for nationals, magazines and websites. A serial house revamper, I love great design, beautiful interiors and practical solutions.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a freelance journalist and editor writing for nationals, magazines... More
However efficient your kitchen hood, there’s no avoiding the fact that steam and grease are inevitable in the kitchen – and your window treatment needs to be able to cope with them. Choosing function doesn’t mean turning your back on style, though. Take a look at these nine window dressings that are grafters as well as decorative winners.
1. Full-height shutters
Shutters are as sleek as the cabinetry in this contemporary kitchen. In white, they match the worktop for a pristine finish, and they can be angled to let in light without putting the interior on show to the passing world.
Well-made wooden shutters won’t be bothered by the moisture-laden atmosphere of a kitchen, but there’s the option of those made from synthetic materials if you prefer, which will also happily tolerate the efforts of the keenest cook or splashiest washer-upper.
Shutters are as sleek as the cabinetry in this contemporary kitchen. In white, they match the worktop for a pristine finish, and they can be angled to let in light without putting the interior on show to the passing world.
Well-made wooden shutters won’t be bothered by the moisture-laden atmosphere of a kitchen, but there’s the option of those made from synthetic materials if you prefer, which will also happily tolerate the efforts of the keenest cook or splashiest washer-upper.
2. Venetian blinds
These Venetian blinds are a subtle dressing for the expanse of windows in this room, leaving the focus on the tactile cabinetry, and allowing the link between kitchen and garden to remain apparent. When a kitchen window’s right by the sink, follow this room’s lead with a treatment that won’t be affected by any splashes of water from the tap.
Find cleaning Venetians a chore? Invest in a duster designed to fit between the slats – some of them even clean several in one go.
These Venetian blinds are a subtle dressing for the expanse of windows in this room, leaving the focus on the tactile cabinetry, and allowing the link between kitchen and garden to remain apparent. When a kitchen window’s right by the sink, follow this room’s lead with a treatment that won’t be affected by any splashes of water from the tap.
Find cleaning Venetians a chore? Invest in a duster designed to fit between the slats – some of them even clean several in one go.
3. Roller blinds
With a colour contrast for the pelmet and base these roller blinds add an accent shade that lifts this kitchen scheme. In white, they still let light through to keep the kitchen bright and spacious, but they create privacy, too.
Roller blinds can be quite finely adjusted when it comes to choosing how much of the window you want to uncover. If your kitchen’s at the front of the house, bottom-up versions could be preferable. These pull upwards so you can keep the lower part of the window – at pedestrian height – obscured and let light in at the top.
6 ways around a window with a lousy view
With a colour contrast for the pelmet and base these roller blinds add an accent shade that lifts this kitchen scheme. In white, they still let light through to keep the kitchen bright and spacious, but they create privacy, too.
Roller blinds can be quite finely adjusted when it comes to choosing how much of the window you want to uncover. If your kitchen’s at the front of the house, bottom-up versions could be preferable. These pull upwards so you can keep the lower part of the window – at pedestrian height – obscured and let light in at the top.
6 ways around a window with a lousy view
4. Textured blinds
In this kitchen, a blind evoking the colour and texture of sand creates a seaside feel that’s echoed in the rug on the wooden boards and the row of starfish. You can steal this look with a woven wood blind which will soften the light coming in through the window beautifully. Want to up the coastal references? Incorporating tongue and groove panelling will summon up beach chic.
This blind hangs at a good height above the sink, so consider the position of your kitchen window since woven wood blinds are best not exposed to prolonged moisture.
In this kitchen, a blind evoking the colour and texture of sand creates a seaside feel that’s echoed in the rug on the wooden boards and the row of starfish. You can steal this look with a woven wood blind which will soften the light coming in through the window beautifully. Want to up the coastal references? Incorporating tongue and groove panelling will summon up beach chic.
This blind hangs at a good height above the sink, so consider the position of your kitchen window since woven wood blinds are best not exposed to prolonged moisture.
5. Bold Roman blinds
Pulling up into pleats and made from fabric – water-resistant if necessary – Roman blinds can add softness to a kitchen, which is full of hard materials. With warm colour repeated in ceramics and linens, the pattern of this design is set alongside other motifs in the country-style room.
Roman blinds are better in kitchens with good natural light as they’ll block the top part of the window, so other treatments are preferable if you only have just one small window or the room’s north facing.
Pulling up into pleats and made from fabric – water-resistant if necessary – Roman blinds can add softness to a kitchen, which is full of hard materials. With warm colour repeated in ceramics and linens, the pattern of this design is set alongside other motifs in the country-style room.
Roman blinds are better in kitchens with good natural light as they’ll block the top part of the window, so other treatments are preferable if you only have just one small window or the room’s north facing.
6. Sill-length curtains
Curtains aren’t a no-no for the kitchen window, and in this room they add a lighter note in contrast to the stainless-steel island and appliances, and the dark worksurface. These sheers finish at sill level so they won’t interfere with work at the sink.
Choosing washable fabric for kitchen curtains can be a time-saver as they’re easy to refresh in the machine. Simple headings that can be untied make the process even quicker.
Curtains aren’t a no-no for the kitchen window, and in this room they add a lighter note in contrast to the stainless-steel island and appliances, and the dark worksurface. These sheers finish at sill level so they won’t interfere with work at the sink.
Choosing washable fabric for kitchen curtains can be a time-saver as they’re easy to refresh in the machine. Simple headings that can be untied make the process even quicker.
7. Window film
Finished with film that creates the look of etched glass, this kitchen is bright but private, too. Try film when you’re looking for a treatment that doesn’t take up any extra space in the room – windows in awkward positions or directly adjacent to the sink are easy to dress this way.
Film can obscure glass or, like this one, add pattern. Single motifs are available, too. If you don’t want to cover the whole window, it can just be used on a section.
Finished with film that creates the look of etched glass, this kitchen is bright but private, too. Try film when you’re looking for a treatment that doesn’t take up any extra space in the room – windows in awkward positions or directly adjacent to the sink are easy to dress this way.
Film can obscure glass or, like this one, add pattern. Single motifs are available, too. If you don’t want to cover the whole window, it can just be used on a section.
8. Café-style shutters
Shutters that just cover part of the window provide all the window treatment this kitchen needs. They maximise daylight in, but the slats can be closed at night so the room’s not a beacon for those outside. With the window adjacent to the sink, they’re space-efficient and won’t get in the way.
Café-style shutters don’t need to cover precisely half the window. Instead, align them with a section of window pane.
Shutters that just cover part of the window provide all the window treatment this kitchen needs. They maximise daylight in, but the slats can be closed at night so the room’s not a beacon for those outside. With the window adjacent to the sink, they’re space-efficient and won’t get in the way.
Café-style shutters don’t need to cover precisely half the window. Instead, align them with a section of window pane.
9. Café-style curtains
Just like shutters, curtains can dress the lower part of a kitchen window only. In this room, they frame the objects on the windowsill, as well as creating sufficient covering for the tall window. Decorative mosaic tiling on the floor also helps to lead the eye to the window display.
TELL US
How have you dressed your kitchen windows? Share your photos or ideas in the Comments.
MORE
All You Need to Know About Curtains
Just like shutters, curtains can dress the lower part of a kitchen window only. In this room, they frame the objects on the windowsill, as well as creating sufficient covering for the tall window. Decorative mosaic tiling on the floor also helps to lead the eye to the window display.
TELL US
How have you dressed your kitchen windows? Share your photos or ideas in the Comments.
MORE
All You Need to Know About Curtains
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No coolaholigah, that is not a bad idea at all. It will be a few weeks before I order a blind as I want to get the splashback in first and then decided on colour/pattern of blind. So I have plenty of time before I make a final decision. It seems to be that the plain rollar blinds only come in a very limited (boring) range of colours, and I would like something a bit more interesting. It's a big window and the rest of the kitchen (except the splashback) is white, so the bonded fabric does really appeal....
i have roller blinds on kitchen windows
To let the light in and nosey neighbours out I love these sheer embroidered lace curtain panels from Scandinavia - so elegant and they add luxury and style to any room. See JainSavoirFaire on Etsy for some fabulous designs