Do It Yourself Coverings for Arched Windows

The Requirements

• 1

  List the purpose and requirements of the window covering. Consider the level of privacy, the insulation capabilities and the level of light filtering you require.

• 2

  Consider the style of the room and decide on the general style of the window covering. If the room is formal, the covering should also be formal. For example, a roller shade is not suitable for a formal dining room; a full drapery is more in keeping with a formal room. Look through magazines that feature the same style of home or decorating and look at the window coverings there for ideas. Visit online sites that specialize in arched windows and consider a visit to a local drapery designer; these professionals often have books and magazines particular to the design industry you could borrow.

• 3

  Determine the amount of space available around the arch for hanging the hardware. Most drapery hardware requires a minimum of 4 inches of mounting space. Roman shades can be fastened directly onto the window frame or mounted inside the frame.

The Covering

• 4

  Select a full drapery treatment if you want a formal style. If the drapery must fully expose the window when open and close easily, it should be mounted on a horizontal rod above the window, ignoring the shape of the arch. Making formal, pinch-pleated drapes is well within the skill set of an advanced sewer. Add black-out lining if you need full privacy and heat loss protection. This style is particularly suited to arched French doors that swing into the room.

• 5

  Choose a “pickup” covering if a full drape is required but it does not have to fully expose the window when in the open position. Tie-backs hold these drapes open, and the shape of the arch is evident. A loop or tab, sewn to the top of the drape, is “picked up” and hooked over knobs or hooks fastened to the wall around the perimeter of the arch. The drape can be flat, pleated or gathered. Add the appropriate lining to make the drapes compliant with the requirements.

• 6

  Make Roman shades for less formal rooms. These can be mounted inside or outside the window frame and can be made to follow the shape of the arch with a non-functioning top section and a lower functioning section. Roman shades can be made with insulating and blackout layers, providing exceptional privacy coverage and heat loss protection.

• 7

  Choose the hardware for decorative window coverings with care. Because the hardware will be exposed, it must be in keeping with the style of the room and the covering. Ensure that you understand how the chosen decorative style of window treatment and the rod work together and there is enough space around the arch for the hardware. Online drapery hardware suppliers are excellent sources of inspiration and will often provide drapery construction instructions specific to their hardware.