19 bedroom curtain ideas that will create a peaceful sleep space in no time

If you're on the hunt for bedroom curtain ideas that will make your sleep space feel warm, inviting and, above all else, cosy, then you've come to the right place.

They're often the last thing on your list of bedroom ideas, but choosing the right pair of curtains for your abode is one of the easiest ways to pull together all of those stylish bedroom trends you find yourself dreaming about on social media.

Still, it's not exactly an easy decision: you'll likely want to consider everything from heading type to fabric weights to ensure you get the perfect bedroom curtains for you. And that's where we come in...

Bedroom curtain ideas

To help you wade through all of the many, many, many bedroom curtain ideas online, we've pulled together a list of our favourites.

All of them will see you settle down for a cosy night's sleep in no time...

1. Opt for a cosy check

You'll no doubt have spotted the word 'coorie' trending on social media by this point. It comes from an old Scot's word, meaning to nestle or snuggle, and it's inspired a very cosy homeware aesthetic as a result.

Nail the look with a pair of cosy check bedrooms curtains – ideally with a blackout blind built into them, like the pair above from Julian Charles, or this gorgeous red check pair from Next.

2. Embrace the cabincore aesthetic

The popular cabincore aesthetic has seen people embrace antique decor to evoke lovely feelings of nostalgia and sentimentality in their homes. 

You can jump aboard this cosy trend by keeping your bedroom curtain ideas on the vintage side. Try looking for retro prints, such as the iconic William Morris Strawberry Thief print used above by Blinds2Go, if you need help getting started.

3. Treat them as a window frame

If you really want to make a statement with your bedroom curtains, look for a pair with a pelmet to create a framing effect.

'Curtains are always in fashion in one form or another,' says interior designer Yvonne Jones, advising that curtains are the ideal window treatment idea for adding both warmth and sound insulation.

'I think living in a colder climate means we like to feel wrapped up and having curtains frames the view. They also create a different aesthetic, giving a bigger visual effect,' she says.

Shop the pair above at Tori Murphy now.

4. Seek voiles for privacy without blocking out light

Bedrooms require privacy at all times, but where having heavy curtains drawn limits the light quality within the space voiles are the perfect solution. The lightweight window treatment restricts the view in but doesn't restrict the brightness, ideal for a small bedroom idea to invite an airy and open feel.

'Using voile curtains in combination with black-out roller blinds is a really effective way to gain a high level of control over lighting and privacy levels' advises Hannah Cooley, product designer for Hillary. 

'Allowing for night time privacy and darkness that can easily be switched up to let sunlight through during the day.'

5. Introduce pattern to a plain room

Nothing adds drama to a plain bedroom better than a big, bold pattern. Tropical or botanical prints, similar to these curtains, are always popular for bedroom decor to add a touch of timeless appeal. 

When opting for a colourful patterned curtain, keep the rest of the room simple to allow your curtains to do all the talking. This grey bedroom idea has been finished in a pale blue to work with the dark blue and green pattern.

6. Draw attention to a shapely bay window

When planning how to dress a bay window, make a feature with a combination of blinds to accentuate the shape of the bay and elegant drapes to highlight the height of the room.

Choosing a pattern helps to add interest, but keeping the pattern subtle helps to avoid overwhelming the room. Loosely matching the colour to the bedding creates a seamless look.

7. Choose a pattern that goes with the view

'Choose a fabric that enhances your view – life a leaf pattern,' suggests Yvonne. In this bedroom, the view of the garden has been framed with floral print curtains in neutral colours. 

The curtains continue the botanical theme running through the rest of the room. The same pattern has even been used to create scatter cushions to tie them together with the vibrant green bed. 

Add authentic botanical touches with a scattering of house plant ideas.

8. Hang lined curtains to reduce light leakages

When choosing what fabric to use Victoria Walker, product manager at Hillarys, suggests thinking about the function, you want the curtains to perform in your bedroom. 

'Voiles are sheer and translucent and a great way of letting the light in while still offering privacy, but black-out, lined curtains are a better choice for bedrooms.'

'I'd always line curtains though – unless they are voiles – as lining makes your curtains look fuller, helps reduce light leakages and provides extra privacy. Coloured lining is also available – think about grey or black facing out instead of white or ecru.'

9. Invest in linen curtains for a relaxed look

Medium-weight linen or a linen mix curtain are perfect for creating a relaxed look. The navy blue curtains here hang all the way to the floor and add another layer of texture in this modern bedroom. 

However, they are quite sheer so it is worth investing in a blackout window blind idea to hang behind them, to make sure you still get that good night's sleep.

10. Opt for a thermal number

Keep the cold at bay (and your heating bills down) with a pair of thermal bedroom curtains, like the Luna Blush Pink Luxury Thermal Blackout Eyelet Curtains by Julian Charles seen above.

Next, too, has a 'gorgeous chic collection of super thermal matte velvet curtains to retain the heat,' according to their style experts. 

'The heavyweight fabric drapes beautifully for a sophisticated look, while the sumptuous Super Thermal lining has a thick wadded layer to help keep heat in and the cold out,' they promise.

We feel cosy just thinking about it!

11. Choose a pattern that will standard the test of time

If you do decide to opt for a pattern make sure it's a design you'll love for a long time. 

'Good curtains last for years so you need to really love the pattern,' advises Yvonne. 

These pink patterned curtains feature a timeless design that will work with a variety of colour schemes from neutral beige to a bright pink or red.

12. Hold curtains back with alternative tie-backs

'Avoid fabric-shaped tie-backs, which are old-fashioned, and choose woven leather, beaded or even tasselled ones instead,' says Yvonne. 

Tie-backs are a great way to update existing curtains, swap your fabric tie for something more modern like a leather tie or these rope ties with wooden hearts.

13. Allow curtains to puddle in front of a tall window

If you have long windows in your room order curtains that are a little longer than the window so they puddle. This works best with lightweight linen curtains that you don't need to worry about creasing badly.

However, puddled velvet curtains can also look  sumptuous when creating cosy bedroom. Just make sure you don't go overboard, and only add an inch or two of extra length – you don't want them to become a trip hazard.

14. Pair velvet curtains with a sheer voile

'I love well-made, hand-finished curtains hanging almost ceiling to floor, with a sheer voile,' says Victoria. 

A sheer voile is the perfect solution to add some extra privacy to your bedroom if it overlooks the street, while still allowing light in. For a luxurious look, pair the delicate sheer voile with dark heavy velvet curtains.

15. Add a wooden pelmet to a traditional floral design

What you hang your curtains on can make just as big an impact as the window dressing itself. Pick a pole that co-ordinates with your fabric and suits your furniture style. 

The wooden rail in this bedroom compliments the earthy green and navy blue bedroom colour scheme. The wooden design also works with the brown leather armchair in the corner of the room.

16. Match your curtains to your walls

Should you match your bedroom curtains to the walls? The answer is yes. Make a bold statement by colour blocking in your bedroom and matching your curtain colour to your walls. The cobalt blue curtains wrap this entire blue bedroom idea in the vibrant blue hue. 

When colour blocking, add variation by playing with different shades and textures in the same colour.

17. Keep it boxy

While a traditional pelmet might look a little out of place in a small bedroom, 'a flat, boxy, straight pelmet adds neatness to a window,' says Yvonne. 

'When choosing a pattern, make sure you take the whole room into consideration.' The boxy pelmet in this bedroom echoes the smart grey wall panels, and ties the retro geometric pattern in with the rest of the bedroom.'

18. Team patterned curtains and blinds

Curtains and blinds can look wonderful when layered together. 

You can keep it simple with a plain blind under a patterned curtain but, for a more playful look, try teaming different patterns (in this room, for example, polka dot blinds have been partnered with contrasting striped curtains).

When clashing patterns, it is important to make sure that they have at least one thing in common, whether that is colour or pattern style. In this room the curtains have the same purple colour scheme in common.

19. Match the curtains to the bedding

One of the most popular bedroom curtain ideas around, try matching your window dressing to your bedding, as seen above in this setup by Linenfields.

Fair warning, though: this is a tricky one to get right, and works best in a clean and minimalist setting (things can feel cluttered fast if you go down the matchy-matchy route in a small, brightly coloured room).

Perhaps, then, this is why it's such a popular spare bedroom option.