How to Design Kids' Curtains

Updating a kid’s bedroom can be fun, especially if you involve your child in the process. One of the projects in which you can be creative is by designing window treatments. Window treatments, such as curtains, are essential in kids’ bedrooms because they can add softness and character to the room. Curtains provide a great finishing touch that can pull the room together. It is important to plan carefully and make the right choices from the start to ensure a desirable result.

Step 1

Measure the size of your child’s windows. Take the length and the width.

Step 2

Decide on a style. Consider curtain panels, balloon curtains, with or without a window valance, pinch-pleated, jabot or tab-top styles.

Step 3

Decide on the length. Curtains usually come in lengths of 63 inches, 84 inches, 95 inches and 120 inches.

Step 4

Decide whether to hang from the ceiling down to the floor, from the top of the window molding to the floor or from top of the window molding down to the windowsills.

Step 5

Decide on the type of fabric to use. Cotton, rayon, denim, burlap, sheer and lace are examples of fabrics you can choose from. When choosing the material keep in mind the style of the room; for example, it is more appropriate to use laces for a Victorian style kid’s bedroom than using burlap. Consider also the sex of the child. Avoid using a lace material for a boy’s bedroom because it is too feminine. Choose materials that are durable and can last a long time or, at least, until your child grows tired of them.

Step 6

Pink Curtains

Choose the color. You can be as colorful as you want in your choices as long as they coordinate with everything else in the bedroom. For example, the color you choose should go with the wall color, color of the bed linens and color of the upholstery on the furnishings. You can choose primary colors or pastel colors. Choose colors that the child likes. Use the color wheel as your guide or get fabric swatches to try out.

Step 7

Choose the pattern. There are many fabric patterns to choose from when designing curtains for kids. There are those that come with flower designs, cowboy designs, planes, trains, cars, trucks, insects and animal designs. There are patterns and characters coming from popular animated movies, cartoon shows or popular kids’ story books.

Step 8

Get inspired. Go through design books and magazines for inspiration. You may also try going to model homes or design centers to look at how they decorate children’s bedrooms. Take pictures of the ones that appeal to you.