Nursery and Kids' Room Window Curtains: Tips & Ideas to Harmonize Style with Child Safety

Curtains are the superheroes of nurseries and kids’ bedrooms. They summon naptime in the middle of a sunny afternoon, shield tiny toes from chilly drafts, and hush the outside world just enough for Tinker Bell’s whispers to drift in through those cloud-spun dreams. Curtains can transform your child’s room into a cocoon of comfort, creativity and storybook magic with their soft contours, soothing hues and whimsical prints. But there’s more to nursery and kids’ room curtains than just charm and room-darkening — safety matters too. So what makes the best nursery curtains? Soft cottons or linens with a sewn-in blackout lining, hung on a rod mounted higher and wider than the window, full and long enough to leave no gaps for light, with a heading that suits how often you’ll draw them, colors and prints your child won’t outgrow, and trims and hardware that are safe for little hands. Read on for our drapery experts’ top tips on choosing custom curtains for kids’ rooms that are not only enchanting but also practical and safe for your little ones.

Lights Out, Dreams On: Choose Blackout Curtains for Sweet Slumber

Nurseries and kids’ rooms call for an extraordinary level of light control for those odd-hour naptimes to be smooth and rejuvenating for little ones. Hence, the most important aspect of drapery here is, without doubt — the fabric and lining. 

Skin-friendly fabrics like natural cottons, linens, and their blends are our top recommendation for kids’ spaces. These fabrics speak to the casual, playful nature of the space, are easy to maintain, and are full of textural warmth. 

When backed with blackout lining, the curtains can block light, muffle sound, and insulate the room from the external weather conditions to a substantial level. And, that’s not all, there are many more benefits to opting for room-darkening liners, which you can explore in our blog on Sewn’s Lining Options. Our blackout lining is sewn in, comes in white, pale gray or pale beige, and can go behind any of our curtain fabrics. But, in case you want to leave your curtains unlined for some reason, you can pick one of our blackout or dimout fabrics, and reap the same sleep-friendly benefits.

HAUL 'EM HOME: Cotton Curtains | Linen Curtains | Blackout Curtains

Full Blackout, No Light Leaks: Measure and Mount Hardware Like a Pro

There’s more to achieving blackout goals than mere fabric decisions. Foolproof room-darkening is the result of synchronized design decisions, of which blackout lining is a small but significant part. Sewn’s complete blackout lowdown is detailed in our blog post on How to Plug Light Leaks from Drapery Edges, but for the hardware tricks, keep reading.

TIP IN A PIC!

Go Higher & Wider with Your Drapery Rod

Whether you choose tracks or rods, for optimal insulation, avoid the mistake of matching the hardware’s length to the window’s width. Instead, make room for a meaningful extra. Extend the rod 6-12 inches beyond the window trim, so the light leaks from the sides can be minimized. This will also help to bring more light into the room when you draw the curtains open, as they will stack on the wall instead of blocking the window. Also, mount the rod 6-12 inches above the window or close to the ceiling to cancel light leaks from above the drapery.

Cold Drafts, No Chance! Size Curtains with Insulation in Mind

Curtains hold a clear edge over other window treatments when it comes to insulation. Their sweeping coverage and dense pleats offer a built-in boost of thermal efficiency and aid in soundproofing the room. So, when deciding on the length and width of your nursery/kids’ room curtains, think of them as the swaddle that wraps the space up in warmth; and splurge, don’t skimp:

LENGTH: Floor-length curtains are ideal to cancel all chances of light leaks from under the drapery. Let the curtains float a tad above or just graze the floor, ensuring maximum coverage with ease of operation. However, if you believe long curtains might pose a risk of entanglement for your little crawler, judge wisely based on your child’s age and consider sill length drapes if needed. To measure the length, start from the point our Drapery Measurement Guide gives for your heading; it walks you through each step with handy illustrations.

WIDTH: The more generous you are with the width, the denser the pleats, and the better the curtains’ thermal performance. Hence, we recommend 2x fullness for grommet, rod pocket, back tab, flat panel and pencil pleat curtains and 1.5x for tab tops and tie tops (sheers up to 2x), while our pinch pleats come with a generous 2.5–3x fullness sewn in, so the curtains develop deep, sumptuous pleats that are better equipped to block light, muffle sound, and offer warmth. For further details on what ‘fullness’ means and how it is measured, we suggest heading over to our Drapery Measurement Guide. 

HOMESEWN WISDOM: How Long Should My Curtains Be?

About Pleats, Coverage and Smooth Glide: Choose the Right Heading Style

So much about drapery has to do with the heading style—the way they form pleats, block light, and operate, being a few. That calls for an in-depth evaluation before selection, so do visit our Drapery Headings Style Guide for a detailed description of each heading style offered at Sewn. As far as choosing headers for nurseries and kids’ bedroom curtains is concerned, here’s our quick take:

• Light Control: Some heading styles feature fabric loops or grommets that become potential light leak causes. The blackout agenda can only be best forwarded by styles that offer full coverage at the top — such as the pinch pleats, flat panel tops, rod pockets, and hidden back tab tops — to name a few. 

• Operational Ease: Heading styles that use rings/clips/grommets - such as pinch pleats, grommet tops, and flat panel tops - guarantee a smooth glide, making them the best option for drapes that will be operated often. On the other hand, styles with fabric pockets and tabs keep curtains relatively steady on the rod, so are worth considering for sheer panels that you plan to keep drawn shut most of the time for privacy. Depending on whether your curtains are sheer or non-sheer, and how often you expect to operate them, choose the heading style that best fulfills your goal.

• Decor Style: The heading style is a vocal ambassador of your design style. The uniform gather of the pinch pleats curtains suits spaces designed with a tailored finesse, while the carefree folds of the flat panel tops complement more easygoing schemes. Frilled rod pocket headers bring a quaint charm, whereas clean-lined back tab tops offer a graceful poise. Each style offers a different visual appeal, so pick the one that best aligns with your theme and aesthetic.

Play the Long Game: Pick Enduring Colors and Prints

If you are expecting a renovation or a move in a few short years, decorating your nursery with kiddie themes may be a worthy indulgence. But, if you’re looking for age-proof window dressings, the curtains must be future-proofed. So, yes, you may be tempted to go with a cutesy mermaid-themed print, or under pressure to accept your three-year-old’s demand for a blazing orange, but, if you’re planning for curtains that last, here are some tried-and-tested tips:

PALETTE: Neutral tones are timeless as they blend into any color scheme and decor style effortlessly. But, if you want to add color - something that curtains are truly capable of - go for muted tones that your child will love well into the teens. So, push for a pastel orange, and your little co-designer might gladly agree to give up the saturated, eye-blinding one. Or adorning a neutral colored panel with a bright orange tasseled trim might prove to be the diplomatic move that wins their heart without losing the long game.

PATTERN: There’s no place more deserving of patterned curtains than kids’ rooms, considering how colors bring vibrance, and shapes often become teaching tools. But caution is advisable in the selection of the print. We recommend avoiding strikingly age-specific motifs like toon prints and comic themes. Instead, opt for timeless patterns that they won’t tire of, like stripes, modern florals and abstract designs. 

HAUL 'EM HOME: Striped Curtains | Floral Curtains | Geometric Print Curtains

Buttoned-Up & Tangle-Free: Make Your Curtains Kid-Safe

Curtains, just like everything else used to furnish a young child’s space, need to be safe. So, safety measures have to go hand in hand with aesthetic and practical considerations. Here are our top recommendations for child-proofed nurseries:

• Select Hypoallergenic Fabrics: Opt for natural fabrics like cottons and linens if your child has sensitive skin or is dealing with allergies. 

• Choose Child-Proof Trims: Be careful when selecting curtain trims for your baby’s nursery (we have more than 300 to choose from). Avoid trims with tiny baubles and pompoms, which they may try to mouth. Instead, choose ribbon trims that are securely sewn onto the drapery.

• Install Sturdy Hardware: Invest in good-quality hardware that can bear the weight of the drapery, and affix it securely to the surface. Avoid tension rods, as they may get dislodged when your kids tug the curtains.

• Use Tie-Backs: Install wall-mounted hold-backs or use curtain tie-backs to keep your curtains tidily stacked. So, when your kids run about, the curtains are not getting in their way.

Nursery & Kids’ Room Curtains: FAQs

What are the best curtains for a nursery?

Made-to-measure curtains in a soft cotton or linen with blackout lining, hung on a rod mounted higher and wider than the window, full and long enough to leave no gaps. Choose a heading with full coverage at the top, a color or print your child won’t outgrow, and trims that are sewn on securely.

Should nursery curtains be blackout?

For most nurseries, yes. Blackout lining darkens the room for daytime naps and early bedtimes, and also dampens sound and helps insulate the room. Ours is sewn in and comes in white, pale gray or pale beige.

Are long curtains safe in a nursery?

Floor-length curtains block the most light, but for a baby who is crawling or pulling up, think about how much fabric is within reach. Tie them back neatly, fix the hardware securely, or choose sill-length curtains until your child is older.

What fabric is best for kids’ room curtains?

Natural cottons, linens and their blends. They are soft, suit the relaxed feel of a child’s room and are full of texture, and with blackout lining behind them, they darken the room for sleep.

Which curtain heading is best for a nursery?

For the darkest room, a heading with full coverage at the top, such as pinch pleats, flat panel, rod pocket or back tab. For curtains you draw every day, headings on rings or grommets glide most easily.

How do you choose kids’ room curtains that children won’t outgrow?

Go for neutral or muted colors and timeless patterns such as stripes, modern florals and abstract designs, rather than cartoon prints. Add your child’s favorite bright color in a trim instead, which is easy to love now and still looks good later.

How do you make nursery curtains child-safe?

Choose ribbon trims sewn on securely rather than pompoms or baubles, fix sturdy hardware firmly to the wall instead of using a tension rod, and keep the curtains tidily tied back so they stay out of little ones’ way.

Shop Nursery & Kids’ Room Curtains from Sewn

From naptime rituals to bedtime stories, the right curtains can help set the scene for some of the most memorable moments of your darling child’s early years. But it takes more than a whimsical motif to get there. With thoughtful choices and a keen eye for safety, you can furnish a space that’s not only dreamy and delightful but built to last. Whether you’re designing a newborn’s nursery or a growing explorer’s bedroom, the curtain tips in this guide will hopefully ensure that your curtains are as clever and charming as the room they live in. So, now head to Sewn’s collection of more than 2,500 fabrics and find the curtains that will complete your little one’s haven with blackout bliss and idyllic charm. If you’d like a hand choosing, just drop us a line at hi@sewndrapesandshades.com.

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