Sunroom Curtains: Top Tips to Balance Light, Mood & Style

Sunrooms welcome light, and their curtains shape it into gentle layers of golden warmth. Here, time slows down, the day feels softer, and Spring gets transformed from the season of light to a season of pure delight. With the right fabric and pleat, custom curtains become the soft frames of the picturesque view beyond, and turn simple daylight into a daily spectacle that invites you to sit, slow down, and relax. If that’s the vision you hold for your sunroom curtains, stay with us as Sewn’s drapery experts share styling wisdom to help you bring it to life.

Choose a Fabric that Befriends the Light

Since the expansive window banks of sunrooms are designed to usher in light and warmth, ‘sunroom curtains’ almost sounds like an antithesis. However, window treatments are inevitable here to protect the soft furnishings from the effects of harsh sun glare and to ensure privacy. This is where the choice of fabric becomes the crucial step to getting sunroom curtains right.

The fabric must welcome light, but cut it to size. Think feather-light sheers, airy linens, and lightweight cottons that keep the room bright, breathable, and cozy. Their loose weave lets light and air trickle in slowly, dyeing the interiors with a soft golden glow and the delicate dancing shadows of swaying veils. They let light work its magic by not coming in its way, but playing along with it. Fabrics like thick cotton, velvet, and blackout, on the contrary, would demand second thoughts as they block light rigorously. 

If you’re using your sunroom for study or work, you might want a tighter defence against the glare on the screen. Here, lightweight non-sheers do the job, but remember to keep the curtains unlined to maintain the bright atmosphere. To put it in a nutshell: Look for lightweight breathable fabrics and skip the lining. Let the sun’s golden light wrap the sunroom, filling your home with warmth. 

HAUL 'EM HOME: Linen Curtains | Sheer Curtains

Pick a Palette & Pattern that Maintains the Sunroom’s Outdoorsy Spirit

While the fabric’s opacity plays a huge role in shaping the sunroom’s ambiance by letting the light flood in, it is not the sole player. The colors and prints of the curtains also share in the responsibility. Whether day or night, Spring or winter, you can feel the connection with nature as soon as you enter the space if your curtains evoke nature themes.

Let the outdoor views inspire you - pick your colors from the palette nature provides you freely. Think serene whites stolen from bright mornings, shades of green that nod to your garden’s verdure, or soft yellows that feel like sunshine. And look to floral, botanical, and toile prints that seem to capture nature’s magnificence in a still, anchoring the sunroom in its inherent purpose of bridging the indoors and outdoors.

HAUL 'EM HOME: Green Curtains | Floral Curtains | Yellow Curtains

Edge the Curtains with Playful Trims

Sunrooms, being casual spaces close to nature, serve as the perfect space to add decorative touches that feel lighthearted and playful. Here, curtain trims offer that subtle detail that can make all the difference without taking too much space. They make the sunroom look even more special, comforting, and well put together. 

If you’re looking to channel a bohemian aesthetic, think of lush cotton tassels, fringe, and pompom trims that feel right at home with crochet plant hangers and dream catchers. Their wiggling in the breeze will further enhance the organic elegance of the space and weave in moments of delight to what is already a very relaxing haven.

If you’d rather go for a clean-lined embellishment, consider our ribbon trims. Available in tons of colorways, in glossy velvet, textured grosgrain, and attractive patterns, these decorative bands define the curtains’ contours and add a dash of refinement that feels considered, yet measured.

Style the Curtains with Smoothly Gliding Headers

Creating the ambiance begins with tailoring the light, and sunroom curtains are masters of the art.

And yet, there will be moments when you’ll want to draw the curtains and bask in the light when it’s soft, golden, and uplifting. This is why the curtains must have headers that glide without a hiccup. We recommend opting for header styles that use rings, pins, or grommets in their construction as they operate smoothly. These include pinch pleats, grommet tops, flat panel tops, and the like.

However, if you anticipate operating your curtains rarely or want to leave them perpetually covered for privacy, opt for styles that stay taut on the pole, like rod pockets and back tab tops. These styles are also ideal for decorative stationary panels that are non-operational.

Note that operational ease is only one of many criteria for selecting apt headers. The heading style also plays a role in light control and becomes the mouthpiece of your decor style. So, make sure you evaluate the heading styles on all relevant aspects before you settle on one. Use our Drapery Headings Style Guide for reference.

Consider Alternatives to Floor-Sweeping Curtains

Those who like the modern look and stature of long curtains do not like to trade it off for any other treatment. And that’s why decorative stationary panels framing the window, offering no coverage at all, are popular in sunrooms where the looks are sought, not the function. However, some occasions beg special treatment, like in the case of counter-height windows with built-in shelves underneath, small sunrooms where the furniture is pushed close to the wall, and sunrooms that do not receive much light to begin with, needing no measure for light control. Here, you may consider these alternatives:

• Short Curtains: Sill-length and cafe curtains have long been the celebrated sunroom dressings, especially in casual, country-style settings. They offer the same rippled elegance as long drapes, but in a pocket-sized version that looks just right for small windows. Cafe curtains, in particular, are loved for their rare ability to allow light inflow and set privacy safeguards at the same time.

• Roman Shades: Made of the same fabrics as curtains, custom roman shades provide the aesthetic potential of drapery but with the sleek framework of modern blinds. Their gentle folds, much like the pleats of curtains, soften the room visually. Perfect fit and easy to operate, roman shades are ideal for sunrooms that want to maintain clean-lined contours and modern appeal.  

• Valances: These petite accessories crown the window and block no portion of the pane, making them ideal for sunrooms that are better left without elaborate window dressings. Available in several designs, from sleek board-mounted cornices to decorative pole-mounted pleated curtains, custom valances are a subtle refinement that can go a long way in adding texture and color to the sunroom without much visual weight. 

Shop Sunroom Curtains at Sewn

In a sunroom with well-considered curtains, light does not just enter - it lingers long like a well-loved guest and engages you in a story through fabric folds. The right fabric, header, and trim bring it all together in a way that blends beauty, nature, and laidback ease. After all, when sunlight meets the right drapery, every day feels like Spring. So, explore Sewn’s collection of airy sheers and lightweight cottons, available in a range of colors and prints, and find that perfect drapery that will anchor your sunroom in summery bliss.