Combining Shades and Drapes

Pairing shades and drapes can add drama and dimension to a room, while providing flexible light control and adding more insulation at the window.

And the sky’s the limit when it comes to pairing these window treatments—you don’t need to follow any rules.

Like the idea of layering but not sure where to begin? Here are a few tips to get you started.

Choose your shade style first, and then go from there. Think about what you want your shades to do for you. For example, do you want complete darkness in a room at night? Do you want your shades to filter natural light? Or maybe you want shades that are extremely energy efficient?
Then consider your room’s décor. If your walls have semi-bright colors, you could select a shade in a contrasting color that pops. If you have lots of patterns or prints in your room, a clean-lined shade, like a traditional roller, in a solid color would work well. If you want to incorporate some texture, go for a woven wood shade.

Drapery choices all depend on your shade. A solid shade gives you the opportunity to play with patterns. A sheer shade, with its lighter fabric, contrasts nicely with heavier, dramatic drapery.
For a classic look, consider a lighter colored shaded paired with a darker colored drapery fabric. If you want other design elements in the room to take center stage, with more of a supporting role for your window treatments, a tone on tone combination (a lighter tone for the shade complemented with a darker tone for the drapery) adds an understated finishing touch.