5 Affordable Window Treatments That Look Designer (Blinds, Shades, Curtains)
You can add affordable window treatments like blinds, curtains and shades that look high end, and doesn’t have to be expensive! I’m all about a good DIY project that looks like my husband and I spent a fortune, but in reality was super affordable! (shhhh)
If you're craving the designer look for your windows without spending a fortune, you're in the right place.
After moving into our home, our bedroom windows needed privacy, style, and texture but we weren’t about to spend thousands on custom blinds or drapery.
Luckily, we found beautiful, inexpensive window treatments that instantly elevated our space and looked way more expensive than they really were.
This way we would still give us the designer look we wanted… Just on a budget.
From faux wood blinds to layered curtains and shades, these are the exact window treatments we used to elevate our bedroom affordably and you can easily shop the same look using the links I’ve provided throughout the post!
5 Affordable Window Treatments That Look Designer
First I want to start off by sharing what our primary bedroom looked like before we added any window treatments and and coverings at all.
The way our bedroom is situated, the only way we could really position a king size bed was to put it under the window. I wasn’t sure how I felt about this at first because it seemed really scary not to have a head board or even put one of those cute little signs or shelves above our bed, but after playing around, I’ve actually fallen in love with how this window turned out.
The window was beautiful even before adding anything to the room. The problem was that our king size bed made it look much smaller than it actually was.
My goal was to revamp this window to make it the focal piece of the room, making it appear larger than it actually is.
1) Install Faux Wood Blinds: Under $50 and Look Custom
SHOP UNDER $50 BLINDS:
Let’s be real. Normal plastic blinds just look cheap, never hold up well, and are so much more work to clean.
They always look super messy with the pull down strings. I love that higher end blinds can just be pulled down or pushed up.
Wooden blinds can be so expensive! If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to get the same look, trying using faux wood blinds.
Faux wood blinds alone will make your room look so much more high-end.
HERE’S HOW:
They come in multiple sizes and colors
Easy to match with modern, farmhouse, or transitional decor
No messy cords — just push up/pull down
[Shop the exact faux wood window blinds online here]
2) Add Linen Style Curtains: Affordable and Luxurious
SHOP UNDER $30 CURTAIN SET:
If you want to add texture and softness to your room without overwhelming the space, affordable linen curtains are the way to go.
We used these cream farmhouse style curtains from Lowe’s and they’re just stunning for under $30!
WHY LINEN STYLE CURTAINS ARE A GREAT OPTION:
They add so much texture to a room
They have a natural elegance in color
The natural linen looks goes with anything
Can be used for any design style
These are mostly just going to be for decorative design, not for privacy. They can also come in a variety of styles including sheer, opaque, and blackout.
[Shop these exact linen curtains here]
3) Use Roman Bamboo Shades: Texture and Function
These cordless, custom roman shades completely changed how our window looked and funtioned! The easiest way to recreate a high end feel without the custom price tag.
I’ve always loved the look of Roman bamboo shades, but thought they’d be way out of budget. Turns out? Not at all.
Window shades allow natural light to come in while still giving you privacy or dimming the room if needed.
HERE’S WHY WE LOVE WINDOW ROLLER SHADES AND USE THEM ALL OVER OUR HOME:
Can be custom made (they also have premade sizes)
Easy to install in less than 5 minutes
Pull down and push up shades with no loose or long ugly strings
Layered behind our linen curtains (or any curtains), these window roller shades give the window a cozy, designer feel.
[Shop bamboo roman shades here]
4) Try Metal or Wood Curtain Rods
Do not. I repeat… Do not go for plastic looking curtain rods, or cheap window curtains and rods if you’re trying to look like you spent a lot of money on window coverings.
The right curtain rods can seriously upgrade your curtains and make them look more expensive, and the wrong ones can look cheap, plastic-y.
These make even the most affordable curtains look elevated.
Here’s an example of cheap window curtains we had in our sons bedroom. The rod is sinking, and the curtains are so thick and stiff.
A few examples for colors of curtain rods that look high end would be:
This small change made a huge difference. Instead of plastic curtain rods. We opted for this textured wood-look metal rod in a matte finish and it instantly made everything feel more expensive.
[Here is the exact one we used in our bedroom]
5) Hang Hardware High Towards Ceiling
When hanging curtain rods, the best way to make your window treatments look more expensive is to hang them as close to the ceiling as you can.
What hanging hardware higher does:
Elongates your walls
Makes your ceiling look taller
Windows appear larger
Look more expensive
This simple hack is huge, and inexpensive at roughly $0. Almost every time I hang new window treatments in my home, they instantly go towards the ceiling.
I hope my 5 top tips for inexpensive and affordable window treatments make a huge impact without breaking the budget!
This post was sponsored by Lowe’s Home Improvement and as always all opinions are my own.
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