apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I can only think to get a solid chunk of curtain across the whole wall when closed. When opened, I'd pull them all over to that right-hand side, so that the bulk of the curtains cascades down into that empty space.

But that's much easier said than done! You'd probably need the curtains to be extra-long, in order to have enough length to span the width of the wall when opened, and you'd probably want to experiment with the how low the curtains droop across the windows, and how low the tie is to hold them up.

I have a similar situation in my bedroom. I hung floor to ceiling sheers (about double the number I would usually use so light comes in, but there is more privacy) along the entire wall. You have those radiators in the way, but I think I would box them off in one continuous box (as mentioned in the article) and have the curtains touch the top of them. Unless you have a view you can't live without, sheers is a good way to fool the eye and let in the light.

They handle this problem all the time on the design shows. I agree that wishing for nice little panels that somehow magically center the windows is not going to make it happen. Running a curtain down the whole room (as mentioned above) is certainly one way to avoid the issue. Ditto the idea of covering the radiators in a continuous way to draw less attention to the uneven space (given that the radiators are centered in front of your off-centered windows). You could maybe run the left window's panels a little further right and the right window's panels all the way to the wall and possible center them a bit (doubt it, though). If you had a longer wall, I'd suggest another faux window treatment to the right, but since you don't have the room, maybe something to draw your eye there? Floor to ceiling lamp? A really arty halogen which throws light upward? A fruit tree? Something to sort of balance off the windows. But that's pretty much all I have.

Boxing the radiators is a good idea.
Maybe also put something in the empty space so that it looks more intentional?

I love the living room!

I also have an off centered window which I hate. I just ignore it for now. BUT I saw on HGTV that a designer mounted a molded mirror just like a window and then put 2"blinds over the mirror to make it look like a single window. It looked good with the blinds open or closed, but did not look good when the blinds were drawn.

Then instead of running the rod 144" you could run it just to the end of the window to the right. I would hang a long corner-shelf in the left-over corner.

I'm guessing that this is a bedroom?

If that's the case - I wouldn't be concerned for symmetry here - just don't put the bed against the window wall (not like you could with the rads there anyway)

Put a nice bookshelf between the window on the right and the adjoining wall. Preferably something that matches the trim, looking a little like a built in. The two windows are now centered on what is left of the wall. Drape accordingly. (Make cutout for electrical socket.)

I have a similar issue in my bedroom, two walls have a single off-center window. One is very off-center and I've worked around it with furniture placement. The other is the wall where my headboard is placed in front of the window, but the window is annoyingly just SLIGHTLY off-center, as in one or two inches or so to one side. I've been toying with hanging panels across the whole wall never to be opened (which might also help with noise from the compressor right outside the room too), which would also let the bed be moved to the true center of the wall - right now it sits so it's centered with the window.

I would either try the put a bookshelf or something large in the right corner to fake the wall being closer, as mentioned above, or use white roman blinds (or even match them to the wall color) rather than full-length curtains so that each window becomes a more neutral presence without trying to pretend it isn't off center.

I would emphasize the off-centeredness. Hang panels only on the right side of each window. You could swag them a bit to emphasize it if you like that look.

I'm sorry, but I don't think the double-length curtain rod with floor-length curtains is the best thing to do for this room. On the contrary, it will inevitably emphasize the asymmetry of the room and the lack of space to the left.

For what it's worth, the lack of total symmetry does not bother me too much, and I think it is unnecessary to force a symmetric look on this room. Instead I would go for symmetry on the wall between the windows by creating a point of focus in the centre; like a colourful painting or a mirror with a dramatic frame. The windows have nice frames, and I actually kind-of like the oldfashioned radiators. I wouldn't build a box around them because I think that will look too bulky for the room. What I would do is to paint them white like the window frames and mount a shelf above them as an extension of the window frame. Put a plant or a vase on that shelf to shift focus from the radiators. Instead of curtains I would then choose some simple, non-distracting roller blinds.

I agree that you aren't going to be able to work any magic that makes the windows appear symmetrical here, because of the way the left one actually touches the wall.

I would take advantage of the wall space on the right side and add a bookshelf that hits the window frame the same way the wall does on the other side. Then, as previously suggested, center something between the windows, to draw your eye to that space. A console table with an interesting arrangement on top of it would be nice there, or a side chair and small table with some art above... create a pretty vignette...

I also like the idea of leaving the radiators exposed, but painting them white to match the window frames. The roman shades are a good concept, but too dark, which just emphasises the window placement even more. I'd go with sheer shades that fit in the window frames.

I think a combination of gtim's idea and farmhousemoderne's idea would work very well. Put in a bookcase on the wall to the right, filling half the space between the window and the wall, thereby lessening (but not eliminating) the assymetry. Then hang a curtain to the right side only of each window, I agree that swagged could look good. If this is a bedroom then put the head of the bed on the wall to the left. That way the room will gently lean towards the bed, the off-centredness will still be there but will be a positive rather than a negative.

I'm sorry, I don't have a fix, but I love your paint color in your bedroom, what's the color and brand? Thanks!!

Embrace the lack of symmetry. Use single items of furniture rather than pairs, large paintings hanging next to tiny ones, non-matching lamps etc. As long as there is balance and harmony it doesn't matter if there isn't symmetry.

And I say this as a long term lover of symmetry. Sometimes you just have to let it go.

I have exactly the same problem in both bedrooms. I hung floor to ceiling, wall to wall curtains in both. They are mounted from the ceiling though to avoid touching the radiators. I have them hung about 10 inches away from the wall. I have screw eyes in the ceiling..spaced about 14 inches or so. Then I just put curtain hooks at the top of the panel and hung them into the screw eyes. It looks nice, they don't touch the radiators. The only downside is that you can't open the curtains, but it looks good.

Thanks for all the helpful tips everyone. I like the idea of creating a simple swag to the right of each window would work well in this room.

The paint color is from Restoration Hardware - Light Silver Sage.

Here is a link to show you how one rod and four panels might look in the room. It's a little tight on one side and you may need to loose one finial, but if you really like the look of one rod then I think you could do it.

http://www.idreamofdrapery.com/window_treatment_design_s/173.htm