This Cheap, Chic Decor Basic Is the Finishing Touch Your Windows Need

Written by

Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director at AT Media
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director at AT Media
For more than 10 years, I've led Apartment Therapy's real home content, producing thousands of house tours from around the world. Currently, I live in my maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with my partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
updated May 3, 2019
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(Image credit: Cathy Pyle)

Window treatments are one of the most powerful decor tools. Some curtains serve physical functions like blocking light or providing privacy, but the magic of curtains lies in their visual strength. Curtains add softness to typically rectangular or square windows. They draw the eye upward, preventing rooms from feeling too bottom heavy. They can frame furniture arrangements for effect, or they can add balance and symmetry to an otherwise eclectic composition. Perhaps most of all, when you dress an empty window with curtains, you put the finishing touch on a room, adding sophistication and a touch of elegance.

While curtains and drapes come in a dizzying array of colors, patterns and materials, there’s one specific curtain type that is super affordable, extraordinarily versatile, and the sort of fool-proof option you absolutely can’t get wrong.

→ The sheer curtain panel is the decor basic that will work with just about any window in any room.

Why they work:

  • A barely-there fabric allows plenty of light to shine in making it ideal for small spaces or spaces that need brightening.
  • A thin material, it won’t add bulk or clutter to a room.
  • Perhaps most especially, sheer curtain panels won’t take any attention away from other decor elements or furniture pieces. But what they will do is softly frame a naked window, making a room feel “finished.”

Whether you just want to finally add curtains to a naked window or need to give your home a refresh before holiday guests start arriving, see how this super simple curtain basic works with any home style.

(Image credit: Marie-Lyne Quirion)

See more of this home → Morgane’s Delicate, Detailed Apartment

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Where to buy:

Sheer curtain panels typically are an affordable purchase. At IKEA, they’re $8.49 a pair. Target sells sheer panels for $4.74 each. At Walmart sheer curtain panels can range from $3.66-$6.97 based on the size. $11.09 is what a sheer pair of curtain panels could run you at Wayfair. Bed, Bath & Beyond has a basic sheer panel for $9.99. You can even purchase sheer curtain panels from Amazon (this pair is $4.50).