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Yes, you can absolutely put drapes in a dining room. Drapes are a great way to add style, color, texture, and warmth to a dining space. When selecting drapes for a dining room, consider the room’s size, ceiling height, window dimensions, and primary style or color scheme. Floor-length drapes that puddle slightly on the floor can look elegant in a formal dining room, while casual spaces may call for simple cafe-style curtains. Hang drapes wide to frame the windows and maximize natural light during the day.
Why Put Drapes in a Dining Room?
There are several great reasons to install drapes in your dining room:
Enhance the Style
Drapes instantly boost the style factor in a dining space. Formal rooms benefit from luxurious, opulent fabrics like velvet or taffeta. For casual spaces, lightweight linen or cotton drapes add natural texture. Drapes come in endless colors, patterns, and textures to match your chosen decor. Use drapery to introduce color, create an accent wall, or establish a cohesive color palette.
Soften Hard Surfaces
The hard surfaces of a typical dining room–wood floors, plaster walls, glass tabletops–can create an echo. Drapes add softness and absorb sound, creating a warmer, cozier ambiance. Fabric drapes also help insulate windows for improved temperature control.
Increase Privacy
In homes with an open floor plan, the dining room offers little privacy or separation from other common areas. Drapes create a sense of intimacy and a room-like feel when drawn closed. Keep drapes open to maintain an airy, open look during daytime hours.
Filter Light
Drapes moderate incoming natural light, which can minimize glare and create a more comfortable atmosphere. With blackout lining, drapes block all outside light for dining at any hour. Sheers soften harsh light while still permitting a view.
Frame Windows
A set of drapes beautifully frames the dining room windows, creating an elegant architectural detail. Floor-length drapes draw the eye upwards to highlight tall windows or transoms. Hang drapes wider than the window itself to create a luxurious, Old World style.
Finish the Room
Drapes put the finishing touch on a dining room, anchoring the windows and pulling the look together. They conceal unfinished window trim and soften the transition from wall to window.
What to Consider for Dining Room Drapes
Room Size
Scale drapes to harmonize with the proportions of the dining room. A small space calls for narrow side panels or short cafe-style curtains. Long, flowing drapes suit a spacious area with high ceilings.
Window Dimensions
Measure window lengths and widths carefully. For floor-length drapes, add 4-6 inches below the window trim. For above-window treatments like cafe curtains, install the rod 6-12 inches above the frame. Wider windows look best with drapes at least 1.5 times the width.
| Window Height | Recommended Drape Length |
|---|---|
| Floor to ceiling | Floor length |
| 8 feet | 4-6 inches from floor |
| 6 feet | 3-4 inches from floor |
| 4 feet | Sill length or cafe style |
Ceiling Height
A dining room with lofty ceilings calls for long, opulent drapery. For standard 8 foot ceilings, sill-length or floor-length drapes work well. Rooms with lower ceilings look best with above-window rods and cafe curtains or short drapes.
Primary Style
Choose drapes to match the overall style of the dining area. Formal spaces often feature pleated drapes in damask, velvet, or brocade. Casual eclectic rooms call for lightweight natural linens or cottons.
| Style | Recommended Drapes |
|---|---|
| Formal | Velvet, silk, brocade |
| Rustic | Burlap, linen, cotton |
| Modern | Bold solids, sleek shapes |
| Cottage | Floral prints, cafe style |
| Coastal | Textured natural fibers |
Main Color Scheme
Drapes present an opportunity to tie in the dining room’s main colors. A hint of blue or green brings life to a neutral palette. For bold accent walls or colorful rooms, choose drapes in a matching or coordinating hue.
Pattern
Solid drapes allow dining chairs or wallpaper to take center stage. Subtle tone-on-tone patterns add quiet interest. For contemporary spaces, make a statement with bold geometrics or oversized florals. Limit patterns to drapes only—mixing prints quickly looks chaotic.
Texture
Linen-like fabrics impart casual texture, while silk imparts refinement. Velvet drapes create luxurious depth and absorb sound. Light filtering sheers soften a room’s look and feel.
Insulation
Lined drapes help insulate windows against cold in winter and heat in summer. Unlined drapes still provide some insulation, absorbing noise and reducing airflow. For maximum insulation, add separate blackout lining beneath regular drapes.
Light Control
Blackout drapes completely block outside light, ideal for regulating ambiance and dining at any hour. Light-filtering fabrics like linen and cotton allow the most natural light. For softening, install sheer under-drapes or as overlays.
Hanging Drapes in a Dining Room
Rod Placement
Rod placement impacts the drapes’ aesthetic and function. Standard positions include:
– Above window frame -Creates space for decor atop windows. Best for small rooms.
– Near ceiling – Makes windows appear taller. Ideal for generous ceiling heights.
– Sill or apron length -Places rod just above window trim. Balances proportions in average rooms. Allows最大 natural light.
– Floor length – Extends window line for a luxe effect. Rod must anchor securely to handle weight. Works for tall ceilings.
Rod Width
For floor-length drapes, extend rods at least 4-6 inches past window frames-wider in large spaces. Above-sill treatments can be narrower, 2-3 inches wider than the window. Very wide rods, 2-3 times window length, have luxurious fullness.
Mounting Style
Dining room drapes typically use decorative pole rods mounted with brackets. Tension rods damage walls over time. For a finished custom look, recess rods into the ceiling or crown molding.
Gathering Styles
Pinch pleats, inverted pleats, and goblet pleats add graceful shaping. Ripplefold has casual fullness. Smocking creates cottage-like charm. For sleek modern spaces, hang drapes flat without gathering.
Additional Touches
* Finials – Ornate finial caps finish pole ends for classic style.
* Holdbacks – Coordinate with finials and hardware. Hold drapes open by day.
* Sheers – Soften and filter incoming light. Layer over or under main drapes.
* Tiebacks – Swag drapes out of walkways when open. Show off print or patterns.
* Side panels – Soften and narrow wide windows. Coordinate with main drapes.
Best Fabrics for Dining Room Drapes
Silk
Luxurious silk drapes immediately upscale a dining space. Available in solids, muted patterns, or eye-catching modern prints. Requires dry cleaning. Insulates well against sound and heat/cold. Floor-length silk drapes convey pure elegance.
Velvet
Plush, refined velvet looks stunning in formal dining rooms. Typified by ornate traditional patterns like damask and jacquard. Deepest blackout of any fabric. Muted crushed velvet adds textural depth. Dry clean only.
Cotton
An easygoing casual fabric suited to laid-back spaces. Cotton drapes have subtle texture and movement. Machine washable for easy care. Available in a spectrum of solids, stripes, and fun patterns. Offers moderate light filtering.
Linen
Understated linen has a natural look with visible slubs that filter light beautifully. Relaxed and informal but very versatile. Wrinkles add casual character. Easy to launder and softens over time. Works in any style dining space.
Brocatelle
Elevated blend of cotton, linen, polyester in a textured jacquard weave. Mimics the look of silk at a lower cost. Deep woven patterns like damask or medallion motifs. Luxurious enough for formal rooms but more durable and budget-friendly.
Polyester
Affordable, low-maintenance, and wrinkle-resistant. Modern poly blends mimic silk and linen at a fraction of the cost. Faux silk is popular for its shine and elegance. Wipes clean easily. Good light-blocking properties.
Burlap
Ideal natural choice for rustic or farmhouse rooms. Classic jute burlap has visible coarse fibers. Synthetic options look nearly identical. Adds casual texture and effortless charm. Layer over sheers to soften ruggedness.
Dining Room Drape Styles
Floor Length
Formal floor-length drapes make a glamorous statement in elegant dining rooms. Puddle drapes an inch or two on the floor. Anchor rods sturdily to support the weight. Requires precise measurement and hem finishing. Pair with decorative holdbacks.
Pencil Pleat
Narrow, sharply pressed pleats spaced close together. Tailored style works with everything from casual checked cotton to formal patterned silks. Pleat depths can vary. Use decorative drapery pins or tabs to affix top pleats in place.
Ripplefold
Casual gathered style creating an undulating, rippled effect. Done by threading cords through the drapery header and pulling to create soft arches. Looks relaxed and romantic in lightweight cottons and linens.
Grommets
Metal grommets at the top of the drapery panel slide onto the rod for effortless hanging. The grommets also add decorative accent lines. Best for unlined drapes in casual fabrics like cotton, linen, or textured solids. Minimalist modern look.
Back Tab
Fabric tabs sewn into the reverse tops of drapery panels. The tabs slip over the curtain rod to hang. Creates a smooth, sleek, tailored look on the front. Typically used on unlined drapes.
Café Style
Café curtains cover the bottom half of a window pane and are drawn with decorative tiebacks. Typically sheer or lightweight and hung from narrow rods. Best for small rooms with low ceilings. Imparts a casual, intimate feel.
Sheers
Lightweight, translucent curtains that gently filter light. Available in soft solids or subtly gauzy prints. Often used as overlays for additional light control and privacy. Floor length sheers gracefully frame windows.
Tiered
Two short curtain panels stacked to cover a window. The layered look provides dimension and fullness. The tiers may be the same or different lengths/fabrics for contrast. Great way to mix patterns or add pops of color.
Swags
Fabric draped in soft swoops over a window instead of traditional panels. Achieve by mounting a rod above and one below window. Requires generous ceiling height. Has playful, romantic Old World charm.
Dining Room Drapes By Window Size
| Window Size | Drapery Recommendations |
|---|---|
| Small windows under 36 inches wide | Narrow side panels, cafe style |
| Medium windows 36-72 inches wide | Pencil pleat, back tab, ripplefold |
| Large windows over 72 inches wide | Wide floor length drapes, pinch pleated |
| Short windows under 48 inches tall | Cafe style, tiered panels |
| Average height windows 48-84 inches tall | Any style drapes, sill/apron length |
| Tall windows over 84 inches | Floor length drapes, swags |
As shown in the table, window dimensions help determine the most attractive and well-scaled drapery treatments. Narrow windows look best with narrow side panels or cafe treatments. Wide windows can handle the width and fullness of luxurious floor-length drapes. Measure carefully and use the window proportions as a guide for selecting fitting dining room drapes.
Dining Room Drapes By Color
While dining room drapes come in any color, some hues are especially popular:
Neutrals
Beige, ivory, cream and tan drapes complement most color schemes. Grey for modern and coastal spaces. Soft whites imply formality. Charcoal blackout lining adds contrast.
Blues
Navy blue drapes instantly create an elegant dining space. Lighter blues like powder or duck egg blue suggest tranquility. Deep teal greens suit contemporary rooms.
Greens
Olive and sage green drapes bring an organic natural look. Emerald green offers vintage character. Mint green casts a soothing aura and brightens rooms.
Reds
Rich ruby or burgundy drapes convey formality and luxury. Brick red is earthy and inviting. Pink-tinged reds add romance. Pair red with wood tones and metallics.
Purples
Royal purple says elegance. Pair with gold accents for glamorous contrast. Lavender or lilac imparts a peaceful ambiance. Deep eggplant purple is exquisite in formal dining rooms.
Patterns
Traditional patterns like damask, jacquard, and brocade suit formal spaces. Bold oversize florals make a statement. Simple stripes offer casual texture. Tone-on-tone looks refined.
The most popular dining room drape colors are versatile, warm neutrals along with regal accent colors like navy blue, emerald, and eggplant purple. Patterns lend interest but limit bold prints to drapes alone.
Conclusion
Drapes are ideal decorative additions that enhance any dining area. Whether going for an elegant formal look or casual cottage vibe, the right drapes provide ambiance, color, privacy, and style. Measure windows carefully and scale drapes appropriately for the most attractive fit. Keep the room size and proportions in mind when planning dining drapes. Fabrics like cotton, linen, silk and velvet offer beauty and functionality. With the wide range of colors, patterns and styles available, it’s simple to find the perfect drapes to elevate your dining room.