Large Windows And How To Decorate Around Them

Some of you are lucky enough to have large windows in your home. Despite the abundance of natural light and the airy feeling they give your space, however, your windows may have proven challenging as you try to figure out what to, well, do with such large specimens. And the wonderful, albeit confusing, thing is: there’s no one thing to do with large windows. There are hundreds, even thousands, of ways to decorate with and around large windows – many of these ideas are conflicting and contradictory, even.

Large window for living room

Which means you’re left to research on your own, figure out what appeals to you and what works in your space, and, most importantly, go with your gut. Here are some bits and pieces of advice that have worked for others in decorating large windows themselves:

Large window for living room

Treat the large windows as though they’re a stage; frame them out with elegant, almost theatre-style, drapes for instant drama.

Large window for living room

Angle all seating furniture toward windows to maximize viewing appreciation.

Large window for living room

Leave the floor space near your windows completely free; this provides an unspoken yet insistent invitation to walk up and gaze out…for as long or short a time as one would like.

Large window for living room

Add dramatic window treatments, such as these striped drapes, to draw immediate attention to the windows themselves.

Large window for living room

Leave the windows absolutely untouched. They can speak for themselves.

Large window for living room

Be creative in your treatment of oddly shaped windows. Let the drapes accentuate the unique and the non-rectangular.

Large window for living room

Take your cues from the window views and keep things light and natural throughout. (And, no, I didn’t intend for that first bit to rhyme. But are you impressed anyway?)

Large window for living room

When possible, arrange for opportunities for comfortable dining directly in front of the largest window in your space.

Large window for living room

Place your most interesting piece of furniture front-and-center, framed and highlighted by the windows themselves.

Large window for living room

When your large windows are actually your walls, treat them as you would a very beautiful, detailed wallpaper. That is, keep things comfortable (so you’ll want to stay and enjoy the view) and simply maintain your decorating style.

Large window for living room

Place some eye-catching décor up above the windows to draw the eye upward…and then outward.

Large window for living room

Separate windows with wall sconces. This framing strategy mimics a porch light, so it blurs the senses about who is inside looking out and outside looking in – a beautiful concept to ponder with man and nature.

Large window for living room

Align all furniture in the space at right angles with the windows. This brings structure and cohesion to the indoor space while nature outside provides free-form contrast.

Large window for living room

Keep furniture at the same height so as to not distract from, or impede, your large window views. This is particularly effective in urban settings.

Large window for living room

Create a personal Zen-zone in front of or around the window itself.

Large window for living room

Frame the window with built-in bookshelves or other architectural element. The window becomes part of the built-in. Almost.

Large window for living room

Leave a buffer of air between your large window and the rest of your furnishings. Let white space be your guide.

Large window for living room

Use the window (or windows) as the focal point and foundation of symmetrical furniture arrangement and décor throughout the rest of the space.

Picture sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 78 and 9.