Why do people put just one curtain panel on a window?

nsfw

And is this a new thing? I've been noticing it more and more. I think it looks good when they do this on a pair of windows and then pull them aside so they look like they join. I've seen it in model homes, open houses, and even on HGTV and I really like the effect.

But it seems too weird for me to do in my own house. I'd feel like I had lopsided windows. Is it money? Or style? Or what?

mcgee

Perhaps it's the margarita talking, but I'm having trouble visualizing this. Do you have a pic?

nsfw

um. no.

But I can find one. Don't get drunker. Yet.

*eta*
Like this. I think this one actually has two panels. But I see it with one, where they are tied in the middle otherwise swept off and tied to one side.

 

 

 

Or this. See the window on the right? Not a great example. But like that. But I see it on single windows.

 

 

irlndsumer

I'm so not a fan.  I hate tie backs, I prefer two panels hanging straight down. 

mcgee

Ah, ok. Yeah, not a fan. I personally like draperies to frame a window instead of cover up half of it.

KeeneOnGreen

I think it may be a money thing. Especially if people change out their curtains often... maybe a bit more cost effective? I personally like two panels, but I could see maybe doing just one panel on very small windows. The fabric of two curtains might be too overwhelming to a tiny window. Just a thought. :-)

Aegis2005

I was in a model house that had two windows on a corner at a 90 degree angle.  The did one on each end and then just one in the middle.  That actually "looked right" to me, because I think having two in the middle would have looked bulky.  But I hate the look in the pictures you showed above

silvercamaro77

In my MB I only put 1 panel over each window because the windows are only about 35" wide and the curtains I finally settled on are 44".  But the curtains also stay closed all the time, so I don't think it looks goofy.

MrsEmilyS

irlndsumer:

I'm so not a fan.  I hate tie backs, I prefer two panels hanging straight down. 

totally agree 

Luvmy2sons

When I first moved in with DH we had this. But lemme tell you why. We had just adopted our kitties, and we only had sheer curtains at the time. The cats decided it'd be fun to jump to the top of the curtains and "slide" their claws down them, slicing them down the entire curtain. We were too cheap (hello I was still in college) to get new curtains, so I just bunched them in the middle and tied them with some ribbon. Problem solved

rmdewey

We did this in our Master Bedroom:

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh265/rmdewey/option33.jpg (South window)

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh265/rmdewey/option32.jpg (West window)

 We did two panels on the south window, and one on the west. Our master bedroom is 15x11, so we didn't want a ton of draperies overwhelming the walls. Also, we live in an apartment. It's just not worth spending a ton of money on custom draperies or 4-5 panels, when who knows if we'd use them in our forever home.

They are thermal blackout panels, too, which are more expensive than plain panels, so that contributed to only getting three. We also only got three because of the size of the windows, the south window is 60w by 42t, and the west window is 48w by 42t; so the south window got two 42"w draperies, and the west got a 54"w curtain.

I think it really depends on the size of your space, how much you're willing or able to invest in it, and what works with the size of your windows.

ready2go

 in our master bedroom, we have 2 small windows (only 28" wide) with our bed centered in between.  on those windows, we only put one panel on each window b/c the windows are so narrow.  they hang on the outside and are never tied back (or moved to block the window either b/c we also have shades on the windows).  I'm not completely sold on the look yet (I already own the 2 more panels just haven't put them up to see which way I like better) but I *think* I'll prefer it b/c othewise the additional panels will need to go behind our headboard and push the bed further out into the room.

on another wall in the master, we have 3 more small windows but all in a row.  for that spot, we have a long rod that spans the 3 windows and panels on each side.

TamponMary

Do you mean like this?

nsfw

TamponMary:

Do you mean like this?

Yes! 

dr.girlfriend

I have this in my dining room.  The windows are narrow, so two panels would have to be hung really wide.  And the curtains I got look better as singles, and were hella-expensive (for me) so one per window does me just fine.  I tie them in the middle with a ribbon when people come over, otherwise they are usually pushed to one side.

They are these ones:

ETA:  Come to think of it, I have one curtain in all of my windows!  The rest of the house just has white sheers, and I have one over each window.  Never quite realized that before.  We leave them closed all the time, since we still get lots of light and they are in rooms that we don't want people to see in (our living room and bedroom).

Here's a pic (excuse the mess, we just moved in and everything was piled in the bookshelf.)

TamponMary

I did it because the room gets very little light and they are narrow windows. Plus, the chest of drawers would be hiding most of the curtains anyway. Also, it's not our forever home, I hate the way the room looks anyway, and we are trying to sell it so I don't really give a sh*t, and they were cheap easy curtains to put up for staging. It's okay for now until we move.

dairygirl19

I did the one panel in our guest room centered thing because

a) the window is tiny. Too little for one. Too much for two.

b) It's in the basement, I need all the light I can get. It still adds something to the room but you can see out eithe side.

c) It functions as a blind I'm too cheap to buy right now. Untie and retie. Easy.

Knitty

We have it. I'm cheap. To buy two panels and two 4ft rods is less than four panels and two six foot rods.

 The panels hang straight down, and with the four foot rod they cover just a bit of the window. If there were two more panels covering that much I'd need longer rods to expose more window.

Pumpkin30

nsfw:

TamponMary:

Do you mean like this?

Yes! 

I have curtains like this in my mb because the windows are small and they frame the bed. My curtains fit on the entire rod, though.

TheBridesMom

dr.girlfriend:

ETA:  Come to think of it, I have one curtain in all of my windows!  The rest of the house just has white sheers, and I have one over each window.  Never quite realized that before.  We leave them closed all the time, since we still get lots of light and they are in rooms that we don't want people to see in (our living room and bedroom).

The rooms can be seen in at night when the lights are on.  

We have the same white panels, but we have two rods and have other curtains that  use after dark for privacy.

suitguy

LOOKS really cheap!...use more panels for a better effect-also the rod is out of proportion for the skinmpy one panel.....so all of the posts use more panels for fullness look at the rest of the room you spend money on furniture, bedding (don't get me going on that as well-hate bed in a bag look).....it looks like most of the posts on here look like a bed sheet over the window like in a college dorm.....do you really want the outside of  your house looking like a patchwork quilt from the outside.

suitguy

So don't you think that if your house looks good it will sell better?  Just a thought-and if you don't give a x&^%$ don't you think buyers think the same thing-it looks like a sheet over the window like you really did not care and it shows!

suitguy

SO? out of curiosity why if the post is for drapery panels are there children's pictures here?

suitguy

Money, being cheap and no style or tast-everyone is a designer....why do people skimp on window coverings but spend money to have a cool cell phone?

BlueBirdMB

When you have your curtains or sheers closed, they shouldn't be completely taut!  The amount of volume should be up to you, but there should be some volume.  1 curtain panel is never enough for any window unless you have some custom made curtain panel that's really wide. 

Typically on those shows or in magazines, there are actually 2 panels, but they have them tied to one side. I don't like the look either.