20 Kitchen Window Treatments to Dress Your Space

While many people choose to leave their kitchen windows bare, adding curtains, shades, blinds, shutters and other window treatments can make your kitchen feel more finished and inviting. More than mere window dressing, kitchen window treatments can also help provide light and temperature control to keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer without wasting energy. And they can provide privacy from nosy neighbors while ensuring that your kitchen feels private and secure day or night. Here are some stylish kitchen window treatment ideas to get you started.

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Add Texture With Woven Shades

Design by Calimia Home / Photo by Jeanne Canto

Natural woven shades on this kitchen sink window from Calimia Home add warmth and natural texture that works well with the neutral-toned space.

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Black It Out

Design by Sissy + Marley Interior Design / Photo by Marco Ricca Studio

In this NYC duplex kitchen from Sissy + Marley Interior Design, black window blinds complement the industrial-style windows and the overall black-and-white decor scheme to create a contemporary feel.

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Hang a Fixed Panel Curtain

deVOL Kitchens

Don't hesitate to bring some timeless charm to a traditional or historic home by hanging a fixed lace curtain panel in the kitchen window that will help filter light and block views without having to be opened and closed, like this charming space from deVOL Kitchens. The rustic wood window frame keeps the lacy number from feeling precious.

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Go Halfway

deVOL Kitchens

In this British kitchen from deVOL Kitchens, a simple semi-transparent roller shade hung on the lower half of the window obscures the view from the outside without entirely obscuring the view from within. Slim built-in painted window shutters can be closed at night for total privacy.

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Hang a Large Roman Shade

Ashley Montgomery Design

Ashley Montgomery Design draped a dramatic plaid Roman shade across the triple windows above the sink in this spacious kitchen that lends it a genteel country house feel while adding color and pattern to the room.

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Soften Modern Windows

Design by Calimia Home / Photo by Jeanne Canto

In this light and bright kitchen from Calimia Home, a soft white fabric shade mounted on the outside of the recessed black metal window softens it while providing light and privacy control.

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Hang Cafe Curtains

Becca Interiors

In this eat-in kitchen from Becca Interiors, the lower half of the double sash windows behind the built-in banquette are dressed with cafe curtains hung by metal rings on a slim rod, diffusing light and creating a more intimate feel.

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Choose Floral Fabric

Ashley Montgomery Design

Ashley Montgomery Design added Roman shades in a decorative floral fabric in muted tones that soften the windows of this modern farmhouse style kitchen.

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Keep It Simple With Roller Shades

Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Reid Rolls

In this black and white kitchen, Leanne Ford Interiors chose simple, affordable white roller shades for the window above the built-in banquette that disappear against the floor-to-ceiling white subway tile backsplash. The low key window dressing allows elements like the black woven pendant light, gilded antique mirror, and French bistro chairs to shine.

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Hack Your Woven Shades

Finding Lovely

Finding Lovely hacked the woven shades on either side of the range with a simple DIY to add neutral-toned striped fabric that makes them feel more custom, softening the bright white space.

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Try Window Film

Pluck Kitchens

Opaque privacy glass or removable window film can be used directly on the window panes themselves as an alternative to window dressing such as curtains or blinds. In this London kitchen, Pluck Kitchens gave the bottom third of this large window a sense of privacy while leaving the upper two thirds of the window open to allow natural light to flood in. A row of plants in the windowsill adds a touch of cozy greenery in the colorful space.

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Hang Floor to Ceiling Drapes

deVOL Kitchens

Not every kitchen has a window over the sink. In this spacious English kitchen from deVOL Kitchens, a large window is dressed in floor-to-ceiling drapes that complement the formal decor of the vintage-style kitchen with its elegant wall mural and herringbone patterned hardwood flooring.

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Be Transparent

Becca Interiors

In this kitchen from Becca Interiors, a window shade in a loose open semi-transparent weave makes the window feel dressed and offers a modicum of light and privacy control when needed.

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Add Contrast

Mindy Gayer Design Co.

Mindy Gayer Design Co. added warmth and natural texture to a gray, black, and white kitchen with a natural woven shade.

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Add Rustic Wood Shutters

Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Reid Rolls

Chunky pale wood interior window shutters lend a modern rustic feel to this kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors and can be used to block light and control temperature to reduce the reliance on air conditioning during the scorching days of summer.

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Blend In

Mindy Gayer Design Co.

If you are going for a seamless, low contrast look, choose window blinds that echo the wall paint so that they fade into the background, like the off-white window shades and wall paint in this kitchen from Mindy Gayer Design Co.

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Hang Opaque Curtains

Ashley Montgomery Design

Ashley Montgomery Design hung opaque cafe curtains on the bottom half of the kitchen sink window that can be swiftly pulled shut to block the view of the neighbors across the street.

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Add Stripes

Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Erin Kelly

Leanne Ford Interiors hung black-and-white striped half curtains that look like giant tea towels on the lower half of this bank of windows that complement the vintage feel of the room.

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Hang Gauzy Curtains

Ashley Montgomery Design

Ashley Montgomery Design hung gauzy white curtains on the window above this kitchen sink that allow the limited natural light to flow in while helping to minimize the less-than-scenic view.

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Play With Opacity

Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Reid Rolls

In this converted industrial loft in downtown Pittsburgh from Leanne Ford Interiors, the windows have a mix of clear and frosted glass. The middle portion opens and closes and allows a clear view to the outside, while the surrounding panels are more opaque to allow privacy and light control.

What is the best window dressing for a kitchen?

The best kitchen window dressing depends on the size and style of your window and your decor as well as your needs. If you like the look of curtains, be sure to use flame-retardant fabrics, especially for windows located near an open flame or stovetop. And because spills and spatters are inevitable in a kitchen, look for roller blinds and Roman shades that are easy to maintain, made with specially treated fabrics or materials such as wood that are easy to wipe clean.

What do you put over a kitchen sink window?

If your kitchen window has a scenic view to the outdoors, opt for a semi-transparent roller shade that won’t block views but can be pulled down to filter light. To prevent nosy neighbors from peeking in while you do last night’s dishes in your bathrobe, opt for shutters or opaque curtains. If the view consists of a brick wall or a parking lot, consider installing glass shelves across the front of it that can be lined with a kitchen herb garden, plants, or decorative glass that will give you something to look at without entirely blocking the light.

How can I dress my kitchen window without curtains?

Apart from curtains, you can dress your kitchen window with shades, blinds, shutters, or use inexpensive removable window film in a solid or decorative pattern directly on the glass to filter light and provide privacy.

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