Summer Curtains: Stay Cool and Stylish with Fresh Window Treatments
After I bought my first bungalow-style house many moons ago, I made all the curtains myself. I like simple window treatments so the sewing part wasn’t hard at all. There’s so much joy in heading to the fabric store to choose material for each room. Sadly, it’s been a long time since I’ve made curtains. In fact, most of the windows in the house I live in today don’t have curtains, mainly because they have heavier trim work that I like to keep uncovered. But today, I’m reminiscing about the curtains I’ve made in the past and found some pretty summer curtains that are inspiring me to get behind the sewing machine again. (This post contains affiliate links – see my privacy policy.)
Does anything say “summer curtains” louder than a pretty floral fabric? Just like bedding, pillows, and throws, curtains can be changed with the seasons. Use lighter materials in the summer, and opt for heavier fabric in the fall and winter.
Remember when lace curtains were really popular? I’m not sure why they went out of fashion, as I think they still look beautiful Perhaps now that the cottagecore movement is trending, lace curtains are on the return. Regardless, I do have a lace curtain panel in my laundry room.
There are so many varieties of lace to be found. And look how pretty the curtains are when they’re left to blow gently at the window.
Here’s an old school photo of my house back when I had lace curtains in almost every window. This is the living room window 12 years ago. I should republish one of my old home tours, taken after I first started blogging.
More lace summer curtains that look adorable from the street. I always think about what my window treatments look like from the outside. It’s why I get annoyed with hubby when the Roman shades are raised crookedly. LOL.
Gauzy panels are pretty in the summertime, too.
When it comes to summer curtains, is there any fabric more classic than a gingham check? Gingham cotton is an inexpensive material that makes a great choice if you’re budget conscious.
Not quite gingham, but these charming summer curtains wear more of a red and white windowpane pattern.
Consider linen-style curtains for the summer months. Linen is a super popular summer fabric for clothes – so why not curtains too? Gather them in the middle to easily see out the window. And isn’t this the perfect chair for summer reading?
Choose a patterned fabric if your home has a lot of solids in it. The pattern will add interest and depth to the room.
Remember back in the 80s when everyone had valances? Let’s bring them back! They’re such a great way to add color and pattern to a space without being overpowering. Not to mention, they soften the window but still allow the outside views to be enjoyed unobstructed.
Pleated drapes are a little more time consuming to sew, which means you might want store-bought versions. Here, the drapes match the bedding but it’s not too matchy-matchy because the main bedspread is all-white.
If none of these summer curtains tickle your fancy, you can be a rebel like me and leave your windows naked.
A trip to the fabric store might soon be in order though. Or maybe I’ll choose something from this Etsy shop that my daughter introduced me to. I love pretty much all of her curtains.
Scroll through these summer curtain options if you’re looking for more ideas:
Very endearing window treatments/curtains.. Delightful.
These are all so pretty. I used to use a lot of lace too and am bringing it back a little. Have always had lace curtains on the master bed so as not to be too heavy looking. A tour of you early home would be fun to see!
These were so pretty. My mom had lace curtains in some of our windows, so they always remind me of the past. Memories are so sweet.
YES! Let’s bring back valances!!! I have a love affair with blue and white fabrics, toiles, gingham, chinoiserie, and cotton lace. Several years ago while thrifting I stumbled upon a pair of Waverly Coventry Hill valances priced at $5! They have a definite French country vibe. In fact, I loved them so much that I later located several more of the same valances on Ebay to use on all of my windows in order to tie-in my living room, dining area, and kitchen. My sweet hubby gave me the best compliment ever when he told me that he trusts my taste in these matters because over the years I have “always made our homes look beautiful.”
I am totally with you! But I really have to consider how to deal with the heat/sun in the summer and cold in the winter- upstate central NY but pretty sure this is an issue everywhere. Plus privacy, since I live close to the street in my small city.
I have block out curtains throughout the house now, but I really miss more uncovered windows, with valances and lace.