How to Dress Your Most Awkward Windows

From shades to panels and mountings to rods, the myriad of window-dressing options can be overwhelming. It's hard to know what style is best, especially when it comes to unusually shaped or awkwardly placed windows. To help make sense of it all, we've rounded up the most baffling window-dressing dilemmas and their stylish solutions. Photo by Zeke Ruelas via Emily Henderson

Short Windows

Short Windows

Don't let short windows lower the stature of your whole wall! Instead, create the illusion of height by mounting curtain rods high above your windows. The result is a ceiling-lifting optical illusion! Photo by Ryann Colleen Photography via Style Me Pretty

Bay Window
Little Green Notebook

Bay Window

Not sure how to tackle that tricky bay window? Try some blinds. They're great for filtering light and come in a variety of superattractive options, like these bamboo versions.

Window Over Bed

Window Over Bed

Unusually shaped bedroom windows are more common than you would think. If one of these hard-to-cover peepholes is allowing unwanted light to sneak into your room, cover it up with a shade. Pick a hue that is a similar color to the rest of the wall for a seamless look. Photo by Zeke Ruelas via Emily Henderson

Cornered Windows
Melanie Acevedo for Domino

Cornered Windows

When windows face each other at an angle, you're faced with a window-dressing dilemma. Solve it by placing a single panel on the outside of each window to create the dramatic effect of one large window.

Arched Window
Brittany Ambridge for Domino

Arched Window

Don't stress about finding a curtain rod to match the arched shape of your window frame; instead, showcase this beautiful architectural detail by placing a standard curtain rod just above it.

Tall Windows
Christopher Baker for House Beautiful

Tall Windows

Soaring windows are an asset to be celebrated, but they can create a privacy problem. Enjoy the abundance of light they let in and maintain your privacy by placing curtains or shutters on the bottom half of the windows only.

Bathroom Window
A Beautiful Mess

Bathroom Window

If you put a traditional shade over your bathroom, it will inevitably wind up pulled down all the time. Allow natural light in while keeping out unwanted eyes by hanging an opaque curtain.

Small Windows
Laura Resen for Elle Decor

Small Windows

Too small for shades or drapes? Try swinging-arm curtains! You simply mount a swing-arm rod to one side of the window and attach an appropriately sized curtain. They're a unique and efficient way of controlling light.