Reading time: four minutes
Arched windows bring natural light and character into a room, but their curved shape can make them harder to cover. Custom shades, shutters, and drapery can provide light control and privacy without taking away from the shape that makes these windows stand out.
The Shape of the Arch Affects Your Options
Arched windows come in many shapes and sizes. Some have a curved section above a standard rectangular window. Others use the arch throughout most of the opening or appear in groups across a wall.
The shape affects where a window treatment can mount and how it will operate. You also do not always need to cover the entire window. If the upper arch does not cause glare or privacy concerns, leaving it open can bring in more natural light.
Custom Shades Can Follow the Arch
Certain custom shades can be made to fit arched and half-moon windows. Instead of hiding the curve behind a rectangular covering, the treatment follows the shape of the glass.
This approach works well when you need more control over sunlight or privacy while still showing off the architecture. Depending on the window and shade system, the arched portion may be fixed while another part of the treatment remains operable.
Drapery Can Frame Arched Windows
Custom drapery gives you another way to treat arched windows without placing a covering directly inside the curve.
Full-length panels can frame the windows and allow the arches to remain visible when the drapery is open. This works especially well for tall windows or several arched windows along the same wall.
Shutters Create a Clean, Structured Look
Custom shutters can also work with specialty-shaped windows. Rather than covering the curve, a custom shutter can be made to follow the outline of the arch.
Shutters create a more structured look than fabric treatments. Depending on the design, adjustable louvers can help control light and privacy while keeping the curved shape of the window visible.
They can be a good fit when you want the window covering to look like part of the architecture rather than a separate layer over it.
You Can Treat the Top and Bottom Separately
You do not always need one window treatment to cover the entire arched window. When an arch sits above a rectangular window, treating the two sections separately can give you more flexibility. Options include:
- Leaving the upper arch uncovered for more natural light
- Adding a fitted treatment to the arch and an operable shade below
- Covering only the lower portion for privacy
- Using drapery to frame the entire window
This approach works well when you want easy control over the lower window but do not need to adjust the arch above it.
Layering Gives You More Light Control
Some arched windows benefit from more than one type of treatment. For example, you can pair a fitted shade with drapery when you want more control over direct sunlight and privacy.
The shade manages light closer to the glass, while drapery adds another layer of coverage and softens the room. Layering can also help connect an unusual window shape with other window treatments in the space.
For Scottsdale homes with strong sun exposure, layering may also help reduce glare and limit the amount of direct sunlight reaching furniture, flooring, and artwork.
Should You Cover the Arch?
You can leave the arch uncovered if it does not create problems with privacy or direct sunlight. This keeps the window’s full shape visible and lets more daylight into the room.
Covering the arch may make more sense when sunlight enters through the upper glass or you need greater privacy. A fitted treatment can provide that coverage while still following the window’s curve.
Consider which direction the window faces as well. An arch that receives gentle light for part of the day may need more coverage when exposed to stronger afternoon sun.
Custom Window Treatments for Arched Windows in Scottsdale
Arched windows do not need to lose their character when you add privacy or light control. The right custom treatment can follow the curve, leave the arch exposed, or frame the entire window.
House of Shades offers custom window treatments for arched and specialty-shaped windows in Scottsdale and surrounding areas. We can help you compare shades, shutters, and drapery based on your windows and the look you want.
Book an appointment online or call (480) 336-3427 to get a free quote. We are happy to provide window treatment services to Scottsdale and the surrounding communities.
FAQs
Can I match an arched window treatment to the other windows in the room?
Yes. The treatment does not have to be identical to create a coordinated look. You can use similar fabrics, colors, finishes, or materials across standard and arched windows while choosing a different configuration for the arch.
Can arched window treatments be installed without covering the window trim?
Often, yes. The mounting method can be selected based on the window shape, available mounting space, and whether you want to keep decorative trim visible. A custom treatment provides more flexibility when the trim is an important architectural feature.
Can neighboring arched windows share one window treatment?
Sometimes. Drapery can span a group of arched windows to create one continuous treatment, while fitted shades or shutters are typically designed for individual openings. The spacing and overall layout of the windows will help determine which approach works best.
