Your dining room is the heart of your home, where memories are made and conversations flow. One of the easiest ways to update the look and feel of this space is with the right curtains. From adding a pop of color to enhancing natural light or creating a sense of intimacy, the right window treatment can completely transform the mood of your room. In this design resource, we’ve curated 10 dining room curtain ideas that will help you elevate your dining room, whether you’re looking for something classic, modern, or uniquely personal.
What type of curtains are best for a dining room?
Consider a few criteria when perusing your dining room curtain ideas: fabric, pattern, sheerness, and style. Semi-sheer, light color voile curtains are best for a dining room, allowing natural light and pairing options with valances or formal, opaque drapes. A cotton voile weave can also be dressed up or down according to your dining room aesthetic, which is more difficult to do with heavy curtains such as velvet or silk.
Best fabric for dining room curtains
The type of fabric and weave used for a curtain often determines how much light it lets in and the overall vibe of your dining room.
- Cotton: Best versatility in styling, allows for more natural light to shine through. Easy to launder.
- Linen or muslin: Best for areas with lots of natural light, e.g. a garden window. Provides a breezy, relaxed ambiance with muslin offering a more organic feel than linen. Great for areas with lots of natural light, e.g. a garden window.
- Velvet or silk: Best for a luxurious, formal dining room feel and adding an element of glamour. A little more difficult to launder and care for to preserve the delicate fabrics.
- Polyester or polyester blend: Best for its affordability; available in a variety of styles and colors. Easy to launder and maintain.
Best colors for dining room curtains?
Light, natural tones such as white, cream, light blue, and light green look great in almost every dining room, but particularly in farmhouse, cottage, or contemporary homes. For a more formal look, consider deeper tones such as navy, purple, or dark green. For bohemian, Mediterranean, or traditional dining room, orange and yellow tones complement a variety of patterns and warm wood tones.
Of course, you can try pairing a neutral curtain with a bolder color or pattern to create a more personalized style.
10 dining rom window curtain ideas
From the best fabrics to unique pattern combinations, these ideas are sure to inspire your next home makeover.
Floor-length + valance
Create a sophisticated, elegant window treatment by combining a valance with floor-length curtains. This layered dining room window curtain idea adds depth and texture to your space, fostering a sense of height and luxury. The valance serves as the soft framing element at the top for a polished look while the floor-length curtain gracefully cascades below. In terms of color, try a neutral long curtain with a colorful valance for a balanced aesthetic.
Saffron Marigold
Royal Mansour – Moroccan White Sheer Curtain
Let our Moroccan-inspired white-on-white curtain be the backdrop for your colorful window valance.
Saffron Marigold
Moonlit Taj – Floral Window Beaded Valance
Top up your white floor-length curtain with a colorful accent such as this floral valance dressed in rich jewel tones.
Patterned drapes
Transform your windows into a striking focal point with patterned drapes that bring color, texture, and personality. Whether you settle on bold, geometric designs, floral motifs, or soft, abstract prints, patterned drapes elevate the aesthetic of your dining space. For a more cohesive look, coordinate the drapes with other decor elements like your dining rug, dining chair upholstery, or table linens. Take a look at the Moroccan dining curtains below, perfectly coordinated with the round boho tablecloth and natural rug below.
Mixed patterns for a bold dining room curtain idea
For a truly dynamic and bold look in your dining room, embrace the art of mixing patterns with your curtains. Combining different patterns, such as stripes, florals, and geometric prints, allows you to express your personal style and break away from traditional, matchy-matchy décor. One way to mix patterns successfully is to maintain a cohesive color palette—this ensures the various designs complement rather than clash. Below, we’ve paired two orange floral prints that shine individually, but still look beautiful side by side.
Saffron Marigold
Orange Blossom ~ Tropical Floral Print Curtain
Orange Blossom is a tropical-inspired curtain that showcases intricate, stylized orange blossoms in orange, with accents of purple and sage green.
Saffron Marigold
Indian Summer – CP ~ Floral Print Curtain
Indian Summer carries the same color palette, but its print features widely spaced floral motifs, achieving a balanced contrast with the Orange Blossom curtain.
Layered blackout + sheer dining room curtain ideas
The sheer layer allows natural light to gently filter in, creating an airy, inviting atmosphere, while the blackout layer provides complete privacy and light control when needed. This combination offers versatility, giving you the option to switch between a bright, open feel and a more intimate environment—perfect for both daytime meals and evening gatherings. What we especially love about this dining room drapery idea is the feeling of grandeur and sophistication it evokes!
CanPerStore
Blackout Satin Curtains
A solid color blackout curtain forms a sleek, understated backdrop that complements the soft, flowing texture of the sheer curtain. Velvet, polyester, and brocade are popular fabrics for blackout curtains.
Saffron Marigold
Tulip Mist ~ White Sheer Floral Curtains
Tie back the blackout curtains during the day, and let this gossamer, checked fabric diffuse sunlight for a dreamy atmosphere.
Sheer panels with layered textures (appliqué)
Add an airy, whimsical touch to your dining room with sheer panels adorned with layered textures like appliqué. Intricate appliqué details bring a beautiful touch to your dining space, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. This dining room curtain idea works beautifully in both modern and traditional dining rooms, allowing you to enjoy a balance of light, texture, and elegance.
Rustic burlap for a relaxed dining room curtain idea
Bring a touch of earthy charm to your dining room with burlap curtains. The natural, textured fabric adds warmth and a cozy vibe to your gathering space—perfect for farmhouse or country-inspired interiors. More polished styles are great for more contemporary spaces, especially on floor-to-ceiling windows such as the one pictured below. Whether you choose plain panels or a burlap and lace style, this dining room window curtain idea is an effortless way to add character to your dining room while maintaining a relaxed, casual feel.
Two-tone curtains
Two-tone curtains feature a duo of complementary colors—a wonderful choice if you want to highlight specific colors throughout your dining room. Whether you go for contrasting hues like navy and orange or subtle shades like cream and pale gold, two-tone curtains inspire a refined style. Perfect for framing your windows, these dining room curtain ideas offer a chic way to play with color while maintaining an elegant, cohesive feel.
Beaded, fringed, or tassel edging
Beaded edges are a gorgeous detail for completing your dining room curtain layers. Tassel or fringed edging can either provide a more boho look or formal feel, depending on the fabric and design of your longer curtain layer. For a botanic pattern valance such as this one below, we recommend pairing it with a floor-length curtain in a floral pattern of a different scale or style or a solid color panel to serve as your backdrop.
Chinoiserie style drapes
Chinoiserie-style curtains invite timeless elegance to your dining room, beautifully complementing the fine china you already own. When considering your dining room curtain ideas, it’s essential to think about how the pattern will fit in with your existing decor.
Featuring intricate patterns like florals, birds, and landscapes, the Chinoiserie style dining room drapery idea adds a touch of exotic charm and sophistication to your space. Plus, a blue and white palette complements both traditional and contemporary interiors.
Dining room curtains with metallic accents
Transform your dining room with curtains that feature metallic accents and mirror embroidery details. The reflective elements add a touch of luxury and glamour, catching the light beautifully and creating a stunning effect. The Butterfly Ballet embroidered curtain below brings an opulent, modern flair to your space, perfect for a chic, exquisite dining room.
Do dining and living room curtains need to match?
Dining and living room curtains do not need to match, but they could complement each other. If the dining room and living room are adjacent, create a visual flow by using curtains that share common elements such as a similar fabric or pattern. Using a shared color palette between the two spaces can create harmony, even if the patterns and styles differ. Maintaining the same style of curtain, e.g. sheers, can also foster a unified feel throughout the home.
Additionally, you might consider the functionality of the curtain between each room. For example, your dining room window treatment might be more formal while your living room curtain could feel more casual, reflecting how each room is used. These guidelines can narrow down your dining room curtain ideas.
What length should dining room curtains be?
The length of your dining room curtain depends on your window size and where you want the hem of the curtains to fall. The most common length is floor-length, as it lends an elegant look to the dining room, however you can choose from standard lengths: 63″, 84″, 96″, 108″.
In general, it is advised to hang your curtain rod 3 to 6 inches above the top of your window. A 96″ length curtain will be the choice for most 8-foot tall ceilings, as it will create a “puddle” look on the floor.
Where to shop for high quality dining room curtains?
When it comes to elevating your dining room atmosphere, the right curtains can make all the difference. With endless options available at your fingertips, it can be difficult to know where to shop for high-quality, ethically made curtains that will stand the test of time.
At Saffron Marigold, we specialize in creating stunning, handcrafted linens that blend traditional techniques with timeless style. Our collection of fair trade, artisan-made dining room curtains is designed to add beauty and warmth to your home while supporting sustainable practices. Each curtain is made with care and attention to detail, using high-quality fabrics and unique designs that are perfect for transforming your dining space into a luxurious yet inviting environment. When you shop with us, you are supporting artisans and communities around the world.
Explore our curated selection of dining room curtains today and discover the perfect pair that complements your style.
