Best Nursery Window Treatments & Ideas
If you’re expecting another addition to your family, you want everything to be special and perfect for their arrival — and that includes their nursery. When designing a nursery, window treatments can play a crucial role in not only the aesthetics but also the safety, comfort and sleep quality of your newborn. The right nursery window treatments may help contribute to a comfortable temperature and safe space for your little one.
Learn what the most important factors are to consider when choosing window treatments for nursery windows and then get some inspiration and ideas from curated nursery rooms.
Factors to Consider for Nursery Window Treatments
With safety as the main concern for your nursery window treatments, there are several special considerations you need to keep in mind when making your selections:
- Choose window treatments with Best for Kids® certification which indicates the nursery window treatments are accredited by the Window Coverings Safety Council and found to be safe for children. Best for Kids Certified window treatments are those without accessible cords. You can find Best for Kids Certified products in our cordless window treatments and motorized window treatments collection (with the exception of Motorized Wood and Metal Blinds).
- Choose heat-reflecting and/or UV-blocking materials to help keep the room cooler. Solar Shades are great window treatments for nursery windows as they block up to 99% of UV rays to help keep the room cooler while still letting natural light through.
- Go for blackout materials and/or linings for the best light control. Blackout materials are available for Roller Shades and Cellular Shades, while Roman Shades, Woven Wood Shades and Drapery all have the option of blackout lining. All blackout materials and linings block up to 99% of the natural light to create a serene, room darkening effect that helps your baby sleep. Plus, like Solar Shades, they can help keep the room cooler by blocking sunlight.
- Ensure proper installation of your nursery window treatments to prevent your child from potentially pulling a section or all of it down and causing injury.
- Consider materials with green certifications like GreenGuard® and OEKO-TEX®, both of which indicate that a material has been tested and is free of all or most harmful substances, making it safer for your home.
- Stay away from embellishments like tassels and beads which make your nursery window treatments all that much more interesting to a newborn or toddler. Not only will these details make it more likely that your child may pull on the window treatment but some, like beads, could be a choking hazard if detached. Instead, try details such as decorative tape like Flanders or Veranda Border, or opt for a subtly patterned material for your nursery window treatments.
Window Treatments for Nursery Inspiration
Now that you know about some key considerations to think through for your nursery window treatments, you’re ready to explore some examples for inspiration. Discover curated nurseries to find the right ideas for your nursery window treatments.
Layers of Subtle Patterns
For a soft look, layer subtle patterns throughout your nursery, from the walls to the window treatments to details like blankets and lampshades. When layering patterns, try to maintain a similar theme between them all, such as different flora and fauna or different geometric shapes. Keep the colors warm with a pink tinge for a traditional look for a girl or opt for shades of blues for a traditional look for a boy. You can also move beyond traditional color schemes and mix things up with other soft pastel colors like greens, yellows or stick to neutral tones like tans and greys.
Safety Tip
When choosing floor-length Drapery, opt for a “break” length where the panels kiss the floor or a “float” length where they hover just above the floor to avoid excess fabric that your baby could sit on. “Puddle” length, where the drapery panels puddle on the floor is typically unsuitable for nursery window treatments as the excess fabric is easily sat on which could stretch or rip the drapery, or even pull the hardware down if not properly installed.
Get the Look
To capture the inviting, delicate floral look above, opt for these materials:
Pinch Pleat Drapery
A traditional style of drapery, Pinch Pleat features three fingers at the top of the panel, pinched a couple inches from the very top for an elegant and delicate aesthetic.
Material: A distressed botanical print offers soft visual texture in a warm neutral tone.
Blackout Roller Shade
Blocking up to 99% of the natural light, Blackout Roller Shades help keep your baby’s room cool and dark, perfect for naptime and bedtime.
Material: A playful design with elephants and botanical elements, Nate Berkus, Eleo delivers just a touch of boldness to the design, while still fitting into the botanical theme.
Want more options? Check out these additional patterned materials for Drapery and Roller Shades to capture the right look for your nursery window treatments.
More Material Options for Drapery
For more options featuring soft floral-inspired designs for your drapery, opt for one of these patterns:
Nate Berkus, Gemma in Seastone Gray
A warm gray tone with hand-painted white starbursts, this microprint delivers a whimsical feel to your space.
Victoria Hagan, Petal in Midnight
A lush, elegant design, Petal adds both visual and tactile softness to your space thanks to its luxurious velvet material.
Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Chinoiserie in Blush
A subtle design inspired by hand-painted wallpapers, Chinoiserie adds a touch of delicate artistry to your nursery.
More Material Options for Roller Shades
Bring a bold pattern to your design that still suits the flora and fauna theme with these patterned blackout materials:
Boheme in Blossom
A boho-inspired design, Boheme features floral patterns and birds in a fun color palette to bring a sense of playfulness to your space.
Menagerie in Sky
Another playful design, Menagerie features hand-drawn images of animals in a soothing color palette of greens, blues and grays.
Arden in Aquatint
Hand-drawn, vintage-inspired butterflies in violet, pink and gray add color and movement to your nursery for a vibrant look and feel.
Warm, Soft & Neutral
Stick to a neutral color scheme and add dimension with various tones and textures. Furniture with differently textured upholstery as well as throw pillows and blankets in similar neutral tones can all add visual interest without taking away from the neutral theme. For your nursery window treatments, choose Woven Wood Shades in a warm, inviting honey color and add blackout lining to create a room darkening effect when you need it for naps and bedtime. Layer a Solar Shade under the blackout Woven Wood Shade for greater control of your light and privacy. The Solar Shade will help you and your baby enjoy quiet mornings and afternoons with lots of natural light, without the glare or heat buildup.
safety tip
When it comes to window treatments for nursery windows, insulation is of prime importance to help keep the room well-ventilated and temperate for your little one. Solar Shades are great for helping to prevent heat buildup and when paired with a blackout window treatment, you can enjoy even better temperature regulation from both the heat and cold.
Get the Look
To get the same warm, neutral aesthetic above, choose these products and materials:
Waterfall Woven Wood Shade
A traditional style of drapery, Pinch Pleat features three fingers at the top of the panel, pinched a couple inches from the very top for an elegant and delicate aesthetic.
Material: A distressed botanical print offers soft visual texture in a warm neutral tone.
Solar Shades
Thanks to their unique design, Solar Shades allow natural light to filter into your room, while blocking up to 99% of the UV rays for reduced glare and heat buildup, as well as less fading of your furniture and flooring.
Material: Made with tactile materials, Sunbrella, 1% Solistico in Oatmeal features a highly textured look that pairs well with the organic texture of Woven Wood Shades.
More Material Options for Woven Wood Shades
Get a bit of a different look with the same organic texture with these additional Woven Wood Shade materials:
Artisan Weaves, Bayshore in Parchment
With an all-natural weave featuring subtle knots and twists in a sandy color, Bayshore in Parchment delivers a coastal vibe to your nursery.
Artisan Weaves, Monterey in Oyster
A bright light color and woven design featuring a braid motif, Monterey in Oyster delivers texture with a rustic touch to your space.
Artisan Weaves, Sienna in Almond
With an earthy texture and a rich, golden color, Sienna in Almond delivers a woodland-inspired feel with a subtle elegance to your design.
More Material Options for Solar Shades
Solar Shade materials typically come in neutral colors from white and black to tan and gray, making them suitable for neutral window treatments for nursery windows. However, if you do want to add a touch of color with Solar Shades, there are a few options. All these selections are also GreenGuard certified for your peace of mind.
1% in Beige
Stay neutral with this soft Beige color and enjoy a cooler feel in your nursery with material that blocks up to 99% of UV rays.
Sunbrella, 3% Sonoma in Slate Blue
Bring a touch of color to your windows with Slate Blue featuring a 3% openness that blocks up to 97% UV rays.
Chilewich, Mini Basketweave in Blush
Add some color and texture with this traditional basketweave pattern made from material that blocks up to 93% of UV rays.
Bold Pattern as a Focal Point
Love a neutral theme but want to add a pop of color and pattern? Use your nursery window treatments to bring in visual interest with a bold pattern and color against a neutral backdrop. For the biggest impact, choose floor-length Drapery with a complex pattern like Family of Cranes which features bold colors and a sense of movement in the design. While drapery tends to hide parts of the pattern between its pleats, you can showcase the entire pattern and bring a polished look to your design with a cornice made from the same material as your drapery. In addition to blackout lining for your drapery, layer in blackout Roller Shades to get the best room darkening effect for a cool, calm ambiance. As for color for your Roller Shades, opt for a neutral tone that matches your walls for a cohesive, blended in look.
safety tip
Cordless window treatments that are Best for Kids certified are an important part of for you baby’s safety, but in some rooms, cordless options may not be practical if you can’t reach the window treatment to adjust it all the way up or down. In those cases, Best for Kids Certified motorized window treatments like motorized Roller Shades, Roman Shades and Drapery, are a great alternative. Plus, our proprietary motor system has a battery-powered option which means no power cords to plug in anywhere your little one can reach.
Get the Look
Find out what materials and colors are used above to get the same look for your nursery window treatments.
Ripple Fold Drapery & Cornice
With sleek, clean folds, Ripple Fold Drapery delivers a modern look, and it operates on a track system for easy functionality. The combination of Drapery and a Cornice creates a clean, finished look for your windows as it hides the track system and its hardware.
Material: Full of movement and color, The Novogratz, Family of Cranes in Waverly Blue is ideal for creating a bold focal point.
Blackout Roller Shade
Ideal for creating a cool, dark atmosphere, Blackout Roller Shades make naptime and bedtime easier for you and for your baby.
Material: With a crisp, tight weave, Ava in Birchwood delivers a clean modern look. And in this design, the color perfectly matches the walls for a cohesive look that allows the drapery pattern to be the star.
More Material Options for Drapery
Explore other bold patterns to bring color and dimension to your room with your window treatments for nursery windows.
Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Boho Vine in Forest
With lots of floral and fauna details, this pattern blends traditional chinoiserie with modern simplicity and is ideal for adding a pop of visual complexity.
The Novogratz, Feather Palm in Dusty Rose
Featuring a repeating ginkgo leaf design from an original block print on soft cotton sateen, this pattern delivers color, texture and a subtle sheen.
Sheila Bridges, Pin Wheel in Lagoon
Inspired by the pin wheels the designer played with as a child, this luxe design has an element of playfulness and provides eye-catching contrast with its colors.
More Material Options for Roller Shades
Neutrals come in so many different hues and tones from warm tans to cool grays. Explore more neutrals in our blackout Roller Shade collection to find the right match for your nursery color scheme.
Flock in Canyon
A soft look and feel blends into other soft elements in your nursery and the cool gray color adds to a soothing aesthetic.
Cora Blackout in Light Beige
Add a touch of depth and dimension with the subtle texture and an inviting, warm tan color of this material.
Bond in Vanilla
Capture a sunny, bright vibe with this light-yellow tone on a smooth elegant material that delivers a pristine look and feel.
Finalize Your Window Treatments for Nursery Selections
Now that you have lots of guidance and inspiration for your nursery window treatments, you’re probably excited to make your own selections. Order free swatches of any of the colors and materials above and discover new favorites in our online collection. Or you can visit your local showroom where you’ll meet helpful Design Consultants who can show you swatches of all our 1,200+ premium materials.
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