How to Dress Large Windows in a Period Flat Without Losing Natural Light

In period flats in France, large windows are a real asset… provided natural light is not compromised.

Rooms with tall windows are a major draw in Haussmann buildings and other older properties, yet dressing them can be difficult. How can you retain this prized daylight while adding privacy and a decorative finish? Drawing on advice from a specialist interior-decoration website, this online article sets out the approach decorators favour to balance brightness with comfort.

Why large windows in period flats can be challenging

In a period flat in France, window openings are often exceptionally tall, sometimes running almost from floor to ceiling. They admit abundant daylight, but their scale makes window treatments harder to choose.

• Standard curtains can easily block light if they are positioned incorrectly.
• Interior shutters or louvred shutters may make the room considerably darker.
• Blinds fitted inside the window reveal reduce the visible glazed area.

The source publication notes that interior decorators first aim to “frame” a window rather than conceal it. The intention is to maintain the greatest possible sense of openness while bringing texture and warmth into the room.

Dressing a large window in a period flat without losing light means working around the opening, rather than on the glass itself.

Whether in a Haussmann living room, a converted maid’s room or a broad hallway, this method retains that much-valued feeling of brightness while giving the space more character.

The preferred solution: extra-wide, high curtain poles

The decoration publication explains that decorators rely on a straightforward principle: make the window appear larger through the placement of the curtain pole. In practical terms, they fit a pole extending well beyond the opening on both sides and mount it as high as possible, almost beneath the cornice or ceiling.

By placing the pole well beyond the frame, curtains stack outside the window and take up almost none of the light.

Extending well beyond both sides

The professionals quoted by the website advise choosing a curtain pole that projects substantially past each side of the window. Once the curtains are open, the fabric panels should sit against the wall rather than across the glazing. The opening’s true width therefore remains on display.

This technique has another benefit: it makes the window look wider. In a somewhat narrow living room, it creates the impression of a more expansive wall, almost like a picture window, even though the actual opening is more modest.

Mounting the pole as close to the ceiling as possible

The second essential move is to position the pole high above the top of the window. In period flats, ceiling heights often exceed 2.70 m. Decorators take advantage of this to maximise the vertical effect.

• Curtains create the illusion of a taller wall.
• The vertical line draws the eye upward, making low, bulky furniture seem less imposing.
• More light passes through the upper section of the glazing, which is less obstructed by the curtain heading.

Combining a wide pole with a high pole consequently preserves almost all incoming daylight while giving the window a textile surround.

Which curtains allow the most light through?

Pole placement alone does not solve everything. Fabric selection is crucial to retaining maximum brightness. The specialist website’s article highlights several choices favoured by decorators in period flats.

Sheers by day, heavier curtains behind them

A common option is to pair a lightweight sheer with a thicker curtain. The sheer filters views from outside while allowing daylight through, whereas the full curtain provides privacy in the evening or improves insulation in winter.

In practice, professionals often use a double curtain pole:

• a pole close to the window for pale sheers;
• a second pole set slightly further into the room for heavier curtains.

During the day, only the sheer remains drawn, allowing light to pass through freely. The curtains are then pulled to either side, still beyond the window frame, in line with the principle described above.

Pale colours and soft fabrics

For large openings, decorators favour pale fabrics in ecru, off-white or pastel shades. These tones reflect more daylight and prevent curtains from becoming a visually dark block when closed.

Soft, flowing materials, such as washed linen or certain cotton-linen blends, fall naturally into folds. They make the arrangement feel lighter and are easy to handle every day. Over a great height, this drape matters greatly: overly stiff fabric can look heavy and weigh down the wall.

A light colour, a fluid material and installation outside the window: this trio helps dress a large opening without turning the room into a cave.

Decorators’ tips for unusual period-flat windows

The decoration publication indicates that this method can be adapted to several layouts commonly found in period flats in France: windows with fanlights, French doors opening onto a continuous balcony, or two windows placed close together.

Windows with a fanlight or fixed glazed section above

Where a window is topped by a fixed glazed section, decorators avoid fitting the pole too low. Instead, they install it above the entire arrangement so as not to visually interrupt the height. The curtains then cover the full composition, but stack at the sides when open.

Two nearby windows on the same wall

Some Haussmann living rooms have two large windows in sequence. In that case, the curtain pole can span the full width of the wall above both openings. Curtains can be arranged at each end of the wall and, where appropriate, between the two windows, keeping the glazing clear when they are drawn back.

This unified treatment strengthens the impression of one continuous large window, even when the openings are separate.

What to do when there is little clearance or side space?

Not every period flat offers enough room to clear the sides of a window generously. A cross wall, vertical radiator or projecting partition can restrict the available space.

In such situations, decorators opt for curtains that glide smoothly and take up as little depth as possible:

• a slim pole placed close to the wall, so it does not obstruct movement;
• thin curtains that compress easily;
• a smooth hanging system, such as rings on a round pole or a discreet track, to make opening and closing effortless.

When side clearance is genuinely too limited, some professionals dispense with full curtains and favour sheers fitted in front of the opening, slightly wider than the window but without excessive overhang. The underlying principle remains unchanged: minimise the amount of fabric across the glass when daylight is the priority.

How French professionals approach large windows in period flats

In France, interior architects and decorators working on period-flat renovations broadly follow these principles, as the specialist publication’s article shows. They tailor them to constraints specific to French buildings, including ceiling mouldings, cast-iron radiators beneath windows and roller-shutter boxes added during renovations.

The most frequent projects involve:

• Haussmann living rooms with large French doors opening onto a balcony;
• courtyard-facing bedrooms, where privacy is paramount but brightness remains desirable;
• offices or multipurpose rooms created from former service rooms, which are often well supplied with windows.

Where possible, placing the pole above the mouldings-or just below them if the cornice comes down very low-remains a constant principle. Professionals also pay attention to the balance between the window’s width and that of the curtains: a panel that is too narrow looks skimpy, while too much material can seem overwhelming.

A choice that affects temperature, acoustics and energy bills

Beyond appearance and daylight, dressing a large window in a period flat properly has very practical effects. Older walls can be poorly insulated and glazing is not always efficient. Curtains therefore contribute to overall comfort.

Thick curtains drawn at night reduce heat loss, while sheers filter glare in the middle of the day.

This combination offers better control over temperature fluctuations. Fabrics also absorb some sound reverberation, which is useful in large rooms with old timber floors and bare walls.

The strategy described by the source publication-wide poles, high installation and double curtains-therefore forms part of a broader approach: preserve light, improve thermal and acoustic comfort, and highlight the flat’s architectural character.

A scheme to consider as a whole

Finally, decorators emphasise that window treatments should not be chosen in isolation. They need to work with the flooring, wall colours, furniture and architectural features. In a period flat, high ceilings, cornices, marble fireplaces and fitted bookcases all influence fabric and colour choices.

A wide, high curtain pole, as described by the decoration website, then becomes a genuine guiding line across the wall. Used well, it frames the window, emphasises the room’s height and gives natural light a setting without stifling it. For a French reader living in a period flat, this method provides a sound basis for discussing options with a professional or rethinking the treatment of their own large windows.