Decorating
Drab View From Your Window? These 10 Simple Ideas Will Improve it
Outlook through the window a bit dull or even downright ugly? Here's how to conceal, enhance or distract from it
When all you can see from the window of a room is your own garden, a great view can be yours. With nothing but hills, fields and woods, a dramatic city skyline, or the coast, you’re sorted. Away from these scenarios, the outlook’s frequently on the boring side and can be distinctly unlovely. If that’s your lot in life, take heart. These ideas should have you focusing on something better.
Distract with colour
A bold window treatment will draw the eye when what’s outside isn’t all that alluring. Here, it’s the shutters in a zingy yellow that stand out.
To get the look, select tier-on-tier shutters, which mean the colour block created by the lower set can be left in place while the top shutters are open to let in daylight.
A bold window treatment will draw the eye when what’s outside isn’t all that alluring. Here, it’s the shutters in a zingy yellow that stand out.
To get the look, select tier-on-tier shutters, which mean the colour block created by the lower set can be left in place while the top shutters are open to let in daylight.
Colour up
It may usually be seen in front doors, but there’s no reason not to use stained glass to conceal the outside. This kitchen boasts a stained-glass window in fresh shades that give it a contemporary twist. Cost of stained glass prohibitive? Window stickers can produce the same look.
It may usually be seen in front doors, but there’s no reason not to use stained glass to conceal the outside. This kitchen boasts a stained-glass window in fresh shades that give it a contemporary twist. Cost of stained glass prohibitive? Window stickers can produce the same look.
Stay strong
A Crittall window is a handsome choice for this home, and with graphic lines that stand out prominently the outlook is relegated in importance. Note how the kitchen’s pendant lights and exposed extraction continue the industrial look.
See the rest of this extension
A Crittall window is a handsome choice for this home, and with graphic lines that stand out prominently the outlook is relegated in importance. Note how the kitchen’s pendant lights and exposed extraction continue the industrial look.
See the rest of this extension
Hang out
Here, an oriel window – which projects like a bay but hangs above the ground – makes a beautiful feature that pushes the view into a supporting role. I like the way the wood makes the window pleasing to the sense of touch as well as sight, increasing its pull.
Here, an oriel window – which projects like a bay but hangs above the ground – makes a beautiful feature that pushes the view into a supporting role. I like the way the wood makes the window pleasing to the sense of touch as well as sight, increasing its pull.
Take shape
In this room, the unusual round window is the attention-grabber, and the candy pink surround draws attention to it even more.
Bear in mind that replacement or new windows need Building Regulations approval, and may require Planning Permission depending on where you live.
In this room, the unusual round window is the attention-grabber, and the candy pink surround draws attention to it even more.
Bear in mind that replacement or new windows need Building Regulations approval, and may require Planning Permission depending on where you live.
Style a bay
Here, it’s the peaceful scenario conjured by the reading nook that calls to the viewer – a trick that can be used for any bay window. If there’s not space for a chair, a display of sizeable houseplants will have the same effect of keeping awareness on the interior.
Here, it’s the peaceful scenario conjured by the reading nook that calls to the viewer – a trick that can be used for any bay window. If there’s not space for a chair, a display of sizeable houseplants will have the same effect of keeping awareness on the interior.
Fall for a fabric
This living room features curtains with a large-scale motif that puts them, rather than the outside, centre stage. If light is not an issue in the room, allowing the curtains to partially cover the side of the window can boost their presence.
An eyelet heading for curtains, as seen here, is ideal for a bold pattern as the fabric will fall in large, even folds.
Discover more tasteful tree motifs
This living room features curtains with a large-scale motif that puts them, rather than the outside, centre stage. If light is not an issue in the room, allowing the curtains to partially cover the side of the window can boost their presence.
An eyelet heading for curtains, as seen here, is ideal for a bold pattern as the fabric will fall in large, even folds.
Discover more tasteful tree motifs
Swap locations
In this living space, the artwork provides a gorgeous view, so what’s outside the window doesn’t have to be jaw-dropping. This image also pulls off the feat of seeming to lengthen the room as the jetty extends into the distance.
Repeat the clever distraction with a wall mural of a favourite location. Murals can be made to measure for a room.
Find wall murals in the Houzz shop
In this living space, the artwork provides a gorgeous view, so what’s outside the window doesn’t have to be jaw-dropping. This image also pulls off the feat of seeming to lengthen the room as the jetty extends into the distance.
Repeat the clever distraction with a wall mural of a favourite location. Murals can be made to measure for a room.
Find wall murals in the Houzz shop
Change the focus
Some windows are too small or awkwardly placed to offer much of a view, whatever is beyond them. In this home, tree-patterned wallpaper is used to give the eye a different place to look.
Love country style but live in town? Follow this room’s example with a pastoral wallpaper and a Roman blind window treatment that will cover the top of the glass, so the street outside isn’t an out-of-tune presence.
Less than lovely view? Tell us how you dealt with it in the Comments section.
Some windows are too small or awkwardly placed to offer much of a view, whatever is beyond them. In this home, tree-patterned wallpaper is used to give the eye a different place to look.
Love country style but live in town? Follow this room’s example with a pastoral wallpaper and a Roman blind window treatment that will cover the top of the glass, so the street outside isn’t an out-of-tune presence.
Less than lovely view? Tell us how you dealt with it in the Comments section.
In this room, window film is used on the lower part of the window only. This is a useful trick if it’s not necessary to block all of a view because the outlook’s better from the top portion of the glass, or you usually look out from a seated position. A chevron pattern makes it decorative, so from the desk the view isn’t merely of obscured glass.
Graphic pattern suits this home office set-up, working alongside the typographic mug and desk calendar/clock, but there are a host of other designs on offer.