How to Dress Large Windows in French Period Flats Without Losing Natural Light

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

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

Why large windows in period flats can be challenging

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

• Conventional curtains can easily block the light if positioned poorly.
• Internal shutters or louvred shutters can make the room considerably darker.
• Blinds fitted within the window recess reduce the visible glazed area.

The source publication notes that interior decorators first aim to “frame” a window rather than conceal it. The aim is to retain the strongest possible feeling of openness while introducing 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-style sitting room, a converted maid’s room or a wide hallway, this method preserves the much-valued sense of brightness while giving the space greater character.

The preferred solution: extra-wide, high-mounted curtain poles

The interiors publication explains that decorators rely on a straightforward principle: make the window appear larger by carefully positioning the curtain pole. In practice, they fit a pole that extends well beyond either side of the opening and mount it as high as possible, almost beneath the cornice or ceiling.

By placing the curtain pole well beyond the frame, the 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 pole that projects substantially past each side of the window. When the curtains are open, the fabric panels should sit against the wall rather than across the glass. This keeps the opening’s true width on display.

There is another benefit: the technique makes the window look wider. In a slightly narrow living room, it can make the wall seem more expansive, almost as if it contained a picture window, even where the actual opening is more modest.

Installing the pole close to the ceiling

The second essential step is to fix the pole very high, well above the top of the window. Ceiling heights in period flats often exceed 2.70 m, and decorators use this to create the greatest possible vertical effect.

• Curtains create the impression of a taller wall.
• The vertical line draws the eye upwards, making low, bulky furniture seem less heavy.
• 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-mounted one therefore preserves almost all incoming daylight while giving the window a textile frame.

Which curtains allow the most light through?

Pole placement alone is not enough. Fabric selection is equally crucial if you want to maintain maximum brightness. The specialist article highlights several choices favoured by decorators in period flats.

Sheer curtains by day, heavier curtains behind them

A common arrangement pairs a lightweight sheer with a thicker curtain. The sheer filters views in from outside while still allowing light through, whereas the full curtain provides privacy in the evening or improves insulation in winter.

In practical terms, professionals often install a double curtain pole:

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

During the day, only the sheer is drawn, allowing daylight to pass freely. The curtains then slide to either side, always beyond the window frame, in line with the principle described above.

Pale colours and soft fabrics

For large openings, decorators tend to select light, ecru, off-white or pastel fabrics. These shades reflect more light and avoid creating a dark visual block when the curtains are closed.

Soft, flowing materials, such as washed linen or certain cotton-linen blends, fall naturally into folds. They make the overall look lighter and are easy to handle every day. This drape matters greatly over a substantial height: fabric that is too stiff can look imposing and weigh down the wall.

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

Decorators’ solutions for unusual windows

The interiors outlet points out that this method works with several layouts often found in period flats in France: windows with fanlights, French doors opening onto a continuous balcony, or two closely spaced openings.

Windows with a fanlight or glazed upper section

Where a window is topped by a fixed glazed section, decorators avoid installing the pole too low. Instead, they mount it above the complete unit so as not to visually divide its height. The curtains then cover the entire composition, while stacking at the sides when open.

Two nearby windows on one wall

In some Haussmann-style sitting rooms, two large windows sit in sequence. Here, the pole can run across the full length of the wall, above both openings. Curtains can then gather at each end of the wall and, if needed, between the two windows, leaving the glazing clear when they are pulled back.

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

What if there is little room beside the window?

Not every period flat offers generous clearance on either side of a window. A structural wall, a vertical radiator or a projecting partition may restrict the available space.

In these situations, decorators opt for curtains that slide smoothly while taking up as little depth as possible:

• a slim pole fitted 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, for effortless opening and closing.

When side space is genuinely too limited, some professionals dispense with full curtains and favour sheers installed in front of the window. These are slightly wider than the opening but do not extend excessively beyond it. The underlying aim remains unchanged: minimise the amount of fabric in front of the glass when light is the priority.

How French professionals approach period-flat windows

In France, interior architects and decorators involved in renovating period flats broadly follow these principles, as the specialist publication shows. They tailor them to constraints typical of French buildings, including ceiling mouldings, cast-iron radiators beneath windows and roller-shutter boxes introduced during refurbishments.

The most common projects involve:

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

Where possible, the principle of fitting the pole above the mouldings remains consistent; where a cornice drops particularly low, it is placed just below instead. Professionals also pay close attention to proportion between the window’s width and that of the curtains: fabric panels that are too narrow look skimpy, while too much material can feel overwhelming.

A choice affecting temperature, acoustics and energy bills

Properly dressing a large window in a period flat has practical consequences beyond appearance and daylight. Older walls can be poorly insulated, while glazing is not always efficient. Curtains can therefore contribute to overall comfort.

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

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

The strategy outlined by the source publication - wide poles, high installation and double curtains - thus forms part of a wider approach: retaining daylight, improving thermal and acoustic comfort, and showcasing the flat’s architectural character.

A scheme to consider as a whole

Finally, decorators stress 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 built-in bookcases all influence fabric and colour choices.

A wide, high-mounted curtain pole, as described by the interiors website, then becomes a genuine guiding line across the wall. Used well, it frames the window, emphasises the room’s height and provides a setting for natural light without smothering it. For someone living in a French period flat, this method offers a dependable basis for speaking with a professional or rethinking the treatment of their own large windows.