When you're renovating, the bathroom is at the top of your priorities. Of course, you want to start putting in lovely things immediately but if you can't shower or take a bathroom break, there is simply no hope for moving in.
During my renovation, the bathroom was the first 'finished' room. I say finished lightly because it is still missing baseboards, but other than that it is fully functional and pretty aesthetically pleasing in there.
But there was one bathroom renovation mistake I made that I'm now realizing just wasn't the right choice for my bathroom. So let's dive into why I'm regretting the practical, well-loved bathroom window treatment idea and why I'm looking to switch out in the New Year.
At the beginning of our slow renovating journey, we split an upstairs bedroom into two rooms with a partition wall to create an upstairs bathroom.
Of course, there are a few first things to consider when planning a new bathroom like plumbing and tiles before we could get into details, but after we'd finally pieced the room together it was pretty clear we needed to get something up at the window ASAP for some extra privacy. So I took the most obvious, tried-and-tested route and installed a bathroom blind.
Now I'm not one to follow the rulebook entirely, so I chose a relaxed roll-up blind because I like the blend of tailoring with a whimsical edge that offers privacy while fitting the room's aesthetic. However, after living with them for a while, I began to notice a significant downside.
Tie-up shades provide a modern and elegant alternative to traditional blinds and can be picked up at a budget-friendly price.
Even when pulled all the way up, the blind blocks a good portion of the top of the window, leaving my bathroom darker than I’d like. And as someone who relies on natural light to brighten up my mornings, it became clear this popular window treatment just wasn’t working for me.
While window blind ideas are great for their purpose and can come in a myriad of colors and prints to suit your style, they often limit how much light enters the room, especially at the top of the window. This means it creates an unintentionally gloomy atmosphere, making my bathroom feel colder and less welcoming.
And of course, when you're planning a small bathroom like mine, window treatments become even more important because you want to maximize light in the space to make it feel bigger and brighter.
My bathroom window is on the side of the house and is actually south-facing but it unfortunately doesn't benefit from a large window or a lot of direct sunlight. So I have had to come up with a plan to rectify this bathroom regret.
Enter cafe curtains. Mostly seen in chic French cafes (hence the name) and designed to cover only the lower portion of the window, these charming vintage-inspired half-window curtains are quite popular with interior designers right now.
Not only are they delicately sweet but cafe curtains provide the privacy I need without sacrificing the natural light streaming in from the top of the window.
Cafe curtains are a wonderful alternative for bathrooms that demand both light and privacy. By allowing daylight to flow freely through the upper portion of the window, cafe curtains create an airy, inviting feel while still concealing a big portion of the window that might need shielding from outside view. They're functional, yet on-trend and an especially charming way to add softness to such an otherwise austere space.
Additionally, the benefit is that they can be installed relatively easily. Unlike blinds or full-length bathroom curtains that often require complex hardware, cafe curtains are lightweight and straightforward to install.
All you need is a tension rod or a small curtain rod, like this Inside-Mount Cafe Set from Rejuvenation which can easily be mounted at the desired height. This minimal hardware not only makes the process quick but also reduces the risk of damaging your walls – a major plus if you're renting, or a little indecisive like me.
If you’re finding that your current window treatments are leaving your space darker than you’d like, consider making the switch to cafe curtains too.
Available in four different prints, these looped cafe curtains are adorned with retro-inspired patterns like strawberries, ditsy florals, or wildflowers to suit your space.
For a more sheer approach, these light-filtering woven cafe curtains from Anthropologie can be machine-washed on a delicate cycle meaning they're a great option for windows near your vanity or bath.
A contemporary take on a classic toile design, these are sure to add a Farmhouse, Cottagecore feel to your bathroom or kitchen. They come in black, indigo blue, or garnet red and have multiple lengths.
Sometimes, it’s the simplest changes that have the biggest impact on how a space looks and feels. Whether you’re tackling a bathroom renovation or just looking for ways to refresh your space, a new window treatment might just be the upgrade you didn’t know you needed.
