Rustic Window Treatments
Window Treatment Ideas

Rustic Decor for Cabins and Lodges

Rustic window treatments vary from country curtains, wood valences, custom window blinds, motorized window blinds inside the windows to bare windows with rustic window valences…

As with all rustic decorating, much is left to your imagination and to your personal style. In addition, your choice of rustic window treatments will also depend on the location of your home, its setting and the level of privacy that you have.

As with other rustic home décor, window treatment ideas can include your favorite theme—from pine cones to fishing, or wildlife like bears and moose.

Rustic window treatments can include bare windows to maximize light and the view.

Rustic window treatments can include bare windows
to maximize light and the view.

Rustic Decorating for Windows
What to Keep in Mind…

Outfitting your lodge or cabin windows is not so simple as going to the store and picking up a set of drapes or curtains.

When considering what to do, if anything, on your windows, here are some points to keep in mind:

Privacy - If you live in a development or town, you will have houses close by, and privacy is a major consideration for choosing the best window treatments for your home.
However, if you live in the country, and, at least some of your windows face unpopulated areas, you can be more liberal in your choices—including leaving some windows bare, without anything to impede the view.
Light - Any window treatment that you use will block some of the light. Depending on which direction your windows face (and where you live—north or south), choose window treatments that: let in the most light, block the solar gain in the summer, take advantage of solar gain in the winter, or block the late western sun in the summer.
Theme - Make sure you keep your window dressings complementary to your other home furnishings and the theme that you have chosen for your home.
Fabrics - While I have seen everything—including shear curtains—used in rustic cabins, rustic lodges and log cabins, most fabrics tend to be heavier, and less refined than you might see in traditional stick built homes.
For example you might consider burlap, crude linens and heavier fabrics with a rougher texture.
And you may be able to find curtains or drapes that go with your decorating theme—with pictures like pine cones, bears, canoes, fishing, deer or moose.
Hard materials vs. soft materials - Sometimes a rustic cabin or home can have so many hard materials—wood ceilings, beams and walls, tile floors, leather furniture, bare windows, etc.—that it needs a little softness to balance it.
Not only can hard materials give a room have a cold look, they can also cause echoes or problems with listening to TV--because sound bounces off all the hard surfaces.
You can soften a room by hanging wall tapestries, using decorative pillows, and by adding fabric curtains and valences.

Fabric curtains can add color, softness and character to log cabin décor.

Fabric curtains can add color, softness and character
to rustic log cabin décor.

Window Treatment Ideas
For Rustic Décor

So what are some of the ways you can dress up your lodge or log home windows?

Bare windows - Many log home and timber frame owners just leave the windows bare. This allows you to take full advantage of beautiful views.
Rustic curtains - You may choose to buy rustic country kitchens curtains or rustic curtains for the bathroom. In these rooms, the fabric can be a lighter weight, perhaps a cotton or cotton blend.
And you can choose everything from a country plaid or gingham to a fabric that mirrors the theme you have chosen for your log cabin décor. Consider using tie backs and rustic curtain hardware for your rustic country curtains.
Rustic drapes - Draperies for the great room and bedrooms can be made from heavier fabrics. You can also find valences (like the fabric valence shown in the photo above) that mirror your cabin decorating theme. Make sure you also choose rustic drapery hardware that goes well with your rustic drapes.
Window blinds and shades - If you need to insure privacy at your windows, you might consider window blinds or shades. You can choose rustic wooden window blinds (or vinyl in colors), motorized window blinds (You can even get them inside your windows so they don’t get dusty.), or have custom window blinds or shades made at a local store like Lowes.

This rustic window valence can be easily made from wood.

This rustic window valence can be easily made from wood.

Rustic window valences - Perhaps you want to dress up a window, but you don’t want to block the light or the view. A cloth or wooden valence might be just what you need.
There are some really cute fabric valences on the market, and you may be able to find a wooden valence (although those are not as easy to find).
But the good news is that, if you’re handy and like to work with wood or you enjoy sewing, you can easily make window valences!

With a little forethought, you can have rustic window treatments that are perfect for your home. First consider what you want your cabin window treatments to do for you. Then choose the look that you like best.

Rustic window treatments are like the icing on the cake. They add the final touch to an already nicely decorated log cabin or rustic décor!