Window treatment tweaks that make a cold room feel warmer

If a room always runs chilly—or just feels that way—your window treatments can do more than look pretty. The right fabric weight, lining, and layering keep drafts down and make the space feel cocooned. I’ve warmed up plenty of north-facing rooms with a few smart adjustments.

Add lining and length to your curtains

Unlined panels flutter and let cold sneak in. Swap to lined or thermal-lined panels and make sure they kiss the floor; the extra fabric creates a better seal.

Hang them high and wide—rod a few inches below the ceiling and extend past the window frame—so the stack sits off the glass. You’ll keep more warmth inside without blocking daylight.

Layer shades behind drapery

A woven wood or Roman shade gives you privacy and texture, while drapes add insulation. The double layer traps air, which is what actually warms the room.

If you love your current curtains, add an inside-mount cellular shade. Close it at night and you’ll feel the difference by morning.

Choose weighty, matte fabrics

Heavier fabrics—twill, velvet, lined linen—absorb sound and visually warm a room. Shiny synthetics can feel cold even when they’re thick.

Pick a fabric with a bit of texture so it catches light softly. When the sun’s low, that glow reads “cozy” from across the room.

Close gaps with return rods and hold-downs

Standard rods leave a gap at the wall where drafts sneak out. Use return rods (curtain wraps back to the wall) or add simple side brackets to tuck panels in.

If your shades billow, install small hold-down brackets at the bottom so they stay snug to the frame. The tighter fit makes a noticeable comfort difference.

Consider thermal liners you can clip in

If replacing curtains isn’t in the budget, clip-in thermal liners turn light panels into winter players. They’re removable, washable, and they disappear behind the fabric.

Start with the coldest windows—usually north and west—and reassess. You might find you only need liners in a few problem spots.

Add a soft valance or cornice for drafty tops

Warm air collects near the ceiling and cold air drops by the glass. A tailored valance or a simple cornice board helps block that top leak and finishes the look.

Keep profiles clean and fabrics solid or subtly textured. You want the detail to frame the window, not steal the show.

Use color to shift the mood

Deep greens, tobacco, clay, and warm neutrals make a room feel snugger than icy whites or cool grays. Swap in warmer-toned panels and echo the color in a pillow or throw.

You don’t have to go dark; even cream with a warm undertone changes the read. Light can still pour in while the room feels less stark.

Mind the floor under the window

A plush rug under a drafty window warms feet and quiets echo, which our brains read as “cozy.” If you’ve got bare floors, add a runner along the window wall to soften the zone.

Choose a dense, low pile that vacuums easily. Warmth that’s easy to maintain sticks around longer.