Curtains and drapes do more than just keep the light out, they’re the finishing touch that can elevate a room’s style and functionality. This rule of thumb also applies for the nursery, playroom and toddler bedroom too! With our helpful guide, you will learn how to choose nursery curtains for your baby’s room. The right curtains or drapes can create a playful atmosphere, ensure restful sleep, and add a touch of magic!
The short version: For most nurseries, choose floor-length lined panels in linen, cotton, or velvet, hung 4–6 inches above the window frame. Add blackout, either a lining or a separate cordless shade, if your baby naps during daylight. Whatever you pick, make it cordless.
Several exciting trends are emerging in the world of curtains and drapes, making it the perfect time to refresh your little one’s space. Let’s explore some of the hottest trends and how you can incorporate them into your child’s haven.
Curtains vs. Drapes: What’s the Difference?
The two words get used interchangeably, and honestly, in a nursery it rarely matters much. But if you want the technical answer: curtains are typically lighter, unlined panels that hang from a rod, while drapes are heavier, usually lined, and often floor-length. Drapes for the nursery tend to block more light and hang with more structure. Curtains are easier to wash, with a baby in the room, is not a small thing.
For most nurseries you’ll want something closer to a drape (lined, floor-length) for naps, and possibly a sheer curtain layered underneath for daytime.
What Material Should I Select for Nursery Drapes?
Materials like natural linen and rich velvets are gracing windows this year, bringing a touch of luxury and sophistication to children’s rooms.
Linen, known for its breathability and natural texture, is a perfect choice for nurseries and playrooms, offering a calming and airy feel. The viral Amazon find, Two Pages, offers a wide selection of linen curtains and drapes in various colors and styles, allowing you to find the perfect match for your child’s nursery or playroom. Additionally, the brand provides the option to purchase sample swatches for $10 dollars, allowing you to test all their colors in your space before making a commitment. The hard part is picking the color.
For a more opulent look, however, consider velvet drapes. While traditionally seen in formal settings, velvet drapes can add drama and elegance to a child’s bedroom. Opt for lighter colors like soft pink or baby blue to balance the richness of the velvet and create a whimsical ambiance.
My go-to brand is Half Price Drapes. I went with their Signature Velvet Black Out Panels for my daughter’s big girl room in “Primary White.” The quality and texture are insane for a 96 inch tall panel at just $64 each. I couldn’t get over it, so I continued the trend and purchased the same panels in “Off White” for our family room.
Do You Need Blackout Curtains in a Nursery?
Not strictly, but most parents end up wanting them. Babies nap during daylight and bedtime arrives well before sunset for much of the year. Blackout panels aren’t a magic sleep fix, but they remove one variable you can control. Some parents deliberately skip them so the room gets natural morning light; both approaches are common.
If you do go blackout, you have three choices:
Blackout curtains or drapes. Lined fabric panels. Warmest look, softest sound absorption, easiest to swap out when your child’s taste changes. Rarely achieve true 100% darkness because light leaks around the edges of the rod.
Blackout shades for the nursery. Mounted inside the window frame, so they block light much more completely — especially side-mounted or cordless cellular shades. Less decorative on their own, which is why they’re often paired with curtains rather than used alone.
Blinds for the nursery. The most adjustable option for controlling light through the day, but slats leak light at nap time and, in corded versions, come with a real safety concern. If you’re choosing blinds, cordless is the only version we’d recommend for a child’s room.
The setup that works best for most nurseries: cordless shades mounted inside the frame for true darkness, with curtains or drapes hung outside the frame for softness and style.
How Long Should Nursery Curtains Be?
Floor-length almost always looks better than short panels, even in a nursery. The rule designers use is to hang the rod 4–6 inches above the window frame (or higher, if you want to make the ceiling feel taller) and let the panels either just kiss the floor or break slightly against it.
Measure from where the rod will sit down to the floor, not from the top of the window, and round up to the nearest standard length rather than down.
| Panel length | Best for |
| 63″ | Short windows, or panels ending below a sill |
| 84″ | Standard 8-foot ceilings |
| 96″ | 9-foot ceilings, or a high-hung rod on an 8-foot wall |
| 108″ | 10-foot ceilings and taller windows |
Short curtains do have their place: over a radiator, above a window seat, or in a room where a crib or dresser sits directly under the window. If you go short, aim for the panel to end a few inches below the sill rather than exactly at it.
One thing to plan around: if you’re placing furniture beneath the window, floor-length drapes will end up tucked behind a dresser. Decide on your furniture layout before you order panels.
How to Add Pinch Pleats to Your Curtains
Who knew that pinch pleats, a classic drapery style, would be making a comeback in 2024. Pleats add formality and elegance to any window treatment, making them a great choice for both traditional and modern nurseries and bedrooms.
Even if your curtains don’t have sewn-in pleats, you can achieve a similar look with a simple DIY hack. To transform existing drapes into pinch pleats, you’ll just need a sewing machine, pinch pleat tape and hooks.
How to Train Your Curtains.
Regardless of your nursery curtain choice you’ll need to remove those pesky wrinkles and train the folds so the material hangs evenly. Invest in a portable steamer (this beats ironing your clothes any day) and painter’s tape.
To help your new curtains develop a more consistent drape, this is where the painter’s tape comes in. Carefully fold the curtains in an accordion style, creating even folds throughout the fabric.
Once folded, secure the folds in several places using painter’s tape at the top, middle, and bottom of the curtains.
Leave the curtains in this position for 48 hours or more if you can. After removing the tape, the curtains should have a more even and consistent drape.
Embrace Bold Colors, Patterns and Embellishments
While classic solid colors will always have a place in a child’s room, this is the year to embrace bold and playful patterns or embellishments. The Shade Store offers an incredible range of customizable options, allowing you to create curtains and shades featuring anything from whimsical palm fronds to preppy plaids for a truly elevated look. With nationwide showroom locations, free design consultations, free swatches and professional measure and installation options, you are pretty much guaranteed to be happy with your decision.
Layer for Depth
Layering sheer curtains under solid-colored drapes is a popular trend that adds depth and dimension. This technique allows you to control light and privacy while injecting a touch of color and pattern. On their own however, sheer curtains can add a touch of romance and elegance to any space. They allow natural light to filter through, creating a bright and airy feel, while still offering some privacy. Two Pages also offers a variety of sheer curtain options, making it easy to find the perfect match for your child’s room. Pair them with made-to-order custom cordless shades to achieve total black out when needed.
Nursery Curtain Safety: Always Choose Cordless
This is the one section of this guide that isn’t about style. Corded window treatments are a strangulation hazard for young children — it’s why the industry moved toward cordless as the default for products sold for children’s rooms.
- Choose cordless blinds and shades for any room a child sleeps or plays in.
- Keep cribs, beds, and climbable furniture away from windows.
- If your home has existing corded blinds, cord cleats help, but replacing them with cordless is the more reliable fix.
- Anchor curtain rods into studs, especially if panels are within a toddler’s reach.
For current guidance, the Window Covering Safety Council and CPSC both publish recommendations worth reading before you install.
Now Bring it All Together
When it comes to drapery, allow for inspiration for different spaces. In the nursery, opt for natural fabrics like linen or organic cotton in calming neutral tones. Consider adding a blackout liner for complete light control during nap times. For the playroom, get playful with patterns and colors! Bold geometric shapes, stripes, or whimsical animal prints can add a touch of fun and personality. Lastly, let your child’s personality shine through in their big kid room. Choose curtains or drapes that reflect their favorite colors or hobbies.
By incorporating these curtain ideas and trends, you can create a stylish and functional space. Remember, the most important thing is to choose nursery curtains or drapes that reflect your child’s personality and create a comfortable and inviting environment. For younger children, always opt for cordless options to ensure safety.
Still building out the rest of the room? Our nursery essentials checklist covers what to buy and when, and if you’re working with a tight footprint, organizing a nursery without a closet has ideas for making the space work harder. Once your window treatments are set, browse our nursery rugs and nursery lamps to layer in the rest of the room’s texture and light.
Frequently Asked Questions
You don’t strictly need them, but most parents find them worth it. Babies nap during daylight and go to bed before sunset for much of the year, and a darker room removes one obstacle to settling. Some parents deliberately skip blackout to encourage natural day-night rhythms — both approaches are common.
Shades mounted inside the window frame block light more completely because there’s less leakage around the edges. Curtains look warmer and are easier to change out. Many nurseries use both — shades for darkness, curtains for style.
Curtain panels themselves pose little risk, but corded blinds and shades are a known strangulation hazard for young children. Choose cordless window treatments for any room a child uses, and keep cribs and climbable furniture away from windows.
Linen and organic cotton are popular for their breathability and calm, natural texture. Velvet adds warmth and blocks more light, and often comes with a blackout lining built in. Whichever you choose, check that panels are machine washable if the window is anywhere near a changing area.
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