How to Dress Arch Top Windows
An arch top window is a semicircular window that is typically placed above a rectangular window. They are also called Palladian windows, half-moons, or half rounds. These windows are one of Well Dressed Windows’ specialties!
Since these windows are often the second or third row on a two story window, it makes them even more challenging to treat. One good thing
about them being up so high is that privacy and/or light control are usually not an important issue. If it is, we can have the blind, shade or shutter operated remotely with minimal cost. And of course, our installer will make a professional template.
A perfect arch is when the height of your window is exactly half of the width. However, the arch can be presented in many other forms: It can have straight sides, be a quarter of a circle, or it can be elongated or eyebrow shaped. Sometimes there are rectangular windows on either side that do not have arches above them. Because of their unique characteristics, it’s best to have an in-home consultation where we can recommend the ideal custom treatment to bring out the beauty of your arch top windows.
When it comes to dressing your arch top window, the question is do you choose blinds, shutters, drapes, or valances?
If privacy or light control is your concern and you want something that you can open and close, shutters are the perfect solution. They are custom made to frame whatever shape of window you may have. The louvers of the shutter can be horizontal or they can be a sunburst design.
When considering blinds or shades for an arch window, keep in mind that you cannot raise a shade to a measurement that is a narrower width than at the bottom! Honeycomb shades can often be fabricated to follow the shape of the arch. Some designs are operable (fan shaped or dropping from the top down) and others are fixed. In addition, with some limitations, you can have Silhouettes, roman shades, or wood blinds.
For draperies, my favorite option is to place decorative medallions that follow the shape of the arch and “droop” the drapery panels at the top between the medallions to form a casual, but sophisticated look. There are many pictures in Our Gallery that showcase this style.
Another option for arch top windows with draperies is to have the workroom make a flexible wood frame of the shape of the arch and hang the drapes from this fabric covered board. Being more traditional, a straight rod can be placed either above or below the arch with draperies hanging from them.
And lastly, there are many valance styles that can be altered to follow the shape of the arch and mounted on flexible boards, medallions, rods, etc. If you can dream it, we can probably fabricate it!