What Are Stationary Curtains And How Can You Make Them Work In Your Space?

Curtains may have come into our lives and homes for functional purposes, but now they are as essential as furniture when it comes to crafting a well-designed space. In fact, their aesthetic value is one of the primary reasons that stationary curtains — curtains that don't close or open — are a thing at all. However, their ability to enhance your décor is not the only reason to embrace stationary curtains in your space. They can also help to manage light, bring an elegant stylistic touch to awkward spaces, and ease the pressure on your design budget.

It isn't hard to deduce from their name that stationary curtains are those decorative panels of drapery that hang on the sides of a window. They aren't intended to be pulled along a curtain rod and closed — in fact, they generally aren't made of enough material to function in that way. Rather, their primary purpose is to make a statement, and when you catch a glimpse of a well-style window, it's clear that they succeed in this goal. They are also a fabulous creative way to give your outdated curtains a modern upgrade, especially if you're working on a budget.

One of the many perks of stationary curtains is that they can be used in addition to your existing window treatments. This allows you to play with pattern, texture, and color in a way that may not work as well for traditional window treatments. If you've fallen in love with a beautifully patterned heavy wool material, for instance, it might be too heavy — literally and aesthetically — to cover the entire length of your window. But using that material for a pair of side panels that will layer over shades or blinds will allow you to incorporate that elegant style and decadent texture in your space. Or, perhaps you'd like to experiment with adding a new, trendy, jewel tone to your room. Adding stationary curtains in your chosen hue will allow you to make those curtains the focus of your decor without having to change all your drapery.

Additionally, you can use stationary curtains to create the illusion of space in your home. Two panels of drapery hung above and outside your window frame will make your window appear wider and taller than it is, which can add a sense of grandeur and opulence. That faux-frame design trick will be especially impactful if you've got a fantastic view outside your window. Stationary curtains are more than just a pretty accent feature, however. They offer some valuable functional qualities as well.

In the same way that using stationary curtains can create a faux frame around a jaw-dropping view, those permanently separated panels can also help you to work around otherwise-awkward decorative challenges. A radiator or other permanent fixture that's positioned below a window, for instance, will look intentional when it's framed out by a pair of stylish curtain panels. They are also ideal for adding a decorative touch to windows that are just a little too close to a corner for the bulk of traditional drapes.

Since stationary curtains cover just the edge of the window frame and the wall adjacent, they create beautiful and functional solutions to light mitigation in bedrooms as well. Blackout shades can do a great job of darkening a room, but they always seem to allow little slivers of light to creep in at the edges. With a couple of decorative panels of drapery on either side of the window, the light slivers will be much more effectively snuffed out.

If you don't need light management or privacy in a particular part of the house, side panels are a great way to decorate with curtains in a room that doesn't actually need them. Hang them behind your bed for an eye catching faux headboard, or on either side of a piece of art you'd like to feature. Since the curtains don't need to function, they can be hung from short curtain rods, or even from mounting boards with eyelet screws attached for the curtain hooks. No matter how you use them, stationary curtains are a beautiful and easy way to elevate your home's décor.