How to Style Curtains in an Open Plan Living Space

Open plan living is one of the defining features of the contemporary Australian home — and one of the trickiest spaces to dress well. When the kitchen, dining and living areas all flow into each other, decisions about curtains become more complex. Get it right and the whole space feels cohesive and considered. Get it wrong and the curtains become the thing that fragments it.

Here's how to approach curtains in an open plan space with confidence.

Treat the Whole Space as One Room

The most common mistake in open plan spaces is making different window treatment decisions in each zone — sheers in the living area, different fabric in the dining area, something else in the kitchen. The result is a space that looks like several rooms that happen to share a floor plan.

Instead, commit to a consistent fabric, colour and heading style across all windows in the space. This doesn't mean every window needs a curtain — some glazed doors or kitchen windows might suit a different treatment entirely. But wherever you use curtains, they should match.

S-Fold Sheers Are the Workhorse of Open Plan Living

Sheer curtains on an S-fold track are the most versatile option for open plan spaces. They soften the light across a large, multi-functional area without darkening any zone. They create a sense of enclosure and warmth without making the space feel smaller. And because the S-fold wave is clean and architectural, they don't compete visually with furniture, art, or the kitchen cabinetry behind them.

In bright, north-facing living rooms, sheer curtains also manage afternoon glare in a way that maintains the quality of the space — light becomes an asset rather than a problem.

Consider Floor-to-Ceiling Across All Windows

In open plan spaces especially, floor-to-ceiling curtains create a strong vertical line that anchors each window wall and gives the space a sense of height and scale. Even if the window itself doesn't reach the floor, hanging the curtain from ceiling to floor makes the architecture feel more generous.

This is particularly effective in new builds where ceiling heights are high — curtains that make the most of that height feel expensive in the best way.

Use Double Track for Living Areas That Double as Entertainment Spaces

If your open plan space includes a living area that you use for movie watching or entertaining in the evening, a double track system gives you flexibility without complexity. Sheers during the day, blockout in the evening. Both on the same window, both looking intentional.

Don't Forget the Sliding Doors

Most open plan Australian homes have sliding or stacking doors to an outdoor space. These need curtain consideration too. Floor-to-ceiling sheers that run the full width of the door opening (and beyond) make the indoor-outdoor connection feel seamless rather than interrupted. The curtain becomes part of the architecture, not an obstacle to it.

The Test

When you're standing in your open plan space looking at your curtains, you should barely notice them. They should be doing their work — filtering light, softening the space, framing the view — without announcing themselves. The best curtains in any room are the ones that make you feel something without immediately knowing why.

That's what we're aiming for at Curtain Co. Studio. And it's entirely achievable with the right choices.