The Simple Window Swap That Changed Our Guest Room
We gave one of our guest bedrooms a little refresh recently. Nothing too major, but just enough to make the space feel more finished and intentional. What was one of the main upgrades? Adding café curtains. And honestly, now I’m obsessed!
Where to Use Café Curtains
We’ve used café curtains throughout our home—in the pantry, our bathroom, even as a skirt under the laundry room sink. They’ve become one of our favorite ways to bring in charm and function! They offer just the right amount of privacy, while still letting light flood in. They’re also a great alternative to bulkier window treatments if you’re working with smaller windows or tighter spaces.
For this guest room, we went with Pepper Home, a brand we’ve sourced from before and keep coming back to. Their website is super detailed, which makes customizing your order easy. Also, their curtains always feel high-quality — without the custom price tag.
Here’s What We Used
Quantity: 4 panels (2 per window so they can split in the center)
Fabric: Flour (a clean, soft white)
Construction: Tailored Pleat
Width: 25″ per panel
Now I’ll walk you through why café curtains made sense here, what we love about them, and whether or not they’d work for your space too. Let’s get into it.
Reason #1: We Wanted to Hide the Eyesore
There’s an AC unit directly outside this window that always stood out like a sore thumb—especially since the room is filled with soft, neutral layers and considered textures. I didn’t want full curtains that would overwhelm the space or block all the light. But, I did want something that helped conceal the view without closing off the entire window. Café curtains gave us that happy medium.
They hit right at the midpoint of the window, covering exactly what we needed. But, they still let the beautiful morning sun pour in. Win-win.
Reason #2: Love the Look
Honestly, part of this decision was aesthetic. I just love the casual, European, almost countryside-inspired feel café curtains bring to a room. They add softness and visual interest without feeling too formal. And, they make the space feel a little more lived-in and layered—which is often the goal.
The tailored pleat detail from Pepper Home keeps things crisp and polished. The light fabric adds just enough texture, while staying neutral enough to play well with the rest of the room.
Reason #3: Café Curtains Let Light In—While Still Offering Privacy
One of my favorite things about café curtains is that they give you a bit of privacy without sacrificing sunlight — especially in a guest bedroom. You want the room to feel open and bright during the day, but still have that sense of comfort and seclusion.
With café curtains, you get the best of both worlds. They keep things feeling airy, but still add a sense of coziness that makes guests feel tucked away. That said—if you’re someone who wants full coverage from top to bottom, they might not be the right fit for every window. For us though, they checked all the boxes.
Could They Work in Your Space?
Café curtains are especially great in spaces like guest rooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, or bathrooms—anywhere you want a little privacy without closing off all the natural light. If you’re working with a tricky window view, want something softer than blinds, or just want to bring a little charm to your home, they’re definitely worth trying on your next home design project.
Hope this helps you get inspired 🤍 Let me know if you want help figuring out if café curtains could work in your space. I’m always happy to share more about how we’ve used them!
