Best Window Treatments & Coverings for Small Windows

Choosing the Right Blinds and Shades for Small Windows

If you are looking for window treatments for small windows? Or do you have a question: What are my options for blinds and shade for small windows? Check out our shades and blinds collection. In the past your only option to dress smaller windows may have only been aluminum blinds (mini blinds) or homemade curtains. Maybe you want something more modern or more elegant than the window coverings that we traditionally think of when we think of small windows. At Blinds To Go we custom make your window treatments so you have the whole line of window blinds, window shades, curtains, and even shutters to choose from for even the smallest windows.

Factors to Consider for Small Windows

When you shop for window blinds and window shades for smaller windows, ask yourself all of the same questions that you ask when you are choosing window treatments for standard size windows. What are the special requirements of this room? Is this room humid? Perhaps you need extra privacy in this room. Also think about light control, and the amount of light that you want in that small space. Window coverings like sheer cellular shades are light filtering and will let in lots of light instead of blocking it out like a blackout shade would, and that will help make any space feel bigger. Cellular window shades , also know as Honeycomb window shades, come in widths as small as 10” and heights as small as 6” for teeny tiny windows. And our modern and elegant Serenity Sheer Shades come in petite sizes as small as 12” wide and 15” high.

Prestige Cellular shades in white

Best Window Treatments for Small Windows 

Drapes and Curtains for Small Windows

Drapery or Curtains can be lovely and modern on small windows. Sheer drapes let lots of light in and rods come widths as small as 28”. Custom drapery panels come in a wide range of custom lengths starting at 15” long. I suggest a soft, unlined drape in a light color, like our Bright White or Natural sheer drapery.

Modern Roller Shades for Small Windows

Modern roller shades offer a clean look that complements the proportions of smaller windows. They can be customized in a range of fabrics, from sheer to blackout, to control light and privacy levels precisely. With low-profile brackets and a valance that keeps your shade tucked away, roller shades fit neatly inside or outside your window frame, allowing your window to feel larger. 

Best Blinds and Shade Options for Small Windows

If your windows are truly mini you may want to choose a window treatment with smaller scale slates or pleats. Standard aluminum blinds for windows have very thin slats that are 1” wide that look great on smaller windows. Micro-mini half-inch slats are even available in some markets. While our cellular shades come standard in a 5/8” pleat they can also be purchased in a 3/8” pleat, which suits smaller windows and can even make them appear larger.

Mini Blinds vs. Roller Shades for Small Windows 

When weighing mini blinds against roller shades for smaller windows, it is generally true that roller shades deliver a cleaner look, creating the illusion of width and openness. While mini blinds can overpower a window visually with their slates when down, they typically have a slimmer profile when raised. Roller shades keep the focus on texture and fabric, and offer options such as cordless operation. On the other hand mini blinds give you the flexibility to have more precise control over light and privacy in your space. 

Motorized Roller Shades for Small Windows

For small windows placed in high or hard-to-reach locations, motorized roller shades bring both convenience and modernity. Our motorized systems support remote or app control and have the ability to integrate with smart-home systems. While they do have to be charged every 6-8 months, this system is ideal for window treatments that are being consistently used. 

Faux Wood Blinds in White

Shutters and Wood Blinds for Small Windows

Our customers are always surprised that shutters are an option for small windows. Our plantation shutters can be made in heights and widths as small as 12” by 12”. You don’t need huge windows to add the architectural interest of indoor shutters to your home. Our custom faux wood blinds can also be purchased in sizes that will fit smaller windows, in widths as small as 12” for corded and 18” for cordless and height minimum of 12”. These are a fitting choice for humid rooms like bathrooms or kitchens and dining rooms where you may need window coverings that can easily be wiped clean. Tilt open the slats on a light-colored faux wood blind to that perfect angle and watch the light pour in.

Are Shutters Good for Small Windows?

Custom-made shutters are suitable for small windows when used thoughtfully. Because the louvers of a shutter can be adjusted to allow natural light to enter a room while maintaining privacy, they help make a compact space feel more open rather than cluttered. However, our designers would advise you to check the room layout closely—shutters require clearance for their panels and louvers, which might pose a challenge in very shallow or tight openings. 

MorView Shutters

Wood vs. Faux Wood Blinds for Small Windows

When selecting blinds for a smaller window, natural-wood blinds bring a warm, refined aesthetic. By contrast, faux-wood blinds are made from composite PVC, offering moisture resistance and simple maintenance. The choice between wood and faux-wood blinds ultimately comes down to what kind of room they'll be going in. Whether you're outfitting large or small windows, wood blinds work best in low moisture areas, like living rooms, bedrooms, and offices; faux-wood blinds are ideal for kitchens, bathrooms or high humidity areas. 

Frequently Asked Questions for Window Treatments With Small Windows

What Is the Best Way to Choose Window Treatments for Small Windows? 

If you're looking for a window treatment that is going to make your small window appear bigger, or just won't overwhelm the space, you have a few options that could work. Consider something low profile that tucks tightly away, like a roller shade, mini blinds, or cellular shades. 

What Is the Best Way to Dress a Small Window?

Dressing a small window means balancing function and proportion: choose treatments that don't dominate the window like roller shades that roll up tightly, or cellular shades that feature thin pleats. Mount the window treatment a few inches above the frame and extend it wider than the opening, which draws the eye upward and makes the window feel wider. Keep hardware and fabrics minimal—use sheer or light materials for a softer more open look.

How Do You Make Small Windows Look Good?

To make small windows look good, choose treatments that keep the space feeling open. For example, a light-filtering shade or sheer fabric that will allow light in. 

Using hardware that is proportionate–thin rods, narrow slats, or materials without bulk–helps the window treatment recede and not compete with the window itself.

How to Cover a Very Small Window?

When covering a very small window, opt for custom-made blinds or shades tailored for narrow widths.

If you have enough depth, an inside-mounted window treatment will give a streamlined look. You're also able to choose cordless or low-profile designs to avoid visual clutter in tight spaces. 

If full coverage isn't necessary, consider a valance or café-style curtain which covers only part of the window, preserving natural light while delivering style and privacy. 

What Kind of Curtains Are Best for Small Windows?

For small windows, ideal curtains are those with light fabrics in neutral tones, hung just to the sill or slightly below, avoiding heavy floor-length drapes that overwhelm the space.

Alternatively, use café curtains (covering only the lower half of the window) or sheer panels to let the light in and add softness without adding bulk to the window area.

Mount the curtain rod higher than the window frame and extend it wider than the window to visually enlarge the opening and allow the curtains to stack back neatly when open.  

Design Tips for Enhancing Small Windows

You literally have hundreds of choices for window coverings for your small windows. Stick with light colors unless you need to darken the room. And if the windows themselves are very small consider choosing a smaller pleat or slat size for a custom look.

Come in to a Blinds To Go showroom with a picture of your window and let an expert design consultant help you find the best choice for any window from micro-mini to giant floor to ceiling windows. Visit Blinds To Go or schedule a free in-home consultation