21 Rustic Window Treatments for a Farmhouse-Style Home

Many of these rustic window treatment ideas can even be made yourself.

Kitchen with wooden floors and white tile
Photo: James Nathan Schroder

Rustic window treatments can increase the cozy factor in a farmhouse-style or country cottage home without breaking the bank, especially if you can DIY them. Utilize classic fabrics and patterns like burlap, gingham, and plaid, or opt for reclaimed wood valances or shutters.

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Classic Stripes

black white farmhouse bedroom buffalo check wall panels
Christina Schmidhofer

Ticking stripe is a classic fabric used widely for rustic window treatments in farmhouse homes and cottage interiors. Stripes can be vertical or horizontal (like in this Better Homes & Gardens Textured Strip Curtain, $18, Walmart). In this cozy bedroom, the thin stripes appear on rustic curtains, contrasting with the buffalo check patterns on the bed. A red side table and crimson accessories enliven the black-and-white color scheme.

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Natural Woven Shades

modern rustic bedroom with fireplace
Dane Tashima

Introduce natural texture to your windows with woven shades. Here, the rustic window treatments tie in with the warm wood tones of the flooring and mantel. Various rugged and plush textures appear throughout the space for added visual interest.

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Rustic Window Treatment Combo

dining room with wooden shutters and antique table
Laurie Black

Combine rustic window treatments for an extra boost of country style. In this dining nook, gauzy white curtains filter light and outdoor views, while vintage shutters on either side of the window add a decorative touch. The shutters match the salvaged pediment mounted above the window.

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Rustic Kitchen Windows

Kitchen with wooden floors and white tile
James Nathan Schroder

Reinforce the country style of your kitchen with simple DIY rustic window treatments. Choose tea towels or hemmed fabric in your desired color and pattern, then mount on a rod using curtain clips. Here, gray-and-white striped fabric forms café-style curtains above the sink.

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Barn Door Shutters

Blue armchair in corner with white barn door shutters
Robert Brinson

Floor-to-ceiling barn door shutters are the ultimate in rustic window treatments. Painted white and paired with pale gray walls, these interior shutters provide a neutral backdrop for a cozy reading chair. Keeping the color scheme light prevents the oversized shutters from weighing down the space.

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Gingham Farmhouse Kitchen Curtains

gingham curtains in cottage style kitchen
Lillian August

Gingham has evolved way past the red-and-white of picnic tables. This beloved checkered pattern is now popping up in an array of colors that make stylish rustic window treatments. Look for gingham curtains in neutral tones, like the gray ones shown here, and nontraditional hues, such as navy or purple.

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Rustic Wood Valance

brick-walled kitchen with white cabinets and open shelving
Brie Williams

Sometimes, the best curtains are no curtains at all. A long wood plank forms a valance in this industrial kitchen for a unique touch. You can easily craft this inexpensive DIY rustic window treatment with a few nails and pieces of wood. Use reclaimed or distressed boards to get the farmhouse look.

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Plaid Curtains

Cane back chair with navy plaid drapes on window
Paul Dyer

Modernize rustic window treatments with a navy or black buffalo check that easily coordinates with other colors and styles. Use them as cabin curtains or bring country style to your living room. For a cohesive look, repeat the pattern elsewhere in the space. For example, try it on a throw pillow or upholstered cushion like on this traditional cane back chair.

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Woven Roman Shades

vintage contemporary kitchen farmhouse sink white
residential interior

Choose simple woven fabrics for a rustic window treatment with a modern feel. Look for Roman shades made of natural fibers, such as jute, sisal, or bamboo. In addition to their beauty in any space, they're more environmentally friendly than similar synthetic or plastic versions.

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Rustic Burlap Curtains

burlap curtains above apron front farmhouse sink in kitchen
Kimberly Gavin

Burlap curtains offer an easy farmhouse kitchen curtain idea. Make your own out of plain burlap fabric, or use printed grain, coffee, or feed sacks. An apron-front sink and a collection of antique scales in this country kitchen complete the charming vignette.

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White Linen Curtains

Country style bedroom with burlap pillows white curtains
Brian McWeeney

​​Opt for gauzy linen curtains for a simple window treatment with a big impact. Floor-length rustic window treatments give the windows in this cottage bedroom plenty of elegance and drama. Iron curtain rods and tiebacks echo the wrought-iron bed frame and furniture hardware for an added decorative touch. Traditional white linens repeat on the sheets and ruffled bed skirt, while burlap pillows introduce textural contrast.

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DIY Farmhouse Kitchen Shutters

farmhouse shutters on kitchen window above sink
Carson Downing

Rustic window treatments don't have to be antique to work with farmhouse decor. Get the look in your kitchen for less with a few boards and vintage-style iron or brass hardware. Choose the paint or stain color to match your existing color scheme for a cohesive look.

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Burlap Curtains

cafe curtains above kitchen booth
Nathan Schroder

Get the look of an old-timey restaurant with burlap rustic window treatments hung café-style, which add a farmhouse feel to this banquette. Burlap cushions, shiplap walls, and a brass chandelier make this dining nook perfect for a hearty homestyle meal.

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Leaded Glass Window

leaded glass windows over farmhouse sink in kitchen
Emily Minton-Redfield

When considering rustic window treatments, think about the windows themselves. Here, a pair of leaded-glass windows, subway tile, and a farmhouse sink harken back to the 1920s. Using modern fixtures and cabinets keeps the kitchen from feeling dated. Search for reclaimed leaded glass on resale sites or at antique stores.

Editor's Tip

Be sure to consult with a professional if you plan to install a delicate antique.

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Floral Roman Shade

transitional style kitchen with floral roman shade subway tile
Brie Williams

A dark floral pattern with oversized flowers makes a statement without feeling too kitschy for modern farmhouse kitchen curtains. Choose a window treatment with a bold color that can be repeated as an accent. Here, pops of red are reflected in a vase, cookware, and cookbooks in this transitional kitchen.

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Rustic Shutters

Living room with oriental rug and blue shutters
John Merkl

This eclectic California living room proves rustic decor can get along with other styles. Pairs of cheerful light blue shutters provide a simple rustic window treatment that doesn't compete with the room's many patterned accents. The Oriental rug, hexagonal side tables, blue-and-white porcelain, and the orange tree would be much too busy for one space without a neutral backdrop to ground them.

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Classic Café Curtains

classic yellow cafe curtains in kitchen with subway tile wall
Tria Giovan

Often found above a kitchen sink, café curtains are usually hung by a curtain rod placed partway up a window frame. For a retro diner look, use traditional prints like gingham. For a contemporary take on café curtains, pair this rustic window treatment with modern appliances and cabinetry.

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Striped Loop Curtains

striped loop curtains in farmhouse style kitchen
Tria Giovan

Contrast is key to keeping dark wood from weighing down a space. Thanks to a backdrop of pale countertops and shimmery white subway tile, the dark island, window frames, and ceiling beams don't overpower this country French kitchen. Instead, each element stands out. Contrast also works to highlight both of the window treatments. Here, horizontally lined woven shades are placed behind vertically striped loop curtains in muted pastels.

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Bold Striped Curtains

floor-length striped curtains in colorful living room
Nathan Schroder

Striped curtains are timeless and flexible enough to suit a variety of styles. Choose an oversized pattern and colors matching your decor to keep the print up-to-date. If your farmhouse or country interiors are nautical, go with classic white and red or navy stripes. Nautical striped curtains would also work well at a summer cabin or beach house.

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Rustic Cottage Shutters

rustic cottage wood shutters above bath tub
Kimberly Gavin

Cottage shutters work great in bathrooms thanks to the privacy they can provide. A wood valance tops this pair painted to match the rest of the room. The shutters can be stationary decor, but installing them on a rolling track or hinges lets you easily let light in. Just make sure the wood you use is treated with a moisture-resistant sealer to prevent warping and rot in a bathroom.

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Lace Balloon Shade

lace london shade in window with flower vases
John Bessler

Embrace shabby chic style with a ruffled lace balloon shade. Dainty and classic, sheer lace makes a delicate kitchen or bathroom window treatment. You might be lucky enough to find a vintage lace curtain at a resale shop. However, new versions are readily available (and inexpensive) at home goods stores.

Rustic and Farmhouse Design Ideas

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