You can choose beautiful furniture, lovely paint colours and high-quality fabrics and still end up with a room that feels slightly off. It happens more often than you might think, and in many cases the issue comes down to undertones. Understanding how undertones work is one of the biggest steps towards creating a home that feels cohesive and well put together, especially when choosing curtains, blinds and other soft furnishings.

What Are Undertones?

Undertones are the subtle hues sitting beneath a main colour. A beige might lean pink, yellow or grey. A white can feel creamy or cool. A grey might carry hints of blue, green or brown underneath the surface.

At first glance, two colours can look almost identical. Place them next to each other and the difference suddenly becomes obvious. When undertones clash, a room can feel uncomfortable without you being able to pinpoint exactly why.

Warm vs Cool Undertones

Most undertones fall into two broad categories: warm or cool.

Warm undertones tend to include yellow, red and golden notes, while cool undertones usually carry blue, green or violet hints. Once you work out which direction your space leans, making decisions becomes much easier. Warm undertones sit comfortably together, and cool undertones do the same. Mixing the two without a clear plan is where rooms can start to feel disjointed.

Why Undertones Matter for Curtains and Blinds

Curtains and blinds cover a large visual area, so their undertones have a big influence on how the room feels overall. A fabric that looks neutral in the shop can suddenly read pink, green or grey once it is up against your walls at home.

This is why ordering fabric samples is so important. Always look at them in your own space and at different times of day. Natural light changes everything, particularly in north or south-facing rooms. Choosing made-to-measure curtains and blinds also gives you far more control over fabric choice and finish, helping you avoid costly mistakes later on.

How Natural Light Affects Undertones

The direction your room faces plays a major role in how undertones appear. North-facing rooms often bring out cooler undertones and can make spaces feel flatter. South-facing rooms tend to enhance warmth and richness. East-facing rooms usually feel crisp in the morning and warmer as the day goes on, while west-facing rooms often glow in the afternoon and evening light.

Understanding this helps you choose fabrics that balance the light rather than fight against it.

Undertones Across Soft Furnishings

Undertones should relate across your curtains, blinds, cushions, upholstery and even flooring. They do not need to match exactly, but they should feel connected.

For example, warm beige curtains tend to work beautifully with oak furniture and cream walls, while cool grey blinds usually sit better alongside silver finishes and crisp whites. This approach creates a sense of flow, which is especially helpful in open-plan homes.

Start with What Is Hardest to Change

When thinking about undertones, always start with the elements that are hardest to replace. Flooring, worktops and large furniture pieces are usually staying put, so identify their undertones first and build from there.

A warm wood floor generally pairs best with warm fabric tones, while stone, concrete or tiled floors often suit cooler undertones more naturally.

How Fabric Texture Changes Colour

Texture plays a bigger role than many people realise. Velvet deepens colour and can make undertones feel richer and more saturated. Linen and woven fabrics soften colour and reduce contrast, creating a more relaxed look.

This is an important consideration when choosing made-to-measure curtains, as the same shade can feel very different depending on the fabric used.

Practical Tips

When choosing fabrics, hold samples against your walls and furniture rather than looking at them in isolation. View colours in both daylight and artificial light, and try not to rely on online images for undertone accuracy. Sticking to one undertone family within a room usually leads to a more polished and settled result.

Once you understand undertones, decorating decisions become far less stressful. Colours start to work together naturally, and your home feels more balanced and intentional. If you want window treatments that truly suit your space, get your made-to-measure curtains and blinds from our huge range available online at The Sewing House.