Martha Stewart's Window Covering Secrets: What She Uses Instead of Curtains

Windows without curtains? That's not a rebel move, that's just classic Martha Stewart. She’s never been boxed in by heavy drapes or basic blinds—her windows are always doing something different. Whenever you spot her signature rooms in magazines or her TV spots, you'll notice this right away: those giant floor-to-ceiling curtains you see everywhere else? Nowhere to be found. Instead, she taps into much more creative and stylish ways to cover windows, letting in just the right amount of light without sacrificing a bit of privacy or personality.

The Martha Effect: Why She Skips Curtains

So, why has Martha Stewart—queen of home elegance—so often turned her back on traditional curtains? It all comes down to her obsession with natural light and the idea that every window is basically a built-in work of art. She has a thing for letting sunlight pour into her rooms, making them feel warmer and brighter. Thick drapes kill that vibe. They shut out the daylight, gather dust, and in a lot of cases, just add visual clutter. Instead, Martha’s all about windows looking as good as the view outside them.

Another reason? Versatility. Curtains are either open or closed. The stuff Martha leans toward—like shutters or bamboo shades—give you way more flexibility, both in style and function. You barely need a ladder to roll down a shade in a morning sunburst, then lift it back up for late-afternoon golden hour. Her style highlights simplicity, history, and a bit of that country-chic character she’s famous for. A quick peek at any of her houses—the farmhouse in Bedford, her Skylands estate in Maine, or her Hamptons getaway—shows you just how varied her no-curtains approach can look.

What’s most interesting is how much her method makes sense for people with allergies, too. Curtains are notorious for collecting pollen, dust, and pet dander, which makes anyone with a sniffly nose pretty miserable. Natural wood shutters or easy-to-clean woven shades are a breeze by comparison. So, what exactly does Martha put on her windows if she’s skipping the usual drapes?

Her Favorite Alternatives: Shutters, Blinds, and Beyond

Start with the basics: classic wooden shutters. Martha raves about them, especially the wide-louvered styles that swing open like miniature doors. They don’t block the view, but when closed, they guarantee privacy. If you scroll through her Instagram, you’ll catch glimpses of powdery white shutters in her kitchens and bathrooms, always fitting seamlessly. The charm? Shutters can look farmhouse, beachy, or even modern, depending on the paint and hardware.

But her most iconic swap for curtains might be woven wood and bamboo shades. These are everywhere in Martha’s houses. They filter sunlight into a soft, flattering glow, and come in a mix of earthy colors so they never look too new or trendy. She’s mentioned on her blog how fond she is of bamboo shades, especially because they suit historic or contemporary interiors. They’re sustainable, lightweight, and can be custom-sized for everything from a grand bay window to that funky little bathroom window that never seems to fit any ready-made blind.

She also loves linen or cotton roller shades. The key: pick fabrics in neutral tones—think oatmeal, pure white, or a soft fog gray. These roll up almost invisibly, so the hardware doesn’t steal attention, and down when you need a little privacy or sun control. Plenty of DIY-ers love her method because it’s simple, quick, and renter-friendly. Roller shades don’t require drilling, measuring, or complicated setup. And unlike heavy curtains, they don’t leave the room feeling heavy—just light, crisp, and calm.

Ever practical, Martha doesn’t ignore old-school basics like frosted glass, either. This works best in bathrooms or kitchens where you want lots of natural light but zero sightlines in from the neighbors. It’s a timeless choice and again, super low-maintenance. And here’s a fun fact: for many of her filming studios, she’s reportedly used nothing at all, letting plain glass show off the architecture and landscape outside. Call it confidence, but it definitely works if you’ve got a show-stopping view.

Let’s pause for something useful. Here’s a quick table with some of Martha’s favorite curtain alternatives, their room uses, and a rough cost range:

Design Tips: How She Styles Her Window Alternatives

It’s not just about picking the right material or type. How you use them sets the whole mood of your space. Here’s where Martha’s eye for detail takes over. Start with color—she leans hard into shades that blend with the walls, so shutters often get painted to match the trim. In her Bedford house, you’ll see off-white wooden shutters almost melting into soft cream walls, making the rooms feel graceful without fussy fabric bunching up at the sides. This is a trick that instantly makes a room look bigger and more custom-built—a move the pros use all the time.

Placement matters too. When she installs woven Roman shades, she likes to mount them just above the window frame, so the whole window gets showcased without blocks or gaps. This gives the illusion of taller ceilings and draws in more light from above. The shades drop down in one piece, which looks neat compared to segmented blinds that break up the view outside. She recommends using shades that roll or fold tight, so when they’re up, they’re practically out of sight. Maximum light, minimal fuss.

Hardware is where a lot of people trip up. Martha’s rule? If you can make the hardware invisible, do it. No shiny cords, no heavy stands—just simple, understated pulls and brackets, sometimes even hidden behind crown moldings. For linen shades, she might sew in small, looped handles in matching fabric, so nothing metallic draws the eye away from the window scene.

Maintenance is another biggie for her. Shutters and shades are famously easy to clean with a duster or vacuum brush, especially compared to curtain fabric that needs special laundering. She’s shared before that her bamboo shades get a swipe every week with a microfiber cloth and look brand new for years, which is a massive plus for anyone who hates fuss. And because most shades come in neutral colors or subtle patterns, they don’t go out of style, so you can keep them for ages without worrying about trends moving on.

Something else: she’s a fan of layering when it makes sense. If you crave a bit of softness but don’t want the full-on curtain effect, she suggests pairing a light roller shade with simple side panels in linen—not for closing, just as a frame. No bunching, no dust, just pretty edges to break up a big window. For the bedroom, Martha sometimes uses blackout roller shades with a soft linen overlay, so you get restful sleep when you want it, but a light-and-airy look the rest of the time.

Bringing Martha’s Look Home: Practical Tricks and Inspiration

Ready to ditch the curtains? It’s not hard to bring Martha’s clean, breezy style into your own space. The number-one tip: measure your windows carefully before you shop. Shutters and shades need precise sizing to look and function right. Most home stores sell standard sizes, but if you have original windows or anything odd-sized, custom-ordering is worth it. It costs more up front, but the tailored look pays off every day you open the blinds and everything fits.

If budget is tight, bamboo shades are your best bet for instant Martha vibes. They slide right into modern, classic, or boho styles, plus you can hang them yourself with just a screwdriver and a level. Don’t want to invest in a permanent change? Try removable frosted window film on bathroom or office windows. It’s completely renter-friendly—no screws, no drills—and peels off clean when you want a different look.

If privacy is your biggest concern but you don’t want a dim room, double up options like Martha does: pair sheer roller shades with wider woven panels, so you can adjust for morning glare or evening coziness. She’s shared demos on her site (and honestly, they’re way easier than most people expect). Test out different combos until you find what feels good for your light and layout. Thankfully, most home improvement stores now offer samples or trial swatches—take full advantage. Hold them up to your window mid-afternoon and see how the colors and textures play with your sunlight at home.

Sometimes inspiration comes straight from Martha’s portfolio. You can browse her photo archives for glimpses of kitchen windows lined with glossy white shutters, or living rooms where woven bamboo shades filter the golden-hour light across cool stone floors. Martha’s tip: “Let the window shape guide the cover.” Some arched or oversized windows don’t need any dressing at all—she’ll polish up the trim and call it finished. Other times, a simple shade is enough to soften the room without blocking the view of old trees or garden beds outside.

Let’s get specific with a few dos-and-don’ts, the Martha way:

• Do match your shades or shutters to your trim color for a custom, built-in look.
• Do clean window coverings regularly to keep dust (and allergies) at bay.
• Do experiment with layers—roller shades under bamboo, linen panels for framing only.
• Don't crowd a window with too many treatments at once (one or two is plenty).
• Don't be afraid to leave a beautiful window bare if privacy isn’t a worry—sometimes less really is more.
• Don't let cords or mechanical parts show; tuck them away or opt for cordless models, especially if you have pets or young kids.

The beauty of this approach? It’s endlessly adaptable. Whether you live in a city apartment, a cozy cottage, or a big family home, skipping curtains opens up your space, lets in more light, and—most importantly—gives you room to add your own style. Martha's not anti-curtains; she just knows there’s a world of window coverings that look fresher, work better, and stay cleaner. That’s a home win in anybody’s book.