How to Make My Skinny Windows Look Wider

Paint your walls cool colors, such as violet, light blue and pale green. Cool colors appear to recede, and will add a spacious feel to the room. Avoid warm colors, such as yellow, orange and red; these colors seem to approach, and will make your already skinny windows feel even more narrow and closed in. Paint your window walls a shade darker than the others, to create the illusion of depth. Paint the trim lighter than the base coat, so the wall seems more expansive.

Paint horizontal stripes on your window wall to increase appearance of width. Paint wide stripes, if you want your windows to appear tall, as well as wide. To continue the appearance of width, install horizontal blinds in your window.

Over-extend your window treatments to increase the appearance of width. Hang your curtain rod as close to the ceiling as possible, and extend the rods past your window boundary on both sides. Install bamboo shades between your curtain rod and the actual top of your window, to camouflage the wall beneath. Choose curtains the same color as your wall, for a seamless transition. Tie your curtains back, to persuade the eye outward.

Avoid putting over stuffed, wide furniture in front of skinny windows; instead, allow your windows to be the backdrop for narrow, petite pieces that make the window seem wide in comparison. Decorate your window sill with thin items, such as a vase with a single flower or sparse bouquet, long candles, or a narrow sculpture or knick-knack.

Hang mirrors across from your windows, to reflect and amplify the light streaming through. The quality of light will make it seem as though the windows are wider than they really are. Increase the feel of spaciousness by setting up glass topped furniture and accessories with silver metal accents.

Place a floor rug with horizontal stripes directly under your window; choose a rug the same color as your curtain and wall to fool the eye into thinking the window continues to the floor; you can also choose a slightly darker color to create depth.