i'd like curtains to match the walls and keep the highlights in the bedspread floor and throw rugs although my shift working daughter decided that the smallest, darkest, quietest room in the house would be her "night duty" sleeping room and that saved the cost of blackouts being needed for bigger windows

Agreed, match the curtains to the walls.

I note you have blinds already.We too have blinds and my light sensitive husband found the cracks of light down the sides woke him early. I stumbled over a place that sold ends of current fabrics at very reasonable costs so bought enough linen to match the wall colour and lined it with blockout lining.I made each curtain 90cm wide although once they are gathered on the 30cm long track they are full and generous looking. (so they only cover the edge of the blind) and have totally cured our light problem for well under NZ$100. We bought a metre of track and two fittings that allowed us to make two 30cm rails, using a hacksaw to cut it down.

I too agree, match the wall colour so you have a good plain backdrop for duvets and accessories in the room. I'd be hesitant about a feature wall in a small room,may close the room in.

I think black and gray simple pattern will accent the black lamps and the little amount of grey on your bedding, with black out backing. And if you decide to change your bed coverings, the black and gray goes with most other colours. Donna

Why not heavy velvet in teal to match your bed linen .you could change bed linen to white and it wil still look pretty

Hi,

if you go linen - make sure they are not exposed to bright light as linen, cotton and Rayon will rot in sunlight. There are many imitations of the linen look that are polyester or some other similar manmade fibre as they perform better without fading or rotting.

If you are wanting to achieve a good blackout - make sure the track [ better than rods for blackout] is a good distance away from the edges of the window frame and above. The curtains also need to have a decent width at least 1.5 - 2 widths to ensure they pull closed adequately.

The lining should be true blackout so take the sample home and hold it up in daylight.

Colour wise - darker colours give you a head start - a mid range charcoal or very dark teal could work for you.