Your home is never just the walls & furniture, it’s all the little ways you move through it, the light hitting the floor, the sounds bouncing around, & yes, even how your dog decides to act when something catches their eye. Curtains are one of those things everyone forgets about, but I am about to remind you of all their angelic qualities.
I’ve often heard that if you don’t have a naked neighbour, you are the naked neighbour, & although that’s very on brand for Salt Spring (very on brand), I have to say, it’s hard for me to go into a home that has zero curtains or window treatments and feel comfortable. People love the natural views and tend to think that putting anything on the windows will ruin them, but really, your windows aren’t just undressed…they’re naked!
Why Curtains Matter for Your Circadian Rhythm
Did you know that light literally runs our bodies? Your circadian rhythm, the thing that tells you when to wake, when to feel alert, & when to wind down, is reacting to every bit of light in your home…not just the sun outside. Over in my practise, curtains for your home aren’t just decoration, they are some of our greatest tools for lighting design. Blackout, lined, layered, whatever works for you, will give you control over the light you’re letting in, which in turn gives your body the cues it actually needs. Even tiny adjustments can make mornings slower, evenings restorative, & yes, your pets notice too.
How Curtains For Your Home Can Help Reactive Dogs
We often forget that dogs are living, breathing sponges for the environment. A passing squirrel, a neighbour walking by, a gust of wind brushing against the window & suddenly your relaxed dog is bouncing, barking, or pacing, & all sense of enjoying your morning coffee is thrown out the window.
Enter our hero….Curtains!
Curtains give you the ability to bring the reaction back down without changing anything else in the house (from someone who has worked with thousands of reactive dogs, this is a remarkable feat if you ask me.) Whether fully drawn, or half up your windows will soften the visual stimulation. Curtains can create a space where your dog can actually settle, & the exposure to the outside world isn’t dictating every reaction.
How Darkness Can Make Us Feel Awkward
Now back to the Human side of it. There is something about being in a room at night, completely exposed to the street, or in our case on Salty, the black void beyond your windows, that feels off putting. Even if you’re alone, there’s a subtle unease that comes from the feeling of being watched or exposed, & that impacts how relaxed you can feel. Curtains for home solve this instantly, you can control the vibe, dim the world, and create a cocoon that actually supports your Human body. Heavy enough to block the harsh glare of streetlights, light enough to avoid the sensation of a cave, and like magic, the room becomes calm, private, & fully dressed. Mood, comfort, & peace all in one simple layer of fabric…they truly do it all.
Skylights: Absolutely Worth It (With a Little Help)
I am pro skylight, always have been, and they can transform a room in ways no regular window can, flooding spaces with sunlight, highlighting textures, making ceilings feel higher, & just generally reminding you how beautiful your home can be. But, as with all good things, a little management goes a long way. Without some control, that glorious morning light can turn your bedroom into an interrogation, your living room into a sun bleached UV glare nightmare, & yes, your pets will notice every sudden shadow, sun patch, or streak of light. A well fitted shade, a motorised panel, or even a simple blackout layer will let you enjoy the magic of the sun when you want it, and take it down a notch when you or your pets actually need to relax.
Skylights with a little curtain assistance can especially help in older homes as they can help reduce the furniture sun bleaching qualities (too late for my rental couch as you can see below…RIP.)
Challenging the curtain rumours
As i’ve mentioned, curtains for your home are about control & comfort and making your space feel like it actually belongs to you. They help manage light, support your circadian rhythm, create calm spots for you & your pets, and even make skylights feel magical. But, I know there’s this almost rumour on the island that adding blinds or curtains will ruin your home’s resale, or destroy the illusion of indoor/outdoor living but honestly, that’s nonsense. Curtains don’t ruin the view or the long term value, they make it easier to enjoy & reduce flooring + furniture damaged by sun. They help reactive pups settle, mornings feel soft, and evenings feel like a cocoon home instead of a threat to the nervous system. Layer them, play with textures & colours, and suddenly your home starts to feel the way it should, comfortable, calm, & unmistakably yours.
Choosing the Right Curtains for Your Home
Not all curtains are created equal, and knowing the type you want can make a huge difference in how your home feels.
First, there are blackout curtains, my fav option for shift workers or very sensitive sleepers, they block light completely, help regulate temperature, & are perfect for bedrooms or sensitive pups who need a calm corner. Then there are lined or layered curtains, which give you flexibility; sheer layers soften light without losing the view, & a heavier panel can come down when you need privacy or a calm vibe.
If you want something low effort but still chic, tension rods with upcycled fabric or simple panels can work wonders without breaking the bank. & yes, motorised or smart curtains are an indulgence, but they are worth it when you have skylights or tall windows that are impossible to reach. The main thing is to think about how you live in the room, the direction of the light, & how your pets react to the stimulation outside, and then pick something that supports all of it.
If you want help figuring out the perfect solution for your space, I can guide you on style, layering & placement that works for both you & your pets. If you think the time is right to dress your windows, you can book a consult with me here: https://wylderwoodsdesign.com/human-design-consults
Wish me luck dispelling small town rumours around curtains, & thanks for tuning in!
Your home is never just the walls & furniture, it’s all the little ways you move through it, the light hitting the floor, the sounds bouncing around, & yes, even how your dog decides to act when something catches their eye. Curtains are one of those things everyone forgets about, but I am about to remind you of all their angelic qualities.
I’ve often heard that if you don’t have a naked neighbour, you are the naked neighbour, & although that’s very on brand for Salt Spring (very on brand), I have to say, it’s hard for me to go into a home that has zero curtains or window treatments and feel comfortable. People love the natural views and tend to think that putting anything on the windows will ruin them, but really, your windows aren’t just undressed…they’re naked!
Why Curtains Matter for Your Circadian Rhythm
Did you know that light literally runs our bodies? Your circadian rhythm, the thing that tells you when to wake, when to feel alert, & when to wind down, is reacting to every bit of light in your home…not just the sun outside. Over in my practise, curtains for your home aren’t just decoration, they are some of our greatest tools for lighting design. Blackout, lined, layered, whatever works for you, will give you control over the light you’re letting in, which in turn gives your body the cues it actually needs. Even tiny adjustments can make mornings slower, evenings restorative, & yes, your pets notice too.
How Curtains For Your Home Can Help Reactive Dogs
We often forget that dogs are living, breathing sponges for the environment. A passing squirrel, a neighbour walking by, a gust of wind brushing against the window & suddenly your relaxed dog is bouncing, barking, or pacing, & all sense of enjoying your morning coffee is thrown out the window.
Enter our hero….Curtains!
Curtains give you the ability to bring the reaction back down without changing anything else in the house (from someone who has worked with thousands of reactive dogs, this is a remarkable feat if you ask me.) Whether fully drawn, or half up your windows will soften the visual stimulation. Curtains can create a space where your dog can actually settle, & the exposure to the outside world isn’t dictating every reaction.
How Darkness Can Make Us Feel Awkward
Now back to the Human side of it. There is something about being in a room at night, completely exposed to the street, or in our case on Salty, the black void beyond your windows, that feels off putting. Even if you’re alone, there’s a subtle unease that comes from the feeling of being watched or exposed, & that impacts how relaxed you can feel. Curtains for home solve this instantly, you can control the vibe, dim the world, and create a cocoon that actually supports your Human body. Heavy enough to block the harsh glare of streetlights, light enough to avoid the sensation of a cave, and like magic, the room becomes calm, private, & fully dressed. Mood, comfort, & peace all in one simple layer of fabric…they truly do it all.
Skylights: Absolutely Worth It (With a Little Help)
I am pro skylight, always have been, and they can transform a room in ways no regular window can, flooding spaces with sunlight, highlighting textures, making ceilings feel higher, & just generally reminding you how beautiful your home can be. But, as with all good things, a little management goes a long way. Without some control, that glorious morning light can turn your bedroom into an interrogation, your living room into a sun bleached UV glare nightmare, & yes, your pets will notice every sudden shadow, sun patch, or streak of light. A well fitted shade, a motorised panel, or even a simple blackout layer will let you enjoy the magic of the sun when you want it, and take it down a notch when you or your pets actually need to relax.
Skylights with a little curtain assistance can especially help in older homes as they can help reduce the furniture sun bleaching qualities (too late for my rental couch as you can see below…RIP.)
Challenging the curtain rumours
As i’ve mentioned, curtains for your home are about control & comfort and making your space feel like it actually belongs to you. They help manage light, support your circadian rhythm, create calm spots for you & your pets, and even make skylights feel magical. But, I know there’s this almost rumour on the island that adding blinds or curtains will ruin your home’s resale, or destroy the illusion of indoor/outdoor living but honestly, that’s nonsense. Curtains don’t ruin the view or the long term value, they make it easier to enjoy & reduce flooring + furniture damaged by sun. They help reactive pups settle, mornings feel soft, and evenings feel like a cocoon home instead of a threat to the nervous system. Layer them, play with textures & colours, and suddenly your home starts to feel the way it should, comfortable, calm, & unmistakably yours.
Choosing the Right Curtains for Your Home
Not all curtains are created equal, and knowing the type you want can make a huge difference in how your home feels.
First, there are blackout curtains, my fav option for shift workers or very sensitive sleepers, they block light completely, help regulate temperature, & are perfect for bedrooms or sensitive pups who need a calm corner. Then there are lined or layered curtains, which give you flexibility; sheer layers soften light without losing the view, & a heavier panel can come down when you need privacy or a calm vibe.
If you want something low effort but still chic, tension rods with upcycled fabric or simple panels can work wonders without breaking the bank. & yes, motorised or smart curtains are an indulgence, but they are worth it when you have skylights or tall windows that are impossible to reach. The main thing is to think about how you live in the room, the direction of the light, & how your pets react to the stimulation outside, and then pick something that supports all of it.
If you want help figuring out the perfect solution for your space, I can guide you on style, layering & placement that works for both you & your pets. If you think the time is right to dress your windows, you can book a consult with me here: https://wylderwoodsdesign.com/human-design-consults
Wish me luck dispelling small town rumours around curtains, & thanks for tuning in!
Brandi Wyldewood is the founder of Wylderwoods Lighting & Design. Based on Salt Spring Island, she is a lighting led interior designer focused on creating spaces that support connection between Humans and their Companions. Her work spans residential, rural & commercial interiors, alongside the design of Wylderwoods Enrichment Park, where behavioural insight, spatial planning, & enrichment come together to support calm, regulated experiences for dogs & the people who care for them.
Learn more about Brandi Here.
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