Arched windows are one of the most beautiful architectural details in a home, but they are also one of the hardest windows to cover correctly.
A rectangle window is simple. You can usually use shutters, shades, blinds, or drapery without much trouble. But an arched window is different. The shape is unique, the drywall is rarely perfect, and not every window treatment can be made to follow the curve cleanly.
That is why arched windows often end up with temporary paper shades, outdated fan-style treatments, or products that technically cover the window but do not make it look finished.
If you have an arched window, eyebrow arch, circle window, or another specialty-shaped window, the goal should not just be to cover the glass. The goal should be to make the opening look clean, custom, and intentional.
Here are the biggest do’s and don’ts when choosing window treatments for arched windows.
Don’t Use Cheap Temporary Shades
One of the biggest mistakes with arched windows is using a cheap temporary shade.
Can a temporary shade block some light? Yes.
Does it usually look good? Not really.
Temporary shades are usually a short-term fix. They can help cover the window for a little while, but they rarely give an arched window the finished look it deserves. In many homes, the arch is a major design feature. It might be above a front window, in a living room, in a primary bedroom, or in a tall entryway.
That is not the place where you want the window covering to look like an afterthought.
A lot of homeowners call us after they have already tried the temporary option and are ready for something more permanent, prettier, and better fitted to the actual shape of the window.
Don’t Choose an Outdated Sunburst Shutter
For years, one of the most common arch window coverings was the sunburst shutter.
This is the shutter style where the louvers fan out from the bottom of the arch like rays of the sun. If you have seen older arched shutters from the 1990s or early 2000s, there is a good chance they had this look.
The sunburst style was popular for a long time, but it is not the look most homeowners are choosing today.
The main issue is that it can feel dated. Many Arizona homes today have cleaner lines, lighter interiors, modern farmhouse details, desert contemporary design, or simpler trim. A sunburst arch can stand out in a way that feels more traditional than the rest of the home.
There can also be functional drawbacks. Some sunburst shutters are operable, and some are not. When they are operable, the individual louvers often need to be adjusted separately instead of moving together. That makes them more tedious to use.
For most homes today, we recommend avoiding the sunburst style and choosing a cleaner louvered arch shutter instead.
Do Consider a Louvered Arch Shutter
A louvered arch shutter is usually our favorite option for arched windows.
Instead of using a fan-shaped sunburst pattern, a louvered arch uses horizontal louvers that follow the shape of the arched opening. The result is cleaner, more current, and easier to match with the rest of the shutters in the home.
A louvered arch shutter works especially well for:
- Semicircle arches
- Eyebrow arches
- Elongated arches with legs
- Specialty-shaped windows
- Certain circle or curved windows
This style gives you the classic benefits of shutters, but with a more updated look. It feels more architectural and less decorative. It also blends better with the clean lines found in many newer Arizona homes.
If the rest of your windows have plantation shutters, a louvered arch helps the arched window feel connected to the rest of the room instead of looking like a completely different product.
Do Think About Function, Not Just Looks
Arched windows are not always easy to reach, clean, or operate. That is why function matters.
One of the advantages of a shutter is that it can be built in a way that allows access to the window behind it. Depending on the shape of the window and the design of the shutter, the arch may be hinged on the side or, in some semicircle applications, hinged at the bottom.
That means you can open the shutter when needed, clean the glass, and then close it back into place.
A good arch shutter should not just look pretty in the opening. It should also be practical for real life.
This is another reason louvered arch shutters are often a better choice than sunburst shutters. With a louvered arch, the louvers are typically easier to operate and can move together more cleanly. With many sunburst designs, each small louver or fan section has to be adjusted individually, which can become frustrating.
Don’t Assume Honeycomb Arch Shades Are the Best Choice
Honeycomb shades can be made for some arched windows. They are more permanent than a temporary shade and can provide better insulation.
But visually, they often create a fan-style look.
That fan look may work for some homeowners, but it is not as popular as it used to be. In many homes, it can feel similar to the older sunburst style: functional, but not necessarily the cleanest or most updated look.
Honeycomb arch shades can also highlight imperfections in the window opening. Because the product has to be cut to fit inside the shape, it usually follows the smallest usable size. If the drywall is uneven or the arch is not perfectly symmetrical, those inconsistencies may still show around the treatment.
So while honeycomb shades can work, they are usually not our first recommendation when the goal is a clean, finished, custom look.
Do Use Shutters to Hide Imperfect Arches
Here is something most homeowners do not realize: no window opening is perfect.
That is true for rectangle windows, and it is even more true for arched windows. The drywall may be uneven. The curve may not be perfectly smooth. One side of the arch may be slightly different from the other. The opening may not be level, centered, or symmetrical.
A shutter can help hide those imperfections.
That is one of the biggest benefits of using shutters on an arched window. When designed and measured correctly, the shutter can help conceal the uneven drywall or inconsistent finish around the opening. Instead of highlighting the flaws, the shutter makes the window look more balanced and complete.
With products like cellular shades or honeycomb shades, the treatment is usually cut to fit within the smallest part of the opening. That can leave some of the drywall imperfections more visible.
A shutter gives the window a more finished appearance.
It can take an imperfect arch and make it look intentional.
Inside Mount vs. Outside Mount for Arched Windows
Arched shutters can often be inside mounted, which means the shutter fits inside the window opening.
When possible, this is usually our preferred look. Inside mount gives the shutter a cleaner, more built-in appearance. It makes the window feel like it was designed that way from the beginning.
However, inside mount is not always possible. Some windows do not have enough depth. Some arches have drywall issues. Some openings need a different mounting approach because of the shape, trim, or surrounding wall surface.
In those cases, an outside mount may be the better option.
With an outside mount, the shutter is mounted to the surface around the window instead of inside the opening. This can still look great when it is designed correctly. The key is choosing the right frame, the right measurements, and the right overall design for the window.
There is not one answer that fits every arch. The best option depends on the shape of the window, the depth of the opening, the drywall finish, and the look you want.
The Best Choice for Most Arched Windows
For most arched windows, we recommend a louvered arch shutter.
It is cleaner than a temporary shade, more updated than a sunburst shutter, and more finished than many fan-style honeycomb options.
A louvered arch shutter gives you:
- A cleaner, more current look
- Better functionality
- Easier operation
- Access for cleaning
- A more custom appearance
- The ability to hide imperfect drywall
- A window treatment that matches the rest of the home
Arched windows are usually a feature in the home. They deserve a window covering that makes them look better, not one that makes them feel like a problem.
Final Thoughts
Arched windows can be difficult to cover, but the right product makes a huge difference.
Temporary shades may work for a short time, but they usually do not look finished. Sunburst shutters were popular years ago, but they often feel outdated today. Honeycomb arch shades can be useful in some situations, but they may not give the cleanest custom look.
For most homeowners, a louvered arch shutter is the best balance of style, function, and long-term value.
It gives the window a cleaner look, helps hide imperfections, and makes the opening feel finished.
At Arizona Plantation Shutters, we help homeowners choose the right shutter design for arched windows and specialty-shaped windows throughout the home. Whether your window is a semicircle, eyebrow arch, circle, or another custom shape, we can help you find the option that looks like it belongs in your home. You can see more real examples in our project gallery.