For most staircases, the smartest starting point is a cordless, fit-first treatment: custom drapery, cellular shades, or a motorized shade built for the exact shape of the window. These options avoid the strangulation hazards tied to dangling cords, and motorization solves the access problem that comes with windows perched two stories above a landing. Cellular shades add insulation where stair windows tend to leak heat. Below, you will find ten treatment ideas, a decision checklist, measuring guidance, and the safety and energy research behind these recommendations.

TL;DR:

• Cellular shades provide significant insulation benefits and can reduce heating energy use, especially on west-facing stair windows with long afternoon sun.
• Motorized, cordless shades are recommended for high or hard-to-reach windows to improve safety and ease of operation, with battery options favored for retrofit projects.
• Custom treatments are crucial for odd-shaped, arched, or angled stair windows, as stock options often do not fit precisely or support complex shapes.
• Proper measurement, including multiple points on sloped or staggered windows, is essential for a perfect fit and safe installation handled by professionals.
• Safety regulations strongly favor cordless options, and older corded treatments should be retrofitted or replaced to prevent strangulation hazards.

1. Ten treatment ideas for staircase windows

Staircase windows come in odd shapes and awkward positions, so the right treatment depends on how the window is used and who can reach it. These ten options cover the range from decorative to purely functional.

1. Custom drapery on staggered tracks. Continuous panels hung on tracks set at different heights create a dramatic sweep along a stairwell and fit runs of windows that ready-made products cannot match, though the fabrication and any motorized lift for high reaches require professional measurement.
2. Motorized roller or solar shades. For windows above the second landing, a remote or app-controlled lift removes the need for a ladder, and cordless operation eliminates a safety concern in households with young children.
3. Cellular (honeycomb) shades. Their layered, accordion structure traps air and improves insulation and UV protection, making them one of the better choices for a stair window that faces west or gets long afternoon sun.
4. Top-down, bottom-up shades. These lower from the top or raise from the bottom independently, so a stair landing gets privacy at eye level while still admitting light or a view up top.
5. Arched-top shutters or custom-shaped shades. Standard blinds cannot follow a curve, so an arched Palladian window over a staircase generally needs a shutter or shade fabricated to its exact radius.
6. Solar screen shades. These cut glare and heat without blacking out the view, a common need on stair windows that face a bright exterior wall or pool deck.
7. Sheer panels or voile. Best when the goal is softened, diffused light rather than strict privacy, sheers work well on stair windows set high enough that passersby cannot see in anyway.
8. Roman shades with cordless or motorized lifts. These fold into neat pleats and suit mid-height stair windows where you want a tailored, decorative look with practical operation.
9. Plantation shutters. Louvered shutters give durable light and privacy control and hold up well in humid climates, though they need enough reveal depth for the frame to sit inside the window opening.
10. Secondary glazing or window film. For stair windows where full replacement is not in the budget, an added glazing layer or a UV-blocking film improves insulation and cuts sun damage at a lower upfront cost.

Each idea trades off differently on privacy, upkeep, and mounting:

• Drapery and sheers need periodic dusting or dry cleaning but offer the least resistance to heat gain.
• Cellular shades and shutters demand little maintenance beyond occasional wiping and hold their shape for years.
• Motorized shades add a control system to manage but remove the physical strain of operating a hard-to-reach window by hand.

2. How to choose the right treatment for your stair windows

Turning inspiration into a decision starts with a tape measure, not a catalog. Record the width at the top, middle, and bottom of the opening, the full drop, the height of any arch, the depth of the reveal, and the slope angle if the window sits at an angle. These numbers determine whether a product can be inside-mounted or needs to sit outside the frame.

Match the product to your top priority:

• Privacy points toward opaque drapery or a blackout roller shade.
• Insulation points toward cellular shades, which trap air in their honeycomb cells.
• Glare control without losing the view points toward solar screen shades or sheers.
• Classic style with durable light control points toward plantation shutters.

Access matters as much as style. A window more than one story up generally calls for motorized blinds and shades, and it is worth weighing battery-powered units, which retrofit easily, against hardwired systems, which suit new construction or a full renovation.

Pro Tip: In homes with children or pets, rule out any product with an exposed cord before you compare fabrics or colors.

Ready-made blinds and window film cost less upfront but rarely fit an angled or arched stair window precisely, while custom treatments cost more and typically improve fit, finish, and long-term energy performance.

3. Measuring and installation tips for stair and angled windows

Getting an accurate quote, or attempting a simple install yourself, starts with the right measurements taken the right way.

1. Decide between an inside mount, which sits within the window reveal for a clean look, and an outside mount, which covers the frame and blocks more light, useful when reveal depth is shallow.
2. For an arched window, measure the full width and height of the opening and record the straight drop separately, since a shade or shutter has to be built to that exact curve.
3. For a sloped or angled window, measure at several points along the slope rather than assuming one number applies across the whole pane.
4. For a staggered run of stair windows, measure each opening individually even when they look identical, since older homes rarely have perfectly matched frame sizes.
5. Leave installation above a safe ladder reach to a professional with proper scaffolding rather than improvising on a stairwell, where a fall risk is higher than on a flat wall.
6. If you are motorizing, decide early between battery-operated units for retrofit convenience and hardwired systems for a permanent project, and plan where the control switch or hub will sit before installation day.

4. Energy performance and safety research behind these choices

Two bodies of research support the recommendations above: one on insulation, one on cords.

Well-fitted cellular shades can meaningfully reduce heating energy use, according to Department of Energy research on cellular shades, which found insulation benefits that make them a cost-effective alternative to full window replacement in many homes. Separate Oak Ridge National Laboratory testing found that HVAC savings from cellular shades and similar attachments depend heavily on climate, orientation, and how consistently the shades are used, so results vary by home.

On safety, the guidance is more direct:

• The CPSC advises going cordless in any home with children, since corded coverings remain a leading strangulation hazard.
• A 2025 recall of Persilux zebra blinds confirmed that corded products sold online can still violate federal rules.
• If you own older corded blinds, a retrofit kit can secure the cord until you are ready to replace the unit.

5. Our approach to stair-window projects

Custom window treatments fabricated onsite are frequently built to each stair window’s unique shape rather than adjusted to stock sizes. The process generally runs from an in-home consultation through measurement, sample selection, onsite fabrication, and installation, with removal of old treatments often included. Common challenges include arched openings, tall stairwell runs, and motorization retrofits.

— The Drapery Company

6. Getting started with custom stair window treatments

A stair window rarely matches a stock size, which is why fit matters more here than almost anywhere else in a home. Our custom design and fabrication process covers drapery, shades, shutters, and motorized options built onsite to your exact measurements, with professional installation and courtesy removal of your old treatments included.

To get started, schedule an in-home consultation or request a quote for custom window shades and have a few things ready:

• Rough measurements of each stair window, even if approximate.
• Photos of the windows from inside and outside.
• Any style preferences, whether that is a fabric drapery, a clean shutter, or a motorized shade for hard-to-reach openings.

Our team handles the precise measuring and fabrication from there.

Sources

• Cpsc
• Interior Cellular Shades Boost Home Energy Performance — DOE factsheet
• Cellular shades and energy benefits — ORNL/DOE peer report
• Persilux brand zebra blinds recalled — CPSC

FAQ

What is the new trend for window coverings?

Cordless and motorized shades are becoming a common choice, largely driven by safety guidance from the CPSC and the convenience of app or remote control for hard-to-reach windows. Cellular shades are also gaining ground for their insulation benefits.

What are the best coverings for stairs?

The best option depends on window height and shape: cordless motorized shades suit tall or high stair windows, while cellular shades or custom drapery suit windows that need insulation or a decorative statement. Arched or angled stair windows generally need a shutter or shade fabricated to that specific shape rather than an off-the-shelf blind.

What does Martha Stewart use instead of curtains?

Public sources on this vary, and there is no single documented answer covering every room in her homes. Shutters, shades, and sheer panels are common curtain alternatives that homeowners choose for a similar mix of light control and style.

What is the cheapest way to cover stairs?

Ready-made blinds or a window film applied to the existing glass are typically the lowest-cost options, though neither fits an angled or arched stair window as precisely as a custom treatment. Window film also adds some UV protection without changing the look of the window itself.

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