The Luxury Window Types Library · ArchitecturalRecommended headings Frequently Asked Other Window Types Begin a Specification
Drapery for Transom Windows
Horizontal windows above doors or primary glazing — almost always left undressed, but resolved in the larger drapery program.
The window in context
Transom windows are the horizontal panes set above doors or above primary glazing — fixed lights that bring daylight deep into a room. The studio leaves transoms undressed in most specifications, drawing the drapery line above them so the heading reads as architecture.
Where privacy or glare requires it, we specify a dedicated motorized roller shade in the transom run, separate from the primary drapery program.
Design challenges
- Drapery mounting line — at the transom, between the transom and the door, or below the transom — is a specification decision
- Privacy and glare in the transom are often the only reasons to treat it
- Motorization of transoms requires a dedicated motor separate from the primary drapery
Recommended solutions
- Mount the primary drapery above the transom run so the heading reads as a single tall gesture
- Specify a dedicated motorized solar shade in the transom for glare control
- Leave the transom undressed in formal rooms where the daylight is the point
Best fabrics
- Solar-control roller shade weaves for transom shades
- Whatever fabric is specified for the primary drapery below
Hardware considerations
- Primary drapery hardware mounted above the transom run
- Transom roller shade hardware concealed in a ceiling pocket or wall pocket
Motorization options
- Dedicated motor for transom solar shades — never sharing the primary drapery motor
- Scene integration with the primary drapery for coordinated control
Privacy & light control
- Transom solar shades address glare; primary drapery addresses privacy and evening closure
Drapery styles specified for Transom Windows
Questions homeowners ask about Transom Windows
- Should transoms be dressed?
- Usually not. They bring daylight deep into a room — covering them defeats their architectural purpose. Treat only when glare or privacy requires it.
- Can the primary drapery cover the transom?
- Yes — mount above the transom and let the drapery cover both. The reading is taller and more architectural.
Doors
Browse all window types →Drapery for Sliding Glass Doors
DoorsDrapery for French Doors
ArchitecturalDrapery for Corner Windows
Walk the room with Olga.
Every consultation begins with the window — its shape, its scale, its exposure, and the program of the room it lives in. We will tell you exactly how the drapery should resolve.
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