How to dress gable end windows

Inspiration

BY Abi Clewley

Published: 07 January 2025 Updated: 07 January 2025

Inspiration
Tags: Shutters, Blinds

If you have a gable end window in your home, it can be difficult to know how best to dress it.

Read on to see our hints and tips.

What defines a gable end window?

A gable end window simply refers to any window that’s installed in the gable end of a house, i.e. the triangular section of the wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The windows are designed to follow the pitch of the roof and are usually triangular but can be custom-shaped.

Living area with grey sofa and low table on a rug over a wooden floor with gable end window dressed in pale caramel duette blinds at varying levels.

Gable end windows are a really striking feature, that flood a room with natural light throughout the day. But how do you control that light?

How to control the light - when, where and how

When
Firstly, you need to consider when and why you use the room, because that will help you decide the type of control you need; whether you need to filter, reduce or actually block the light. If you use your space in the evening to relax, then shutters, that give a cosy feel, might be the answer. Alternatively, if you use the space throughout the day then a flexible solution, such as a sheer fabric bind that softens the light in the day, might be better.

Gable end azure blue wall in bedroom with other walls in white, gable end window and doors dressed in white shutters, louvres open and tracked door shutters partially tracked open, shaed shutter above closed, white carpet, pale blue upholstered chair in right corner, small table with white roses in left, bed with blue and white bedding.

Where

Think about the aspect of your window. If it’s south facing, light from the summer sun shining through such a large amount of glass could make your room uncomfortably warm. You may want to consider Pleated blinds with a Solartex coating that repel the sun’s rays, or even shutters to block the light completely for a couple of hours at the hottest point of the day.

Close up of a pale peach pleated blind, lowered with a darker toned veining pattern, with two small olive ripple-textured vases on the window sill.

How

How high are the windows at the top of the apex? Do you want to be able to open and close any window dressings here? Is the gable comprised of three levels (doors/windows, windows above, triangular apex on top) putting two thirds of them out of reach? The answers to these all dictate your operational needs. Shutters can be opened with a long pole but the easiest solution involves motorisation. Electric blinds have surged in popularity recently, and with the addition of a smart hub you can control them with an app or even with your voice and a compatible Amazon or Google device.

Pale grey bedroom with gable end windows dressed in pale beige duette blinds, top shaped blinds raised almost totally, lower blinds halfway, a woman with a laptop sits on a bed with a remote control for the blinds in her hand.

Privacy

Such a large expanse of glass makes for a beautiful vista from inside – but what about outside looking in? Privacy may well be a major concern if you’re overlooked, but even if you’re not in a high traffic area it’s something you may need to consider, as turning the lights on can really illuminate the room – and its contents to any prying eyes. It’s definitely worth thinking about smart electric blinds here, because you can set timers and automated schedules to lower your blinds as the daylight fades.

White gable end kitchen diner with white tiled floor, white units to the side, island dining area with blue units and white worktop and skylight, gable end windows and doors all dressed in mid grey duette blinds, skylight blind three quarters lowered, gable shape fully lowered and door blinds partially lowered.

Gable ends with doors

Gable end windows that include doors present an additional challenge. Here’s some points to consider.

The ins and outs of door dressings

First of all, establish how often you use your doors. Will it be more in the summer, less in the winter? Secondly, where do the doors lead to? Your doors could be the main point of access to your garden. Or they might take you out onto a bedroom balcony.
Next, think about the space around the doors. Is there space above the door frame or at the side for a window dressing to sit?
And finally think about the style of your door - is it a bi-fold or a French door?

Close up of a pale grey honeycomb blind in a door and two windows, all in one complete unit.

Specialist solutions

These points are all important considerations that will impact the style of window dressing your choose, not just for your door but the entire gable end. For example, frequently used doors accessed by a busy family will require a sturdy and practical solution that easy to look after and good looking, such as a shutter. Or a blind that can be pulled up completely out of the way for safe keeping. Bi-fold doors will require a specialist blind solution that allows for their specific folding structure. Micro pleat and Micro hive blinds give a beautifully streamlined look.

Tall windows and bi-fold doors in dark frames, dressed with soft white Micro Hive blinds, the bi-fold door is partially folded open.

Last things to think about

There’s a few final considerations you need to make that will help you decide what the right solution for your gable is. Firstly, what kind of look do you want – unified, or a more relaxed mix and match look. A bespoke solution that fits the windows and enhances rather than covers up the shape? Something sleek and minimal that almost disappears when open to showcase the window that gives a neutral backdrop when closed? Duette® blinds tick all these boxes, and add a few more with their thermal benefits and the choice of fabric styles and also bring a range of bolder colours too, which can create a striking feature when closed.. Do you want an airy, open look even at night, or would you prefer a cosier, “shut the world out” effect. These are all choices that help shape your decision.