You have probably walked into a room that felt instantly peaceful without being able to pinpoint exactly why. No bold art on the walls, no statement furniture fighting for attention – just light, space, and an almost meditative calm. That feeling rarely happens by accident. More often than not, it comes down to one design element most of us overlook entirely: the curtains. Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz seem to understand this instinctively, and a closer look at their living space reveals how a single, understated choice can anchor an entire home.
Why the simplest rooms demand the smartest window choices
When you strip a room back to almost nothing, every remaining element carries enormous weight. In Brooklyn and Nicola’s living and dining area, the palette is limited to taupe, cream, and pale oak, letting the architecture do most of the heavy lifting. There is barely any excess furniture, which keeps the room feeling open and airy. The result is uber minimalist yet undeniably calming.
So what keeps such a pared-back space from feeling cold or unfinished? In a room with so little decoration, curtains can perform the role that patterns and more vibrant colors might otherwise handle. The couple chose floor-to-ceiling sheer curtains that soften the windows without diminishing the natural light pouring in. It is a deceptively simple move, but it is doing almost all of the aesthetic work in the room.
Sheer curtains are, in many ways, the inevitable starting point for anyone who wants to make sunlight a permanent fixture of their home. The philosophy behind Brooklyn and Nicola’s property is straightforward – simple but genuinely beautiful.
How fabric, folds, and proportions shape the mood
Designer Tori Murphy views curtains as far more than just window coverings. She considers them a way to add texture, warmth, and personality to any room. According to Murphy, curtains can accentuate architectural features, draw the eye to a view outside, or quietly retreat into the background. In Nicola and Brooklyn’s living room, the sheerness of the drapes accomplishes that last goal perfectly, softening the edges of the space without stealing attention from the light or the scenery beyond.
When decoration is minimal, the smallest details become impossible to ignore. The way a curtain falls, for instance, can alter the entire feel of a room. Murphy explains that the choice of header determines a curtain’s character and rhythm – a flop-over frill introduces a playful, decorative touch, while a pinch pleat delivers a classic tailored finish. In this particular space, the vertical folds feel exactly right. They bring a sense of structure without layering in another decorative element.
Proportions matter just as much. Murphy is a fan of full-length curtains hung generously because they create a sense of calm and proportion. Letting puddles of fabric gather on the floor is a personal choice, she notes, though she recommends it only outside high-traffic areas where the bottoms would get grubby. Brooklyn and Nicola’s curtains are hung from ceiling tracks and fall all the way to the floor, drawing the eye upward and making the already generous room feel even taller.
Practical tips you can steal for your own space
There is a practical side worth considering as well. Murphy points out that if there is a radiator beneath your window, curtains or blinds can skim just above it and be lined lightly so heat can still circulate. Alternatively, if you prefer not to make the radiator a visible feature, you can go full length with the curtains and cover it entirely.
In a minimalist home, full-length drapery also helps keep the wall uninterrupted, especially when installed from ceiling to floor. Murphy compares dressing a window to dressing yourself – it is about layers, texture, and those carefully chosen details that turn something functional into a true expression of style. That point of difference, she says, is what makes a room sing.
The details do not have to be elaborate, either. A carefully chosen tie-back, a pompom trim on a blind, or a surprise backing fabric on a curtain can all come together to make a space feel uniquely yours. For those looking to recreate the look on a budget, a sculptural decor piece with gently undulating curves and ridges can add interest without being too demanding – and some options hide quietly under $50 on Amazon. Soft cream linen-look curtains with understated pleating add just enough texture and warmth to prevent a pared-back room from feeling stark. Even a white pillow with contrasting black piping can introduce the right amount of definition, creating an almost hand-drawn effect. A rug with a softly distressed foliage pattern and muted tones brings subtle interest without making the space feel busy, while a hand-loomed texture adds warmth and dimension.
What Brooklyn and Nicola’s home actually teaches us
The real takeaway here is not that you need to strip your home bare. It is that when you choose to go minimal, your window treatments become the most powerful design tool in the room. Sheer curtains hung from ceiling to floor can make a space feel taller, calmer, and flooded with natural light – all without a single piece of statement furniture. You do not need a celebrity budget to pull it off. You just need to pay attention to the details most people walk right past.