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A stunning folding window changes how a room works, as it opens up completely to allow for light and air to travel inside.

Rather than simply styling a folding window with a blind or a curtain and a few decorative options on the sill, consider going that one step further to make the most of your folding windows.

These following five ideas work well with both the panels pushed back on a warm afternoon, or shut against the rain.

Let the garden be your feature wall

If you have a folding window running along a living or dining space, try not to compete with it with the rest of your decor.

Keep the walls calm and cocooning by painting them in a warm white or a soft sage, allowing the outdoor the greenery take centre stage. Then dress the view itself. A big terracotta pot with an olive tree, a pair of clipped box balls, or a simple bench just outside gives your eye somewhere to land when the panels are open, framing things nicely when they’re closed.

Turn a small opening into a serving hatch

A bifold window above a kitchen counter is one of the nicest little upgrades you can make. Fold the two panels back and you’ve got a hatch straight out to the terrace - perfect for passing out drinks or a plate of something warm without anyone leaving their seat.

Style the sill as if it were a shelf. A wooden tray, a jug of flowers and a couple of chunky candles all work well. Keep the middle of the counter clear so you can actually use it, and tuck the pretty things towards the edges. Add two rattan stools on the outdoor side and you’ve made a tiny breakfast bar.

Repeat the frame finish indoors

Slim black frames look graphic and a little industrial, warm white ones feel softer, and timber-effect finishes suit a cosier, cottage kind of room. Whichever you have, pick that colour up somewhere else so the window feels like part of the scheme and not something added on afterwards.

Black frames sit happily with black picture frames, a pair of iron candlesticks or a slim floor lamp; white frames pair well with chalky ceramics and pale linen, while timber works with woven baskets and a jute rug underfoot. Even just one repeat is enough to tie it together.

Hang curtains wide, not tight

Folding panels need somewhere to go, so curtains take a bit of thought. Check which way the panels fold before you buy anything; if they open inwards, you’ll want the track or pole fixed well beyond the edges of the opening so the fabric never gets in their way.

Floor-length linen in oatmeal or sage works well. Allow it to pool slightly on the floor for a relaxed look, while a thin sheer behind it takes the glare off during the day.

Carry the floor outside

To blur the line between inside and out, echo your flooring on the other side of the bi-fold. If you are renovating, use matching porcelain tiles both inside and out, but if you just need to work with what you have, a flat weave outdoor rug in a similar tone gets you most of the way for far less money.