People hate mini-blinds. Roman shades are in, stationary panels hung at ceiling height to the floor using decorative rods are in. Bamboo blinds, also called stick blinds, are in and relatively inexpensive if you don't need custom sizes. Wood or faux wood horizontal blinds would work.

Depending on the room, you might be able to use white cotton sheers.

Try posting photos of the rooms on the Home Decorating forum for ideas. Let them know what your budget is per room. Window treatments can get pricey very quickly.

I'd use 2" wide faux wood blinds, off-white if that won't clash with your other colors.

(Pure white makes everything else look dirty, & "wood" finish darkens the room.)

Thanks, some great ideas there. Roman shades would probably add a little softness to the kitchen.

I would actually probably leave them bare. When showing the home you want to have your window treatments open anyway. Make it easier and leave them off entirely.

I just have valances in my kitchen (3) windows. With these, the windows don't look bare!
Kathy G in MI

If you want to repair them, get a bit of mesh - that bridal veil stuff - in the same color and apply it to the rear of the curtains as a patch. Sew the edges of the rip to the mesh with matching thread.

It's almost invisible and will last for several years.

Here's where I have to admit that they're also stained and the rod is bent. Add in that they're decades out of style and a dingy yellowish cream, and it seemed to make sense to go new or go bare. But I appreciate the sewing advice -- I'm pretty handy with a needle and I don't know why I never got to fixing them. It's easy to get used to how your house is, but now that I'm trying to look at it from the point of a stranger, I'm noticing the flaws again.

Thanks to everyone.

I'm pretty handy with a needle and I don't know why I never got to fixing them.

I know why - you said it yourself:
they're also stained and the rod is bent. Add in that they're decades out of style and a dingy yellowish cream

I'd just leave them bare. Leaving the window bare of treatment will allow anyone interested in the home let their imagination make it perfect. Looking at it that way can mask or make lesser of any flaws that might exist. Let the new homeowner pick the treatment after they make an offer, what's "in" isn't what everyone wants.

lol Terriks, the curtain tore at the same time that the rod bent in the Great Curtain Accident back in '07. I was going to buy a new rod and then I noticed the stains. They didn't come out when I laundered them, and I stuck them back up and pretended they didn't exist for the last four years. I stand by my choices.

Sasafras, I'm looking at this as the equivalent to painting everything beige. Some people hate beige, but more people would hate bright pink. If I go with what's currently in, at least it won't be screaming 'outdated'. Of course, leaving them bare won't either, and that's still in the running.

I've always put up white curtains when it was time to sell. I prefer the look. It's soft and clean.

Especially if your kitchen isn't up-to-the-minute modern, I'd leave the windows bare. Younger buyers, especially, seem to be impressed by sleek, spartan kitchens. A torn, yellowed lace curtain isn't going to give that impression, and in fact, may call the buyer's attention to other features in the room that suggest faded glory, or worse -- neglect. In general my feeling is, if you can't afford the bucks to make it brand-new, go for minimalism.

The kitchen isn't up to the minute, but the cabinets and tile are attractive and in good shape, and most of the appliances are newer. Fortunately, the curtains are the only thing that are really awful, and they're now gone and I'm seeing how it feels. It's interesting that people like spartan, thanks.