Choosing the Right Window Treatments
One of the best methods for tying a room together and portraying a unifying theme is choosing the right window treatment. Window treatments are a perfect way to add a splash of color and style to any room, all while providing an important function. Window treatments allow you to control the influx of heat and light into your room and offer much needed privacy. There are many different options on the market. You may consider blinds or shades, or maybe you want long heavy drapes, or light sheers.
Making Your Decision
Whatever you are looking for, you can find it. The first step is making a decision on what you want, and what is right for your home. There are dozens of styles to choose from, and your choice will determine the feel of your rooms. You can choose classically designed drapes or opt for a more modern approach with blinds or shades, some of which may be operated electronically!Full coverage of windows can lead to dramatically dark rooms even in the daytime but offer little in between. Large in your face window treatments can draw the eye but run the risk of dominating the overall feel of the room.
Curtains and Drapes
Curtains and drapes are the typical classic window treatment options. With casual and formal offerings, they can work in most room designs. There are a variety of styles that can be matched with your furniture and internal vision for the room. Usually secured over the window with a sturdy metal rod of some kind, curtains offer great light coverage and privacy. You can get curtain options that conceal the rod or leave it visible, depending on your needs and wants.Window Valances
You might be asking “What is a Valance?” Valances are shorter sheets of fabric that are stretched across the top of the window. Valances are generally not used to keep light out of a room, nor do they have much use as a privacy measure. A valance’s primary function is aesthetic, bringing color and vibrance to a room. A close cousin of the valance, the Cornice, is made from wood and covered with a fabric or pattern.These are generally mounted directly to the wall. Valances and Cornices may be used in conjunction with other forms of window treatment, and they pair well with Curtains, which offer privacy and light filtering.
Shades and Blinds
Often viewed as the simplest window treatments, shades and blinds are the most common option on the market. Shades are covers that roll or extend down over the window, offering a top to bottom cover for the window. Shades are highly efficient at blocking out light from your room and offer unparalleled privacy.Shades can be combined with any of the previous options, offering a blend of pleasing aesthetics and functionality. Some shades feature a pattern that is only visible when fully extended over the window. Blinds, similar to shades, offer top down coverage of the window, granting you privacy and blocking unwanted light.
Blinds, unlike shades, are often made with metal or wood, cut into thin slats that fit together to block light. There are many options, from wood to aluminum, and even faux wood or cheaper plastic. You can find horizontal blinds, which descend top down, or vertical blinds which slide across the window and can be rotated to block light or allow moderate amounts of natural light into the room.
Choosing the Right Treatment
How do you choose which option is right for you? As you can tell, the basic purpose of all window treatments is three-fold. They serve to block light from outside, they serve as a privacy preserving barrier, and they have aesthetic value and tie the feel of a room together.Choosing simple window blinds may meet your needs if you only want to block light and maintain privacy, but if you are looking for a length of fabric to match the colors of your couch, you may want to consider full length window curtains. Only you know what your exact needs are, so only you can make the final choice.
But you shouldn’t forget that any and all of these window treatment options can be combined, giving you the perfect blend of functionality and style. Don’t wait to get the perfect widow treatments for your home, start looking now!