Window treatments are one of the best and most under-appreciated elements of interior décor. Both functional and aesthetic, the window coverings that you choose can either dominate the feeling of the room, or sit quietly in the background. They can make your home look solid and high-end, or they can look unbelievable kitchy. Here’s are a few tips to help you create the look you want in your home through curtains, blinds, and other window coverings.
Assess the Purpose
How functional do your window coverings need to be? Does your apartment face directly onto another, making your coverings a privacy tool? Does the sun make the room unbearably hot in the summer, making them a shading option? Do you want the luxury of sleeping in past sunrise, making blackout curtains a must? Or are they purely ornamental? Once you’ve determined how hard your window coverings need to work for you, you’ll get a better sense of whether you need sturdy blinds, thick curtains or something else.
Measure Carefully
If you’re getting blinds installed, it’s a good idea to follow the company’s guidelines closely—or better yet, have them come in to do the measuring themselves. Being off by even a few inches can be an expensive mistake! For curtains and drapes, the rule of thumb is to acquire curtains that are 1.5 to 3 times as wide as your windows. The more fabric there is, the more folds there will be in the curtains. Be sure that the curtains hang at least few inches below the bottom of the windows or they’ll look ill-fitting. Floor-length curtains will help elongate a room.
Don’t Block Your Windows
Windows are a precious source of natural light, so ensure that when your window coverings are pulled back, they’re not blocking the window. Buy a curtain rod that extends past your windows, so that when you push your curtains aside, they are covering wall space. This will have the bonus effect of making your window seem wider than it really is.
Beware the Floral Valence
Just as they can make a room look polished and modern, window treatments can also be a telltale sign of a room trapped in another decade. If you haven’t updated your window coverings in ages, make it a priority in your home projects for next year. Unless your desired look is “grandma’s cottage”, steer clear of the floral valence!
Play with Color and Print
White, sheer curtains are a favorite, because they make a room seem bright and airy. Conversely, solid black curtains will give the feeling of a closed off room. Patterned or colored curtains can have as significant an impact as the color of paint on the walls, so consider them with equal care!
For blinds, a solid wood blind can play the role of a neutral or can steal the attention of the room, depending on the type of wood and finish you choose. Know that wood (or even faux-wood) blinds are much studier than metal, and look much cleaner.
Vertical Blinds – Just Say No
It is very rare to find vertical blinds that actually enhance a room. Generally, they look dated, tangle easily, and are just not the best window treatment option. Unless you feel they really make a room, consider a different type of window covering.
DIY Curtains
If you can’t find anything in stores that matches the vision in your head, don’t be afraid to get creative and make your own curtains with your favorite fabric. There are plenty of tutorials online, or if you’re not much of a sewer, most seamstresses can make them for you for a reasonable price.
