Why? For one, well-dressed windows add an awesome look to any room in the house. And they're functional as well because they can be used to block light, create privacy, soften sounds, draw attention to great views (or conceal less pleasing ones), and more.
To help you figure out which window treatment styles are right for your home and tastes, here's a rundown on the basic types. Don't want to spend a fortune? Below are some easy DIY ideas for dressing up your existing curtains and shades too.
THE BASICS
Curtains typically hang on rods from rings, tabs, or ties and are pulled open or closed by hand. This type of window treatment is made in a variety of styles and fabrics to fit both large and small windows.
Drapery panels tend to look more formal than curtains. Drapes are attached to a rod with hooks that permits opening and closing simply by pulling a cord. They're usually hung from the top of a window or even the ceiling to the floor.
Blinds help control light and privacy and may be used with other window treatments or alone. All sorts of materials including vinyl, wood, and faux wood are available to match the style of your spaces.
Shades are used to block out light and provide privacy too. Styles include simple roller shades; top-down shades; Roman shades with sleek, defined folds; and balloon shades that billow when they are pulled up.
Cornices are affixed to the wall at the top of the window. Typically made of plywood and dressed up with paint, fabric, wallpaper, molding, or other embellishments, cornices are used to add architectural detail to windows.
Valances, much like cornices, are hung across the top of windows, cover curtain rods and add structural interest. Fabric valances may be tailored to create a distinctive shape or draped loosely across the top of the window.
THE QUESTIONS
The tricky part about window treatments is deciding which ones to use and in what combination. A few questions to ask yourself:
What is the style of my windows and the room they're in?
Formal, floral-print window treatments may look absolutely ridiculous in a contemporary home, while inexpensive blinds probably won't do justice to a bank of windows in a formal setting. I prefer simpler shades and curtains over gaudy layers of fabric in my home, but there's something to be said for a well-designed, formal living or dining room with exquisite folds of fabric framing a window.
What size are my windows?
Trick your eyes into thinking your small windows are larger by positioning the curtain rod above the top of the window. Are your windows too narrow? Extend the rod beyond the sides of the window frame. Or if you're lucky enough to have large windows, but they're out of scale with the size of your rooms and the furnishings in them, opt for simple treatments with minimal layers and patterned fabrics to downplay the expanse.
What functions should my window treatments fulfill?
If you love natural light as much as I do, you might want sheer fabric panels and nothing more. But consider issues such as: privacy, light control, and temperature regulation (in drafty rooms, honeycomb shades are a good choice for providing a level of insulation).
Also, don't forget to consider how your windows look from outside too!
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