Find out how to cover you windows in style. From curtains to blinds, shutters and drapes, discover which window coverings will work for your interior.
Window treatments are essential for blocking out light, maintaining privacy and developing your interior décor. Window treatments come in a variety of styles, colours and materials to help you achieve the look you want, but with so many choices the process can be a little tricky.
A good place to start is to look at three factors:
Function
What you want to accomplish with the window treatment should be your first consideration in the process. This includes the amount of sunlight you want, privacy considerations and if you want to draw attention to beautiful views. Perhaps you want to draw attention to a beautiful window or hide a distracting sight. Window treatments can go a long way to improving the view and the feeling you want to create in your room.
Next, think about the look you want for the room. Some rooms in your home will rule out some treatments from a practical perspective. In a kitchen there are airborne particles and grease to take into consideration, so keeping it simple here is the best solution. For this reason, blinds are well suited to the kitchen environment and can be accented with a softer covering such as a valance. Keep in mind that you want to use something that is washable and easily removed from time to time for those necessary cleanings.
Bathrooms are another area where blinds are widely used to accommodate privacy needs and at the same time allow light into the room. Blinds also allow you to gaze at the stars while you luxuriate in your bathtub. The bathroom is a great place to consider multiple window treatments if you want to soften the feel of window blinds that some say are stark. Whatever your opinion, they tend to add a clean minimalist look. By adding a sheer or a valance, you can soften the look and feel. You should take into consideration the humidity of the bathroom when choosing fabrics. Heavy fabrics can be hard to manage in these conditions.
Style
Your personal preferences in room décor will factor into your decisions here. Any type of window treatment can be used in your room but it’s the décor that will dictate the style you choose. A formal pinch pleated drapery and valance will look great in a traditional formal room but will look out of place in a modern contemporary décor.
Of course there are the typical trends of style and colors by season and year. Designers constantly comment on these, but the most important things for you to consider is whether your choice of window coverings fits with existing elements of your room, home and personal tastes.
Budget
New window treatments or a coat of paint are easy ways to spruce up a room. Of course how elaborate you might go will depend on your budget and this is always an important consideration when it comes to window treatments. Wooden blinds can be a great choice for providing privacy and light blocking properties but they can also be expensive. Sometimes a simple roller blind with a valance or sheer can be a practical solution. There are a number of factors in determining your cost per window. Will you need to factor-in labour costs or is it a DIY project? What types of materials have you selected? The cost of materials may influence these decisions. The typical costs reported by one source range from as low as $50 in to the thousands. A conservative average cost is reported to be $250 per window
Now let’s have a look at a few of the most common types to help you narrow down the selection process. Generally, window treatments fall into three classifications:
Blinds and Shades
The most common type of blind is typically on a roller or has vanes or slats and come in an enormous variety of materials. Many of the types you see today are typically made of wood, PVC, aluminum or composite materials. One great feature of these types is the ability of the material to maintain its colour over years of use.
You can purchase basic blinds and shades for an affordable price. Low-cost blinds and shades will not last a very long time and simply serve as the most basic way to shade you from the sun. Basic mini blinds are low-cost and easy to install yourself, but the mechanism can break or get tangled.
You can invest in blinds of high-quality materials like Aluminum, PVC or wood, which will last longer. One great feature of these types is the ability of the material to maintain its colour and function over years of use. Insulated blinds or shades are more expensive than standard blinds or shades but effective in keeping your home warmer or cooler during seasons.
Blinds can be fastened to the top frame of your window on the inside of the outside trim. Most blind stores and home improvement centres have these in stock and they can easily be cut in- store to provide a custom fit.
Motorized blinds are great for loft living and two-storey windows, but are very pricey. Shadings, another expensive alternative, have fabric vanes held together by sheer fabric on either side. Light always penetrates to a certain degree, but vanes allow for privacy.
Shutters
Plantation style shutters or blinds have become extremely popular over the past few years. These are usually fastened to the side frame of the window or door. They may have a frame of their own or be of the frameless variety. These can be split into lower and upper sections to provide a choice on how much light or privacy you might require as any time. Shutters are commonly made of wood but also come in vinyl and PVC materials. This variety must be custom- fitted to your home and tend to be the most expensive types of blinds.
Curtains and Drapes
Curtains and drapes can be used alone or in conjunction with some blinds or shades. The cost of curtains and drapes will vary based on the material. You can get curtains and drapes in practically any kind of fabric from cotton to silk. More expensive and heavier fabrics will affect the cost of the drapes. Fabrics that are difficult to sew, such as silks and satins, will also cost more. Most curtains and drapes are made to order, while very simple panel drapes can be bought in standard sizes off the shelf. Heavier styles of drapery can provide a great room darkening effect for the bedroom. Drapes with a lining can provide a cooling effect in the summer and insulation from a cold window pane in the winter months.
Final considerations
The windows you have and the size of each will affect the overall cost of your window treatments. For this reason you will need to make certain aesthetic choices. For example, in a room with many windows you might choose to put the same simple shade on every window, but opt for a more elaborate curtain on only the largest windows or center windows. You might also choose to get simple blinds now, then embellish with more elaborate curtains over them later on. Whatever your taste, there are so many options available you should easily be able to find the right combination to suit your budget and décor.
A good way to begin is by gathering information and educating yourself. From methods and materials to tools and tweaks, collect and organize all information in quinju.com. Using the home improvement portfolio tool you can create your electronic home renovation binder and have everything at your fingertips anywhere, anytime!
