Helping you decide what window treatments not only look best but work best in your home.
Selecting the right curtains or window treatments can be difficult and confusing. I’ve lived in my condo for almost a year now and every window still has those horrible plastic off-white blinds. I’ll confess that I do not have a love for window treatments. I find them confusing and cannot seem to figure out what I want. The good news for me is I’ve finally purchased fabric for two rooms and I’ve decided what blinds I want for the other three rooms. The good news for you is there are a few tips that can help you make your selection.
The first consideration is your privacy. Most people desire privacy and the wrong window treatment can turn your home into a fishbowl. Single gal, living alone here reminding everyone that leaving your home open to prying eyes is just an invitation to thieves and worse. So privacy is huge.
Heavy curtains and drapes with linings protect your privacy, add a warmth and coziness to your home as well as possibly bringing in some great color options. Shades and blinds are also good solutions and there are new styles that come covered in a sheer fabric to add a little softness and opacity during the daytime.
There are also fabulous blinds that start at the bottom of your window and go up rather than starting at the top and coming down. These blinds work well with top story rooms where you want to get as much light as possible (of if you’re like me you like waking to the sunrise) without giving your neighbors a free show.
Which brings me to the second point - the amount of natural light you want in your rooms. There are new light blocking shades, which do a great job of preventing any light from entering your room. Great for light sleepers (no pun intended). These shades are a little pricey but well worth it if you need the darkness.
If you want to soften the sunlight but still get that rosy glow during the day you may want to look at some sheers or cellular shades. You could even become a master of the blinds and learn how to adjust them to suit the time of day.
The next thing to consider is what style suits your taste and decorating style. This is where I get stuck. There are just so many window treatment options out there that it can be overwhelming. My suggestion is to gather as many books as you can from the library and scour them until you feel comfortable with your choices. I think selecting a style first and then hitting a fabric store or a window treatment retailer can help the process. It keeps you focused and away from those gorgeous drapes when you’ve already decided that a nice bamboo shade is really what you want.
Window treatments are a great way to finish off a room and add a little excitement. They can also provide a layer of protection if you need it. So, these decisions shouldn’t be made lightly.
