Blinds versus shades, curtains versus drapes — most people can’t tell the difference. That’s because window treatments aren’t usually the focal point of a home. However, the right window treatment can make a world of difference, not just for your home’s interiors, but for your wellbeing, too.
What are window treatments?
Anything that covers a window, either for aesthetic or practical purposes, qualifies as a window treatment. They can be made with solid material like wood and plastic or with soft fabrics. The Spruce’s list of nine
basic types of window treatments include:
– Curtains
– Drapes
– Sheers
– Shades
– Blinds
– Shutters
– Valances
– Swags and cascades
– And cornices
Curtains, drapes, and blinds are the most popular kinds. They have more variety and can also stand alone, unlike sheers, valances, swags, and cascades, which are often used in addition to drapes and curtains. When choosing the perfect window treatment for your home, it’s best to consider these two features: function and form.
Function
Window treatments are more practical than one might think. First off, they regulate the light that filters through a room. Just imagine working next to a bare window. Too little or too much light can affect your productivity negatively. Opt for window treatments that offer the most adjustment for rooms where a more precise control over natural lighting is important. The living room or your home office, perhaps, could look great with stylish blinds. For bedrooms, where you might take a midday nap, blackout curtains or drapes are great additions.
Aside from the light aspect, window treatments also help regulate heat. Thicker curtains are great for the colder months, as HomeServe’s energy-saving home tips highlights how they insulate your windows from the cold outside. This helps you keep the warmth inside your home, so your heating won’t have to work overtime to keep your family cozy. But as we approach the summer months, it’s a good idea to switch these out for sheerer fabrics.
Moreover, privacy is another concern as a homeowner, and you can’t go wrong with any of these window treatments. In addition, Fresh home recommends frosted glass and screens, which offer a bit more privacy even without window coverings.
Form
If a curtain only serves practical purposes, you might as well just hang a burlap sack over your window. But we can’t deny that design is very important too, as window treatments really tie everything in a room together.
As a general rule of thumb, pick a style that matches the rest of your design concept. Blinds and shades are almost always plain, so the color is what matters most. Make sure that it matches the room’s palette so it blends into the background perfectly. You can order them ready-made or have them customized to fit the exact measurements of your windows.
This is also true for curtains and drapes, but you have more variety in terms of textures and patterns. You can match it with the other linens in a room or find something with a similar looking pattern, if not exactly the same. Be sure to hang curtains at least 12 inches above your window frame to really elongate your windows. And with shutters, make sure that the wood finish is similar to the other furnishings inside the room.
Window treatments aren’t usually used as accent pieces because they can pull too much focus away from the room given their size. However, they are the perfect example of a design element that marries form and function.
