Window treatments can be used to add color or to add elegance to rooms, while serving the practical purposes of controlling light, privacy, and improving energy efficiency. The decision-making process can seem daunting, but it’s not.
The first thing to consider when choosing window treatments is what kind of feel a room should have. Different rooms in the home have different ambiances, so there may be a mixture of different styles of window treatments throughout the home. Window treatments identify the design tone of a room. If a room has long, heavy drapes and sheers, it is a formal room, while rooms with shades and blinds are more casual rooms.
Curtains and drapes are window treatments that are typically used in living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms. Blackout panels can be added for curtains that are used in bedrooms, and thermal lining can be added to both curtains and drapes for extra insulations.
Curtains and drapes are usually part of a layered window treatment that might consist of a blind, shutter, or shade closest to the window, followed by sheer curtains or valances, and then finally the curtains or drapes. One of the benefits of layered window treatments is that each layer adds extra insulation for the window.
Valances and cornices are window treatments that are used to dress windows. They are decorative fabrics that can be used with curtains and drapes, or as window treatments in bathrooms or kitchens, in conjunction with blinds, shades, or shutters.
Shades are window treatments that come in many styles. They cover windows from top to bottom when they are closed to provide color and privacy. They can be used in any room in the home.
Sheers and lace curtains are window treatments that are made from lightweight materials that allow a lot of light into a room. They are typically used with curtains and drapes, as a way to allow softened sunlight into a room. However, they don’t provide much privacy, so they should be used in conjunction with other types of window treatments.
Blinds are window treatments that can be vertical or horizontal. Blinds are made with metal, wood, and composite materials and are available in different colors. These are popular window treatments that provide excellent privacy and light control. Vertical blinds are often used with sliding glass doors, but they are also available in sizes that will fit windows. Blinds work well in any room in the house.
Shutters are window treatments that add an aesthetic feel to a home. They are made of wood or composite materials and many color options are available. Shutters provide excellent levels of privacy, light control, and air flow control when windows are open. They also are good insulators when they are mounted inside windows because they keep cold air out and warm air in during winter months. This makes them an energy-efficient window treatment choice that will keep the internal temperature of the home comfortable, reduce the amount of power that is used, and lower energy bills.
When choosing window treatments, material is critical. With window treatments that use fabrics, consider how the texture and weight will provide light control and how it will hold up to sun exposure.
If you’d like learn more about which window treatments are best for your home, you can talk with our knowledgeable team at McNeill Palm. You can visit our showroom at 655 Grand Blvd Ste 106D, Miramar Beach, FL 32250, or you can contact us at (850) 613-6228.