Before You Buy Window Treatments

There are a few questions you should ask yourself before you start shopping for window treatments.

What activities are going to be done in this room?

What are the privacy and light control needs? Not every room will be the same. For example, you may not need the same amount of privacy for a dining room as you may need for a bedroom. Do you want the capacity to filter or completely block out the sunlight? Do you want window coverings that allow for great flexibility in both privacy and light control?

How do the windows open? Windows that open up and down often require different window treatments than those that open side to side.

Are there any specialty or unusually shaped windows? Also consider glass doors that may need treatments.

Are there children, pets or elderly persons living in the home? Some types of window coverings can pose a safety threat to small children or pets with their pull cords.

Is there a need to control temperature or is energy efficiency a concern? Consider the heat in the summer and cold in the winter, along with the exposure of the room - does it face north, south, east or west?

Design considerations
The two most important things to consider when selecting window treatments are function and design.

The main point to remember is that a well-designed window treatment suits not only the window, but also harmonizes with the room. The window treatments should be to scale with the room itself and with its furnishings. Learn more about measuring for window treatments

Think about other interior finishes and furniture when choosing colors, styles and textures of window coverings.

Window treatments can dramatically impact the feeling or mood of a room. The mood of a room can be soft and elegant, casual and comfortable, classic and traditional or clean and contemporary. The activities that will take place in the room will usually determine the mood or feeling desired for a room.

Also consider the actual architectural style of the window itself.

If drama is desired, or if the window is supposed to be a focal point of a room, contrast the color of the window treatments with the color of the walls.

On the other hand, window treatments in colors that blend or coordinate with the walls can make the room look larger.

Window treatments are available in a huge array of colors. Bright colors can add a playful energy to any room, and are great for kids’ bedrooms and playrooms.

Neutral colors provide longevity and flexibility. These colors – whether black, white, gray, brown, beige, or cream – create the perfect rooms in which to live and relax.

Because window coverings become permanent fixtures in a home, it is important to select a color that will be easy to live with for a long time or a color that will appeal to future homeowners if selling the home is a possibility in the future. Neutral colors are timeless and allow for the other, more easily replaceable, design elements to change as needed, such as pillows on a sofa, area rugs, paint and accessories.

Neutral does not have to mean boring. A coordinated mix of neutrals with different textures can make a room very interesting. When considering neutral colors for window coverings remember that many pastels can create a neutral effect while still adding a little color to the room.

The color of window coverings plays a role on the interior of a home, but also on the exterior. Be sure to examine the backside of the window coverings so you will know how they look on the outside of your home. Different window treatments in different rooms can create a hodgepodge appearance for the outside. Some window coverings offer white backings to make windows all appear the same from the outside, no matter what colors are on the inside. Plus, some communities have covenants against visible window coverings in non-neutral colors.

Fabrics with texture create a more casual atmosphere.

Smooth, sleek, or shiny fabrics add elegance to a room.