“Hey, do you think this would look better with a roman or cellular shade?”
“Should we put some blackout material behind these venetian blinds?”
“Café shutters would look good here, or are plantation shutters the way to go?
If your answer to all of these questions is “What?”, I feel you. Window treatments, am I right?
You finally have your own place. You’ve moved out of your parent’s or maybe you can now afford to live roommate-free. Maybe you just got a mortgage approved for the home of your dreams. Point is, you now have something to call your own. You’ve thought about everything, including where the big-screen TV is going and the layout of the living area. You want a comfy chair with a decent lamp next to it so you can start reading all those books piling up in the corner. You found antique candleholders that go great together with a vase you inherited from grandma. You’ve recovered a rug that really ties the room together.
It’s all happening; you want your personality to be reflected in your home.
But you've been so focused on furniture and rugs, you forgot one essential home decor aspect: window treatments. I mean, really, it’s just a window. How much thought do you need to invest in what you’re going to hang up? How essential is this?
For one thing, window treatments regulate the amount of brightness inside your home. They can also serve as insulation, provide or take away privacy, or give additional depth and charm to an otherwise bland space. So yeah, they are pretty important.
There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a window treatment that both looks good and is functional.
Take my hand, it’s alright. We’ll get through this together. It’s pretty fun, actually.
THE SPACE
It all begins with space. There’s what you have and what you wish for it to become. Picture it in your mind, maybe even put that thought to pen and paper. Ask yourself: Do you want a gust of cool air wafting around your living room? Would you like to be able to look out your window and see the morning dew on the lilac shrubs? Are your nosey neighbors too vigilant of the activity going on in your kitchen? Is the outside glare messing up your home theater experience? These are all valid thoughts; after all, you want to feel comfortable and safe in your space. So, how do you address these preoccupations? Just one word: blinds.
OPTIONS
“Blinds” is usually a catch-all term referring to any type of window covering made out of any type of material with any kinds of features. But, for our purposes, we’ll differentiate the main types of “blinds” and we’ll call this cumulative “window treatments.”
When we talk about window treatments, we’re talking about a wide range of approaches to decorate the area within and around the framework. Different types of treatments, fabrics, and textures lead to distinct results. Still have that image of the personalized space in your mind? Here are the ways you can get there.
Blinds
Although the term is often used interchangeably when referring to shades or other window coverings, proper blinds are a system of slats (either vertical or horizontal) made from an array of materials like wood, plastic, or metal. A pulley system controls the raising and lowering of horizontal blinds, while a separate pole controls the opening and closing of the slats. Horizontal blinds (like Venetians) are ubiquitous as they are affordable, simple to install, and versatile. Venetians are good at controlling the amount of light a room receives and the level of privacy in it. Natural looking materials like wood, bamboo, or even faux wood give the space an added touch of charm and warmth, while using metal or plastic provides functionality but not much by way of style.
Vertical blinds work basically the same way as horizontal ones except, well, they’re vertical. These types are more generally used for large window panels that go all the way to the floor or as coverings for sliding doors. They’re simple to use and clean up easily.
There is a plethora of styles and designs for blinds, and even though there are more sophisticated window treatment options, blinds do offer solid performance, with good brightness and privacy controls. Blinds function well in any setting, but especially when covering spaces that are not a focal point in the home (like bathrooms or small window panels) or wherever you might want to have greater light-filtering control.
Shades
On the other hand, shades (usually lumped in with proper blinds) are panels of material used as window coverings. Shades won’t let you adjust the amount of light or privacy like blind slats, but they are better at filtering or completely blocking light, depending on the type and material of the selected shade. They also offer more fashion-forward options.
Cellular shades, also known as honeycomb shades, are more effective for room temperature control because of their shape. The pockets create a barrier, holding air and preventing it from cooling or warming when it comes in contact with the windowpane.
Roman shades are popular because of their functionality and tastefulness. The solid panel of fabric drapes when raised and flattens out when lowered. More than other types of shades or blinds, roman shades come in a variety of styles and functions, making these a solid choice for most spaces.
Roller shades are more practical than stylish. Serving as screens or complete blackout shades, these are perfect for your home theater setting. If combined with blinds or other window treatments, functionality can be paired with elegance.
Drapes/curtains
When we think of windows we usually envision long curtains or drapes hanging from rods, fabric swaying in the breeze, valances or toppers adorning its height. But even though drapery looks fancier, it’s not necessarily the best fit for a particular space. It requires more maintenance (and a larger budget) than blinds or shades. With the available options for the latter window treatments, you should take into account the additional monetary and time investment required before deciding on drapery.
Shutters
At the higher end of the window treatment spectrum you’ll find shutters: durable, classic, and pricey. They certainly add architectural emphasis and refinement to the space, so if you want to deck out your kitchen nook with café shutters, be prepared for a larger investment than the above-mentioned options.
These are just a few of the most popular options. However, the preponderance of possibilities is startling. One need only look at home decor shows on cable, the endless amounts of blogs or Pinterest boards to understand the enormity of this industry.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Blinds and other window treatments can substantially control a room’s temperature and improve the energy efficiency of heating and cooling systems. If this is an area of concern for you, please research the ways in which you can mitigate these issues. Your wallet will appreciate it.
Almost all types of “blinds” come in standard dimensions, but it behooves you to measure your space to make certain that prefabricated treatments fit perfectly. If not, customization is the name of the game.
Cleaning can be a chore. Some treatments (drapes, curtains, even certain blinds) are more labor intensive when it comes to maintenance. However, certain fabrics and materials are available that resist dust accumulation, so you won’t have to use a vacuum or duster as often.
Finally, the majority of blinds and shades come with motorized options for set positions and timed openings and closings. You could conceivably set your bedroom shades to fully open at 8:00 a.m., letting that golden sunshine bathe you in its warm embrace, and announcing that, hey, you’re late for work. It also works for hard to reach areas, so you won’t have to duck behind a large armoire and look for blind’s drawstring.
Whatever your case may be, don’t feel overwhelmed. Even though the multitude of options seems like a hindrance, it’s actually quite liberating to have them. Just remember, it’s your space, make it so.