Whatever is the style of your house, windows are its principal features. Whenever we stand in any room, the first thing we notice is the shape, size of the window, and amount of light that enters in the room through it. There also arises the need for some covering for creating privacy. By dressing the windows in a cloth, you can link it to the rest of your room décor, soften the architectural mood of a room, and maintain the privacy by blocking the view in and out.
Window treatments might not be as permanent as the window, but they play an important role in establishing the ambience in the room. It enhances the character of the room. So, let us have a look at why we need window treatments for your window?
What are the Need of Window Treatments in House?
01. Window Treatments gives Decorative Effect:
Window treatments integrate the window with interior of the room and give the room a decorative value. As there are various types of window treatments, by using the appropriate one, you can add color, texture, or some stylish element to your room.
02. Window Treatments Can Control Temperature:
If you live in cold climate and wants to cut down on draft coming from the windows, you may go for window treatments, as you can insulate your windows by using window treatments like thermal curtains. Similarly it will also reduce the impact of heat in hot climate.
03. Window Treatments Would be able to Controls Lights:
By using appropriate type of window treatment, you can control the amount of light that lets in your house through windows. Window treatments like blackout shades are used specifically for blocking almost 99% of light in your interior space, whereas the sheer curtains allow the ample light to pass through just by softening the light slightly, whereas there are blinds that helps you you to control the amount of light to pass through by tilting the slats.
04. Window Treatments offers the privacy:
Window treatment offers the privacy as per need. It may cut down on visibility for providing required amount of privacy in specific room like a bathroom. Thus, you can opt for frosted, textured, or stained glass window panes for lowering down the visibility through window in a way that it allows light to shine through it.
Thus, as window treatments provide quite good amount of advantages, you should think once to give it a place in your house. Before deciding the right window treatment for your window, it is very important to first consider the window proportion in relation to the room and shape of window to check whether it poses any limitation for selection of type of window treatment. Thus, assessing window is vital before choosing right window treatment.
How to Assess Window for the Right Window Treatment?
Windows falls in various categories but mostly, it falls into one of the following categories: Portrait Window, Landscape window or square shaped window. There might be so many often possibilities of arrangement of windows on a wall e.g., two or more portrait windows are positioned side by side, one larger landscape wall in a center of the wall, etc. which governs the selection of window treatment.
These window treatments as per the window arrangements are very well explained in a Reader’s Digest Book named Curtains & Shades – A Step-by-step Guide to Creative Window Treatments by ‘Melanie Paine’[53]. Here are some examples which can help you in understanding how the position of window helps in selection of window treatment.
01. Window Treatment for two or more different windows in the same room:
In this situation, it might be possible that you select different window treatments for different style of windows, but here it is advisable to stick to the same fabric. This is clearly demonstrated in the image below where windows with Roman shades & Pleated curtains of similar fabric are used for two different windows located on same wall.
02. Window Treatment for window close to the adjacent wall:
In this situation, it is advisable to emphasize on asymmetry and go for the single panel curtain with chunky tieback and decorative heading.
03. Window Treatment for Window on Stairs:
In this situation, shades are considered as an ideal alternative, but you can even go for single panel curtain with ornamental finials.
04. Window Treatment for window close to Ceiling:
In this situation, if there is no wall space left for a support, fix a fabric covered board secured to ceiling or you can even use ceiling fixing.
05. Window Treatment for window with radiator beneath:
In this situation, it is advisable to use sill level curtain, shade or blind. Or you can ignore the radiator and go for full length curtain.
Thus we saw how the arrangement of windows can cause limitation in selection of window treatment. This can even help you to narrow down your selection of window treatment option. So, now let’s have a look at some points to be kept in mind while selecting right type of window treatment for your windows.
Choosing the Right Window Treatment
The right window treatment can complement the room and can enhance its look, whereas selecting the wrong option can make room look incomplete. So here are some points that can help you in selecting right window treatment for your house
01. Know various types of window treatment options that suits your room.
02. Know the functionality of window and decide how you want to operate your curtain, drape or shade – Up & Down or Side-to-Side or Tilting.
03. Evaluate the amount of privacy you need for the specific room.
04. Decide how often you will open or close your window treatment
05. See which window treatment matches your interior style.
06. Consider cleaning and maintenance of window treatment
07. See whether the decided window treatment sets in your budget or not.The above stated points will help you in deciding right covering for windows. For detailed explanation, you can have a glance at our article:
Types of Window Treatments
Treatments that are used for covering the window include:
The most popular window treatments that are used nowadays are:
01. Curtains
02. Drapes
03. Blinds, and
04. ShadesAll these window treatments are available in various styles and designs to match your interiors.
So, let’s have a look at these types in brief.
Curtains:
Curtains are the most popularly used type of window treatment since years which not only decorates the room but also controls the natural light and provide privacy to the home users. These curtains are available in various styles, colors, materials, designs, and patterns. So, let’s have a look at these types of curtains for your windows.
- Types of Curtains:
To narrow down the options for selection of curtains, lets first divide the curtains on the basis of its style that will fit your window of specific room.
Single Panel Curtain
Panel Pair Curtain
Valance
Window Scarf
Curtain Liner
Window Treatment Set
- Types of Curtains based on opacity:
Different rooms require different level of opacity level for your curtains. This depends on the amount of privacy you need your curtain to provide and also on how much natural light you want the curtains can pass through it while they are closed. Thus, depending upon required opacity level, curtains are classified as follows:
Sheer Curtain
Semi – Opaque Curtain
Black Out Curtain
- Types of Curtains based on Attachment Style:
Depending on your selection of style of curtain for window, some attachment style would be better option for making your window look clean and complete. This attachment style is important to be considered if you are not going to include valence with your curtains.
Rod Pocket Curtain
Groomet and Eyelet Curtain
Hidden Tab Curtain
- Types of Curtains based on Architectural Style:
Different types of architectural styles demand various types of curtains to match with interiors of the room. Thus, have a look at curtains as per their style.
Classical Curtain
Modern Curtain
Contemporary Curtain
- Types of Curtains based on Materials:
Curtains can be made using various types of materials depending upon the required look, warmth, patterns, etc. here are some most popularly used materials for curtains.
Cotton Curtain
Linen Curtain
Velvet Curtain
Silk Curtain
Synthetic Curtain
Lace Curtain
Burlap Curtain
- Types of Curtains based on Curtain Pattern:
Curtains can even be classified on the basis of pattern as follows:
Patterned Curtain
Solid Curtain
- Types of Curtains based on Curtain Length:
All the curtain lengths are not suitable for all the places. Thus, it is important to choice type of curtain based on its length as shown.
Sill Length Curtain
Apron Length Curtain
Floor Length Curtain
Puddle Length Curtain
These were various types of curtains used as window treatments for your windows. If you are interested to know about his type In detail, have a glance at article:
After acquiring quite good knowledge about curtains, let’s have a quick glance at drapes.
Drapes
Many people think that curtains and drapes are similar but, there is a slight difference between curtain and drapes. They are also known by terms draperies and drapery panels. Drapes hang from the top of the window to the floor. Drapes are made up of thick material like velvet and are pleated generally. Drapes are usually classified by style of heading i.e., the top of curtain panels. So let’s have a glance at type of drapes.
Types of Drape:
Various types of drapes are available in market for proper blending with the interiors off the interior space. Here are some of the most popular used drapes.
Ripple Fold Drape
Tailored Pleat Drape
Pinch Pleat Drape
Inverted Pleat Drape
Goblet Drape
Grommet / Ring Drape
Rod Pocket Drape
Let us now have a look at the modern alternative of a window treatment that is commonly used nowadays, i.e., blinds.
Blinds:
The reason behind increase in the use of blinds as a window treatment is, that the blind restricts the light, controls the heat and adds beauty to the space. Blinds differs curtains to a greater extent. One of the biggest advantages of blind is, they don’t fade away as faster as compared to curtains. Blinds are available in various shapes, styles and sizes. So, let’s have a look at it.
- Styles of Blinds:
To balance the décor and functional requirement of a room, it is important to assess how much light does a blind need to block and the amount of privacy a blind need to maintain. So, these factors can help you out in selection of appropriate type amongst various styles.
Roller Blinds
Venetian Blinds
Vertical Blinds
Mini Blinds
Micro Blinds
Panel Track Blinds
Faux Wood Blinds
- Styles of Blinds based on Materials:
Different materials that can be used for making of a blind are:
Wooden Blinds
Bamboo Blinds
Plastic Blinds
Aluminum Blinds
Composite Blinds
If you are interested I knowing more about blinds, we have a informative article named:
Now, let us have a look at shades as window treatment in brief.
Shade:
Window shades are one of the most basic styles of a window treatment comprising of a full length thick fabric that pulls up or down with the help of cord or any other lifting mechanism. Window shade is an affordable window treatment that controls the heat and light, reduces noise pollution, increase the privacy level and is easy to maintain. Provision of shades is an easy way through which you can add color, pattern or texture to your space within your budget, because they are available in various varieties as per our budget.
- Styles of Window Shades:
Roman Shades
Pleated Shades
Cellular Shades
Motorized Shades
Solar Shades
Roller Shades
Sheer Shades
Bamboo Shades
Balloon Shades
Skylight Window Shades
If you are getting bit confused while selecting amongst the window treatments, then for clearing your doubts we have differentiated between this windows treatments in one of our articles named:
Summering up, with the personalized features and useful upgrades in each type of window treatments, these alternatives are the great way to personalize your interior spaces. We hope this guide will help you in understanding your choices regarding window treatments and choose the best alternative for the windows of your house.
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