Window treatments are design elements that we tend to put off until the last minute…or indefinitely. However, having no window treatments can leave you with a bare and cold view. The holidays are just around the corner. It’s time to refresh your view! Take the next 4-6 weeks to add window treatments that are sure to enhance and finish the design of your space.
Here are some considerations for turning your windows into a focal point.
WOVENS
Woven shades, like bamboo and matchstick, are very popular. These shades allow for light to shine through and let you see what’s going on outside. They give you privacy, are cost-effective and add character and texture to a bare window.
COLOR
Window treatments utilizing color can add that wow factor to a room. Grays and whites are very popular color choices these days. However, add a contrasting color to a window treatment adds dimension and carries your eye throughout the space. Blue in various shades like aquamarine, teal, and soft green fill your space with comfort. Other soothing colors are soft lavender and gray, dusty hues. As for jewel tones, try persimmon, orange and gold. The new basic color is brown and continues to dominate window treatment color choices.
LUXURY
Silks, velvets, damasks, fur, leather and suede all give you the “luxe” feel and ambiance. Linda Henry, editor-in-chief of Window Fashions magazine, says this trend includes “sparkling crystal, beaded tassels and lavish embellishments on every element of the window — hardware, trimmings and fabric.”
SMOOTH
On the other hand, simple and sleek lines continue their stronghold in window fashions. You can find it in flowing drapes to chrome decorative hardware. Fashioning sleek silhouettes against a window instantly lends a clean, modern look to any window and room. A quick way to get truly streamlined treatments is with popular panel-track systems. Unlike their ugly vertical blind precursors, panel-track systems are made of fabric or woven-wood panels and can be used as room dividers or on window walls or doors.
FLORAL AND GEOMETRIC
Floral patterns that tend to attract more traditional tastes and fun, whimsical geometric patterns offering a younger spirit are popping up on windows. Incorporating one of these patterns into a window treatment shows off your personality, adds color, texture and can become a focal point of the space.
SILK
Silk is a pricier option for window treatments, but the shine and luxury of the fabric instantly wakes up a dull room. Look for 100 percent Como silk panels in a variety of colors as well as embroidered silks, plaid silks and jacquard paisley designs.
MULTI LAYER
Multi-layered window treatments, pairing one type of window treatment with another window treatment, gives you both functionality and design. The use of sun blocking window shades or blinds along with luxurious drapery adds a deeper dimension to your space. Cornice boards can also be paired with draperies for a look of sophistication.
HARDWARE
Decorative hardware for window treatments is slowly morphing from metallic, glass and glitz to wood and natural textures. Bamboo is also popular for its sustainable, environmentally-friendly quality. Drapery hardware adds an important element to your window treatment, and with it ranging from simple and sublime to big and bold, you need to make sure your hardware compliments your fabric. In addition, the placement of your hardware is key. For example, if you have a small window, allow the hardware to extend up to 5 inches beyond the sides of the window to allow the drapery to “frame” the window and thus, give it a larger appearance. If you need your window treatments to look taller to elongate the walls of your room, you might choose to mount the rod anywhere from 8 inches above the frame to just underneath the ceiling molding. Be sure to include the curtains’ hardware into the height – the curtain rings can add inches. You may also want to rest the draperies on one or both sides of the window.
TECHNOLOGY
Window blinds and roller shades can now be controlled via remote, a light switch or even the Internet. This doesn’t mean that your windows have to be cold and uninviting. The use of fabrics that give you a cozy feel will soften the stark edges of your windows and hide the technology. A child’s room is the perfect place for remote controlled blinds (no manual pulls) coupled with fun drapery panels.
GOING GREEN
Green design is becoming a popular trend from consumers looking to combat allergies to those looking for heat- or cold-repellant window panels. Performance fabrics have also gone “green,” with anti-microbial, anti-fungal traits woven into the yarn or offered as a topical spray. Stain-resistant and mildew- and mold-resistant fabrics are also popular picks for allergy sufferers. Even the environmentally conscious will feel right at home with non-toxic dyes on fabrics.
Choosing the right window treatments to compliment your space can be daunting. Do your research, seek the help on an Interior Designer or a Design Center. You will love what adding window treatments can do to enhance the look and feel of your space.