window treatments 101

Window treatments can be very complicated. I have put together the following information to help guide those of you trying to do it on your own.

Chances are you need them-most rooms just don't look finished without them. Unless you are going for an over-the-top modern look and you have amazing windows and/or views…you need them. Of course there is function and style considerations to be made, but you need to start with function and then move on to style.

STEP ONE:

Think about what you NEED your window treatments to do before you worry about how they will look. Do you need privacy? Are you a light sleeper? What do you do in the room or rooms you need window treatments for?

After you have determined what you need from your treatments, it is time to look at all the options and decide which style will meet your needs best.

STEP TWO:

Consider all styles: draperies, romans, blinds, honeycombs/cellular, shutters, valences, vertical blinds, vertical panels, roller, pleated and cornice boxes. I have included descriptions of all these styles below to help you with your decision.

DRAPES:
Drapes are floor length treatments that hang from a rod and open side-to-side. They can be pleated or non-pleated and hung from different rod styles and types. Drapes are a full coverage style treatment, meaning that when in use they typically cover the entire window. You can choose decorative only drapes, and they are hung in the same manor but don't open or close. ALWAYS consider pets and kids when choosing drapes.

ROMANS:
Roman window treatments can be made from fabric, wood and other materials. They come in many styles and drop down from the top of the window. Roman styles can be inside or outside mounted and are great if you have trim worthy of showing off. I usually prefer an inside mounted roman as it is cleaner, but there are times when an outside mount is necessary or appropriate. Sometimes there just isn't enough room in the window for an inside mount or the window itself has operating elements that need a little room. When mounting outside the window, I will often take the roman all the way to the ceiling. This cleans up the look and can make the ceilings seem taller, if wanted. Romans also have various fold styles and can have a valence or no valence.

BLINDS:
Blinds come in wood, faux wood, metal, plastic and a fabric style (by Hunter Douglas). The slats can be various sizes and drop down from the top of the window. Blinds give you more flexibility than other styles because you can also turn the slats for various degrees of privacy. If you want your window treatments to contribute to the color and texture of a space don't choose blinds; they tend to be colder because of the lack of fabric.

HONEYCOMB/CELLULAR:
These treatments look like a honeycomb when viewing them in profile. These are a great option when your budget is tight but you need privacy. They have a fabric feel and are soft even though they are not made of fabric. They lack in any distinct style and I generally use them in secondary spaces like laundry rooms where style isn't as important. If you are in a time crunch, these are very quick to get made and are great to order as a temporary treatment until you can focus on what you want long term.

SHUTTERS:
Shutters are great for certain styles of homes but they don't work for everyone. They come in many of the same materials as blinds and share the same features as well, but are more substantial and more expensive. Shutters are also much more permanent and leave the scars behind when removed. So only choose shutters if you plan on keeping them long term.

VALENCES:
Valences are only decorative. They are mounted to the wall above a window and hang over the window by a few inches and can be styled and trimmed in many different ways. They can hang on a rod or be mounted directly to the wall. Valences can be used by themselves, or in combination with another type of treatment.

VERTICAL BLINDS:
This type of blind hangs vertically from a header rail. The vertical slats are usually 4-8" wide and have fabric mounted faces on a plastic slat for firmness. Vertical blinds open like blinds at varying degrees for privacy adjustments. They pull to the right or left and usually stack on one side.

VERTICAL PANELS:
Vertical panels are similar to vertical blinds, but they are much wider-around 1.5 feet to 2 feet wide each. They are moved by sliding the panels and can be positioned how ever the user likes in relation to each other. They can not be pivoted on the headrail like vertical blinds, however.

ROLLER SHADES:
Roller shades have gotten a bad reputation as cheap, vinyl window treatments. They have been reinvented in fun fabrics, colors, textures and are anything but cheap looking. They are mounted to the top of the window, typically inside and roll forward off the roll, or under. They are a clean solution to any space and can cost a lot less.

PLEATED SHADES:
Pleated shades are very similar to honeycombs, but when viewed in profile they make a zigzag shape instead of a honeycomb. They are made of the same fabric-like materials as honeycombs, but are even less expensive. Pleated shades are another great option for a quick, but temporary solution when privacy is needed-without spending a lot. They have a great lead time as well, so they are a quick solution for privacy needs.

CORNICE BOXES:
Cornice boxes are decorative only. They are used in combination with other window treatments like draperies and romans. They can be made of wood and stained, or covered in fabric. They can be styled in many ways from shape to decorative elements like tassels, ribbons and welting. They are mounted to the wall at the top section of the window or higher.

STEP THREE:

Now you need to decide on a fabric. Consider the room and whether it is formal or casual. When going formal, select a shinier fabric-like a silk/faux silk or sateen. You can also use a heavy weight fabric like velvet, flocked print or wool. When going casual-light weight matte fabrics are best, like cotton or linens. Sheers are also great. Pattern does not matter. Any pattern can be dressed up or down depending on its fabric type.

Also think about how you want the fabric to perform. This question will help you to decide on the fabric type beyond the look-light or heavy, see-through or dark, full coverage or partial coverage. Seeing the shadow of a figure is different than seeing a naked figure. Window treatments can also help keep a room warmer in the winter or cooler in the summer.

How important is ease of care to you? Natural fibers can fade or be eaten by the sun and cannot be cleaned. They also wrinkle easily. Man-made fibers are generally not affected by the sun, can be cleaned and if they become wrinkled will usually hang out. Also consider those that live with you-mainly children, dogs and cats. Significant others can usually be trusted, but babies like to grab, dogs like to rub and cats like to claw and swing. If you are worried about any of these things you shouldn't choose an expensive fancy fabric that can't be cleaned. Consider an easy care fabric that can be spot cleaned or dry cleaned when needed.

STEP FOUR (optional but recommended):

Hire a professional to measure and install your window treatments if they are custom (not purchased ready-made in a store). This will put the onus on the installer to measure correctly and if there are any mistakes made whether in size or damage done when installing they will need to pay for it.

If you are still feeling uncomfortable with this process, Step Five is to call me! I would love to help you with your selection and take much of the burden off of you.