Window Treatments Part I

05 Mar Window Treatments Part I

How are you feeling about the way you’ve dressed your home so far??
If you feel like something is still missing, you’re right! It’s window treatments.

I refer to window treatments as the outerwear of your space. I am an outerwear fanatic. I despise bad weather and cold temperatures, but I love the opportunity said weather affords me to step up my outfit with a new layer. I choose coats that enhance my personal clothing style. I wear jackets in classic colors that have timeless fits, and include some fun embellishment like a bold zipper, oversized buttons, or a cute bow (shades of Kate Spade). Maybe you’re more of a scarf or hat person, either way the concept is the same- you choose items that adds polish to your outfit. Window treatments serve the same purpose in your space- they exist to enhance what you already have going on in the room.

There are a variety of window treatment types. To make the best choice on what type will work for you, you need to understand the primary goal the treatment will serve when in your space. Let me explain.

Common goals for window treatments are privacy, light control, and aesthetics. There are treatment types that check more than one box.

The first type is blinds:
Blinds offer light control and privacy. My personal favorite in the blinds category is 2” white faux woods. They are durable, customizable, and affordable. Everyone from a local box store to a local window treatment store offers a version of these.  Blinds layer well with decorative fabric treatments over top of them.  Valances and stationary drapes compliment blinds nicely.

Plantation shutters offer similar function to blinds with a slightly different aesthetic.  They are great solutions for windows that have trim you want to show off.  Fabric treatments, like drapes, can cover the trim but shutter allow it to stand out.  The price difference between shutters and blinds is great, so you’ll want to research the products in order to plan an appropriate budget.

When I first started my decorating career, I made a major mistake when ordering a client’s blinds. I mean MAJOR! I measured every window as if the blinds were to be mounted on the inside of her window frame. I failed to notice that because of the way the window functioned, we couldn’t hang a blind inside. Doing so, would have made the window inoperable. When we went to the house to install them, we made this discovery. Needless to say, I was mortified. In the end, we ordered correctly sized blinds to be mounted on the outside of the window frame and all was well. I share that story with you to help you avoid making the same mistake. The old adage “measure twice and cut once”, or in this instance it should be “measure twice and order once” is spot on. Always double check that what you are ordering will fit where you believe it will. Taking extra time on the front end to double check dimensions will help you avoid costly mistakes in the end. Most window treatment items are custom-order, so if you order incorrectly, there is no returning or exchanging the items.

Check back next week. I’ll be sharing about other window treatment alternatives to blinds and shutters.

-Liz