Your Guide To Window Treatments

When it comes to window treatments, we tend to leave them until last. Thinking they are just to give privacy, used to blackout a room and distinguish the natural light, or even control the temperature. Even though all the above are true, they have a much more important role in your home.

The options are endless, and this can lead to you being overwhelmed. However, there are ways to narrow this down…

• We can look at the architectural style of your home.
• What’s your style and what room you are thinking about?
• Will it be hard treatments like blinds, or shutters, or soft treatments like curtains?

When choosing window treatments, they should come into the scheme from the beginning. It’s like when you are going out, you choose your outfit then forget to choose shoes, a bag, or jewellery to accessorise it.

How to get started

Firstly, decide what you want the window treatments to achieve or do. So, this is where you will be looking at styles and functions. 

Are you looking for a country homely feel? Then cotton or tartan could be preferable depending on your room style. Or maybe a coastal vibe, a light, and flowy voile might be right again depending on your scheme.

Let’s look at what options you have and where you would use these. 

To help you work this out, ask yourself what works best with your architecture. 

Can I make it work with my design style? Would it work with my lifestyle? 

Need to set a budget are there more affordable alternatives out there? 

What are you requiring them to do?

Hard or soft.

 Window treatments are either hard or soft. 

Soft treatments are made from fabrics that can be made into curtains, drapes, and Roman blinds. 

When it comes to hard window treatments, you will be looking at materials such as wood, bamboo, vinyl, and metal these are normally used to create blinds, shutters, and shades. 

Soft treatments don’t mean that you have no light control or privacy. It all comes down to the correct fabric, colour, and pattern to create the way and the look. 

Blackout liners can help control the light seeping in and help with the temperature.

Roman blinds, this option is a timeless style that can stand alone or be paired with other treatments for a layered look. 

Voiles or sheers, if you love some privacy and love natural light, they are ideal for this. They offer a soft look and again can be paired with curtains for a layered look.

Hardwood window treatment options. 

These offer light, privacy, and temperature control. 

Venetian blinds originally started as hardwood blind that was very popular, and in the ’70s aluminum blinds took over and you can still see these blinds in various materials today. Great for light control and temperature control. 

Shutters, another classic. 

These can be seen a lot more again, now made from wood or faux wood. Add character and again, assist with temperature and light control. 

Roller blinds have been around since the 1700s. Invented in Glasgow, these offer light window treatment and can be set at different levels over the glass. More popular again as more are being used as features due to the prints that can be printed onto them to look more like a piece of art.

Illusion or day and night blinds are very popular as they allow complete control of privacy and light. They come in a whole host of colours and sizes making them very stylish, and they can be used alone or softened with curtains depending on your schemes.

When it comes to window treatments, it doesn’t have to stop there. You can still add additional detail. This again depends on the look and style you are after. 

With all window treatments, they can be used together or alone, one for practicality and one for the feeling/look.

Top treatments, where you can use a fabric to frame the window and help hide hardware. Layering techniques. 

Fringing. Great for a classic look. Can be added to the top, bottom, and edges. 

Inset bands. Instead of patterned fabrics, these can add a decorative touch to plain curtains.

Ready Made or Bespoke?

These can all be found ready-made, but you may like to have something custom-made if you just can’t find what you like. Custom-made can cost more, but you will see the statement that they can make. They last longer and fit perfectly. You choose custom fabrics to match your style perfectly.

As you can see, the right window treatments are so important to assist with privacy, light, temperature, and decor. With so many options, it can be overwhelming. 

We hope this guide will help you with the right choice. If you need any further assistance, do not hesitate to contact Ann, your fairy godmother expert from Ann Cope Interior Design. 

01206 673142 or hello@anncopeinteriordesign.co.uk