5 Valuable Factors to Consider When Choosing Window Coverings

Dec 10

Perfect window treatments can help amplify the beauty of a well-decorated home. They’re also among the few things that are instantly noticeable in any room. Professional interior decorators have recognized this and hence, make window coverings a high-priority item in any home remodelling checklist. If you’ve been living in your home for quite a while, it’s possible that it has the same old-fashioned blinds that had been installed initially.

Older curtains and blinds can make modern homes look dated and old-fashioned. It can also be difficult finding replacement slats or other damaged parts. It’s much easier to install new window treatments in your home to provide a fresh look to your interiors.

Factors to Consider Choosing Window Coverings

Here are some factors you should consider when picking out window treatments for your home.

Light Control

There’s no point in having windows if you’ll never allow any light to shine through them into your home. For this purpose, you need to choose window treatments that will look equally as good when they’re kept open as they are when they’re shut. For instance, slatted blinds can be closed completely, restricting any light from entering the room and opening them by varying degrees can allow partial light flow. For full exposure, they can be drawn up or sideways. Pull-down shades are a more affordable option which also allows some versatility of vertical and horizontal blinds. However, they are a little more restrictive when considering the ability to allow you to see outside while they’re pulled down. A better alternative is to install fabric shades since they allow you to have the best of both worlds with light dampening and letting you get a view of the outside at the same time. However, the amount of natural light you can allow indoors to illuminate your home greatly depends on how many windows you have available in each room and the type of window treatments you pick out.

Privacy

It’s obvious that no one would want to live in a house where it’s easy for the outsiders to have a look indoors. So, it’s important for you to install a window treatment that provides ample privacy to the homeowners. Houses and rooms located at the ground-level are known to be more exposed to pedestrian traffic. If you live in one of the higher floors of a high-rise building, this may not be the case, however, your home may still be visible to people living in close-by buildings on the same level as you.

With custom window treatments, you can rest assured knowing that they will provide the kind of privacy your home needs. Fortunately, there is a wide range of options that you can choose from that suits your home’s aesthetics and your need for privacy. Certain heavy window coverings like blackout and wood shades can come in handy whereas thinner drapes might need a dual layer accompanying them to reduce outside visibility, especially during the night.

Room Function

Different rooms in your home have different needs for natural light and privacy. A room primarily used for sleeping or watching television will need window treatments that minimize solar glare as it can be hard on the eyes. Similarly, you may need darker shutters, shades,and curtains to create an atmosphere for you to enjoy these activities. Alternatively, if you have a room meant for artistic endeavours, such as sewing, sculpting or painting, among others, allowing natural light is important and you will need window coverings that permit maximum illumination.

You should take window treatments for your bathroom and bedroom into consideration too as they need extreme privacy. Your bathroom and kitchen window coverings should be made of materials which can also handle additional moisture and heat. Know that there are solutions available for every room in your home. All you need to do is choose the correct combination of custom coverings that can help enhance the utility of the rooms suited to your needs.

Decor

Nobody wants to replace the window treatments in their home and not have them look great. It is important that you find coverings which go well with the rest of the decor in every room. If you are decorating your home with contemporary furnishings, you should not install treatments such as rustic window shutters as they will throw the look and feel of the decor. On the other hand, roller shades in neutral colours will pair perfectly with this type of decor. Remember that there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to home decor, so there are no rules you could break. It’s possible that you might either want to fuse certain decorating styles in your home that don’t traditionally go together or to keep a consistent theme all over the house. Whatever you choose to do; in the end, it’s your home and hence, your decision.

Energy Savings

This has more to do with the comfort in your home and less to do about how it looks. Therefore, energy efficient window treatments can help you save tons of money you would otherwise be spending on heating and cooling your home. Depending on the direction in which your window is facing, you need to decide if you want to block the light out or allow it to come in. This also determines the temperature of the room, and so, it is vital for you to pick out the right window covering.

Details

Once you have taken all of the above-mentioned factors into consideration, the next thing you should do is think about the small finishing touches. As small and insignificant as they may seem, these little changes can make a huge impact. Decide whether you want your window treatment to be face mounted or recessed and should it open vertically or horizontally. Interior designers suggest hanging the window treatments a few inches above the window frame to provide a sense of height. However, if you are going for a more traditional look, you can add a few extra inches to the length of the fabric to make it puddle slightly on the floor.

Window coverings have the ability to help accent the overall style of your home and change the look and feel of the rooms they are installed in. Along with providing functional usage, they also help control the temperature indoors and diffuse light. With the huge variety of options available, you can take your time and get inspired before selecting a window treatment that’s perfect for your home.