There are a mind-numbing number of window treatments on the market today.
You may hear them referred to as hard and soft treatments.
The hard treatments (the shutters, horizontal and vertical blinds) usually satisfy the practical functions.
Those functions remain much as they were years ago, to provide light control, privacy, energy efficiency and ventilation. Think carefully about the practical functions your window coverings must provide.
Before making you decision, survey the room where you are installing them.
There is more to consider than just size, color and cost.
- Consider how the light affects the room at different times of the day.
- What direction are the windows facing?
- Is there a fantastic view you don’t want to shut out?
- Is too much sunlight hitting the big screen TV?
- Is your new sofa or carpet going to end up faded?
- Are all the windows in the room the same size?
- What is the style you envision for the room?
And this is just for starters!
The Hunter Douglas Company website has a fantastic in-depth section on all the functional considerations of window treatments.
Technology has greatly advanced the window treatment industry.
The word “blinds” no longer conjures up images of your grandmother’s metal, finger-slicing Venetian blinds.
Blinds are now being created in a myriad of finishes, materials and slat sizes. Wood has surpassed metal and vinyl as a favorite. The industry has even created a faux-wood for use in high humidity areas!
Of course there are the wonderfully energy-efficient “honeycomb” blinds and elegant sheer fabric-vane shades.
A word of caution. There are blinds from hundreds of manufacturers on the market. If you are making a large investment, make sure you have asked about the warranty. It’s nice to know you can resolve a problem should one arise.
Need help measuring for blinds? Here it is!
Draperies, shades and top treatments are the soft, decorative coverings.
These are the treatments that will make a decorator’s heart beat faster! Most decorators love designing decorative treatments.
We think of the decorative treatment as the frosting on a cake. Without the frosting, it’s just a couple layers of cake sitting on the counter. Add the frosting (or in this case, the window treatment) and it pulls everything together and gives it a finished look.