Window Treatments And Coverings

by Doug Bolton
HomeOwnerNet Columnist

Window treatments can completely change the mood, look and feel of your home. For something that takes up little space in the house, window coverings can control the atmosphere more than any other interior decorations. Besides just being decoration, window shades, blinds or shutters can provide very useful functionality to any room in your house.

How do you decide what is the right window treatment or coverings for your home? It depends on many variables that need to be decided, as which are important to you or not.

With so many choices, this article will attempt to give you the general overview of selecting the best window fashions for your home. Window Treatments

Selecting a Window Treatment

Your tastes, preferences and style of home should guide your decision making process. First ask yourself, what style of windows I like and want do I need for my house. Style is elusive and fashions change. There are many different window treatment styles to choose from, the best way is just to find a gallery show room and look at many different types of coverings. A good resource is asking experienced staff members at your local window treatment dealer, as they have answered the same questions many times over.

Are you a do-it-yourself type person, if so, here is your starting point:

Room Space

Light: The direction windows face and their exposure to the sun determines how much or how little natural light enters a room. Besides this indirect light, make sure you know how much the actual sun light enters the room as this dramatically affects the type of covering to choose.

Color: The color of your room changes the mood of the room and adding a new or contrasting window treatment could disrupt this mood. As a guide, allow your main color to occupy 75% of a room and 15% for your secondary color and 10% for an accent color.

Room Size: As a guideline, vertical window fashions can add height and dignity to a room, while horizontal ones often suggest relaxation and informality. Fabric window shadings with gentle folds can counterbalance the rigid lines of a room's design, especially if the room features boxy window grids and moldings.

Functionality

Do you need privacy?
Do you want a temperature warm or cool room?
How bright or dark to you want a room to be?
What shape or size of room do you want to portray?
When it comes to operating and using the window treatments, such as opening or closing, do you want it manual or electric?
Do you need sound absorbent material?
Do you need protection from UV rays?
Is safety a big concern?
Do you have pets in the room?
Considering maintenance of your window coverings, how much time should be involved?

Article courtesy of Window Fashions of Texas.
We hope this article offers you some insight for selecting a window treatment or cover for your windows. If you’re in Austin or San Antonio Texas, please stop by and see us. We are the only Hunter Douglas Showroom Gallery in central Texas and would love to explain or answer any of your questions.

About the Author
Doug Bolton is the owner of Homerwood Hardwood Floors located in the heart of the Pennsylvania hardwoood region - Titusville PA.