When you’re decorating your home, windows should be at the top of your list. From blinds to drapes, to shades and shutters, windows have a lot of different options to choose from. Here are a few tips to help you choose the window treatment that is perfect for you and your home.
Establish Your Home Needs
Are you looking for window treatments to give you more privacy? Are you looking for energy efficiency, darker or lighter rooms, or just pure decoration? Before you go shopping, you need to determine why you’re buying window treatments in the first place.
Measure Up!
Next, measure your windows. Don’t just measure around, but go ahead and measure the frames, the ceiling-to-floor height, and the width of the frame and pane area. If you don’t know your measurements there is no point in even window shopping (pun intended). Make sure you write all of your measurements down beforehand, and go ahead and snap a few photos with your cell phone as well. You don’t want to leave anything out. Measurements will determine which drapes you can install, if valances will fit above your windows, or if your window treatment ideas are even feasible.
Consider Your Décor
While you’re planning, take your current decoration into account. You don’t want to buy drapes that clash with the rest of your living room, so take a few pictures of your room as well. The last thing you want is to bring home frilly shades that make your mininimalist couch look ridiculous. Keep in mind that you may not always keep your room the way it is, so for the sake of frugality you may be better off buying a neutral window treatment design that can evolve with the room.
Determine The Purpose Of Your Space
Lastly, figure out what exactly you will be doing in the space you’re changing. For example, if you are trying to buy window treatments for a home office, you’ll want something that lets in natural light for when you’re working, like blinds and light drapes, but something that can also block out natural light in case you get any glares on your television or computer screen. If you’re decorating for a kitchen that looks out into the backyard, you won’t need to be as concerned with privacy as say, a room that overlooks a busy street. Your window treatments need to work with your room and your needs. Second story window treatments will be completely different from a first floor’s window treatments. Valances might work well with your living room's twenty foot ceiling, but will make a small bedroom seem claustrophic.
