A Guide to Choosing Window Treatments
If the array of curtains, shades and shutters for windows is leaving you baffled about the best choice, here's professional help
Shane Inman
28 February 2018
Houzz contributor and senior principal interior designer of The Inman Company. Under Shane's leadership, The Inman Company is committed to raising the standard of business to incorporate the highest-quality customer service with unwavering excellence in design.
Houzz contributor and senior principal interior designer of The Inman Company. Under... More
Blinds or drapes? Cafe curtains or shades? Your biggest priority in choosing window treatments should be deciding whether you need privacy or light – or both! These professional tips can help you make the right decision.
Semisheer window treatments
A common space such as a family room or living room doesn’t usually require much privacy, but depending on the number of windows, it may always need light. Natural light helps brighten this living room, so the designer chose a beautiful semisheer fabric window treatment that offers light and subtle privacy even when it’s lowered.
Tip: Choose the thickness of your fabric based on the amount of light you want in the space – a thick fabric lets less light through than an ultrasheer fabric.
A common space such as a family room or living room doesn’t usually require much privacy, but depending on the number of windows, it may always need light. Natural light helps brighten this living room, so the designer chose a beautiful semisheer fabric window treatment that offers light and subtle privacy even when it’s lowered.
Tip: Choose the thickness of your fabric based on the amount of light you want in the space – a thick fabric lets less light through than an ultrasheer fabric.
Cellular shades
Many bathrooms, especially those on the first floor, need maximum privacy. This bathroom has a hard window treatment called a cellular shade. Referred to as a top-down/bottom-up shade, this shade allows you to walk around without being seen and still lets a lot of light in.
Tip: It’s constructed with a honeycomb design to keep the cold out and the heat in.
Wondering which window blind is right for you?
Many bathrooms, especially those on the first floor, need maximum privacy. This bathroom has a hard window treatment called a cellular shade. Referred to as a top-down/bottom-up shade, this shade allows you to walk around without being seen and still lets a lot of light in.
Tip: It’s constructed with a honeycomb design to keep the cold out and the heat in.
Wondering which window blind is right for you?
Draperies
Bedrooms on the first floor usually need more privacy than bedrooms on the second floor, but both may require natural light. This very contemporary floor-to-ceiling drapery offers light as well as privacy. When it’s closed, an entire wall of fabric still allows light in.
Tip: The drapery rod or track for floor-to-ceiling draperies can be installed on the wall or the ceiling, depending on what suits the room the best.
Bedrooms on the first floor usually need more privacy than bedrooms on the second floor, but both may require natural light. This very contemporary floor-to-ceiling drapery offers light as well as privacy. When it’s closed, an entire wall of fabric still allows light in.
Tip: The drapery rod or track for floor-to-ceiling draperies can be installed on the wall or the ceiling, depending on what suits the room the best.
Roller shades
Whether you have a bathroom on the first floor or on the second, closely situated neighbours can require privacy. This easy-to-install roller shade is perforated, allowing light to filter through.
Tip: Since window treatments at the back of tubs may be hard to reach, hardwire a roller shade so that you can conveniently manipulate it from a control panel or remote.
Try these alternatives to curtains
Whether you have a bathroom on the first floor or on the second, closely situated neighbours can require privacy. This easy-to-install roller shade is perforated, allowing light to filter through.
Tip: Since window treatments at the back of tubs may be hard to reach, hardwire a roller shade so that you can conveniently manipulate it from a control panel or remote.
Try these alternatives to curtains
Blackout curtains
Getting baby to sleep in the middle of the day can prove difficult with the sun blaring in – but not with blackout shades. Have a blackout lining – a very dense fabric that light can’t penetrate – sewn onto the back of any drapery fabric.
Tip: For absolute darkness, install floor-to-ceiling drapes 18 inches past each side of the window. This will ensure that as little light as possible seeps in through cracks.
Getting baby to sleep in the middle of the day can prove difficult with the sun blaring in – but not with blackout shades. Have a blackout lining – a very dense fabric that light can’t penetrate – sewn onto the back of any drapery fabric.
Tip: For absolute darkness, install floor-to-ceiling drapes 18 inches past each side of the window. This will ensure that as little light as possible seeps in through cracks.
Shutters
If your guests come for total relaxation, that may require sleeping in after the sun comes up. This bedroom has shutters installed with solid centre panels to block out all light. This window treatment also blends seamlessly into the creativity of the overall theme of the room. Bravo!
Tip: These shutters were painted red for high impact, but if you want a more toned-down look, paint them the same colour as your walls and watch them disappear.
Here’s why you should consider plantation shutters for your windows
If your guests come for total relaxation, that may require sleeping in after the sun comes up. This bedroom has shutters installed with solid centre panels to block out all light. This window treatment also blends seamlessly into the creativity of the overall theme of the room. Bravo!
Tip: These shutters were painted red for high impact, but if you want a more toned-down look, paint them the same colour as your walls and watch them disappear.
Here’s why you should consider plantation shutters for your windows
Stained glass
Should you have a great number of windows on or around your front door but want a little privacy, consider installing stained glass. This will turn your foyer into a focal point and prevent passersby from getting a full look into your home.
Tip: A similar effect can be created with vinyl to save on cost. Contact a local sign company to create this look for your home.
Should you have a great number of windows on or around your front door but want a little privacy, consider installing stained glass. This will turn your foyer into a focal point and prevent passersby from getting a full look into your home.
Tip: A similar effect can be created with vinyl to save on cost. Contact a local sign company to create this look for your home.
Layered treatments
Blackout curtains or shades are often necessary in a TV or media room. This media room goes the extra mile in achieving total movie theatre darkness by layering a Roman shade and floor-to-ceiling draperies.
Tip: The more fabric you add to your windows in your theatre or media room, the better the acoustics will be.
Read more:
6 Window Treatments That Will Change Your Perspective
Tell us:
What type of window treatment have you used? Tell us in the Comments below.
Blackout curtains or shades are often necessary in a TV or media room. This media room goes the extra mile in achieving total movie theatre darkness by layering a Roman shade and floor-to-ceiling draperies.
Tip: The more fabric you add to your windows in your theatre or media room, the better the acoustics will be.
Read more:
6 Window Treatments That Will Change Your Perspective
Tell us:
What type of window treatment have you used? Tell us in the Comments below.
What are you working on?
Related Stories
Decorating Ideas
35 Serene Puja Room Designs
Take a leaf out of these elegantly designed, beautiful prayer rooms on Houzz
Full Story
Decorating Guides
Turn One Room Into Two With These Genius Ideas
Carve out an extra room within your home with these fab room-splitting tips and tricks
Full Story
Small Spaces
7 Stylish Ways to Dry Your Laundry In a Small Apartment
Has your drying rack become a perpetual eyesore in your home? These dapper laundry drying solutions have you covered
Full Story
Decorating Guides
7 Types of Glass That Allow in Light & Privacy
These glass products and treatments will increase privacy without losing natural light
Full Story
Most Popular
Which False Ceiling Material is Better: Gypsum or POP?
Here is all you need to know about the difference between gypsum and POP before you commit to a ceiling
Full Story
More Room Guides
No Space for a Walk-In Wardrobe? Think Again
By Laura Wheat
Think again with these tips for maxing your clothing capacity and adding a dressing room feel
Full Story
Dining Rooms
12 Breakfast Nooks Cool Enough for a Dinner Party
By Susan Redman
Forget eating side-by-side at a breakfast bar or supping at a long dinner table – the cosy kitchen nook is a far more hip way to dine
Full Story
Decorating Ideas
Indoor Plants You Just Can't Kill
These greens can up your decor game and refresh the indoor air but do not demand much in return
Full Story
Decorating Ideas
10 Must-Have Elements in an Inspiring Home Gym
Make your workout zone a space that inspires you to get your sweat on
Full Story
Decorating Guides
False Ceiling: Yes or No?
If you are in two minds about installing a false ceiling, this should help you make up your mind
Full Story
I like how you said that there are roller shutters and shades that have perforations that allow light to come through still. This would be perfect for our bedroom because we have a window that opens up to a busy road. I'll have to talk to my wife to see if she would buy one for me as a Christmas gift so we can have some more privacy.
http://www.mrrollershutter.com.au
I loved your tip to use floor to ceiling drapes which will allow sunlight to travel through them in the bedrooms of the first floor of your home. I have been looking for window drapes for my home, and I was surprised to learn that you should have more security from drapes on the first floor because it will stop people from looking into your home. I will be sure to find drapes which will allow sunlight for the bedrooms on the first floor of my home. http://www.sav-morinteriors.com/window-treatments