Choosing the Right Window Treatments for Your Home
Choosing window treatments may be more difficult than you realize, as bold and billowy curtains can be very overpowering in a room, whereas undersized curtains or shutters can virtually disappear, or seem out of proportion for some windows. Window treatments also need to add privacy to the home's interior, and thin curtains or sheers may do little to block a neighbour's view to the inside of the home. To help you choose the right window treatments for your home, note a few tips to keep in mind.
For dull and cold rooms
If you walk into a room and it immediately seems dull and cold, avoid wood shutters or aluminium blinds, as these do little to warm up the space. Curtains or roller shades in a warm colour and fabric are better in such rooms; opt for earth tones of darker brown or brick red for added warmth. If the room is literally cold and draughty, choose thick curtains in a wool or cotton material, or thick roller shades in a weave that is not so dense, so that the shades allow light into the room. This can warm up the space and add some cosiness.
For oversized windows
Curtains can easily overpower a space when you use them on large windows, or an entire wall of windows. Instead, opt for retractable shutters; retractable means that you can open the slats of the shutters just as you would horizontal blinds, for a nice view to the outside but without overwhelming the room or the windows. Roller shades are also a good choice, as these sit inside the window frame and won't seem overly large. Choose a neutral colour or subdued design for larger shades on larger windows.
For small windows
One challenge with small windows is that you don't want window treatments that may crowd the space around it. Shutters on a small window over a kitchen sink, for example, may bump into the faucet when you try to open them. Adding curtains to a window over the toilet in the bathroom can also be a mistake, as those curtains may hold dirt and other debris that clings to the humidity in the bathroom, so the fabric soon looks dull and dirty. Consider roller shades or horizontal blinds with very small slats, as these don't need clearance to open. Vinyl shades or wood blinds are also easy to clean, making them a good choice for windows in kitchens, bathrooms, and other rooms where those window treatments may get dirty very easily.